CORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Photos copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, September 11, 1894.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

More Students than ever Before—Over 900 Registered.

   The public schools have opened this year with the largest number of students upon the rolls ever known in Cortland. There are now over 900 registered and new names are daily being added. All of the rooms are used and only a few seats remain unoccupied in any of the rooms. Last year the total registration was a little less than 800. So that it appears that the increase of registration of the first week of this year is more than a hundred over the total registration of the whole of last year. At the Central school 385 are registered, at the Schermerhorn-st school 165, at the Owego-st. school 162, at the Pomeroy-st. school 168 and at the Fitz-ave. school 30.

   The increase at the Central school is greater proportionately than at any of the other schools—being over 50. This is due almost entirely to the thorough, practical exhaustive work of Superintendent Coon and his able corps of instructors in bringing the school up to its present high standard. Through the superintendent's efforts this school has been brought under the jurisdiction of the regents, and this has given it many advantages both to resident and nonresident pupils.

   An academic department has been established in this school and special work will be done in advanced mathematics, algebra, geometry and advanced arithmetic. Higher English and elementary sciences will also be taken up in this department. The pupils will be afforded advantages similar, and in many respects superior, to those offered by academies.

   Superintendent Coon has completed the arrangements of the work for the entire year. The following teachers are now engaged and at work:

   Central school—Miss E. E. Miller, principal; Miss Fannie Galusha, assistant in academic work and mathematics. Miss Galusha also has one class of the sixth grade; Miss Ada J. Wallace, preparatory academic work; Miss Mary E. Williams, seventh grade; Miss Mary A. Knapp, sixth and seventh grades; Miss Nettie E. Snyder, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Lena V. Lovell, second and third grades; Miss Ella Van Hoesen, first grade.

   Schermerhorn-st. school—Miss Mary S. Blackmer, principal, third and fourth grades; Miss Jennie May Allen, fourth and fifth grades; Mrs. J. E. Perry, second grade; Miss Minnie Cleary, first grade.

   Owego-st. school— Miss Nettie E. Cole, principal, second grade; Miss Franc C. Ellis, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Mary McGraw, third and fourth grades; Miss Mary Van Bergen, first grade.

   Pomeroy-st. school—Miss Lula Day, principal, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Agnes Grady, third and fourth grades; Mrs. N. Hattie Furber, second grade; Miss Mabel C. Graves, first grade.

   Fitz-ave. school—Mrs. Clara Benedict, principal, first and second grades.

   Special teachers—Music, Miss H. Elizabeth Turner; supervisor of drawing and penmanship, Mrs. Leona Burghardt.

   With such an efficient corps of instructors under Superintendent C. V. Coon everything is running smoothly and there is every evidence of the coming of the most successful school year in the history of the public schools of Cortland.

A Season of Travel.

   Mr. Geo. A. Benham, who has been in Chicago most of the season, returned yesterday from an extensive trip through all of the western and northern states, having gone as far north as St. Paul and through the great wheat belt of North Dakota in the Red River valley and the corn belt of the central western states. He has also made several trips to New York, Boston and other New England points, the whole distance aggregating over 6,000 miles. On account of his correspondence for many papers and "write ups" of numerous leading railroads, Mr. Benham has actually received this season over 40,000 miles of transportation and says he thinks he has as much more at call. He contemplates a trip abroad, but feels that he ought first to witness the crowning glories of his own country.

   Traveling northward from Worcester in June, Mr. Benham alighted from a train of the Fitchburg railroad at Gardner, Mass., and Mr. H. H. Robbins of Cortland boarded the same train going to Vermont. Last week Mr. Robbins, traveling southward, alighted from the same train at Gardner, at the same hour as before, and Mr. Benham boarded it for Worcester. Each of the travelers had meanwhile journeyed some 6,000 miles.

LEXOW INVESTIGATION.

New York's Police Officers Again on the Rack.

   NEW YORK, Sept. 11.—The Lexow committee has reopened its investigations into the workings of the police department. Detective Hanley was placed on the stand. Mr. Goff brought out the fact that Sergeant Bird, at police headquarters, sent out postal cards to pawnbrokers whenever property was stolen, describing it, and that these always stated that the owners would pay all advances. They also had to pay Bird for sending out the cards in addition.

   "So this buncoing system is recognized by the police department?" continued Mr. Goff.

   "Well, yes, if you want to call it so."

   Hanley testified that the police discriminated between different kinds of pawnbrokers and admitted that he received at times compensation from the owners for recovering articles. He called it "expense money," but admitted that the department paid his expenses.

   Mr. Jerome read rule 142 of the police department which forbids the acceptance of presents by officers except for extraordinary services and then only under certain conditions. This was put in evidence and a recess was taken

   Alonzo Sloan, when placed on the stand, admitted being a "steerer" for greengoods' Dealer McNally. He denied knowledge of McNally's banking with Patrick Divver, but admitted knowing Divver and having seen greengoods' men in his saloon.

   Joseph M. Reinschreiber, a printer, when sworn, testified that he did not know McNally and never had dealings with him.

   Under cross-examination, however, he was compelled to admit that he had been committing perjury in all his testimony.

   When Mr. Goff had finished with Reinschreiber, Chairman Lexow after a brief consultation with the counsel announced that he felt it his duty to bring the case of Reinschreiber, who had wilfully perjured himself repeatedly, to the attention of the grand jury, and the stenographer was directed to make a special copy of his testimony to be transmitted to the district attorney.

   William Applegate, brother of the paramour of Jim McNally, "the king of greengoods' men," gave some damaging testimony of collusion between McNally and Captain Meakin, and as McNally's confidential man, swore to having paid money to police captains, wardmen and central office men.

   The committee then adjourned for the day.

Reformatory Investigation.

   ELMIRA, Sept. 11.—The Elmira reformatory investigation was resumed and Keeper Halpin was placed on the stand as a witness for the defense.

   Witness Halpin said he never struck or kicked Richard Quinn in his cell, and did not recollect seeing him in the bathroom bleeding from nose and mouth. Superintendent Brockway had never said: "Don't mark him, boys." He denied that any officer had struck inmate Ryan in the face. Witness said, in answer to a question by Commissioner Deyo, that some times he had seen an inmate's nose bleed from a "tap across the face with the handle of the paddle."

   Upon cross-examination he could only remember the handle of the strap having been used as described to the commissioner on one occasion. He was on duty in the bathroom for about two years and a half, and had been present at a great many paddlings. He only remembered two occasions in which inmates refused to take their positions at the window of the bathroom.

   There were about six cases of men being hit over the head with the strap. His recollection was that Johnson struck at Keeper Sample before either keeper struck at him. Johnson was knocked down and was on the floor when witness and Sample struck him. He said probably an inmate's feet for a couple of seconds might have been clear of the floor when hoisted with the pulley. He witnessed all the punishments inflicted from October, 1891, to October, 1892. Sometimes Brockway would strike an inmate with the palm and sometimes with the back of the hand across the face, but not on the mouth. He had taken inmates from the bathroom to the solitary. He had seen men struck over the head by Brockway during punishment for turning their heads and sometimes the inmate's nose would bleed from the blow.

   In reference to the court-martial held in connection with what is known as the January deal of 1893, Halpin said he was one of the officers who composed the court, but he could not say how many sessions were held or when they began. The witness denied positively that the inmates were induced by threats of punishments to give information of their own guilt or that of others in the "deal."

   The witness when asked his present employment declined to answer and he was sustained by the commissioners.

   In reply to Commissioner Deyo, Halpin said that Brockway's manner toward the inmates was like that of an employer on the outside toward his employes.

   The investigation was then adjourned for the day.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Canal Proposition Virtually Killed—Other Items From Albany.

   ALBANY, Sept. 11.—In the absence of President Choate Second Vice- President Steele called the convention to order.

   Mr. Hottenroth continued his speech on the minority of the canal committee.

   The time for debate having expired, the amendments and substitutes were taken up. A phraseological amendment by Mr. Sullivan of Erie was carried designating the Main and Hamburg canal as the Main and Hamburg street canal.

   An amendment by Mr. Hottenroth correcting a typographical error was adopted.

   Mr. Acker moved that the committee rise and report favorably the committee's amendment to the convention recommending its passage. Carried.

   A number of motions were made to disagree with the committee's report and substitutes were offered, but each in turn was defeated.

   The question of agreeing with the report of the committee of the whole was lost—ayes, 50; noes, 55.

   Mr. Lauterbach moved that certain amendments agreed to informally by members of the charities committee and which will be substituted for parts of the charities proposition be printed for the members. Carried.

   Mr. McClure moved that the convention adjourn and it was carried.

   The canal proposition is virtually dead, though the convention may order a reconsideration of its action.

STATE FORESTS DESPOILED.

Serious Condition of Affairs Reported by Comptroller Roberts.

   ALBANY, Sept. 11.—Comptroller James A. Roberts reports a condition of affairs which points to a practical destruction of the Adirondack forest. The depredations and frauds are of three classes:

   First—Where the state lands are entered upon and the timber cut and stolen therefrom. Comptroller Roberts says he has in his possession unquestionable evidence going to show that state officials appointed to protect the state forests trespass are in collusion with the trespassers.

   Second—Where a form of selling the land has been gone through with, the pretended buyer entering upon the land and denuding it entirely of its valuable timber and then securing a cancellation of the sale upon the ground of defect, either in the tax sale or the state's sale to the pretended buyer.

   Third—Where valuable tracts of land have been lost to the state by irregular cancellation of tax sales and taxes.

   A report from the inspectors investigating the Essex county woods shows that lumbermen overrun the state lands almost with impunity.

   The worst feature of these depredations is that the trespassers cut the small growth, leaving the land a barren waste.

   Comptroller Roberts says that the evidence shows the existence of a system of plundering of the state lands. The trespass is winked at by the state officials and a regular stumpage rate is paid them for their indulgence. The penalty in the cases is $25 for every stick cut.

   The comptroller has entered upon the necessary legal steps to prosecute the trespassers and proceedings will be brought against the state officials with whose connivance the trespasses were made as soon as the papers can be prepared.

   Another report is now in preparation and will be completed, Comptroller Roberts thinks, in the course of two or three days, which comes under class three. It involves the title to and the taxes upon nearly 800,000 acres of Adirondack lands for a long term of years.

The Cortland County Fair.

   The Cortland County fair is to be held on the grounds, Sept. 18, 19 and 20. The premium lists are out and have been mailed to a large number of people throughout the county. Any who have not received copies can have them by addressing the secretary, E. E. Mellon, Cortland, N. Y., or by calling at his office, 5 Schermerhorn Bld'g.

   The premium list has been thoroughly revised and enlarged and the officers of the association are putting forth every effort to make this the largest fair ever held by the association. This they will be unable to do unless the people of the county at large take an interest in the fair and use every effort in their power to make it a success. The officers have spared no pains or expense to secure attractions of interest of every variety pertaining to the farm and household, and the premium list contains liberal premiums in each department.

   Bicycle races, horse races, double team races, etc., help to make up the attractions, while the management is negotiating to have exhibited during the fair the wonderful donkeys which were exhibited at the World's Fair at Chicago last year.

   The officers have been assured by the exhibitors at other fairs, that a large number of them would go to Cortland and exhibit their stock, and every farmer in Cortland county should take an interest in the enterprise by bringing some of the produce of the farm to exhibit at the fair. In addition to this, the ladies of the county should take an interest in the fair and attend to the matter and see that their department is not poorly represented.

   Among the many special attractions will be a marriage ceremony, the baby show and the bicycle road race to Little York and return which promises to have the largest list of entries of any road race ever started in Cortland county.

   Do not forget the dates, Sept. 18, 10, and 20 and if you have not a premium list send for one or call for one.

BREVITIES.

   —About 150 Cortland people are to-day attending the State fair at Syracuse.

   —A mothers' meeting will be held at the East Side reading rooms Thursday, Sept. 13, at 3 P. M. All are cordially invited.

   —The chicken-pie supper to be served in the Universalist church vestry by the King's Daughters has been postponed to Wednesday evening, Sept. 19.

   —Mr. D. C. Beers is putting in a fine cement walk in front of Fireman's hall. It will run eight feet into the street and the latter part will be used for washing hose.

   —Mr. W. J. Greenman shipped this morning a case containing a fine display of his high class bantams, which will be exhibited at the Tompkins county fair at Ithaca.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Miss L. Hawley, 73 Railroad-st., Saturday, Sept 15, at 7:30 o'clock. All wishing to send for books or Chautauquans come prepared.

   —The latest style in fall neckties was being displayed on Main-st. this afternoon by the local restaurant-keeper. His friends who met him are wearing smoked eye glasses as a consequence.

   —The contract for building the new organ alcove on the Universalist church was signed last night and work on the foundation will be commenced this week. D. G. Corwin will have charge.

   —The Hitchcock Drill team, who are to visit the State fair to-morrow mounted on the Cortland and Silver King wheels, manufactured by the Hitchcock company, were drilling under Mr. C. H. Drake at the armory this morning and afternoon.

   —Ground was broken at noon on the South Main-st. section of the sewer. The ditch is to be nine feet deep and a ten-inch pipe is to be laid. A manhole will be built on the corner of Main and Port Watson-sts. The sewer is being laid on the east side of the railroad tracks.

   —Through an error in proof reading some days ago it was announced that the opening sale of tickets for the opera "Maid of Plymouth," to be presented at Ithaca on Sept. 27, by the Bostonians would be on Sept. 11. The opening sale will be Sept. 21 at the store of D. F. Wallace & Co. in Cortland.

   —An Ithaca boy ten years old attended the Aurora-st. M. E. church last Sunday evening. He went up gallery and was the only one there. Soon he got sleepy and the first he knew he was awakened by the University clock striking one. He was decidedly scared, but poked around in the dark to the Sunday-school room and succeeded in getting out. His parents were very much alarmed at his absence from home.