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| Gov. Roswell Flower. |
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| Frank W. Hawley, experimental electric canal boat, moving dignitaries on the Erie Canal in 1893. Scientific American. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 7,
1893.
He is a Good Business Man.
Governor Flower's proposition to equip the
Erie canal with trolley wires for the propulsion of canal boats is one which
will appeal to business men. It is in such matters as this that the governor
appears to the best advantage. His plan, in brief, is to build twelve power
houses along the line of the canal, thirty miles apart. These would reach from
Troy to Buffalo, and would furnish all the electricity needed to draw the
boats. The boatmen pay now about $2 a day for horse power. The governor
estimates that it would cost them but 60 cents a day for electricity. Besides
this, the speed of their boats would be increased five or six miles an hour, so
that they could make twice as many trips in the season. The decreased cost of
power would make it possible for them to carry grain for 2 cents a bushel. The
price now is 4 1/2 to 5 cents. The boatmen would not derive all the benefit
from the change.
The abandonment of horse power would relieve
the state from the necessity of keeping the tow path in order and the increased
business on the canal would be felt in all the towns through which it passed.
It is estimated that the cost of putting up the wires and building the power houses
would be $1,000,000. The governor says that this would offer a good opportunity
for private investment if the state did not care to go to so great an expense.
A private company could not only furnish power to canal boats, but it could furnish
light to all the villages along the route and power for as many lines of surface cars as it might choose to operate.
One can see at a glance the possibilities of
such an enterprise. The project of running electric cars from New York to
Philadelphia becomes insignificant in comparison with it and the Brooklyn
Traction company is so puerile that it is lost in the shadow of this gigantic
enterprise.
The conception of such a thing indicates how
shrewd and far seeing a business man we have for governor of this state. If the
legislature would charter such a company and give to it the privilege of
stringing its wires along the canal its organizers would have no trouble to
find men willing to buy stock.—Brooklyn Eagle.
HERE AND THERE.
Mr. B. F. Walter has been appointed
postmaster at East Homer in place of C. F. Bennett.
The clothing stores in this village will close
at 6 P. M., except
Monday and Saturday evenings until October 1 next.
Mrs. H. D. Hollister, residing on Pearne-ave.,
suffered a stroke of apoplexy last Friday afternoon. She is improving.
Messrs. B. F. Taylor and J. R. Schermerhorn,
have sold to Mr. E. H. Brewer the old [cobblestone] school house lot on church-st.
Mr. J. D. F. Woolston of this place has Baldwin
apples of last year's growth
that are as fresh as they were in the winter.
Farmers whose cows are troubled with the
Texas fly will do well to read the advertisement of C. F. Brown in another column.
One quart of tanner's oil, one ounce of carbolic
acid and one pint of kerosene, mixed, and applied once in two or three weeks,
will keep the Buffalo files off the cows.—Exchange.
The teachers of the village
schools have presented Col. Frank Place, the retiring superintendent of
schools, with a handsome etching entitled "The Village School." The
picture is handsomely framed in oak.
The regular monthly Mothers'
meeting (central) will be held at the home of Mrs. J. W. Keese, 16
Prospect-st., Tuesday, July 11, at 3 P. M. Subject, "Child Life in many
Lands." All ladles are cordially invited.
Messrs. Beard & Peck
have just received a very handsome ambulance or undertakers' wagon for carrying
caskets, chairs and other goods that may be required in case of funerals. It
was made by Cunningham of Rochester.
Mr. C. N. Tyler, proprietor of
the grocery store in the Hitchcock building on Elm st., has purchased the meat
market of Mr. H. R. Meacham, which adjoins the grocery, and will hereafter
conduct the same in connection with the grocery.
People who use either gasoline
or oil stoves during the summer should consult their fire insurance policies,
and if no permit to use such is attached to the policy one should be secured. A
moment of attention to this may prevent the loss of insurance.
The Friendly Son's of St.
Patrick hold their second annual field day and picnic at Tully Lake park next
Wednesday, July 12. Tickets for the round trip 60 cents; children 30 cents;
under 5 years free. The Cortland City band and orchestra will accompany them.
Children who have parents who
indulge in ear cuffing, should cut out the following and place it where it will
be read: "Parents, or others, who indulge in the practice of cuffing
children on the ears may take warning from a case in New York city, where an
attack of the severest meningitis resulted from boxing a child's ears."
The [W. C. T. U.] picnic at Floral Trout
Park last Tuesday was attended by a large number of people. A male quartette
furnished excellent music and in the absence of Mrs. Chapman, who was to speak,
Rev. Frank H. Hinmas of Boston, Mass., delivered a stirring address. Miss Olissa
A. Beal recited "Patsy" in an inimitable manner bringing forth the
hearty and genuine applause of all present.
The remnant of the old 76th
Reg't. was accorded distinguished honors in the parade at Gettysburg last week.
The old vets were placed on the right of the infantry line of march which is
the position of honor. Comrade David C. Beers carried a flag of honor with
Major A. J. Grover's name on it in the parade. Major A. Sager's wife is a
daughter of the late Major Grover, and the Major [Sager] now has these colors in
his possession.
The semi-annual meeting of the
directors of the National Bank of Cortland was held last Saturday morning, and
a semi-annual dividend of six per cent was declared payable on the 5th inst,
and the balance of net earnings was carried to the account of undivided profits.
The Second National bank also declared a semi-annual dividend of three per
cent, and carried the balance of net earnings to surplus and undivided profits.
The First National bank holds its semi-annual meetings in March and September.
Cortland was rather quiet on
the 4th. The noise made by the small boy added to that made by some of the
larger ones was quite sufficient however. During the night of the 3rd bands of
boys and some older people paraded the streets and in some places committed
depredations that deserved punishment. We hear of some cases where stones and
other missiles were hurled through the windows of peaceable and quiet citizens,
to the imminent danger of life and limb. There is no fun in such rowdyism.
Hospital Notes.
The hospital is now in charge
of Miss Mary Roberts, of Syracuse, an English trained nurse, who brings a
diploma from the Birmingham, Eng. training school, besides excellent recommendations
from well known Syracuse people. The board of managers consider
themselves fortunate in securing Miss Roberts' services and are confident that
the physicians who may be called to attend patients in the hospital will find
her a thoroughly trained and valuable assistant and patients, an obliging,
sympathetic nurse.
Miss Lucy Hall, who had for
two years occupied the position of nurse and who will be remembered with
gratitude by the many patients who profited by her care, left on June 1st for a
visit to the World's Fair and various parts in the west.
During June the house has been
in the care of Mrs. Henry Hull, who has on this as on previous occasions, given
efficient and acceptable service.
TOWN REPORTS.
HOMER.
A large tally-ho from Truxton
passed through here Saturday.
"Hal.'' Bates of Newark
Valley is visiting his cousin Carl Bates here.
Alex. Letts of Brantford, Ont.
is stopping at his home here for a few days.
Miss Fannie Bush, who has been
teaching school in Tonawanda, returned home Saturday.
The Fourth of July celebration
here was a great success and long to be remembered. Monday evening people
commenced parading the streets, blowing horns and headed by a large drum corps.
When the town clock struck twelve the church bells commenced to ring and a
match was applied to a large pile of boxes near the Windsor Hotel. The
merchants had contributed all the boxes and barrels they could spare to make
one of the largest and best bonfires ever seen in Homer. In the morning two salutes
were tired, one of twenty-one guns and the other of 44. As it commenced to grow
light, wagon after wagon load of people could be seen coming into town and every
train brought scores of people. It is estimated that there were 15,000 people here.
At about 8:30 the fire department formed in line and marched to Stone's foundry,
where the visiting companies were received. The Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co.
of Cortland and Conger hose of Groton were the only companies who came.
Companies from six other places were invited, but they had accepted other
invitations. The parade then formed in front of the park and took the following
line of march:
Up Main to Clinton, to Warren,
to Main, to James, to Cortland, to Cayuga, to South Main and counter-march to
the Park where the parade was dismissed. The parade was led by the Groton Band
of twenty pieces followed by the two visiting companies, Excelsior Hook and
Ladder Co. and Conger Hose. After these came the Board of Engineers of the Homer
Fire Department and the Chief of the Groton Department. Following these were
the Protective Police and Hose Companies Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and in their rear the
Orient Hook and Ladder Co. with their truck trimmed with flags and bunting. Each
of the Hose Companies bad their carts trimmed very tastefully but No. 4 took
the lead. Two evergreen arches extended from the opposite corners of the cart.
From the centre of these arches was hung a floral liberty bell with the dates
1776—1893. Above these was a large floral 4. The other carts were trimmed in
nearly the same way. The Hook and Ladder Co. was followed by a carriage
containing the orator of the day and the chaplain and then came the business
display which was the finest ever seen in Homer.
After the parade the exercises
connected with the oration by Col. T. B. White of Syracuse, began with prayer by
Rev. E. C. Olney, reading of Declaration of Independence by W. A. Coon.
Mr. W. H. Crane, President of
the day, in a few remarks introduced the speaker of the day, Col. Thomas B. White.
The fusilier [sic] parade in the afternoon was very amusing and contained some
funny local hits. In the evening, fireworks ended the most glorious Fourth of
July celebration ever held in Cortland county.
GUESS. [pen name of local
correspondent.]
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
CHENANGO. — A Middletown man
named N. L. Pierce lost a foot beneath the cars at Norwich, Wednesday.
A farmer friend residing in
the town of Plymouth informs us that the recent heavy showers which have
visited Norwich and vicinity, flooding streets and roads, have hardly reached
that locality. But two or three light showers have put in an appearance there
during the past two or three weeks, and the fields are dry and the roads dusty.
Added to the nuisance of potato bugs, the farmers have to contend with the depredations
of colonies of crows, which dig into the potato hills, remove the seed, and sit
upon the fence while they devour their plunder. In many cases, this has become a
serious matter, so extensive are the thefts on the part of the crows.
Michael Scanlon, a retired
farmer residing in the town, owns a white building near Nash's livery barn on
Lock street, Norwich, which is known as the "eel rack." It is
occupied by disorderly persons, has been the scene of frequent drunken fights
and brawls, so stated, and has the reputation of a tough resort. Neighbors tired
of the orgies held there, and complaint was entered Wednesday of last week. Scanlon
was arrested as being responsible for the actions of his tenants, and brought before
Justice Throop, when the testimony of witnesses showed the place to be a bad one.
Scanlon was fined twenty-five dollars or twenty-five days in jail. Although abundantly
able to pay, he chose to go to jail, remarking that he could not make a dollar
a day any easier.
MADISON.—Nelson dogs have
lately killed over $200 worth of sheep.
The Eaton creamery is
receiving over 20,000 pounds of milk per day.
D. Ackerman, an Oneida
liveryman, is short about $180, which was missing from his pocket when he awoke
Tuesday morning from a spree in which a notorious woman figured.
Norman Stafford, of Canastota,
had a fine road horse, valued at $300, badly lacerated on a barbed wire fence,
a few days since.
TOMPKINS.—An Ithaca lady has
75 varieties of roses.
Tompkins County Veterans will
hold their annual reunion and picnic at Glenwood, August 19th.
Benjamin Starr has been
appointed post master at Newfield and Theodore Kresge at Trumbull's Corners.
The contract for the erection
of the Southworth Library building in Dryden has been let to Elmira parties.
The building is to be of Ohio sandstone.
Emory Spicer, of Trumansburg,
has been sentenced to four months' imprisonment in the Ithaca jail for whipping
his wife.
Jay Overacker of Slaterville
Springs began last week celebrating the 4th. He held a lighted fire cracker
between his teeth and for some time after it exploded was totally blind. One
eye is still very sore but it is hoped the sight is not affected.
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