Street Railway Crossing, Cortland Weather and Village Sidewalks

The Cortland News, Friday, July 31, 1883.

The Street Railway Crossing.

   In the case of the Cortland & Homer Street Railway Company crossing [Route 11 between Cortland and Homer—CC editor] of the tracks of the S. & B. Railroad Co., the arguments were summed up on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the commissioners submitted their report, by which they determine in substance that the crossing shall be made at grade or on a level with, the railroad track as now laid, and about thirty feet north of the north line of the highway; grooved rails for the space of forty feet from the outside rails of the steam-car tracks, to be laid on hard wood plank at least three inches thick between the rails and for four feet on the outside of the railroad track; suitable guard rails for the steam-car tracks, to be put down under the direction of the engineer of the S. & B. R. R., the latter railroad to have prior right to the crossing for all of their trains; the horse cars to come to a full stop at least ten feet from the railroad track, and the conductor and driver to look each way for approaching trains, and if any is in sight, they shall not cross until such train has passed; a red flag in the day and a red light at night to be carried on each street car for the purpose of signaling trains in case of an accident to the horse car obstructing the crossing; the street car company to give five days' notice of the time of the commencement of work upon said crossing, and immediate notice of its completion; the utmost care to be used during the construction of the crossing, so as not to delay railroad trains; and the sum of one dollar to be paid to the S. & B. Co. as compensation. The entire expense of such construction is to be borne by the street railway company.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Mrs. Burdick's school opens on Monday, Sept. 10.

   The 28th term of the Normal school opens next Wednesday, Sept. 3.

   A new plank sidewalk has just been put down in front of the Cloyes building on Main street.

   The Water-Witch Engine Company give a grand ball at Taylor Hall on the 14th of September.

   Mr. James Doud, a well-known expressman of Cortland, has become a clerk in the post-office.

   A large number from Cortland attended the Temperance camp meeting at Freeville on Sunday last.

   Col. Frank Place is moving into his recently purchased house, corner of Port Watson and Hubbard streets.

   Weather permitting, the Homer Cornet Band will give the last of the series of concerts of the season in this village to-morrow evening.

   Mr. D. Eugene Powers has in his possession a prairie hen. It was brought from Dakota by Mr. J. M. Samson, and is about two-thirds grown.

   The Social Circle of the Universalist Society will meet regularly every Friday evening during the fall and winter, in Union Hall block. All are invited.

   A flagman is very much needed at the Port Watson street crossing of the railroads. It is a dangerous place, and many accidents have happened there.

   The U. I. & E. Railway Company are preparing to make connection at Smith's Valley with the Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Railroad. Engineers are now surveying the routes.

   Cold enough for a frost in Cortland Monday morning [July 27], but fog prevented one. Elsewhere in the county, however, a light frost was visible. Fall overcoats were found comfortable. [1883 Eruption of Krakatoa]

   The meeting of the Board of Managers of the Library Association for September will be held at the residence of Mrs. J. L. Watrous, 18 Clinton avenue, on Tuesday next, at four o'clock.

The melancholy days have come, the saddest of the year,

When Clark with Democratic war paint on, begins to prance and rear;

He slings the Democratic gag and lie, 'till threadbare worn;

He then some more invents, as if to that bad manner born;

And while Republicans 'gainst themselves he tries to array,

He works for Democratic swag through all the gloomy day.

—Bryant, Rev. Ed.

   Over $40,000 of the railroad bonds have thus far been exchanged for the new funding bonds of the town of Cortlandville. An impression seems to prevail among some of the holders of the Ithaca & Cortland railroad bonds that these are not included in the bonds to be exchanged for the funding bond. This is erroneous. There is no difference between bonds of that road and those of the Utica, Chenango & Cortland in the matter of the exchange. Both will be cashed or exchanged, as may be desired.

   Last Thursday the sale of the Patten House, for several years kept by J. D. LeRoy, to Messrs. Thomas White & Son, was affected. The latter gentlemen will take possession Saturday, September 1, next. Workmen are already engaged repainting, papering and thoroughly refitting the house throughout. After the 1st prox. the name of the house will be "Hotel Windsor," will be kept in first-class style, free [omni] buses run to and from the depot, and every attention paid to the wants of guests.—Homer Republican.

   Monday morning, as Mrs. David McDonnell was walking along the track of the U. I. & E. railway from Port Watson street to the depot, and watching for the trains of the S. & B. railway, which were due at that time, she was struck by the train of the former road and thrown several feet into the air. Mr. R. B. Fletcher, who was at hand with his team, conveyed her to her residence, 81 Railroad street, and the Drs. Hyde called, who found her side badly injured and a thumb so much torn that they recommended amputation, to which the injured woman refused to submit, and at her request Dr. Hughes, her family physician, was sent for and has since had charge of the case.

   Dr. Nelson [Assemblyman] was in town last week. He called at the Standard office and met some other Democratic friends. From the appearance of Clark's paper, we conclude that a plan for the Democratic campaign was agreed upon, and the Standard fired the first gun.

   Boss Clark seems to have been touched in a very sore place by an alleged remark that the chairman of the Independent County Committee had been indicted, and the Independent candidate for Member of Assembly [Mr. George L. Waters] had "skipped." Inasmuch, however, as the World and Standard (both Democratic) are the only papers that have seen fit to publish the remark, and have done so without any contradiction of the fact stated, it cannot be said to be a Republican slander, and the gentlemen in question have only those of their own kind to thank for giving this publicity to their "youthful indiscretions."

   Two years ago Battery B, of Baldwinsville, a company of veterans who served in the war as part of the Potomac army, and did most effective service, came to Cortland on an excursion, and being handsomely treated by the officials and prominent men of the village, besides given by Mr. Randolph Randall the freedom of his beautiful grounds [between Court Street and Clayton Avenue, west of Main Street—CC editor], they came again in the following year, and again last Saturday, when, escorted by Riano's band, of Syracuse, which dealt out to an admiring crowd some of the most delightful music we have ever heard, they marched to the residence of Mr. Randall, and, through Capt. Pettit, presented to Mr. R. the regimental badge accompanied with a few remarks announcing the fact that, in accordance with a yearly custom, they had this year chosen him an honorary member, and that hereafter he would be known as W. R. Randall of Battery B. Mr. Randall was not present, but Mr. M. F. Cleary in appropriate language accepted the badge and thanked them for the honor conferred.

BAD.

   It is always saddening to read of a suicide or an accidental drowning, but when the victim is a resident of our own community, it is doubly so. Only the other day Mr. Jack Kerwin, with a bold and probably premeditated plan, repaired to the banks of the beautiful Tioughnioga—to look after his muskrat traps. He not returning as soon as expected, and his dutiful wife instituting a search discovered his empty boat calmly floating down the river. Fearful thought—Jack is at the bottom of that dreadful river! His body must be recovered. For three long, sad hours his wife and friends dragged the fathomless depths of that heartless stream, but no Jack. Poor Jack, he will never again make wagons, sing solos here, play ball or look upon the phizzes of his family. His life was full of — but, is that his ghost coming up the stream and carrying a load of ghostly muskrats? No, 'tis he himself with a load of the real, fat, genuine article, muskrat. Tableaux.

The Law as to Village Sidewalks.

   There are people in this village who are but little acquainted with the village charter, and who believe that the trustees have no right to compel a lot owner or occupant to lay sidewalks wherever the trustees may deem necessary. We desire to call the attention of such persons to the law in the matter, which we quote from the charter of our village:

   SECTION 46. The Board of Trustees shall have power in their discretion to authorize and require the grading, paving, planking, flagging, curbing, guttering, sewering, reconstructing and repairing of the whole or any part of the sidewalks of any street or alley in said village, a s they shall think proper, and according to the grade which shall or may be established by them, and to cause any street, highway, lane or alley in said village to be graded, graveled or stoned, and to compel the owners or occupants of any lands or lots adjoining such street, highway, lane, alley or sidewalk, to make such sidewalk in front of the lands or lots of such owners or occupants respectively, provided that they shall not demand or require any expenditure of any such owner or occupant exceeding the sum at forty dollars for one hundred lineal feet for sidewalks.

   SECTION 47 says that the trustees shall specify with what material, in what manner, and within what time they require the same to be done, and another section gives them the power, in case of refusal of such lot owners to comply with their order, to lay the walk themselves, and make the cost of the same a tax against the property, to be collected the same as other taxes.

   Certainly, if this law does not give the trustees sufficient authority, it is not in the power of the legislature to enact a law that will.