ADVICE TO FARMERS

Charles T. Saxton.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 28, 1895.

ADVICE TO FARMERS.

Lieut. Gov. Saxton's Speech at the Brockport Fair.

   ROCHESTER, Sept. 28.—Lieut. Gov. Saxton made an address at the Brockport fair yesterday afternoon. He said one of the great significant facts of the present time is the great fall in prices. We see a great deal in the papers of the good times that are coming on us. There could not be anything that would please the farmer more. I have no doubt that there are better times ahead of the American people if you only give them time. In looking over the census I find that the value of farm land is double what it was in 1870, that there are only 20 per cent of the farms mortgaged. You can buy a farm in England for half what was asked for it twenty years ago. The condition of the farmer here is better than in any other country under the sun.

   Speaking of current and political events he said we have too much legislation now. We go on piling statute upon statute but none of you farmers will find anything there to tell you how to raise good crops or how to get good prices for them. You complain because your servants down in Washington do not do your bidding. If you attended to your public business as you do your private business you would find it different. You don't want to go to election. You think you are doing somebody a favor. I think it is setting a bad example to the immigrants who come over in such numbers. We ought to teach them that obedience to law is the highest duty of the American people.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Can Farmers Live in Villages?

   The gods help only those who help themselves.  The farmer's lot is in some respects an undesirable one because he does not have the conveniences and social advantages the city dweller possesses. But there is no reason why he should not have them, he can get them every one for himself.

   The isolation in rural life is not at all necessary. In the fertile Genesee valley the beautiful village of Avon is largely a farm settlement. Well-to-do agriculturists have their homes there, with grounds about them large enough to accommodate only the necessary amount of poultry and live stock. The village has beautiful shaded, graded and lighted streets, with city waterworks. The church, the school, the postoffice, the grocery, blacksmith shop and dry goods store, as well as the doctor are within a few minutes' walk of every one of these rural homes. In the morning the farmers go betimes in their wagons to the outlying farms, accomplish the day's work there and return to rest, social life and recreation.

   What the Genesee farmers have done their class, everywhere else can do. There is a decided movement in that direction now. French farmers live in villages. In Minneapolis a farm colony has been formed which will be watched with interest throughout the country. It is called the Sismondi Co-operative association and is organized as a stock company. Its stock is $5 a share. When $5,000 shall have been secured, a tract of land will be bought in common. It will be farmed in common, and it as well as the live stock and agricultural machinery will be owned in common.

   There, however, community ownership ends. Members of the association will live in a village which has city improvements. They will purchase their own lots and build houses upon them as individual owners. With their means combined these co-operative farmers will have every advantage of machinery and cheap purchase. They can buy and sell to far better purpose than the isolated ruralist can who must do everything single-handed. Thus the best two features of modern progress, combined labor and individual homes with all conveniences, will be had by these pioneers of co-operative farming.

   ◘ Those state commissioners who are trying to promote uniform legislation among the various states of the Union ought to be encouraged. At present a man may be lawfully divorced in one state, and a married man or a bigamist in another. In one state he may be a fully qualified voter, in another he is arrested for violation of election laws if he attempts to cast his ballot. A man may be guilty of crime in one state when he could do the same thing in another one and go scot free.

   It has been suggested as a remedy for this that the national government lake up the matter and enact legislation of general application, as it has already done in case of postal, bankruptcy and other laws. But then would certainly rise the cry of centralization from the state rights advocates, and there would be reason in the cry. It is better for the separate states to move in the matter and make uniform laws of their own accord. The divorce laws are perhaps those that need the most thorough overhauling. Distressing complications frequently arise here in cases where the property rights and the rights of children are involved.

   ◘ The put upon dweller in the suburban village will send forth a hearty prayer of thanksgiving to Mr. Thomas Caldwell of Newburg, N. Y. Mr. Caldwell is an inventor, and what his latest achievement is may be gathered from the question which started the idea to working in his brain. It was this, and it was put to him by his 19-year-old son, "Why don't you take a lawn mower and attach it to the front of a bicycle instead of the front wheel?'' The idea ''took.'' The result is the cycle mower, which is warranted to make the mowing of the front yard just fun. The boys will cry for it. All the man who mows has to do is to just pedal. The front of the thing is an ordinary lawn mower; the back is the hind wheel of a bicycle.

   ◘ The League of American Wheelmen have financiered so successfully that the organization is out of debt, has a good surplus and is ready for aggressive action in the matter of good roads and bicyclers’ rights. There is something in bicycle riding itself that is conducive to clear headedness and businesslike promptness.

   ◘ A few more victories for the Cuban patriots before the assembling of congress, and the United States will certainly feel called on to recognize the republic of "Cuba Libre."

  

Death of Mrs. Hopkins.

   Mrs. Catherine Hopkins died shortly after 12 o'clock last night at her home, 176 Groton-ave., aged 86 years. She was formerly Miss Catherine Stewart and has always lived in Cortland, being born on River-st. In 1826 she was married to Mr. Hiram Hopkins whose death occurred in 1874. She leaves eight children, namely, Mrs. N. P. Treadwell of New York City, Mrs. James E. Lormer of Dryden, Misses Margaret, Catherine and Hortensia Hopkins of Cortland, Major E. R. Hopkins of Highland Falls, Messrs. James M. Hopkins of Guthrie, Okla. and L. D. C. Hopkins of Cortland.

   The funeral will be held from the house Tuesday at 2 o'clock P. M., burial in Cortland Rural cemetery.
   [Hopkins' large farm with several heated greenhouses was located beyond 176 Groton Ave. and stretched east and west to Madison Ave.--CC editor.] 

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   Mrs. Harriet Cole of Lafayette is visiting relatives in town.

   Tickets for the Fat and Lean men's baseball game on Tuesday for the benefit of the Old Ladies' home are on sale at Atwater & Foster's.

   Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Murray and their guest, Dr. Lewis of Brooklyn, drove to Syracuse yesterday.

   E. L. Stone left town this morning to spend Sunday with friends at Carpenter's Point, Skaneateles lake.

   Mrs. Mary Bacon returned home this morning from Cazenovia where she has been visiting relatives.

   Mr. Fred Davis and family have moved into the house on Grove-st., recently vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Anson Scudder, who are about to remove to Locke.

   Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Brockway, Mrs. W. N. Brockway, Mrs. J. H. Starin, P. F. Smith, F. M. Newton and A. Stedman are among the Homer people in Syracuse today.

   The firemen are requested to assemble at the engine house promptly at 7 o'clock to-morrow evening to form in line and march to the Congregational church in a body.

   Miss Katherine Cobb has resigned her position as teacher in the Homer academy. At a meeting of the board of trustees held last evening the resignation was presented, but the board refused to accept it. The matter will probably come up for discussion at the next meeting which occurs on Tuesday evening.

Vesuvius erupting in 1895.

THE FURY OF VESUVIUS.

Four Fiery Streams Are Now Flowing From Its Crater.

   Since the renewed activity of the volcano Vesuvius changes made by the volcano forces have become very evident. Two new eruptive craters have opened up on the northwestern side of the cone below the former summit. At first only a little lava flowed from the new rents. During the first week of July one of these rents increased in size until it reached to the foot of the cinder cone. From this crevice a lava stream of nearly 200 feet wide flows with great rapidity toward the hills of Crocella, and has by this time crossed the road from the observatory to the station of the cable railway. A heavy rain of ashes accompanied this eruption, and has continued ever since.

   A great number of sightseers are coming to Naples to admire the wonderful spectacle of Vesuvius in activity. The last reports announce that four fiery streams are now descending the sides of the volcano, of which the one flowing toward Resina has already destroyed two vineyards. Professor Palmieri of the meteorological observatory had two immense stone walls built for the protection of the buildings. It is feared, however, that this protection will be too feeble to withstand the enormous pressure brought upon it by the stream of lava which is overflowing the crater at that point with a thickness of at least 20 feet. The heat is now almost unbearable. The largest eruptive crater has formed in the "Atrio del Cavallo," the saddle between Vesuvius and the Somma. The lava flow from this crater has formed by this time a large lake between the Colle del Savatore and the military rifle range. Next to this new crater two cones are forming and steadily rising. They emit immense sheaves of flames, which cast a red glow over all the surroundings. A peculiar phenomenon, never before observed, is the whistling sound emitted by one of the craters, resembling a locomotive whistle.

   It seems that the seismic forces are not particularly active this year. A new crater has formed on the eastern side of the Etna and further volcanic eruptions are announced from Stromboli.—Cor., Philadelphia Record.

Electric Lights for Marathon.

   Marathon bids fair to have electric lights before long. John O'Connell of the Cortland & Homer Electric Co. has been down making arrangements for this. He has made conditional arrangements for leasing the power to run the dynamos for both arc and incandescent light and is now waiting for the village trustees to grant a franchise, which there is every prospect that they will do at an early date. The people are much dissatisfied with kerosene oil street lamps and many have signified their intention of using electric lights in their houses if they can be had at reasonable rates.

Living in a Car.

   The Newark Valley Herald describes the Lehigh Valley pay car which was stalled there recently on account of a wreck near the station. It concludes its description by saying, "In this car Mr. Wilhelm makes his home for over 20 days of each month, year in and year out. He has lived in this car thus 12 years, and wore out another previous car with 24 years of travel, thus making 36 years in all, in which he has handed out of his window much over $100,000,000."

A Short Runaway.

   A probably serious runaway was averted this morning by John Fassel, porter at the Messenger House. Charles Wavel left his team attached to a heavy wagon standing in front of the Messenger House and an electric car came along frightening the horses who started on a run down South Main-st. with Mr. Fassel in hot pursuit. He caught them by the heads and brought them to a standstill in front of McGraw's wagon shop. No damage was done.

JAMES H. SINCLAIR.

Sudden Death of a Norwich Editor Last Night From Apoplexy.

   Mr. James H. Sinclair, for many years editor of the Chenango Union at Norwich, and a man widely known throughout the state, died suddenly at his home last night while eating his supper. The cause of his death was apoplexy. He was about 75 years old.

   Mr. Sinclair spent his earlier days Cortland and was a student of the

Cortlandville academy. For years he was a half owner of the Chenango Union, but his health failed him and, thinking that he could not live and that he would leave a complicated business for his wife to settle, he took advantage of a good opportunity to sell. A few months' rest and travel restored his health and then at the earnest solicitation of the owners of his old paper, he returned to the office in their employ and has since continued in full charge of the local columns of the paper. He was a man held in high esteem by all who knew him.

   He married an aunt of Mrs. B. B Jones of Cortland and only last week spent several days here in town. All his family have died except two granddaughters and it has long been his pleasure to care for them.

BREVITIES.

                            With loving look her dimpled arms

                            About my neck she did entwine.

                            And raised her rosy roguish lips

                            Up temptingly quite near to mine.

                            Who could resist such proffered bliss!

                            I could—and did, her age was three,

                            And her wee mouth was too stuck up

                            With candy to be kissed, you see.

   —There will be a concert by the Cortland City band at the park to-night.

   —Judge Eggleston goes to Ithaca next Monday to hold court for Judge Almy at the latter's request.

   —A Lockport man 92 years old has sued a woman of 80 for a breach of promise—Moravia Republican.

   —Michael Francis McCabe, brother of Mrs. M. H. Ray of Cortland, died at Cazenovia Monday after a brief illness. He was 36 years old and unmarried.

   —A woman wearing bloomers was put off the street car in Binghamton the other day because she couldn't find her pocket or get her fare.—Norwich Sun,

   —The farewell service for Rev. C. E. Hamilton will be held at the Homer-ave. church to-morrow night. Quarterly communion and love feast will also be held.

   —Last night at the regular conclave of Cortland Commandery No. 50, Knights Templars, it was unanimously voted to donate to the Cortland hospital $5 each year for five years.

   —Mr. Charles Mehan, the boy soprano of St. George's church, New York, will sing at St. Mary's Catholic church tomorrow morning, and at both the First Methodist and the Presbyterian churches in the evening.

   —The Chapin Universalist church of Oneonta, whose recent call to Rev. H. W. Carr of Cortland was refused, has now extended a call to Rev. N. B. Smith of Nashua, N. H. Mr. Smith has not yet given his answer.

   —Beth Margarette Wilson, the ten-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Wilson, died yesterday afternoon of cholera infantum. The funeral was held from 50 North Main-st. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Burial at Homer.

   —There will be a prayer-meeting in the Good Templars' rooms over Baker & Angell's store at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, led by Mrs. A. H. Mudge. A cordial invitation is extended to everybody. Please note change in hour.

   —The case of Erving D. Clark against Carroll C. Hitchcock and Augustus Lines, contractors at the Hitchcock M'f'g. Co.'s shop to recover wages amounting to $161.85 is on trial before Justice Thomas H. Dowd this afternoon.

   —The board of directors of the Young Men's Christian association have engaged Mr. W. L. Haskel of Utica as physical instructor. Mr. Haskel has attended a training school and comes well recommended. It is expected that he will enter upon his duties in a few days.

   —Mr. Leander Beebe of McDonough, Chenango county, brother of Mrs. Lutherie Mathewson of Cortland, died at his home at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning, Sept. 24, of heart trouble. He was a kind man, a good citizen and one whose death will be greatly lamented by all who knew him.