FARMERS' CLUB DISCUSSES ROAD TAXES

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 11, 1887.

Cortland County Farmers’ Club.

   The meeting was called to order at the usual hour, with President Blodgett in the chair.

   President Blodgett: We had expected that "Tax Payer" would be here to give his views upon the road question, but we are disappointed.

   Mr. Harmon: If the law was changed the commissioners can hire the work done as they see fit.

   Mr. Loring: I am in favor of raising a certain per cent on the whole valuation of the town, as some districts need more labor than others. Some roads need far more labor than others to be kept in good condition.

   Mr. Goodrich: In the east they employ a survey to expend the money, or to apportion it among the different parts of a town.

   Mr. Dart: In our section there is a mile or more without a single resident, and it gets little work.

   Mr. Goodrich: It does not seem easy to decide how we are to separate the villages from the rest of the town in assessing this tax.

   Mr. Gillett: We are very well satisfied with the present method in our part of the town. We have been much pleased with the road scraper.

   Mr. Loring: The greatest nuisance we have is the large number of loose stone left in the roads.

   Mr. Martin: I am in favor of keeping the roads well rounded to throw off the water. In the hilly roads a great objection is the large number of water breaks in the roads. By a tax we might get something done in those districts where they are more anxious to get in time than labor.

   Mr. Calvert: In many districts they work in all ways to kill time; by a tax there would be more accomplished.

   Mr. Martin: There is a law that the overseer can call out a district to open the roads in winter and keep it open unless it requires a great deal of extra labor. In such a case the town is the proper one.

   Mr. Rowley: When gravel can be found within a reasonable distance, I think drawing it is the best method of working on the road.

   The next question was called up and briefly discussed.

   Club adjourned for two weeks, to meet in Union hall, Saturday P. M., Feb. 19th. All are invited. The subject will be "The duties of the farmer as a citizen and business man. His standing in society, his trials and encouragements."

   A. P. Rowley, Sec’y pro tem.

   CORTLAND, February 5.

Crandall typewriter.

Lucien S. Crandall

COURT PROCEEDINGS.

   The libel suit of Lucien S. Crandall vs. James Densmore, which was on trial when we went to press last week was submitted to the jury on Wednesday evening of this week, with directions by the court to bring in a sealed verdict.

   The plaintiff who is a resident of this village, is an inventor and manufacturer of type-writers. The defendant who resides in Brooklyn is also a manufacturer and owner of type-writer patents from which he is said to derive a large yearly income.

   A few years ago Crandall was in New York and vicinity, engaged in perfecting his machines and had some business transactions in regard to the same with defendant. In 1883 or 1884, Crandall came home and finished his machine and then went to the Remingtons at Ilion, N. Y., who were then extensively engaged in manufacturing typewriters, and sought to make a contract with them for the manufacture of his machine. About that time Densmore wrote a letter to the Remingtons, in which he took pains to denounce Crandall as a liar and scoundrel and charging him with grave immoral practices, advised the Remingtons that his machine was worthless and that they had better have nothing to do with him.

   Later Densmore wrote still another letter to the Remingtons, substantially reiterating the charges in the previous letter and asked them to show the same to Crandall which they did. The negotiations between Crandall and the Remingtons was broken off, as plaintiff claims by reason of these letters.

   The plaintiff commenced this action in July last and laid his damages at $10,000. The defendant answered the complaint by setting up the statute of limitations and claimed also that whatever he said in the letters was true. The case has been hotly contested on both sides and has created much interest.

   The jury came into court on Thursday morning and presented a sealed verdict whereby they found for the plaintiff $10,000, damages. The case has been ably conducted for Crandall by Messrs J. & T. E. Courtney and J. E. Eggleston of this place and W. P. Goodelle of Syracuse. A. P. & D. C. Smith made a strong fight for the defendant.

CRIMINAL CALENDAR.

   The People against Daniel Curtin. Deft. keeps a hotel in Scott, and was indicted at the present term for selling liquor on Sunday. Plead not guilty and case sent to next Court of Sessions for trial on $300 bail.

   The People against James Chapman, Louis Chapman and Augustus Chapman, indicted for assault in the second degree committed on Patrick Kinney and George C. Straat, in Homer, an account of which appeared in the DEMOCRAT two weeks since. Plead not guilty and sent to the next Court of Sessions on $400 bail which they failed to furnish.

   The People against William W. Jinks. Indicted for assault in the first degree and for rape. The first indictment was found for an assault on defendant’s wife with a revolver, and the second for rape committed on the person of his 13 year-old daughter. Defendants counsel, Mr. H. A. Dickinson, demurred to the indictments. Cases sent to the next Court of Sessions with the understanding that in case the demurrers are overruled the District Attorney may proceed to move the case for trial.

HERE AND THERE.

   Revival meetings are in progress in the Baptist church in Homer.

   The Homer Cornet Band will give a concert at Freeville, Feb. 26th.

   Martin Edgcomb will sell his house and lot, No. 38 Grant St., at a bargain. Call at once.

   The revised charter for the village of Homer has been sent to the Legislature at Albany.

   Parents should not fail having the eyes of their children examined by the opticians at Gray's jewelry store.

   A. M. Jewett, the jeweler, has an advertisement on our first page which will prove interesting to all our readers.

   Parties in town are talking strongly of organizing a branch of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association in this place.

   Prof. A. O Palmer will be at J. C. Gray’s jewelry store until Thursday night, February 17th. If your vision is not good, be sure and see him.

   Early last Thursday morning lightning was seen in the western horizon, and later in the day it thundered. Weather prophets say that this is a sign of early spring.

   A. A. McLeod, general manager of the E. C. & N, went over the road to Elmira by special train, Sunday. It is very probable that the road, now nearly completed to Camden, will be extended to Watertown.—DeRuyter Gleaner.

   The Prohibitionists have called in the Excise ticket nominated by them two or three weeks since, and have endorsed the candidates nominated by Clark's Anti-Saloon party on Saturday last. Verily, the mountain has gone to the mole hill.

   Last Friday morning, DePuy Shevalier, of Messengervllle, slipped and fell while ascending the steps of the Court House, in this village, severely injuring his right arm and shoulder. Dr. Jewett was called, and upon examination found that the ligaments of the shoulder had been torn asunder. He was taken home on the 1 P. M train.

   Early in the spring Mr. B. F. Taylor will commence the erection of a fine brick block on the site of the wooden building now occupied by Messrs. Smith & Bates, hardware dealers, on the west side of Main St. Messrs. Smith &, Bates have leased the store now occupied as a saloon by Mr. Frank White, known as the Sturtevant & Doud property, and will move their goods into the same about April 1st next.

   The Anti-Saloon caucus held in this place last Saturday, nominated Henry B.  Greenman and Nelson R. Walsworth for Excise Commissioners.

   W. S. Freer will give a Washington's birthday party at his hall in Blodgett's Mills, on Friday evening, Feb. 25th, 1887. Music by Palmer’s full orchestra. Bill, $1.25.

   A stereopticon entertainment for the benefit of Grace church will be given at the rooms in the Schermerhorn building, Thursday evening, Feb. 17th, at 8 o'clock. Admission ten cents.

   Geo. W. Smith, Esq., has moved his stock of groceries from Messengerville to the Squires block in Marathon, where he will also carry on the shoe-making trade. George is an old vet., and is worthy of patronage.

   The United States government receives about $800 revenue from the granting of licenses in this town, while the town of Cortlandville receives about $1200, directly. This amount of revenue fails if no licenses are granted, and the failure to grant license does not seem to stop the sale of intoxicating drinks. The tax payers are obliged to make up the deficiency.

   Last week Thursday morning Messrs. Peck & Williams found that their grocery store, corner of South Main and Port Watson streets, had been entered during the night and cigars and other goods, amounting in value to $12, had been carried away. The burglars entered through a window on the south side, and left through the rear door. It was evidently the work of beginners.

RAILROAD PLANNERS.

Starting the Canastota, Watertown and St. Lawrence Railroad Company.

   WATERTOWN, Feb. 4.—Last evening the railroad committee, after a long and close consultation with F. E. Tibbetts, Austin Corbin's representative, decided upon an organization. Accordingly papers of incorporation were drawn for a company to construct a railroad from Camden to Watertown, either directly north and south or over a line taking in a part of the Lake Shore and thence onward to Depauville, Clayton, Alexandria Bay, Morristown and Ogdensburgh. The distance, a direct line from Camden to this city, is estimated to be fifty miles, and by way of Ellisburgh it is said to be fifty seven miles. A branch line will be built from here to Carthage in order to get part of the iron ore traffic from Jayville.

   The papers say that the road shall be 185 miles in length. The capital stock of the company is $1,850,000. Mr. Corbin, by his representative, promises to pay in the amount of the cost of the preliminary survey, while the ten per cent required to be subscribed will be paid by them also. The State treasury tax will be paid by the Watertown people. Enough stockholders signed the articles last evening to form the company.

   The first directors of the new railroad will be President McLeod of the Elmira, Cortland & Northern, Frank E. Tibbetts of Ithaca, Milton Delano of Canastota, John B. Stanchfield, Myron A. Smith and George F. Randolph of Elmira, "Fred" M. Nichson of Philadelphia, William M. Thompson of Alexandria Bay, George A. Bagley, J. Mullin, Jr., A. M. Farwell, John Sheldon and F. A. Hines of Watertown.

    The name of the new company will be the Canastota, Watertown & St. Lawrence Railroad company. It is the agreement that Watertown capitalists shall take $200,000 in bonds. A branch road will probably be built to Little John's mill in the town of Redfield. The preliminary survey will be begun immediately and the work will be pushed. If the lay of the land is favorable it is calculated that by December 1st Watertown will have a new road.

Lucien S. Crandall: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucien_Stephen_Crandall