Washington Letter--Capt. Ead's Proposed Ship Railroad

Capt. Ead's proposed ship railway

James B. Ead

The Cortland News, Friday, February 18, 1887.

WASHINGTON LETTER

(From our Regular Correspondent) Washington, Feb. 17, 1887.

   Money for national defense, money for a new navy, the trade dollar question, the

Eads' ship railway, the backward appropriation bills, the educational bill, and the anti-polygamy bill are some of the subjects to which our law-makers have given attention during the week.

   The agitation in all sections of the country on the subject of immediate provision for national defense has had its effect upon both Houses of Congress. Senate committees and House committees were busy at the same time devising ways and means for the increase of the navy and coast defenses, and they ran a race of diligence to get in first with their important measures: The Senate won, and is doing nobly with the question of cruisers, gunboats, forts, and all sort of defense.

   There has been a vast amount of talk over the President's veto of the Disability Pension bill. This matter presents a remarkable spectacle to the country, and emphasizes the fact that the ways of the present administration are past finding out. A Democratic President vetoes a general pension law in order to enable Congress to reduce war taxes, and a Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives uses his power to gag Congress to prevent the removal of the war tax on tobacco.

   When Capt. Eads' great ship railway scheme came up in the Senate it was advocated by Senator Hoar as one of the most important steps that the American people had taken for a generation. It would give them control of the markets of the world. After sketching the course of commerce in the past and in the present he said it would hereafter seek direct paths. There were two routes eastward and westward. One through the Mediterranean sea had cut Asia and Africa in twain. The other (not yet open) was to divide the American continent at Tehuantepec.

   The Senator thought that if Congress would co-operate with the great American inventor and engineer in his plan for this purpose, it would go far towards securing future commercial supremacy for the United States. "It is not the proposition of an adventurer," said he. “Capt. Eads stakes upon it a fame gained by two of the greatest engineering feats of the age."

   Senator Gibson favored all attempts to pierce the isthmus, and would even applaud the genius of Lesseps if he were successful in opening the Panama canal, and effacing the barrier of the chain of the Cordilleras. He was disposed to favor any engineering scheme that was backed by the name of Eads. And then he said that the proposed route would be a continuation of the Mississippi river in nearly a direct line across the isthmus. The opening of the Nicaragua route would invite an issue with France, England and Spain on the Monroe doctrine.

   The Blair Educational bill has been suppressed in committee by the distinguished leaders of the Democratic party, Messrs. Carlisle, Randall and Morrison. The Republican members of the committee, Messrs. Reed and Hiscock, need one vote to enable them to report the measure back to the House. A recent canvass of that body satisfied the member who made it that the bill would command the support of two thirds of the members, if it could be presented to them for action.

   The people of Washington are waiting impatiently for Congress to take action upon several propositions. They all want inauguration day changed from the fourth of March to the thirtieth of April. They want an appropriation for running the elevator in the Washington monument, and they want the grand memorial bridge that is to span the Potomac as a memory to General Grant. There is a fair prospect for the next President to be inaugurated on the last Tuesday in April, 1889. This day in the Centennial year comes on the day on which Washington was inaugurated in 1790. Consequently there can be no sentimental grounds for objection to the change. And the reasons in favor of it are obvious. It will add nearly two months to the short sessions of Congress, and it will bring the inaugural ceremonies in the most delightful season of the year. The people of the whole country would welcome it in the interest of convenience to the large numbers who flock here to the inaugurations.

THE CUNNING JAPS.

   The Jap is very slow and deliberate, and everything is done on a small scale. The houses are diminutive and the rooms like closets. Because of my desire to teach the true religion to them I have endeavored to win their confidence, and to do this have always acted as though I were one of them.

   On reaching the house of the lady on whom I wish to call I leave my shoes at the door and enter the room. The floor is covered with mats three feet long by two and a half wide, lying close together, makings carpet; on this I kneel opposite the lady, who is also kneeling, and we commence bowing and repeating meaningless phrases. Three bows are made, the head touching the floor between the hands, which are placed directly in front, each bow made slowly, the head being held on the floor about the space of time required to count ten.

   After the salutation tea is brought and placed in front of me on a little table about a foot high, and each one in the room is served in the same manner. There is no furniture in the room, no decorations on the walls save in some houses one or two scrolls.

   Many of the pieces of bric-a-brac received from that country are made especially for the export trade. For instance these minute fans which you have need so extensively in decorations were unknown to me in Japan, and the little cups and saucers, so artistically and tastefully colored and so prized by you Americans, were made expressly for you, for the Japs never drink tea from a cup with a handle. [Anonymous.]

TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.

Chicago, N.Y., Feb. 17, 1887.

   Chas. Baldwin has bought the Robinson place. Consideration $150.

   Sylvester Gibbons, of McLean, has hired out to George Gillen for the coming season.

   Leroy Rooks has moved from this place to Buffalo.

Marathon, Feb. 17, 1887.

   George Chaplin had his arm amputated in hopes of getting rid of a sore which has developed into a cancer. Drs. Hyde and Reed were in attendance.

   Mrs. Dr. Reed is visiting friends in Whitney's Point.

   We see one of our townsmen that formerly kept a saloon has gone to work with his teams. We hope that he may have plenty of work for it is a grand change in his business.

Truxton, Feb. 17, 1887.

   Mr. Haggard, the landlord, has just returned from "a French furlow," that is, to go away when you please, stay as long as you please, and come back when you please. He has had a good time, we know, for he surely has lost nothing. Mr. Dillenbeck has rented his hotel to parties from abroad.

   Mrs. O.J. Kenney has gone to Preble to visit Mr. and Mrs. John Klock.

West Homer, Feb. 17, 1887.

   Rev. Mr. Wilbor and wife of the M. E. church in Cortland were in town Thursday making pastoral visits.

   About 84 of Mr. and Mrs. Fayette Goodale's friends were invited to give them a surprise last Monday evening, The tables were spread and loaded down with oysters and other tempting viands. The music was splendid and the occasion was very pleasant to all.

   Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Parker, of Blodgett's Mills, were the guests of her father, Eli Dickinson, Friday.

   Mr. and Mrs. Miles Stafford, of Virgil, visited his brother, Henry Stafford, and Mrs. Adah Stiles 1st Wednesday and Thursday.

Freetown, Feb. 17, 1887.

   George Tanner and G. W. Lason are to have their auctions on Saturday of this week at the residence of George Tanner.

   Ransom Merihew attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat on Monday.

East Scott, Feb. 17, 1887.

   The ice storm of last week broke down quite a number of trees in this vicinity.

   The box sociable held at H. E. Underwood's last week Tuesday evening was well attended.

   Erastus Griffin, who has been working Chauncey Churchill's farm for the past two years, will move to his own house near the church.

Preble, Feb. 17, 1887.

   Mrs. Staats Outt has bought Alfred Daniels' farm one mile north of the village, containing 25 acres.

   Mr. Woodward who worked the Woolston farm last year, has leased the Calvert farm for a term of years.

   Abram Manchester is quite out of health this winter as is also Mrs. Staats Outt.

   The remains of Mrs. J. D. F. Woolston, of Cortland, were brought here on Monday for interment. She had a wide circle of friends and was highly esteemed by every one. She had lived in town ever since her marriage.

   There are two young men in this town that are trying to make themselves a little prominent in the divorce case. The probabilities are that they will get into trouble before they are through.

   When shall we farmers learn to take a fair price for our produce? Potatoes have taken a fall as well as butter and a few farmers in this vicinity have their butter and potatoes on hand waiting for war prices. Don't try to be too smart.

   By jabe, I was glad to hear from our brother Harford correspondent once more, and in regard to candlemas day our learned East Homer correspondent will give us a little light on the subject undoubtedly.

   Frank Woodmancy and Joe Long were sent to the woods to cut an ash tree, and after they had finished cutting the tree into logs, Joe concluded that it might be a basswood. Hank thought it might be an oak. But their boss pronounced it white wood. Boys, you had better take a few lessons on the different kinds of wood.

ATTEMPTED JAIL BREAK.

   When Deputy-Sheriff Edwards went into the jail corridor at 7:00 o'clock last Saturday morning he was somewhat startled to find that Charles Shay, James Powers and Charles Hopkins had succeeded in breaking the locks off from their cells and had got as far as the corridor on their way to liberty, and but for Mr. Edwards having luckily overslept himself, would have been at liberty before that.

   It has been the custom of "Jim," as he is called by his acquaintances, to arise at about four o'clock in the morning and go at once to the corridor to see it everything was right. Shay and his companions had taken this into consideration and were "laying" for "Jim" in the corridor with a bar of gas pipe, with which they evidently intended to knock him down, secure the keys and quietly walk out.

   The over sleeping of the Deputy-Sheriff saved him a sore head and the county the expense of hunting after the prisoners. How they managed to pick the locks on the cells is a mystery. Shay and Powers are under indictment for burglary and Hopkins for larceny in stealing a cow, and all three are desperate men. Shay had written a note to

Sheriff Van Hoesen in language more expressive than eloquent, which was intended as a sweet good-bye.

   The photographs of the trio were taken that day and are the first to go into a “rogues gallery" in our county institution. [Wish we had the photos--CC editor.]

TOO MUCH DRUNK.

   Pat Ryan, of Groton avenue, occasionally enthures [sic] with too much 40-rod paralyzer. He did this on Thursday of last week, and while trying to navigate under the load, concluded that his bark would sail easier, if he should carve some one with a razor, and wasn't particular who he carved, wife, child or himself. Officer Miller, however, thought otherwise, and arrested him. Justice Squire on Friday gave Ryan his choice between paying $10 or remaining in durance-ville for ten days The fine was paid on Monday.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Mr. Theodore Grant has become associated with I. Whiteson in the clothing and merchant tailoring business at No. 20 North Main street.

   Some unknown person entered the room of 0. C. Farington at the Farmers' Hotel Sunday night at about 12 o'clock and robbed him of $44.

   Breakage in the dynamo of the electric light plant has resulted in Cortland's being in darkness the past week. An expert will be here this week and remedy the defect. [Did the gas lights fail to provide light too?—CC editor]

   Building promises to boom again the coming summer as already many contracts for new dwellings have been let and excavating for cellars has commenced.

   Next week Saturday, Feb. 26th., at 10 o'clock a. m., H. C. Gazlay will sell at public auction at the Cortland House, sixty-five village lots, all lying within one-half mile of Main-st., Cortland. The lots are all very desirable and have from 52 feet to 66 feet front, and are eight rods and over deep.

   W. H. Newton has handed in his resignation as Trustee of the fourth ward, to take effect on the day of the next charter election. Mr. Newton was elected last spring, and has found out that the position is one where the incumbent gets nothing but curses for his labor. The Board of Trustees next year, therefore, will have but one old member upon it, and even that is uncertain as Mr. Cobb has had serious thoughts of resigning.

   G. H. Chaplin of this village, has for some months past been troubled with a bunch forming upon his right arm below the elbow, which bunch has of late caused him considerable pain. Recently becoming alarmed at the progress it was making, he went to Rome, N. Y., and to New York city, where it was pronounced by the best physicians to be a soft cancer, and their advice was to have the arm amputated, and thus probably save his life. Accordingly, on Monday, the arm was removed midway between the shoulder and the elbow, by Dr. Hyde of Cortland, Dr. Reed of this place, and other local physicians. Mr. Chaplin, with unusual nerve, laid himself upon the table preparatory to the operation, and after being placed under the influence of anesthetics, the arm was removed very quickly and successfully. The cancerous growth was found to extend between the …, completely across, and the [large cancer] justified the decision to remove it. Mr. Chapin is well known throughout this region, and has the sympathy of all who know him in this trial….

References:

James Buchanan Eads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan_Eads

Captain Ead’s Proposed Ship Railroad: http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/PCSA1.Html