PLANTING OYSTERS ON BOTTOMLAND.

The Cortland News, May 18, 1883.

SALT.

To the Editor, NEWS:

   Can you suggest a use for salt, that shall open an adequate market for the supply, existing and prospective, of that mineral?

   The production of salt at Warsaw, Wyoming county, is a fact that has lost the interest of novelty, but the salt boom at present prevailing along the line of Genesee river has a fresher interest because its promise is not so well ascertained. Passing through that region recently, I saw preparations, in all stages of advancement, for sounding into the earth. At York, salt, at a depth of eleven hundred feet, has been found in mass ninety-seven feet in thickness. At Piffard the drill is at work. At Mount Morris and Fowlersville companies are forming intending to strike down for saline deposits. Mr. James White, of Moscow, estimating from the dip of the rock, finds that salt is not more than six hundred feet below his farm, so he is uneasy. 

   What shall we do, Mr. Editor, to use up the salt that soon will be dumped, at nine cents a hundred, into our bins? I'll tell you, Mr. Editor, what we can do: we can boil all our lumber in brine making it fire-proof; we can sprinkle all our streets making a crust upon them that will keep down the dust; we can give a light-dressing to all our corn-fields; we can work our mortar all winter, so salted that it will defy frost; and what I mean to do is to prepare my bottomland and plant oysters upon it. How much will sufficient salt cost?

SALTER

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The floor of the postoffice is being covered with Minton tile.

   Work has been commenced on the foundation of the new school-houses.

   Mr. C. F. Thompson last week took possession of his new house on Clayton street.

   Page & Santee secured fine negatives of the interior and flower decorations of the Congregational church on the day it was dedicated.

   Who says business is not going up town? Main street this week affords horse-power evidence that not only business but a whole block of business is moving northward.

   A heavy frost prevailed in this section last Monday morning, and much needed rain fell in the afternoon following. A two or three days' rain followed by warm weather would be welcome.

   To-morrow (Saturday) afternoon, at 2 o'clock, there will be an exhibition of speed by town horses on the Fair Grounds, for the benefit of the track. Fine sport is expected. Admission, 10 cents.

   Wm. J. Mantanye, Esq., has accepted an invitation to deliver the address on Memorial Day at Marathon. This an excellent selection. Mr. Mantanye is not only a superior writer and speaker, but he is a veteran of the old "76th," and can therefore speak from experience.

   H. L. Gleason, Esq., superintendent of the Hitchcock buggy and cutter works, arrived home from his Western trip on Saturday last. He visited Omaha, Fargo, Kansas City, and numerous other places in the far West, and reports the most gratifying success in a business point of view.

   The Standard lately issued a supplement boasting of the immense business it was doing and of the great value of the office. And yet it curses the existence of THE NEWS—although, as Clark says, it receives no support—and allows a $20,000 mortgage on the Standard building to remain undischarged. We have a question or two we would like to have the editor of the Standard answer. Is your boasted prosperity real? If yes, is it the result of legitimate business or of successful stock speculations in 1881 and since?

   W. H. Clark, of the Standard, believes in bringing private matters before the public, and not long ago published the contents of three wills not only without the consent but contrary to the wishes of the parties interested, claiming that he had a right to do this because such documents are public records and required by law to be recorded. We wonder whether he would like to have THE NEWS publish a copy of the mortgage for $20,000 on the Standard building, recorded in the Cortland County Clerk's office, Book 21 of Mortgages, page 563? If we carried out the programme of the Standard it would be proper to publish it, but we hold such records to be of a private and confidential nature and therefore not proper for the columns of a fairly-conducted newspaper.

   Mr. Mahan has completed the arrangements for his June Musical Convention and elsewhere in this paper announces the attractions which he has secured, and to which we call the particular attention of our readers. These conventions lave always been looked forward to with the greatest interest and expectation, and never has any of them failed to more than meet the most eager anticipation. Mr. Mahan does what no other manager ever did do of whom we have recollection—he performs more than he advertised. Aside from the benefit to be derived by the singers from the musical instruction imparted, the matinees are always enjoyable, while the two grand concerts are by the best talent that can be procured. There is only one thing in connection with the convention that is to be regretted — [Taylor] Hall is not large enough. It would have to be more than twice as large to accommodate the convention audiences.

   On Decoration Day the Young People's Association of the M. E. church will have a stand near the soldiers' monument when they will supply all wishing ice-cream and other delicacies of the season. This society have assumed quite a large amount of the indebtedness of the M. E. church, and the profit on the sales will go toward paying it.

   Post Grover G. A. R. held a meeting on Wednesday evening to make arrangements to properly observe Decoration Day. Hon. Frank Hiscock has accepted the invitation to deliver the address at the cemetery. The Homer band has been engaged, but as it cannot come until 3 o'clock, line will not be formed until that hour. Invitation to join in the exercises has been extended to the various companies of the Cortland fire department. The State department of the Grand Army invites clergymen to deliver sermons on the Sunday previous in commemoration of Memorial Day, and where practicable to hold union services in the evening.

   Mr. Theodore Marsh, a painter, residing on Garfield street, has lately had considerable family trouble. His wife seems to have preferred the company of a handsomer man (one Lewis Coon) and not long ago was with him at Whitney's Point for a couple of days. Mr. M. found a letter written by her to her lover making an appointment with him to go to "parts unknown." As he evidently cherishes the warmest affection for the woman, this conduct so affected him that on Sunday he took a dose of verdigris, but it was an overdose and only made him sick. His wife got out warrants for his arrest on the ground of attempting to commit suicide and threatening to take her life, and he was arraigned before Justice Bouton. [She] failing to appear against him, Wednesday morning he was discharged.

Henrietta Vinton Davis.

   Miss Davis, the colored elocutionist of Washington, has arrived in Cortland and is stopping at the home of Judge Smith, who was a warm friend of her father for many years previous to his death in Baltimore in 1870. Miss Davis will favor the people of Cortland with one of her entertainments at Taylor Hall this (Friday) evening, and the people of Virgil at the Methodist church to-morrow (Saturday) evening, and the people of McGrawville at Association Hall under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Presbyterian church, on Tuesday evening of next week (the 22d). This lady is engaged in a most laudable undertaking and should be largely patronized. She is a lady of character and ability and no one who hears her will regret the small admission fee or the time spent. Come and see what education will do for the colored race.

The New Congregational Church.

   The seating capacity of the new Congregational church was fully tested on the day of its dedication, May 8, 1883. Every available space was occupied, and as the pews will seat 600, it is safe to say that nearly 1000 persons attended the services. No description of the interior of the edifice will convey an adequate idea of its beauty. The architect, the builder, the workmen, the committee having in charge the erection and ornamentation of the church, have every reason to feel proud of the excellent success which has rewarded their connection therewith. But to our view, the part most commendable is the bowled floor of the auditorium and the semicircular arrangement of the pews. The speaker is visible from all parts of the room, and this should be the case with any and every hall or other room designed for public gatherings.

   On this occasion the front of the pulpit was hidden by a wealth [sic] of the loveliest flowers and plants, and their attractiveness, as well as that of the bright, fresh ornamentation was greatly increased by the light through the gaily colored windows.

   The order of exercises was begun at 2 P. M. and was as follows:

   Voluntary— "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah," by the choir. Invocation, by Rev. A. Kinmouth, of Oswego Falls. Reading of Matthew 7, by Rev. J. Franklin, of Lysander. Anthem—"Beautiful are Thy Courts," by the choir. Prayer by Rev. W. A. Robinson, of Homer. Hymn — "I love thy Kingdom, Lord," read by Rev. G. H. Bailey, of Moravia, and sung by the choir and congregation. Sermon by Rev. Wm. M. Taylor. D. D., of New York; text from Jeremiah 23, 28. Address to the people by Rev. Edward Taylor, D. D., of Binghamton. Hymn —"Glorious things of Thee are spoken," read by Rev. Wm. Smith, of Groton, and sung by the choir. Responsive Service of Dedication by Rev. H. T. Sell and the congregation. Prayer by Rev. C. C. Creegan, of Syracuse. Dedicatory Hymn — "Heavenly Father, King of Glory," by the choir and congregation. Benediction by Rev. Wm. M. Taylor.

   The sermon by Dr. Taylor, of the New York Broadway Tabernacle, was a comparison of Christianity with infidelity, and kept the closest attention of his hearers. The address to the people by Dr. Taylor, of Binghamton, was a short history of the church, followed by a statement that it cost nearly $19,000; that $7,000 had been raised, leaving an indebtedness of $12,000 to be provided for; that $7,000 of this was in bonds; and the remaining $5,000 was the floating debt it was desirous to meet at once.

   A committee was appointed to take names and subscriptions, and the Homer Congregational church headed the responses with a donation of $300, followed by $350 from the Home Mission Society and $350 from the Sabbath school of the Cortland Congregational church; $250 from the Syracuse church; and $100 from the Lysander church; The amount swelled to about $6,200 in the afternoon.

   In the evening services were opened by the choir singing a voluntary, followed by J. L. Robertson reading from the Scriptures, prayer by Rev. James W. Putnam, and singing, by the choir and congregation of the hymn, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Short, but pithy and pleasant addresses were made by Rev. Eben Halley, of Binghamton, Rev. W. A. Robinson, of Homer, and Rev. C. C. Creegan, of Syracuse. An appeal by the last named was responded to by contributions amounting to $400. Singing of the hymn, "Blest be the tie that binds," and pronouncing the benediction by the pastor, Rev. H.T. Sell closed the exercises, which were throughout of the most interesting character. 

Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Minton’s Ltd.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mintons