NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND

Elm Street bridge over Tioughnioga River, Cortland, N. Y.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 5, 1895.

NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND.

   The franchise given to the Cortland and Homer Traction Co. authorizing the use of Port Watson bridge for railroad purposes was a regrettable mistake, which all those who were instrumental in granting it have since fully realized, and would now gladly recall it, if in their power to do so.

   1st. Because the capacity of the bridge is no more than sufficient for the use of the public, exclusive of that to which the traction company purpose to put it.

   2d. It is no unusual thing for a dozen teams to arrive at the bridge at the same time; add a trolley car or two to this throng, let a country horse or two become frightened, as will surely occur some time, and we have a highly dangerous combination sure to result, sooner or later, in serious damage.

   3d. This bridge was never designed for railroad traffic and is not sufficient to endure the extra strain, to which such use would subject it. This will subject the town to liability for the damages resulting from another class of accidents unnecessarily and unwisely.

   The Cortland and Homer Traction Co. have been generously dealt by, in the bestowal upon it of franchises of immense value, which enables it to monopolize all the approaches to the railroad stations and to Main street, which are sure to greatly increase in value, and ought therefore, to construct a bridge for its own use.

   Without intending to be hoggish, corporations usually take all they can get, and the people should be on their guard to prevent their getting too much, for which they do not render a sufficient equivalent.

   The alteration of the highway, so that travelers may pass around the base of the Greenwood Hill instead of over it, is an improvement which ought to have been made long since, in the public interest regardless of the interests of the Traction Co., which ought to bear the expense of any extra grading, which its use for railroad purposes may require, and no more.

   No sum of money is, or can be any adequate consideration for the damage and inconvenience, which must result to the public from the use of Port Watson bridge for railroad purposes.

   Therefore let the right to use the highway around the base of the Greenwood Hill be withheld or granted only on condition, that the right to use Port Watson bridge be surrendered to the town and the right to use it for railroad purposes be abrogated and surrendered.

   Now is the time to adjust this matter on the proper basis, viz: Abrogate the franchise for crossing Port Watson bridge. Let the Traction Co. build its own bridge. Give it the right of way around the base of the Greenwood Hill, in exchange for its surrender of its right to cross Port Watson bridge. Let the town grade the road around the base of the hill, suitable for public travel and let the Traction Co. do such further grading as its use may require, at its own expense. Nothing less should be accepted and nothing more required.

   Unless this is insisted on at this time the franchise around the base of the hill will be bartered away for a paltry consideration, in a way which will be ever after regretted and condemned.

   Let every citizen attend the hearing on the 11th inst., and put forth his best efforts to secure this result and not spend the remainder of his life in regretting he had not discharged this duty to himself and posterity.

   JUSTICE.

   "Justice" is entirely correct when he says the franchise to cross Port Watson bridge should never have been granted and it will be remembered that the DEMOCRAT opposed the movement at the time. The franchise was granted however, and the Traction Company can hold it. Let the town make the best of the situation. We believe the Traction Co. would much prefer to have a bridge over the river on Elm-st. and if the town would join the company in building such a bridge, we have no doubt but that the company would be willing to surrender its right to use Port Watson bridge. A bridge at Elm-st. with a driveway for teams and foot passengers would be a great convenience to the town and we doubt not the taxpayers would be willing to pay a portion of the expense of construction.—Ed. DEMOCRAT.

Wagon Loads of Dead Fish.

   There are thousands of dead pickerel, perch and suckers in Green's basin in the D. & H. canal, two miles north of Port Jervis. The ice on the basin was two feet thick during the winter, and it is believed the fish died for want of air. It is said by those who have visited Sullivan county lakes and ponds this spring that there are many dead fish in them, which were suffocated during the winter, all air being cut off by the unusual thickness and solidity of the ice.—Middletown Argus.

Gen. Ely S. Parker sitting on Gen. Grant's right side for staff photo.

A Descendant of Red Jacket.

   BATAVIA, April 1.—Levi Parker, a brother of Gen. Ely S. Parker, is said to be dying at his home on the Tonawanda Reservation. He was stricken with paralysis some three months ago and is now in a critical condition. Mr. Parker is a lineal descendant of the famous Indian Chief Red Jacket and his brother, General Parker, is the last surviving Chief of the Seneca tribe of the Six Nations, and at one time was a member of General Grant's staff.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO—Brooks & Lally have moved their sled factory from Norwich to Oxford and will occupy the old chair factory.

   Charles St. John's cigar factory at Greene was totally consumed by fire Saturday morning. Loss about $2,600 insured.

   Assemblyman Sherwood's bill appropriating $25.000 for the State Home for the Aged dependant veterans and their near relatives, widows and army nurses, at Oxford, Chenango county, was passed. It will now go to the Senate, then to the Governor and there are no fears as to the result. This amount will enable those having the matter in charge to make a commencement on the erection of the buildings the coming summer and additional appropriations will doubtless be made as the money is needed.

   The Chenango supervisors passed the following law at their session: "No person or persons shall catch or kill any fish in any of the waters of Chenango county, N. Y., by spearing or in the manner commonly known as raking, or by the setting of eel racks, or the construction of eel weirs." And also this one: "It shall be the duty of very person or corporation, owning or occupying under a lease for one or more years, any lands and real estate in the county of Chenango, to cause all noxious weeds, known as the wild carrot, to be cut or destroyed between the first day of July and the first day of August, and between the first day of September and the first day of October in each and every year."

   MADISON—A large boulder was found lying on the railroad tracks near DeRuyter, a few evenings ago, and was removed with considerable difficulty.

   John Allen, a former Madison boy, who is now attending the Albany Medical College, has received the appointment of house physician and surgeon in Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.

   TOMPKINS—Cornell crew will sail for England on May 29th.

   A gentleman of Ithaca saw a fine flock of geese feeding in a field about four miles from that city one day last week, was within gun shot but of course had no gun.

   S. B. Fulkerson has sold the Etna hotel to George L. Burlew of Ithaca, who took possession thereof April 1.

  

William McKinley.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   Gov. McKinley of Ohio is making a tour of the Southern States and incidentally repairing his political fences in that quarter. It is announced that soon after his return home he will make a similar visit to the Western States. He is extremely anxious to secure the republican nomination for President and wants to run on the high protection idea. This is his entire stock in trade but the republican convention will not dare to go to the people on such a platform, and unless they do adopt such a plank McKinley will not be a very strong candidate in the convention. The party received a handsome drubbing on that issue in 1892 and it will hardly care to have the dose repeated as it surely would be. The people are fast finding out from practical experience that protection protects only the few and that a tariff for revenue is much better for the poor man.

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Regular Correspondent.)

   The new ministry of Spain lost no time in proving that President Cleveland was correct in thinking that it would do the proper thing about the Allianca outrage, and there is little doubt that the apology demanded by Secretary Gresham will in due time follow the explanatory communication already received.

   It is positively stated that a deal has been completed whereby the republican Senators will get the votes of the populist Senators and reorganize the Senate as soon as Congress meets. There is nothing surprising in this as it was expected by every body. One result of the deal will be to make John Sherman chairman of the Finance committee. Think of the populists helping to do that.

   Rumor says that the Supreme court will decide the income tax unconstitutional, and even gives the position of each of the eight justices sitting—Justice Jackson has been too ill to take any part in the present term—on the case. There is, of course, no method of ascertaining the truth or falsity of the rumor, which is believed or disbelieved according to the wishes of the expressor of the opinion. While officials of the government would prefer that the tax stand, they say that an adverse decision will not make an extra session of Congress absolutely necessary, unless there should be another run on the Treasury gold.

   While Secretary Herbert, when he planned the route over which Admiral Meade's squadron will sail during the month of April, had no idea that Great Britain would send that ultimatum to little Nicaragua, neither he nor President Cleveland regrets that the squadron will reach Greytown, Nicaragua, about the middle of the month. On the contrary, they rejoice at the coincidence which will place such formidable American war vessels as the New York, Minneapolis, Columbia, Atlanta, Raleigh and Cincinnati in Nicaraguan waters at the time that Great Britain will probably be making a demonstration of force to frighten the little Central American republic into complying with its demands as to the payment of extortionate indemnity, etc. It will show John Bull that the administration not only meant business when it recently told him that the Monroe doctrine was still in force and must be respected by him, but that it is prepared to demand respect for the Monroe doctrine at the cannon's mouth if it is not peaceably accorded. No one here seems to know what Nicaragua will do, but the hope is expressed on all sides that it will politely decline to accede to the unjust demands of Great Britain.

   "Uncle Jerry," the smiling nigger, who has been janitor of the White House "sense Gin'ral Grant's time," is the happiest "coon" in Washington. He celebrated his silver wedding, and the following distinguished friends sent souvenirs of the happy event: President and Mrs. Cleveland, one dozen silver spoons; Mrs. U. S. Grant, a silver butter knife; Mrs. Sartoris, a silver cream pitcher; Secretary and Mrs. Carlisle, a silver sugar dish; Secretary and Mrs. Lamont, ten silver dollars, not to mention the gifts sent by private citizens. But what tickled "Uncle Jerry" more than anything else was the attendance at the reception held by himself and wife, of Post-master General and Mrs. Bissell, Secretary and Mrs. Lamont and their children, private Secretary and Mrs. Thurber and their children, and a host of minor government officials.

   When the United States government sends, as it will at an early date in compliance with an act of Congress, its own engineers to officially inspect the route of the proposed Nicaragua canal, it serves notice to all concerned that it proposes to control that canal when it is constructed.

HERE AND THERE.

   J. Silver has moved his boot and shoe shop to 12 Court-st.

   A popular success—Hi Henry's Minstrels.

   A new fruit store has been opened in the Squires building in the store formerly occupied by Frazier's market.

   Mr. D. Delaney, proprietor of the grocery in the Churchill block, has moved his of stock of goods to the Stevenson block, corner of Elm and Pomeroy streets.

   Messrs. Allen & Bannell of Ithaca have leased the store, No. 12 West Court- st., for a furniture store and auction house. They commenced business on Monday last.

   The Hitchcock Manufacturing Company will sell agricultural implements and tools this season. They will occupy the Foundry warerooms on Port Watson-st. and Miles J. Peck, who is closing out his feed business on Elm-st., will have charge of this department.

   Mr. P. C. Kingsbury, the Homer dry goods merchant, has just received a very large stock of new goods for the spring trade which he is offering at very low prices. His new advertisement, received too late for this issue, will appear next week.

   Brayton Bros., who conducted Mudge's mills so successfully for over twenty years, have opened a feed store in the old cooperage opposite the mills, where they will keep constantly on hand a large stock of mill feed of all kinds. Farmers will do well to consult them before purchasing.

   The Good Government club has decided to restrict its membership to fifty members in all. The club came to this decision because they were informed by counsel that members of the club could not sit upon juries and if all the good citizens joined the club there would be none but the other class to sit on juries in liquor cases.

SCOTT.

   We hear of no sugar making in town yet this year.

   Francis Maxson is having a serious attack of the grip.

   Cornelius Donohue has returned from his visit in Ireland.

   Eugene Whitcomb, who was recently hurt by a fall, is improving.

   Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hazard are still sick and under the care of Dr. Ball.

   We learn that Merton Whiting has hired his father's store for four years commencing April 1st.

   Mrs. C. M. Dunbar started on Tuesday for Seneca Falls to live with a sister at that place.

   We hear that considerable damage has been done by the action of the frost on the docks about the lake.

   Wallace Pickett has been having serious trouble over one of his feet by having it stepped upon by a horse.

   Austin Brown is making somewhat extensive repairs upon the premises lately purchased by him in this village.

   Mrs. Mary Huffman and family have returned from Syracuse, where they have been staying for some months past.

   Charles Maycumber works for Wardell Burden this year. George Winchester, Jr. works for Elmon Randall in Homer.

   We learn that Mrs. Ursula Clark of Homer is married to a Mr. Fosmer and that Martin L. Davis of Ohio is also married. Both were born in Scott and lived to become grown here.

   We learn that Lovinus Tinkham and Charles Blunden have disposed of their farm in Fabius, trading it for property in Syracuse. Mr. Blunden, who has been occupying it for the past year, with his family we understand will move to Homer.

   Miss Genevieve Babcock teaches the South village school in this town, Miss Hattie Butts the county line district, Mrs. Wardell Burden the Brake hill school, Lewis Crosley the Tula district and Mrs. George S. Green the Fair Haven district.

   A new firm in Scott, C. B. Fairchild and S. J. Hazard, we learn, are to start a novelty shop on Main street near the old woolen factory. Material has already been purchased and the hum of the machinery will soon be heard. Orders are already pouring in.

PREBLE.

   John McCall has moved on the Ellis farm.

   Henry Crofoot has lost a check of $35 and would like to know who found it.

   Miss Mary E. Crofoot started for Tonawanda Monday of this week where she resumes her teaching.

   Mr. John Crofoot's family came from Boston and they commenced housekeeping Monday of this week.

   The lawsuit of R. R Van Bergen against Mills & Graham, was adjourned to April 13, when a jury will hear and decide the case.

   Mr. Ed Crosley, of East Scott, was in town Monday of this week and is looking for the man who took his overcoat, but it turned out that he was the man who took some other man's coat and left his, which  was a better one, so the other man does not find fault with the change. Mr. Harter claims his overcoat was taken by some one who left a better one, so he is not hunting up the man who took it.