WAR REMINISCENCES, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

Captain William Saxton.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 12, 1903.

WAR REMINISCENCES.

By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.

BURNSIDE SUCCEEDS McCLELLAN.

Lee Regrets the Change—Burnside Arranged a Place of Operations—Hindered by Delay of Pontoon—Franklin Wished to Attack Immediately, but Burnside Delayed in Issuing Orders and FinallyBlundered in Them—Battle of Fredericksburg Begun.

CHAPTER 17.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—With the order relieving Gen. McClellan on the 7th of November, came one to Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside to take command. This he reluctantly complied with, having twice previously declined the proffered offer. Now he was ordered to do so and he could not disobey orders. Gen. Halleck said to him “You have been given the command of the Army of the Potomac. What are you going to do with it?”

   When McClellan had crossed the Potomac and moved south along the east side of the Blue Ridge mountains, his direction was toward Gordonsville. Siegel with the Eleventh corps had joined his army by moving south from around Washington and seizing Thoroughfare Gap in the Bull Run mountains. This move made it necessary for Gen. Lee to move from near Winchester, in order to prevent McClellan getting between him and Richmond. He accordingly moved on a parallel line west of the Blue Ridge, passing through some gaps, and had his army round Culpepper, while McClellan was at Warrenton at the time Burnside assumed command.

“Understood Each Other Well.”

   The news of the order relieving McClellan and appointing Burnside reached Gen. Lee’s headquarters within twenty-four hours after it was received by McClellan, and Gen. Lee remarked on receiving the news, “I regret to part with McClellan for we always understood each other so well. I fear they may continue to make these changes till they find some one I do not understand.”

   Burnside divided his army into three grand divisions. The Second and Ninth corps formed the right grand division commanded by Major-General W. V. Sumner; the First and the Sixth army corps formed the left grand division commanded by Major-General Joseph Hooker. The Eleventh corps (ours) constituted the reserve, commanded by Major-General Franz Siegel. Burnside made out his plan on the 9th in compliance with Gen. Halleck’s question, and sent it at once to Washington. Halleck came down to see him on the 11th and the plan was discussed.

Burnside's Plan of Operation.

   Burnside proposed to make a feint from Warrenton on Gordonsville, but really to march his army rapidly to the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg, cross over, seize the city and heights before Lee would discover his move. By so doing he would have his army as near Washington as would the enemy, and when he arrived at Fredericksburg would be at a point nearer Richmond than he would be if he took Gordonsville.

   Also, by using Acquia creek as a base of supplies, it would be only a short distance in the rear of this army. Burnside accordingly requested that a pontoon train sufficient to span the Rappahannock at least twice, with a wagon train loaded with hard bread and small commissary stores be at once started from Washington, via Dumfries, for Fredericksburg. He planned to throw Sumner’s whole grand division across the Rappahannock, and make a rapid movement in the direction of Richmond and fight Lee before Stonewall Jackson, who was still in the Shenandoah Valley, could join him. The troops passing us at New Baltimore on the 16th constituted the beginning of this move, hence the move of our corps, the reserve, to Centerville to protect Washington.

Pontoons Were Late.

   Sumner’s right grand division reached Falmouth, a little village on the north side of the Rappahannock, half a mile above Fredericksburg on the 17th; but no pontoons were there, and they did not leave Alexandria until the 19th. They did not arrive until Burnside’s move was fully accomplished, and Gen. Lee, becoming acquainted with it, had hastened Gen. Longstreet’s corps to Fredericksburg seized the hills south, and fortified them, thus completely checking the entire move.

   In the interim, while we were lying at Centerville, Burnside was occupied in establishing his new base at Acquia Creek and forming a new plan.

The Confederates’ Position.

   Gen, Lee summoned Stonewall Jackson to him, fortified the height back of Fredericksburg and cut new roads in the rear of his army. He divided his army into two corps, placing Stonewall Jackson over the right and Longstreet over the left.

   Jackson’s corps, comprising D. H. Hill’s, Early’s, Tallifarro’s and A. P. Hill’s divisions was posted from right to left in the order named, Stuart’s cavalry being on the extreme right next to the Rappahannock just north of the Massoponax creek and about, three miles below Fredericksburg.

   Longstreet’s corps, consisting of Hood’s, Pickett’s, McLaw’s, Ransom’s and R. H. Andrews’ divisions joined on the left of Jackson’s corps and extended in the order named along the hills back of Fredericksburg till the left of Andrew’s division rested on the Rappahannock opposite the upper end of Beck’s Island a mile above the town making the Confederate line six miles long.

   The Rappahannock at Beck’s Island makes a sweep around to the north by Falmouth and Fredericksburg. It hugs the north side whose banks are precipitous and high, called Stafford Heights. It leaves a plain or bottom on the south, or Fredericksburg side, from one-half to a mile wide. Back of this plain is the range of hills on which the Confederate army was located. Through these hills break several small streams as they flow into the Rappahannock, the Massaponax Creek on the south, then Deep Run, then Hazel Run, which flows in just below the city. From opposite Beck’s Island above a canal runs through this plain uniting with the Rappahannock in the city of Fredericksburg.

Building a Pontoon Bridge.

    During the night of December 10th, the day we left Centerville, Burnside had the pontoon conveyed to the river, and one hundred and fifty pieces were placed in position on Stafford Heights to protect them.

   Between 4 and 5 o’clock on the morning of the 11th while it was still dark, in a dense fog the engineers commenced to place pontoons for bridges at four points: one nearly two miles below the city, just a little below where Deep Run comes in from the south side; another at the railroad bridge and two more opposite the city and near Falmouth.

   The morning was misty and foggy and the engineers had partly constructed the bridges opposite the city before they were discovered. As soon as it was learned what they were doing Barksdale’s Mississippi brigade, which was stationed along the bank and in the city as pickets and sharpshooters, opened a deadly fire and drove the engineers from their work. They were rallied and driven away again and again. Orders were now given and the artillery opened fire on the houses in town which were sheltering sharp shooters. A number of houses were set on fire, but the Mississippians would not budge. More attempts were made by the engineers to lay bridges, but each time they were driven off with loss. Finally, about 1 p. m. volunteers from the Seventh Michigan and the Nineteenth Massachusetts as a forlorn hope, jumped into some pontoon boats, hurriedly pushed across the river and drove the Confederates from their [river] bank and from the houses in town, and the bridges were soon completed, but at the cost of 300 men.

A Fighting Chaplain.

   Chaplain Fuller of the Sixteenth Massachusetts had resigned from service and just received his discharge. When he learned that his regiment was about to go into action, he crossed the river in one of these boats with the Nineteenth Massachusetts, seized a gun, joined the skirmishers, helped fight their way through the streets, and fell down dead, rifle in hand, in front of a grocery store on Caroline-st.

   Troops began at once to cross, and before dark Sumner’s grand division and part of Hooker’s with three days’ rations, had crossed over. They drove the Confederates out of the city after considerable opposition.

   The grand division of Franklin crossed over without much opposition on the lower bridge, or bridges, for he had laid two nearly side by side.

   Early on the morning of the 12th, the remainder of the troops commenced crossing, and all that day and the early morning of the 13th was spent by Burnside in making a proper disposition of his forces. The left of Franklin’s grand division rested on the Rappahannock two miles below the city. His center was advanced nearly a mile toward the hills, and his right extended to the outskirts of the city, confronting Jackson’s and part of Longstreet’s corps. Franklin with his two corps commanded. Reynolds and Smith had reconnoitered his position, and after discussing the question unanimously agreed that inasmuch as all chance of surprise had vanished, there was but one thing to do, and that was to take the 40,000 men of the left grand division, and assault Lee’s right flank on the right flank and, left of the Richmond road at Hamilton’s Crossing and carry it at any cost.

Planning to Attack.

   Burnside rode the line with Franklin at 5 p. m. on the 12th. This plan was discussed, and when he left all were of the opinion that he approved of it, and Reynolds and Smith were ordered to make the preliminary arrangements. As Burnside was leaving, Franklin asked that he be permitted to order the Third corps to him at once. Burnside declined the permission, but said he should have the order before midnight.

   Franklin had the Sixth Corps guarding the bridge head, and his plan was to relieve it with the Third Corps and thus have his whole grand division ready for the attack at daylight next morning. Orders not coming at midnight, he sent an aide to headquarters for them, who returned saying they would be along presently. The orders did not arrive till 7:45 a. m. the 13th, and were then so vague and different from what had been talked the night previous, that Franklin concluded Burnside had changed his plan.

   Burns’ division of the Ninth Corps was detached from Sumner’s grand division and sent to the left of Fredericksburg to connect with Franklin’s right. Birney’s and Sickles’ division of the third corps were taken from Hooker’s grand division and sent to the lower bridge to assist Franklin. This gave him at least 50,000 men, and Burnside made a great mistake that he did not order Franklin to mass his grand division and turn Lee’s right.

The Battle of Fredericksburg.

   The battle of Fredericksburg opened on the 13tb, soon after Burnside’s orders came to Franklin. Reynolds advanced Mead’s division at 8:30 across a ravine in front of him under a heavy fire from the enemy’s artillery. Considerable loss was sustained in a fruitless attempt to capture one of Stuart’s horse batteries on the left. Mead pushed on toward a wooded hill occupied by A. P. Hill’s division, the rebel artillery plowing great gaps in his line. Gen. Birney, with his division, supported Mead on his right. They fought their way stubbornly up that hill, gained its crest, silenced the rebel batteries wedged themselves between some of Hill’s divisions and captured some prisoners and flags. On the crest, in the thick woods, the connection between Mead and Birney became broken, and Mead passing on, struck part of Tallifero’s division in reserve and was driven back down the hill.

   Two regiments of the Third Corps, which had just arrived, were sent to help Birney on his left; but they with Birney were driven back, suffering severe loss. Sickles’ division relieved Birney’s and he and Mead checked a counter attack of the enemy.

   The Sixth Corps suffered considerably from the artillery fire on the hills, and Brigadier General George Byard was mortally wounded by a cannon ball at Franklin’s headquarters near the bridge head. There was fighting more or less along the whole line and some prisoners were captured by Brooks at Deep Run.

Burnside's Mistake.

   Night ended the battle on this part of the line with no material advantage having been gained except that Franklin had extended his line in front a half mile or so and occupied the ground. It might have been different had Franklin’s plan been adopted. Burnside afterward said: “I made a mistake in my orders to Franklin. I should have directed him to carry the hill at Hamilton’s at all hazards.” W. S.

 

TO LOCATE IN CORTLAND.

Dr. Walsh Graduated from New York Homoeopathic Medical College.

   Dr. James Walsh returned to Cortland Friday night, having been graduated on Thursday from the New York Homoeopathic Medical college. He is to locate in Cortland for the practice of his profession and will very shortly open an office here. The commencement exercises were held in Mendelssohn hall, New York, Thursday afternoon and were followed by a banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria, which was attended by over 450 people. Among those who responded to toasts were Samuel E. Quigg, the Rev. Minot J. Savage, Hal Bell, Dr. H. Worthington Paige, and Dr. E. H. Sinnell. At the alumni exercises that forenoon addresses were made by a number of men prominent in the medical profession, and among them was Dr. E. B. Nash of Cortland, who is a member of the faculty of that college.

   Dr. Walsh is well known in Cortland and by all is highly respected and deeply esteemed for his high personal character and his genuine worth. The Homoeopathetic medical profession is not overcrowded in Cortland and it would seem probable that Dr. Walsh would soon build up for himself a fine practice here. His friends are all glad to welcome him back and to know that this will continue to be his home.

 

Buried in Cortland.

   Judge and Mrs. Edward B. Thomas of Brooklyn were in Cortland Saturday morning to bury in the Cortland Rural cemetery the remains of their son who died sixteen years ago, and who had been previously buried in Brooklyn. They returned home on the 10:03 o’clock train that day.

 

To Consider the Treaty.

   Panama, May 9.—It was announced today that an extraordinary session of the Colombian congress had been called for June 20 for the consideration of the Panama canal treaty with the United States.

 

CORTLAND COUNT JAIL, DEAD IN THE ROAD, NO INQUEST NECESSARY, WIRELESS NEWSPAPER, AND NORMAL SCHOOL BATHS

 

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 12, 1903.

THE COUNTY JAIL.

Report of Inspection to State Prison Commission.

JAIL FOUND IN GOOD CONDITION.

But Certain Repairs and Changes are Needed—More Sunlight Required for Sanitary Purposes—Changes in Windows' Bars Desirable—Baths on Lower Floor—Employment of Prisoners.

   Albany, May 7, (Special).—At the meeting of the state prison commission yesterday Secretary McLaughlin submitted the following report of his inspection of the Cortland county jail:

   Situated at Cortland, inspected April 30, 1903.

   The population on the day of inspection was only three, all men, all serving sentence, one for intoxication, one for non-support, and one on a peace warrant. While it is quite common for sheriffs to class prisoners who are committed for non-support and for failure to give bond to keep the peace as criminals, it is doubtful if they should be so classed.

   The highest number of inmates during the past winter was thirty-one, and the average from fifteen to twenty. The average in the summer is about seven. During the past year there have been two boys confined in this prison. A large part of the commitments are for public intoxication.

   The sheriff’s office in this county is a fee office, and the board of supervisors usually allows 40 cents a day for maintenance.

More Sunlight Needed.

   The jail is a two-story stone building, heated with steam and lit with electricity. There are ten cells on the first floor, each about 5 by 8 feet, opening on side corridors. The cell block is made of stone, as is also the floor, with no cellar or basement underneath. There is a closet in each corridor, but no bath on the lower floor. The cells have open work iron doors. There are two fair sized windows in each corridor, but they are so filled up with iron bars and castings that they are practically useless. In addition to this, the jail is surrounded by a closed board fence, 10 feet high, reaching nearly to the top of the lower windows, and 3 feet from the jail walls. This fence alone would keep most of the sunlight out of the lower part of the jail even if it had windows. Evidently whoever constructed this jail had slight appreciation of the value of sunlight in a prison.

   In order to make the lower floor of this jail reasonably sanitary and habitable, the exterior fence should be cut down at least 2 feet. A fence 8 feet high would answer every purpose for which such a fence is needed. All the soft iron bars and metal castings now in the windows should be removed and be replaced with small bars of tool proof steel. No such barricade of windows is necessary for the security of prisoners, and no jail from which the sunlight is so entirely excluded, as is the case in this jail, can be sanitary. Windows of modern prisons are not so barricaded. In fact, this jail should have at least three windows on the side instead of two, so constructed as to admit the largest possible amount of sunlight. Even then it is doubtful if it would be sanitary without a cellar or basement. Certainly an abundance of sunlight, which costs nothing, would greatly improve the present condition. This part of the jail contains no bath; one should be provided for each corridor.

Improvements Needed at Once.

   These improvements, which can easily be made at slight expense, should not be delayed. The proper thing for this rich and prosperous county to do would be to furnish this jail with a new interior, constructed on modern plans.

   The upper floor is differently arranged, is of wooden structure, and is only intended for the custody of women and “trusties.” It is fairly well lighted, has a closet in each room, and is provided with a shower bath. The outside walls of this jail are made of a good quality of cut gray stone, and the structure is in good condition and presents, from the exterior, a very imposing appearance. If the inside of this jail were modernized, Cortland county would have a creditable jail, probably large enough for its need for some time to come. The prisoners have no employment; not even a jail garden to care for.

   Respectfully submitted,

   George McLaughlin, Secretary.

 

DEAD IN THE ROAD.

Charles Harrington of Cincinnatus Partly Under His Wagon.

   At an early hour Thursday C. M. Smith of Cincinnatus, N. Y., coming along the road between Willet and Cincinnatus, found the horse and wagon of Charles Harrington who lives south of Cincinnatus, standing in the road. Mr. Harrington’s body was hanging out of the wagon, and life was extinct. There were no severe bruises on the body and no bones broken, nor did his head reach down far enough to touch the ground. Mr. Smith drove the rig at once to Dr. Halbert’s, but the doctor was not able to do anything for the life had already departed. The cause of death is not known. Mr. Harrington was 36 years of age and leaves a wife and two small children.

 

NO INQUEST NECESSARY.

Belief that Victim Fell from Wagon and Broke His Neck.

   Coroner M. R. Smith of McGraw was summoned to Cincinnatus Thursday to view the remains of Charles E. Harrington who was found dead in the road lying partly in and partly out of his wagon. He found that his neck was broken and decided that no inquest was necessary as he believed that Harrington fell from his wagon seat while d riving and broke his neck killing himself instantly.

 

Died in Olean.

   Word has come to Cortland of the recent death in Olean, N .Y., of Frederick Edmund Fisher, whose wife was formerly Minnie E. Peck of Cortland. Mr. Fisher was a prominent resident of Olean. He was the passenger agent of the Pennsylvania railroad, a knight templar and a mystic shriner. He had been ill but a short time with tuberculosis of the throat. He is survived by his wife and one child, Margaret Fisher, 8 years old. Mr. Fisher’s age was 35 years.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

A Wireless Newspaper.

   An indication of what the future has in store for the public in wireless telegraphy is given in a little eight-page paper entitled “The Wireless,” published by the Los Angeles Times and issued daily at Santa Catalina, “The Enchanted Isle in a Summer Sea.” It is claimed to be, and probably is, “the only newspaper in the world publishing sure-enough dispatches transmitted by wireless telegraph!” Santa Catalina is an island in the Pacific ocean off the Southern California coast. The special dispatches to “The Wireless” are sent over the Pacific Wireless Telegraph line, across the channel dividing Santa Catalina Island from the mainland. The Los Angeles Times very properly plumes itself over this journalistic achievement, which is certainly a novelty and sensation in the newspaper line.

   The installation of a system of wireless telegraphy between Whites’s Point, near San Pedro, and Avalon, was accomplished by the Pacific Wireless Telegraph company some months ago. Many messages, mostly private, have been flashed back and forth since the opening of the wireless “line,” but the people on the island in general had no means of benefiting by the service so long as there was no medium for presenting the news to them after transmission to the “Enchanted Isle.” It was to fill this “long-felt want” that the daily “Wireless” newspaper was called into being.

   No event in the history of the island has created such a stir as the first appearance of “The Wireless.” The first edition of 1,000 copies was disposed of in less than half an hour, and a second edition was gobbled up with equal haste without succeeding in supplying the demand. As much as $1 was offered for single copies when the second edition was exhausted.

   The regular pride of “The Wireless” is 3 cents a copy; by carrier, 15 cents a week, or 50 cents a month. It will be mailed from the office, enclosed in envelope, to any part of the United States, postage prepaid at 5 cents a copy.

   The heading of the new daily is embellished with The Times device, crossed pen and sword and acorn, a cut of a tenderfoot in the act of catching a mammoth yellowtail, and a beach maiden in the swim. There is also an outline of the shore of Santa Catalina, a steamer headed for it from San Pedro, and the wireless telegraph mast at Avalon in the foreground.

   The first wireless telegraph “line” in the world, in successful operation and doing a regular commercial business, is that operating between White’s Point and Avalon. The originator and owner of this system is the Pacific Wireless Telegraph company, of which Gen. A. L. New of Denver is president and general manager. The Pacific Wireless Telegraph system has no connection with the Marconi system, and never has had. While the same general principles apply to the operation of each, the Pacific Wireless Telegraph company uses apparatus that is entirely different from that employed by Marconi. The practicability of the system for which the Pacific Wireless Telegraph company holds patents has been demonstrated by actual use, and the plans of the company are to establish a system of\ wireless telegraphy that will cover the entire Pacific coast, and the islands adjacent thereto. The business of the White’s Point station has grown to such proportions that the company is about to establish a more central station in San Pedro to co-operate with the Avalon station. The general offices of the company are in Los Angeles.

 

NORMAL SCHOOL BATHS.

Now Completed And All Ready for Students to Use.

   The work on the baths which are being installed in the Normal [School] is practically completed and the baths were ready for use Monday.

   This will be a great addition to the Normal gymnasium and is something which has been much needed. The baths were included in the original plans and specifications under which the new part of the Normal building was constructed but for some reason—possibly lack of funds—were afterwards stricken out. An appropriation for the purpose was finally secured and the work of installing them was begun during the Easter vacation.

   Several changes in the locker and dressing rooms were made necessary by the installation of the baths. The large room on the east side of the building, directly under the methods room, previously used for storage has been utilized as the boys’ bath and locker room. A door has been cut through the brick wall, giving direct access to this room from the main gymnasium.

   The partition between the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms has been taken out and the whole space thrown into one large room for the use of the girls. A room, heretofore unused, directly off from the girls’ locker room has been fitted up as their bathroom.

   The contract for furnishing and installing the baths was let to the LeValley & McLeod Co. of Elmira, for the sum of $2,356.50. The concrete and mason work was done by Beers & Warfield, the carpenter work by J. D. Keeler, painting by Loucks & Petrie, all of this city, and the slate work by the Schilling Tile & Marble Co. of Albany. The entire work was done under plans and specifications furnished by State Architect G. L. Heins.

   The floor of the bathrooms is of concrete with a pitch of one inch in ten to insure complete drainage. The walls of the bath stalls are of Vermont slate. The spray heads are of triple nickel-plated brass, fitted with nickel-plated valves, galvanized iron pipes and mixing chamber, and each supply pipe is furnished with a check valve. The mixing chambers are regulated by wheel valves, and all danger of scalding is avoided as the cold water has first access. The spray heads can be set at any angle desired and the bather can take his bath without wetting the head.

   Each bath stall is fitted in front with a nickel-plated brass rail from which is suspended a double faced white rubber curtain, thus insuring absolute privacy for the bather. In each stall are placed four nickel-plated brass hooks and a nickel-plated brass soap dish. There are six baths in each room.

   The water is heated in a number 16 hot-water heater from The Thatcher Furnace Co. of New York City. Attached to the heater is a heavy iron boiler, tested to 300 lbs. pressure and capable of holding 500 gallons.

   The furnishings are the best obtainable, and the work is thoroughly done and well finished in every detail.

   These baths mark another step in making the Cortland Normal school one of the most complete and best equipped Normal schools in the United States.

 

BREVITIES.

   — H. D. Keyser has moved his family to Cortland.— Dryden Herald.

   — E. M. Yager has just disposed of three fine horses to a New York firm.

   — The Presbyterian church of Dryden is to be quite extensively repaired.

   — The Central school base ball team defeated the Homer school team on Athletic field in Cortland on Friday by a score of 22 to 5.

   — Mrs. George P. Hollenbeck entertained a small company of ladies at a thimble bee and tea Thursday afternoon at her home, 10 Church-st.

   — There was another death from typhoid fever at Ithaca Wednesday. Leslie Starr Atwater, a senior in Cornell, passed away after an illness of three weeks.

   — The Ladies’ Literary club at its meeting Wednesday did not take up the scheduled program, but devoted the entire session to business.. The next place of meeting was not decided upon.

   — Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lambert of Ann Arbor, Mich., celebrated their golden wedding on Sunday May, 10. They were for many years residents of Cortland, and the latter is a sister of David Dalton of Cortland.

 

DR. SOPER'S REPORT, ROOSEVELT A PROPHET, LOVER OF BIRDS, AND ORDERS COMING IN

 

George A, Soper.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 12, 1903.

DR. SOPER’S REPORT.

Necessity of Stamping Out All Sources of Disease.

STATISTICS OF THE EPIDEMIC.

Total Number of Cases Will Never Be Known—29 Cornell Students Died—Samples of Water Taken From Six Mile Creek Show That It Is Still Polluted.

   Ithaca, N. Y., May 8.—Dr. George Soper, representative of the state board of health, who has been in Ithaca since the last of February to assist the authorities in their efforts to stamp out the typhoid fever epidemic, made public a report addressed to the common council of Ithaca which covers his investigations.

   Dr. Soper, among other things, stated while he hoped the epidemic was stamped out, that as each typhoid patient furnished opportunity for a new center, it was necessary the the utmost of precautions be taken in order that the sources of all infection should be stamped out.

   Concerning the statistics of the epidemic Dr. Soper said: “So far as can be said at present there have been 955 cases and 64 deaths. This ranks the epidemic among the most important in modern times in this part of the world. Of the total number of cases 288 were students and the remainder townspeople.

   “The total number of victims will never be known. It is clear that some cases of fever that originated at Ithaca have given rise to cases in other cities. I have records of many and some deaths. The figures just given as number of cases and deaths take no account of any which were not actually contracted at Ithaca.

   “The number of Cornell students who died of typhoid fever as a result of the epidemic is 29. Of these 13 died at Ithaca. At the present time there are 19 typhoid fever cases in bed and 35 convalescents. Since April 1 there have been 11 new cases and six deaths.

   “It is important for many reasons that these facts should be generally known and understood. It is never a good business policy to hide from the public knowledge facts about an infectious disease. It is due to the public that the subject be dealt with honestly and openly. In no other way can the necessary sanitary safeguards be assured. To deny the existence of communicable disease when so many cases occur is to rob the public of means which it should take for its protection. This policy in business means bankruptcy and in public health means that it leads to epidemics.”

   Dr. Soper then strongly recommended that the plans projected for the further prosecution of measures for the elimination of all possible source of contamination should be prosecuted until fall and says the commercial future of Ithaca depends upon the completion of this work, and to this end the city cannot be too liberal in the expenditure of money. Dr. Soper also stated that recent examinations of water supply from Six Mile creek have been made and that the water was still polluted and impure.

 

President Theodore Roosevelt.

ROOSEVELT A PROPHET.

A Colored Bishop Says He is Bound to Succeed Himself.

   Asbury Park, N. J., May 8.—Bishop Derrick, in an address before the New Jersey African Methodist Episcopal conference yesterday referred to President Roosevelt as a prophet of the African race. He said:

   “We have complained that we did not have a man in the White House to talk for us. We have one there now: God hath given us Theodore Roosevelt, and he is sure to be his own successor.”

 

Booker T. Washington.

WOULDN’T MAKE NEGRO’S BED.

Chambermaid Refused to Touch Bed Booker T. Washington Had Used.

   Indianapolis, Ind., May 9.—Booker T. Washington lectured in this city on Wednesday evening, stopping at the Hotel English. On Thursday morning Louise Hadley, a chambermaid, refused to make his bed and clean up the room. The manager told her that she would have to make the bed of leave the hotel, and she left, declaring she would not make any negro’s bed.

 

Rev. U. S. Milburn, Memorial Baptist Church, Cortland, N. Y.

A LOVER OF BIRDS

Protests Against Robbing Nests Even in Behalf of Science.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—In a recent issue of The Standard I noticed a communication signed U. S. Milburn in regard to the collection of birds’ eggs donated to the museum of the Science club by H. C. Higgins. It is a deplorable fact that our native song birds are growing less every year. Many species that were comparatively plenty a few years ago are now seldom met with. As the bird disappear the insect pests multiply by the million. The farmer is the first one to suffer loss, although every one suffers either directly or indirectly. Now, if I had gone last year and robbed a whole lot of birds’ nests, and was planning to do the same thing this year I should expect to to be condemned, not praised, and especially not to be praised by a minister of the gospel. “Of much educational value,” he says. I can hardly see where the educational value comes in. If you wish to study birds, study live birds; go where they live in wood and field; leave your gun at home. I will warrant that the fresh air and exercise will do you good, and if you cannot learn anything from nature as nature is, it is your own fault.   

   I wish you could see my dear little shore lark that follows my plow and harrow, some days for hours at a time, see him take down the large white grubs until it would seem that he would almost burst. He will almost take them by hand. But don’t you try to harm him, nor steal their eggs away. You will find six feet of humanity after you in a hurry and you would think you were in an automobile smash up. I can tell you that now.

   It has been my good fortune to find three humming birds’ nests in my life. Did I rob the innocent little birds of their eggs? Well, no. Over twenty years ago in the “Elder Bennett” apple tree in my father’s yard I accidently discovered a nest just out of reach, but with the help of a table I was able to see two beautiful little eggs. The mother bird was sitting and soon hatched the tiny little birds. She did not seem to resent my intrusion, but would perch on a twig nearby. The birds soon grew up and flew away. They came back to the nest at night for a short time, but were soon gone. As I look upon the dear little nest at my side as I write how thankful I am that the eggs are not in it now. That was the most interesting study in bird life I ever saw. Today the memory of that dear little bird home and bird life is more to me than a whole museum full of musty egg shells and poisoned distorted bird skins.

   The next year I think I found a nest in another apple tree, but it somewhat came to grief in a wind storm and the eggs were broken.

   Three years ago I found another in a large maple in my woods twenty feet or more from the ground. I told a member of the Science club about it and he said, “Why don’t you get the eggs, they are valuable.” I said to him, “Neither you nor any one else can have those eggs,” but alas, some accident or tragedy intervened. I made frequent visits to the place, but never saw the bird since the first time that I discovered the nest. Later in the season with considerable difficulty I secured the nest, but it showed signs of having been the home of young birds.

   I have the same respect for the wicked boy that robs birds’ nests just for pure cussedness as I have for the scientific man that robs them for collections. The motive may be different; the effect is the same, as far as bird life is concerned.

   If this escapes the waste basket, I will try and tell some more facts I know about bird life and bird butchery.

   Ed D. Phelps.

 

CENTRAL PAPER BOX CO.

Of McGraw Incorporated With a Capital Stock of $30,000.

   Albany, May 7, (Special).—The Central Paper Box company of Cortlandville has been incorporated with the secretary of state to make and sell paper boxes. The capital stock is $30,000 and the directors are Fred A. Purchas of McGrawville; Walter G. Purchas of Nyack, and Alice M. Purchas of New York City.

 

ORDERS COMING IN

And the Davis Mfg. Co. is Hustling to Fill Them.

   The Davis Manufacturing Co. is installing its new steam apparatus, mention of which has been made before in these columns. It is the intention of the company to erect a new separate boiler house with engines capable of developing 240 horse power. This will give power enough to employ 500 men. At present the old 50-horse power engine will be used. The new boilers and engines are to be delivered within ninety days. Additional men will be employed from time to time, as business conditions warrant. Doubtless the present force will he increased as soon as more power becomes available, as the company already has a number of orders ahead. One order is to be delivered June 1, but the company fears that it will be unable to deliver the goods on time. At present it is engaged in putting in the steam pipes and dry kilns.