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| THE PETROLEUM MOTOR TRICYCLE IN OPERATION. |
Scientific Miscellany.
A
TRICYCLE DRIVEN BY PETROLEUM.— Among the latest attempts to produce a satisfactory motor for light
road vehicles is that of Mr. Edward Butler, of Greenwich, England. His
apparatus is a petroleum motor tricycle, which is expected to run 40 miles, at
a rate of 3 to 10 miles an hour, on a consumption of one gallon of petroleum or
benzolene. The motor is placed on the rear wheel, which is covered by an oil
reservoir of a capacity of 31/2 gallons, and has a cylinder on each side, and a
fly wheel close to its spokes. The first stroke of the pistons draws in the air
and oil vapor, the second stroke compresses the charge, which is exploded at
the third stroke, and exhausted on the fourth. The crank shaft operated by the
pistons is geared to give motion to the rear or driving wheel in the ratio of 6
to 1. The compressed charges are alternately ignited by a spark from an electric
battery under the seat between the two forward wheels. Stopping and starting
are accomplished by raising and lowering the driving wheel by a foot lever on castors,
steering is effected by a pair of rocking handles actuating the front wheels, and
the speed is regulated by a throttle-valve lever. The complete machine weighs 280
pounds.
The Saxton ballot law, as applicable to Town Meetings, was in force for the first time
in this town last Tuesday, and nearly every one decided it to be a total
failure. The attempt to run 3,000 voters through the mill,
at one polling place, between the rising and setting of the sun failed to work in
this town. About 1300 votes were cast on that day and the town board adjourned the
election until Wednesday morning, when the polls were again opened and votes were
received until sundown. The board claimed to find authority for the adjournment
in an old statute, but the legality of their action is seriously questioned by
good lawyers.
As a rule
it has been the habit of the Republicans for many years to take possession of
the polls at every town meeting held in this place, and they fully carried out
the programme last Tuesday. They seem to think they own everything and can do
anything, without ever being called to account for their questionable transactions.
The aged and infirm board of inspectors seemed to be powerless to prevent, even
if they had the inclination, the encroachment of Republican heelers at the
polls. The place fairly swarmed with them. Heelers to the right of you, heelers
to the left of you, heelers all round you, was the rule. In and out of the
booths they flitted, with no one to make them afraid. They simply had
possession and regarding that as nine points in the law, they held on to the
situation.
Republican
candidates and workers were plying their vocations inside as well as outside
the rail, while the inspectors were slowly and solemnly endeavoring to force
the streamer ballots through a knot hole in the huge dry goods boxes that were
doing duty as receptacles for the votes of freemen.
Members of
the Silk Stocking Club were especially officious and offensive, and a stranger
would undoubtedly have taken them to be the managers of the free-for-all race,
instead of the officers appointed by law. Officious and pompous constables, of
the Republican persuasion, had charge of the entrances and admitted such
persons as they chose, while the less fortunate had to stand in line and take
their turn. Protests entered by prominent Democrats at the disgraceful
proceedings permitted by the board had no effect.
A
resident of the town of Homer had charge of a portion of the ballots and was
particularly officious and obnoxious throughout the two days. He seemed to have
an idea that he knew what ticket many of the voters ought to vote and
volunteered to enter the booths with them and give them instructions. A more
disgraceful and unfair election never took place in Cortland. As a rule the
candidates were fair-minded men and did not descend to the practices which
governed the heelers, but they failed to protest against such rascality.
The Town
Board, which is usually composed of highly respectable back-number Republicans,
ought not to be permitted to act as inspectors of election. They are all Republican
partisans in this town, and with possibly one or two exceptions, totally incompetent
to discharge the duties of the office. If both parties were represented on the
board such lawless and shameless proceedings as characterized the election on Tuesday
last could not occur. If it is proper that both parties be represented on the
board in the November elections, it is equally proper and necessary that the
same rule should prevail at town meetings.
On
Wednesday several teams were chartered and the hills and adjoining towns were
scoured for tramps and stay at homes, and these were brought in and voted in "blocks
of five" or more, and the Silk Stocking contingent was on hand to see that
none of them got away. The 600 votes cast on Wednesday were nearly if not quite
all Republicans. Democrats believing that there was no warrant or authority in
law for the second day's proceedings remained away from the polls.
The
better element of the Republican party denounced the conduct of the election in
this town in unmeasured terms.
Annual Meeting.
The
Cortland County Agricultural Society held its annual meeting in Firemen's Hall
last Saturday. Mr. G. P. Squires was elected temporary chairman and Geo. H. Smith acted as secretary. The minutes of the last
meeting were read and approved. The treasurer's report was read and a committee
consisting of Messrs. C. F. Wickwire and Edward Keator was appointed to examine
same and after examining the books and vouchers reported same to be correct.
The report was on motion adopted.
On motion
the number of directors was increased to fifteen and after appointing Messrs. A. F. Stillson and H. L. Bronson as
tellers the stockholders proceeded to the election of directors. The following
directors were chosen:
FOR THREE
YEARS—O. U. Kellogg, Geo. P. Squires, Harrison Wells, F. N. Harrington, J. J.
Murray.
FOR TWO
YEARS—D. N. Hitchcock, Seth Hobart, J. H. Tripp, C. F. Wickwire, D. K. Cutler.
FOR ONE
YEAR—A. P. Rowley, W. E. Powers, W. J. Greenman, E. F. Squires, Delos Bauder.
On motion
the chair appointed the following committee to prepare by-laws of the society:
O. U. Kellogg, C. F. Wickwire and H. L. Bronson.
On motion
the stockholders meeting adjourned.
At a
meeting of the new board of directors held immediately after the adjournment of
the stockholders meeting, E. F. Squires was called to the chair and F. N. Harrington
acted as secretary.
The
following officers of the society were unanimously elected to serve for the
ensuing year:
President—Chester F. Wickwire.
Vice-President—John
J. Murray.
Secretary—F.
N. Harrington.
Treasurer—W.
J. Greenman.
On motion
the officers of the company were empowered to borrow money if necessary for the
purpose of building a new grandstand and for making other necessary repairs.
The
report of the Treasurer shows that the society is in a very flourishing
condition and that a handsome profit was the result of the management in 1890.
Some $3,500 was expended in making a new track last year and in erecting
additional buildings [fairgrounds]. The re-election of all the old officers proved
that their management of the societies' affairs was heartily approved.
Erie & Central New York Election.
The
annual meeting of the stockholders of the Erie & Central N. Y. railroad
company was held in the office of I. H. Palmer, Esq., in this village on the
11th inst., when the following directors were elected for the ensuing year: W.
D. Tisdale, C. P. Walrad, J. S. Squires, H. M. Kellogg, D. F. Wallace, C. W.
Stoker, T. H. Wickwire, Harrison Wells, G. H. Holmes, F. H. Cobb, G. C.
Hubbard, C. B. Hitchcock, I. H. Palmer.
A
resolution making the bonds to be issued by the company payable in gold, was
adopted and the secretary and treasurer were authorized to have the name of any
Trust Company they preferred, printed in the bonds. The stockholders meeting
then adjourned to meet at the same place March 11.
The new
board of directors appointed the following executive committee: W. D. Tisdale,
C. P. Walrad, C. B. Hitchcock, C. W. Stoker and Harrison Wells. The board
re-elected I. H. Palmer, Esq., as attorney of the road.
Truxton Farmers' Alliance.
B. B. Jones, Editor Cortland Democrat:
The Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union,
of Truxton, was addressed by Capt. R. S. Osborne, of Stockton, Kansas, last
Saturday evening, who very ably discussed the economic question which is now
agitating the minds of the farmers and laboring classes of this country. He solicits
correspondence from all parts of the State. We had a very interesting meeting, and
nearly doubled our membership. Our next meeting will be held at F. I. Woodward's
hall, Saturday, Feb. 21st, at 7 o'clock P. M. A cordial invitation is extended to
all.
L. L. SCHELLINGER, Sec'y F. A. & I.
U.
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