ANOTHER BUSY FACTORY IN CORTLAND.

The Cortland Democrat, December 26, 1890.

Another Busy Factory.

   Although the prevailing impression on the public mind is that the manufacturing interests of our thriving village lay in a semi-dormant condition during the winter months, a representative of the DEMOCRAT dropped into the Elm street works of the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company just before Christmas, (usually as quiet a period of the year as any factory experiences). Every department was a scene of activity, and the same applies to other houses. A new feature at Hitchcock's, however, is a mammoth hand-saw eight inches wide, forty-six feet in length, the metal a scant 1-16 inch in thickness which the set requires a space of 3-32 to allow of passage through the log. This saw operates around two pulleys each seven feet in diameter and each revolution of the saw cuts eighteen inches lengthwise of the timber. A special carriage has been constructed, the mechanism of which is such that by the operating of levers it is diverted from the saw while returning, thereby rendering accidents less liable.

   The mill is made from the company's own patterns and is the output from their machine shop on Port Watson street. It is under the supervision of Mr. Len McAlpine, who for years has operated this class of saw machinery, and will conduct this branch of the works. It is the intention of the company to get out lumber for the trade as well as the factory consumption. Several specimens of the work evidenced that the saw cut true and clean.

   Through the courtesy of Superintendent Fred S. Bennett, the wheel making department was visited and the many processes of this new industry shown up. The facing, throating and turning of spokes are done by one machine, and the device for sanding is such that much time and labor are saved in the production. A fifty ton hydraulic press for shrinking on the two end and center hub bands works to perfection, as does the facilities for bending of upwards of 200 pair of shafts per day of ten hours. It might be in order to state that one year's stock is carried ahead for hubs and spokes. A special kiln has been constructed for the purpose of air seasoning of the timber by radiation. Last winter's stock goes into the coming season's output and so on. The specimens of work compare favorably with that of outside concerns on the several grades of finished wheels in the white. About sixty men are employed in the wheel department during the season.

   This house has a force of men now at work on a large contract for refrigerator fruit wagons to be used on the Pacific coast, besides those engaged upon the general factory work. Cortland county may be a small interior tract, but Cortland's manufactories are similar to the insect commonly known as the busy bee—both make their presence known.

Hitchcock Manufacturing Company: http://jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2014/01/hitchcock-manufacturing-company.html  

The Electric Lights.

    Tuesday the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company began the work of removing their electric light plant from its present location on Port Watson street to the new station on Elm street near the D. L. & W. railroad crossing. The dynamos and apparatus used on the arc light circuit will be placed in position during the present moonlight season and be in working order in time for the regular season of lighting the streets.

   Arrangements are being made whereby the transfer of the incandescent circuit will be made between the hour of closing in the morning and starting on the evening of the same day, unless some unforeseen accident should take place. The shafting and steam connections have been laid under the street and a force of men are hanging the circuit wire and placing the machinery in the new building. Every effort is being made to cause as little inconvenience to the patrons as possible.

    Outsiders will confer a favor upon the company and possibly prevent serious accident to themselves by keeping away from all wires whether hanging from poles or lying on the ground. At all events take no risks even though there is no apparent danger.

Looking Toward a City Hall.

   At the close of the department meeting last Wednesday evening, there was brought up the subject of accommodations for the department more in accordance with their requirements and those of the municipal officers, with the further end of securing a place suitable for the meetings of the town board, assessors and other town meetings. Leading tax-paying citizens were interviewed by tax-payers and expressed themselves in favor of the needed improvement, even going so far as to advocate the drafting of a petition to circulate among dealers and property owners and urge that the said petition be laid before the village board. The petition reads as follows:

To the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cortland:

   We, the undersigned citizens of the village of Cortland, respectfully request that you consider the feasibility of uniting with the town of Cortlandville, in building a building suitable for the use of both village and town, or for the village alone, as the present building is not large enough to meet the increased wants of the village. As some action will soon have to be taken in the matter of providing more room, it would be advisable to secure a location while there is an opportunity to do so advantageously to the village, and that if your Board should favorably consider it, to call a public meeting to bring it before the citizens of the town and village, so action may be taken at the coming election [April 1891].

In Justice Court.

   The trial of the case of the People vs. Elmer B. Arnold, charged with collecting and failing to return some $1100 of railroad money of the town of Truxton while filling the office of collector in said town, was commenced before Justice Jerome Squires of this village on Monday. The case was adjourned until 4 P. M. Tuesday, when the defendant waived further examination and gave bail in the sum of $1,200, for his appearance at the next term of court. William Baldwin, of Truxton, signed the bonds.

   The evidence in the case of the People vs. Michael Walsh, of Truxton, was concluded before Justice Squires on Tuesday and the case adjourned until Wednesday that an opportunity might be had to obtain bail. It will be remembered that two barns were burned and a fire discovered in the milk house on the night of November 4th last. Mr. Walsh is said to have been absent from home on the night of the conflagration. His wife discovered the flames enveloping one of the barns and turning saw the end of the second barn most remote from the first also on fire. This with other circumstances resulted in Mr. Walsh being arrested and examined on the charge of arson. The defendant waived further examination and was held in $1,000 bonds until the January term.

Charged with Assaulting an Officer.

   On Saturday, the case of the People vs. Mrs. Bridget Walsh of Truxton, charged with assaulting a public officer while in the discharge of his duty, will be heard before Justice Squires. Briefly, it is alleged that when officer Miller appeared at the Walsh residence recently, with papers for Mr. Walsh, the wife met the officer at the door with a pail of water, quickly firing a second volley of scalding liquid at the officer. The latter withdrew from the attacking party, but served his papers upon his man. Whether the defense will be an effort to prove that a second John the Baptist was desirable remains to be seen.

"Gone, but Not Forgotten."

   The above words appeared upon a placard in a window of the store in the Miller building, on Monday. The store was occupied last week by the "Merchants Tea Co.," which advertised to give away cash, watches, jewelry and various prizes in each can of tea.

   The trade is said to have been brisk until Saturday evening, soon after the curtain raised for the presentation of the Two Thieves at the Opera House. At that time an officer requested the presence of the managers before police Justice Bull to answer a charge of maintaining and conducting a lottery. District Attorney Bronson and officer Eli Colegrove are credited with entering the charge.

   Evidence was introduced showing that for the payment of fifty cents a can would be opened and the contents disclosed and it was said that a can would be taken from the shelves and opened disclosing currency. The prisoners, who gave the names of T. and J. A. Pickart, plead guilty to the charge and paid a fine of $25 each, claiming that was the extent of their finances. Although a large crowd was assembled in the store after the case was settled, it is stated there were no purchasers. Sunday afternoon wrapping papers were put up in the windows and Monday morning the sign "gone, but not forgotten," was hung out to the public.

   The manner of conducting the business was about as rank a bit of rascality as has been carried on in this vicinity in years and the only wonder is that our officials allowed it to be carried on so long, without bringing the proprietors up with a round turn.

Re-Dedication at McLean.

   Tuesday evening a party of Cortland people enjoyed a moonlight sleigh ride to McLean and participated in the exercises attending the dedication of the new additions to the Universalist church in that village. There were upward of one hundred people assembled at the church upon the arrival of the visitors. The ladies of the church had provided an elegant repast of which savory chicken pies were a prominent feature, and a pleasant social hour was passed.

   Following the supper, the Rev. Ure Mitchell, of Cortland, delivered a lecture upon Palestine, which was rendered doubly interesting by the aid of numerous illustrations of the views of many ancient cities and the rugged country surrounding the same, ancient style of architecture and other sacred views.

   The church is in a most flourishing condition under the present pastor, Rev. O. N. Hutchins, whom the church are [sic] desirous of having settled as permanent pastor in the near future. And it is gratifying to know that only the most amicable feeling exists with the sister churches of that village, many being in attendance at the exercises. The occasion was one to be long and favorably remembered.

A Northern Railroad Incorporated.

(From the Oswego Palladium.)

    Articles of incorporation for the Camden, Watertown & Northern Railway Company have been filed in the Secretary of State's office. The road is to start at Camden, the Northern terminus of the Elmira, Cortland & Northern Railroad Company's line, extending thence north through the counties of Oneida, Oswego and Jefferson, and through or near the villages of Pulaski, Sandy Creek, Ellis village, Belleville and Smithville to the city of Watertown. The amount of the capital stock of said company is said to be $l,000,000 divided into 10,000 shares of $100.

ERIE & CENTRAL N. Y. RAILROAD.

Meeting of the Stockholders and Directors—Contract for its Construction Ordered.

   A meeting of the stockholders of the Erie & Central New York Railway Company was held at the company's office, 109 Main street in this village, at 10 A. M. Monday. Among other business transacted was that of authorizing and sanctioning the issuing of seven hundred and fifty bonds of the principal sum of $1,000 each in order to raise money to complete and equip the road.

   The town of Pitcher, Chenango county, is to be released from its liability on unpaid subscriptions to the capital stock of the company, issued in aid of the construction of the railroad and not yet delivered or negotiated, upon condition that the people of said town contribute the right of way through the said town of Pitcher.

   It was also directed that the President, Secretary and Treasurer enter into a contract with Mr. Frederick W. Thomas, of Elizabeth, N. J., to complete the railroad, fence the same, erect the several station houses, and furnish the necessary rolling stock and other items necessary for the operation of the railroad.

   A committee was appointed to revise the by-laws of the company, procure a new seal and report at the annual meeting in February next.

   A meeting of the directors was held at the same place at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the report of President Wayland D. Tisdale [also President of the Electric Company in Cortland—CC editor] was read showing the result of his recent visit, in company with others, to New York city and vicinity, to have been a most encouraging expenditure of time and that the future for the road is in every particular very promising.

   It was also announced that the right of way, with very few exceptions, has been secured.

Not Acquainted with Benjamin.

   A story is in circulation to the effect that Uncle Sam's postal employes are not all acquainted with the name and address of the chief executive. On Monday the mail was received at the post office of a flourishing manufacturing town in the central part of this state and in the course of assorting and throwing up the mail for the carriers a letter was found addressed to Benjamin Harrison. As soon as the name was read off a voice was heard to promptly enquire "Who is Benjamin Harrison?"

   Some say cigars are in order, while others claim it was all a joke, and there is no necessity for the civil service reform to be put to a test.