FARM WAGONS IN CORTLAND

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 1, 1891.

Farm Wagons in Cortland.

   Farmers, teamsters, and, in short, every person who has use for the vehicle commonly known as a lumber wagon, should not fail to carefully read the advertisement of the Cortland Wagon Company, exclusive sales agents for the "Champion" farm and lumber wagon, which appears in another column in the DEMOCRAT. Among the many superior points justly claimed for the "Champion" wagon may be mentioned durability of construction; the stationary front axle with pivoted axle-arms at either end obviate the great source of horse worriment and torture occasioned by the whipping of the pole as either of the front wheels meet an obstruction—the momentum of the wagon being unnoticeable; spiral springs under both bolsters; no working out of king bolt, together with the celebrated Turnbull make of slope-shouldered wheel spokes, and small area required for turning about of the wagon, commend the "Champion" to every one who has seen or used the same.

   The fact that upward of three hundred "Champion" farm wagons have been disposed of during the past six weeks is the best evidence of the merits of the goods, many of which are now in daily use in Cortland and vicinity. If you cannot personally visit the repository of the Cortland Wagon Company, write for descriptive circular and catalogue of this wagon, and one hundred different styles of platform spring, delivery, express and pleasure wagons, surreys, carriages, carts, phaetons and gentlemen's three-quarter road wagons, samples which are daily on exhibition in the elegant, well-lighted repository of the company, near the D. L. & W. railroad depot.

   Visitors to Cortland, as well as contemplative purchasers, are invited to call, with the assurance that competent and courteous superintendents will impart full information as to the products of the well known Cortland Wagon Company.

The Cortland Manufacturing Company, Lim., In Their New Buildings.

   Cortland is known throughout the western continent as the birthplace of successful wagon and sleigh manufactories. While there are eight concerns each employing a large number of mechanics, there are also several smaller enterprises in the same line of manufacture—perhaps in the near future to enlarge as did the Cortland Manufacturing Company, Lim., with the opening of the season for '91. This company was organized January, 11, 1886, and for five years occupied the old shops of the Messrs. Tillinghast on Squires-st., where strict attention to business and superior make of goods increased the demand until more room was needed for manufacture.

   Two three-story additions—one to the east of the original building 84x36 feet, to the west 104x36 feet, and a brick boiler and an engine house 20x36 feet were erected last fall and completed during the winter.

   The business office fronts north on Squires street and is neatly finished in natural wood, a commodious show room is immediately in the rear of the office in the eastern addition.

   The paint department occupies the entire second and third floors. The iron department on the ground floor of the west section is under the supervision of superintendent F. Eugene Buckley, a skilled former of carriage gearings. On the floor above is situate [sic] the wood department in charge of the veteran carriage builder Mr. John Barry, Sr. On the third floor Mr. George W. Lathe directs the important work of trimming the various styles of carriages. Facing the E. C. & N. to the south is the shipping department in charge of Mr. C. B. Sperry. A large force of skilled workmen are turning out some commendable Saratoga pleasure wagons, Cortland triple buckboards, and triple surreys—specialties of this house.

   During '91 this company will build a line of heavy wagons in addition to that of pleasure vehicles. It is gratifying to note the continued prosperity of Cortland's industries as evidenced from the above.

FIRE IN MARATHON.

The Carley Grist Mill Burned to the Ground Last Sunday Morning—Loss Partially Covered by Insurance.

   A few minutes before one o'clock last Sunday morning, the Carley grist mill in Marathon was discovered to be on fire. The fire department responded promptly, but a little delay was experienced in getting up steam in their new steamer. By the time the department arrived on the spot the flames had taken possession of the entire interior of the building, and were shooting out from every crack and crevice. It was at once seen that there was no hope of saving the building and the efforts of the firemen were directed towards the preservation of surrounding property.

   The origin of the fire is a mystery, but it is believed to have been caused by friction in the machinery, the mill having been operated up to 7 o'clock the previous evening. Some three months since and on two or three other occasions fire had been started from the same cause, requiring the use of a plentiful supply of water to extinguish it.

   The mill was owned by E. Clark Carley, and was operated by Carley & Smith. Mr. Carley considered the property worth $9,000, and says he had refused an offer of $8,500 for it. He had an insurance of $5,000 on the building and $1,000 on the stock.

   A few years since, burglars broke into the building and nearly destroyed the safe, so that it was no longer a protection against fire or thieves, and Mr. Carley always carried his books to the house at night, consequently these were saved. The mill was built by Benjamin Adams in 1857 and was a strong building constructed entirely of hard wood. In 1863 the mill was sold to Hon. Alanson Carley, now deceased, and had been in possession of some member of the family ever since. For a few years since, it had not been operated to its fullest capacity. The contents consisted of a few hundred bushels of corn, oats and buckwheat.

   There was very little if any wind or the consequences might have been far more serious. Charred shingles were found in the barn yard of Mr. George P. Squires' farm fully one-half mile distant, as well as in many other places nearly as far away from the burning mill. Had the night been windy it would have been almost impossible to have saved Burgess & Brink's lumber yard situate [sic] just south of it.

The Normal Bill a Law.

   A dispatch to the DEMOCRAT from Hon. R. T. Peck of Albany, yesterday, states that the bill appropriating upward of $55,000 for additions to the Normal School building in this place has become law.

Death of Martin McLean.

   The many friends of Martin McLean, Esq., in this vicinity will be pained to learn of his death which occurred at his home in Ellenville, N. Y., on Friday, April 24th, at7:30. A special dispatch to the Norwich Telegraph dated that day, gives the following particulars:

   "This town was shocked, as hardly ever before, at 7:30 this morning by the announcement of the death of Martin McLean, the popular landlord of the Etling House. April 10th he went to Albany on business and to accompany his daughter home. He returned the evening of the 15th, suffering somewhat from the prevailing malady which, with complications, kept him in bed. Yesterday he was quite strong and cheerful and expected to ride out to-day. At seven this morning he took a light breakfast, sitting up in bed, Mrs. McLean having not yet risen. His repast finished, he lay down and turned on his left side; at the instant his wife heard a rattle in his throat. He groaned once or twice. Looking, she saw that his face and the upper portion of his body had turned dark, his eyes open, set and glassy. Physicians were summoned, but he died within ten minutes of the first attack. The physicians pronounced heart failure to be the cause of his death. He had long anticipated trouble from his heart. Private funeral services will be held here on Monday and the remains taken to Salem, Washington county, the McLean family homestead, for interment."

   Mr. McLean came to Cortland sometime in the early sixties and was for several years teller in the Messenger Bank. From this place he went to Norwich and occupied successively the position of teller and cashier of the old bank of Chenango and until its affairs were wound up. Afterwards he became associated with Jas. K. Spaulding in managing the Eagle hotel in that village for several years, when he went to Oneonta and conducted the Central hotel up to three years ago when he disposed of his interest in the same. Less than a year ago he purchased the hotel at Ellenville. Soon after leaving Cortland he married Miss Mary Rankin of Troy, who with three children survive him.

   "Mac" as he was always familiarly called by everybody, had a host of warm friends. He was genial, kind and always social, and by his sunny disposition attracted friends wherever he happened to be. It is understood that Norwich commandery will attend the funeral in a body.

Death of Miss Louise Street.

   The many friends of Miss Louise Street, daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Street, were pained to learn of her death, which occurred in Brooklyn on Sunday last, from pneumonia. Miss Street graduated from Houghton Seminary at Clinton, N. Y., in 1879, and had followed the profession of a teacher up to about two years since, when she turned her attention to studies in art, for which she seemed to have a special aptitude and much talent. She was engaged in the study of her choice when she was taken ill. Miss Street was possessed of a determined character and no ordinary obstacle could prevent her from following the dictates of her own conscience or pursuing a course that she had fully decided upon. She was kindly disposed toward all and had a sympathetic nature notwithstanding her decision of character.

   The funeral services were held from the home of her sister, Mrs. William H. Clark on Prospect-st., Cortland, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. J. L. Robertson and Rev. Lyman Abbott, officiating. The bearers were Messrs. T. H. Wickwire, S. M. Ballard, E. D. Blodgett and B. L. Webb. Music was furnished by a quartette consisting of Mrs. H. H. Greenman, Mrs. J. A. Graham and Messrs. F. Daehler and A. D. Blodgett. Miss Street was thirty-four years of age.

Death of Augustus K. Miller.

   Augustus K. Miller, formerly local editor of the Cortland Standard, died at his home in Lansingburgh last Friday, aged 34 years. While reporting the execution of Mrs. Mary Druse, condemned to be hung three or four years since, he contracted a severe cold from which he never recovered. After leaving Cortland he had a position on the Syracuse Evening Herald for a year or two, when he became editor of the Sunday Times in the same city until about two years since, when he secured a position on a Troy paper. Mr. Miller was a genial gentleman and a good writer and had many friends here who will sincerely regret his early death. He leaves a wife and two children.

Our New Folder.

   The new Dexter Folding Machine, which was set up in the DEMOCRAT press rooms this week is a veritable wonder and is well worth seeing by all who are interested in fine machinery. The Dexter folds, pastes and trims twelve pages at one operation, and as all our subscribers can see for themselves, the work is done perfectly. Heretofore the ordinary folders have only been able to fold, paste and trim eight pages, but by an ingenious attachment, Mr. Dexter has succeeded in producing a machine for us that accomplishes the desired results, and it has every appearance of durability.

   There are certain seasons of the year when our advertising columns have been overcrowded and occasionally we have been obliged to refuse some advertising. With this machine in our office, we will be able to accommodate all comers and whenever we have more advertising than we can accommodate in our eight page form we shall issue a twelve page paper. The Folder comes very handy this week when our columns are overcrowded. There it reading matter enough in this issue to satisfy all and it is of good quality.