IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC AND DEATH OF JAMES B. FAIRCHILD

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 13, 1890.

Important Educational Topic.

   Apparently there is a great diversity of opinion existing throughout the county, in fact the state, relative to the Quota Bill and its provisions as well as when it shall become a law. The following communication just received by Assemblyman R. T. Peck, of this village, will interest the public generally. It is as follows:

   BINGHAMTON, N. Y., June 9th, 1890.

   To School Commissioners:

   The following telegram was received here at 9:16 A. M. to-day:

   ALBANY, N. Y., June 9th, 1890, to J. L. Lusk, School Commissioner:

   The Quota Bill is a Law.

   CHAS. R. SKINNER, Dept. Supt.

   Continuing, the communication pays the following compliment to the engineer of the bill in the following words:

   "We now have the $25,000 increase asked for, and the $100 Teacher's quota. I hereby tender Hon. R. T. Peck, of Cortland, the sincere thanks of the committee for his successful efforts in taking charge of the Quota Bill. He has earned the gratitude of nearly the entire state. While a portion of Brooklyn weeps and we rejoice, may God bless you for your noble work. Yours Respectfully,

   J. L. LUSK, chairman on School Legislation from State Commissioners Convention.

   Under the present law each district having employed a qualified teacher for the school year receives $100 first and then its proportion of the balance of the public school moneys according to the aggregate attendance of pupils of school age. This law will benefit Cortland county $2,500 or more annually and will be distributed to every school district.

   The object of the law is to lessen the tax for school purposes in the rural districts of the state and bring it down to the per cent paid by people living in the cities. The county heretofore has paid from 100 to 800 per cent, more in the country than in the cities, on account of the tendency of population to center in the cities. A district employing two teachers for 32 weeks of the school year will receive $200; three teachers, $300 and so on.

Our Circulating Medium.

   The resident correspondent forwarded to the Syracuse Standard last week the following statement of Cortland's manufacturing concerns, which shows that a large amount of money is kept in constant circulation here. We are requested to add that the figures do not include the salaries of officers; but solely that of mechanics and laborers. The list is:

   Cortland Wagon Company, $17,461.

   Hitchcock Manufacturing Company, $15,429.

   Wickwire Brothers, $8,100.

   Howe Stove Company, $7,637.

   Elmira, Cortland & Northern Railroad shops, $3,000.

   Homer Manufacturing Company limited, $4,100.

   Cortland Cart and Buggy Company, $3,000.

   Cortland Top and Rail Company, $2,700.

   Cortland Screen Door and Window Company, $2,000.

   Cortland Box Loop Company, $2,130.

   Cortland Chair and Cabinet Company, $1,700.

   Cortland Omnibus and Cab Company, $1,500.

   Cortland Manufacturing Company limited, $3,000.

   Excelsior Top Company, $1,400.

   Cortland Foundry and Machine Company, $1,200.

   H. F. Benton's Planing Mill, $1,100.

   Cortland Desk Company, $1,000.

   Cooper Bros.' Foundry, $600.

   John Ireland Planing Mill, $400.

   D. L. Bliss & Son, cigars, $400.

   I. H. Holcomb, cigars, $200.

   Cortland Standard, $415.

   Cortland Democrat, $350.

Coroner's Inquest.

   The coroner's jury which was in session last week inquiring into the cause and circumstances connected with the death of Claude Bryan closed its labors on the 6th, finding "That he came to his death on the fourth day of June, 1890, in the village of Cortland, at about two o'clock in the afternoon of that day. His death was caused by his head coming in violent contact with a timber projecting from a barn belonging to Sabin Pierce, standing partly on the farm of said Pierce and partly on the lands of the E. C. & N. R. R. Co., in the town of Truxton. Said Claude Bryan, at the time of his death was in the proper discharge of his duty as brakeman on a train of the E. C. & N. R. R., then moving in the town of Truxton, known as train No. 13, and was walking upon the top of a box car in said train. Said injuries were done to him on the third day of June, 1890, and the projecting timber that inflicted them was a part of a barn which had that day been moved by Sabin Pierce and others in his employ, near to the track of the E. C. & N. R. R. Co., at a highway crossing up on the farm of said Pierce, and left with such timber projecting nearly across the railroad track at a height of about seventeen feet above the rails. The moving of said barn and the leaving of it in the position which caused such injuries to said Claude Bryan were done under the supervision and by the direction of Sabin Pierce of Truxton in said county. We believe said Pierce was negligent in the matter but had no intention of doing wrong."

HERE AND THERE.

   Try Manhattan Club cigar.

   The Manhattan Club cigar sold everywhere.

   Every first-class hotel on the St, Lawrence sells the Manhattan Club cigar.

   Father Coleman's raffle for a clock will take place at the Half-way House, June 17th, at 7 P. M.

   The Hitchcock Hose Company hold their annual picnic at Floral Trout Park, Saturday, June 14th.

   Last week Mr. G. W. Davenport sold his gray trotter, "Lodi Boy," to parties in New York for $300.

   The hotel in Cincinnatus was sold at mortgage sale, last Monday, to Mr. J. Q. Perry, the former proprietor.

   When on your summer outing at Chautauqua Lake, call for the Manhattan Club cigar and enjoy a good smoke.

   The attendance at the Presbyterian Sabbath school, last Sunday, was 327, an increase over all previous records.

   Mr. L. E. Burnham took a photograph of the chorus at Mahan's festival, last week. Copies can be obtained by calling upon him at his studio, No. 29 Clinton avenue.

   Monroe & Son have opened the Owego street market corner of Owego and Park streets. They keep everything to be found in a first-class market and solicit the favors of the public.

   Brown & Maybury, the druggists, have a large stock of pure paris green [arsenic] which they propose to dispose of to all in want at bottom prices. See their advertisement in another column.

   Last Friday John Hogan, a freight brakeman on the D. L. & W. was caught between the bumpers and quite severely squeezed. He was taken to his home on Washington street and Dr. Angel called, who dressed his injuries.

   It was expected that a series of open air concerts given by the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co.'s Band would open on Saturday evening. That there may be no convicting with the Hose picnic, the concert will be postponed to next week.

   During the heavy thunder storm, last Friday afternoon, lightning struck the Alvord school house, located at the forks of the roads leading to Scott and Glen Haven respectively, and in the first mentioned town. The lightning followed the chimney into the school room, and knocking the legs from under the stove, ripped up the floor in the middle of the room. A small desk standing near the stove, and normally occupied by one of the smaller pupils was torn to splinters and some of the pupils were slightly stunned. The scholars didn't wait for school to be dismissed, but hurried to the neighbors in the drenching rain. Fortunately, the little boy who usually occupied the seat by the stove remained at home that day.

   That portion of the highway north of this village, recently acquired by the corporation of Homer, is being graded with some very good gravel.

   The funeral of Mr. Amos Hobart will be held from the family residence, North Main street, Homer, Saturday, at 2 P. M. He died Wednesday afternoon, aged 83 years.

   The closing exercises of the public schools will be held at the Cortland Opera House, on Friday afternoon, June 20th, at which time the G. A. R. will present flags to the several schools.

   The members of Cortlandville Lodge No. 470, F. & A. M., will meet at their lodge rooms in Masonic Hall block, promptly at 10 o'clock A. M., on Saturday for the purpose of attending the funeral of James B. Fairchild in a body.

   Mr. Alvin Gay, proprietor of the Lake House, at Little York, will give an Independence party on Friday evening, July 4th, at his popular house. Music by Happy Bill Daniels' Orchestra. Bill, $1.25. Mr. Gay's parties are always well attended, and are always of the pleasantest.

   Last Thursday evening, F. Rollo Woodruff and Frank Turner returned from a day's outing near Cheningo, the former carrying as a trophy 7 3/4 pounds of brook trout; the latter gentleman dressed his catch at the brook, but it tipped the scale at 6 1/2 pounds. This is no sensational fish narrative.

   During the week Captain Dunsmoor has had a detachment of the 45th company each day upon the company range, just east of Tisdale's flouring mills, engaged in target practice for qualifications. Some decidedly good reports are being entered. Each member is allowed 70 rounds, 20 for experimental and 50 for hard work. A skirmish drill is being talked up, the same to occur in open field if a convenient place is found.

   The editor of the Dansville Breeze hits the nail plump on the head when he says: "Newspaper men have no let up in work. When times are dull, people have plenty of time to read the papers, and so it turns out that the less there is going on the more people expect to find in the papers. When other folks could just as well close up their business and play, the newspaper man has to hump himself the hardest to get up a paper out of nothing."

   Monday afternoon John S. Heydon was arrested at Homer on the charge of being the party who has been engaged for some time past in sending anonymous and threatening letters to residents of the Hurlbut district along the Scott road. He was held in $250 bail pending an examination before Justice E. L. Stone, of Homer, on Thursday. Threats of burning buildings and poisoning stock were the features of the letters, especially since the change of location of the Hurlbut school house. The outcome is awaited with interest.

DEATH OF JAMES B. FAIRCHILD.

   The citizens of this place were shocked Wednesday evening to learn of the death of James B. Fairchild which occurred at his residence on Port Watson street, at 7:30 o'clock. He was taken ill about two weeks since after an afternoon's work in the garden, and his family were considerably worried about him. Dr. Dana, his family physician was called and after prescribing for him he was much improved.

   Heart trouble was the cause of his death and it was undoubtedly hastened by overwork. He was thought to be somewhat improved during the day Wednesday, and was as cheerful as when in the enjoyment of his usual health. His death came suddenly and unexpectedly to his friends.

   "Jim," as he was familiarly called by all who knew him, had hosts of friends all over the central part of the state and was one of the most popular and successful traveling men in the state. For many years he was the agent for Central New York of the Greenway Brewing Company of Syracuse. Something like a year ago, he left their employ and engaged with the White Brewing Company of Binghamton, in whose employ he was at the time of his death.

   For many years before the war, he assisted his father the late Isaac Fairchild, in conducting the old Eagle Tavern, located on the site where the Messenger House now stands, and during the war he conducted the Centre House in this place. He was a genial companion and heartily enjoyed a joke, even at his own expense. He was an adept at repartee and while his wit was pointed, it left no sting. The funeral will be held from the house 225 Port Watson street at 11 A. M., Saturday. He leaves a widow, two daughters and one son to mourn his loss.

Floral Trout Ponds were located between East and Owen Avenues, Cortland. The Pavilion, bridges and ponds may be seen in the upper right section of this 1894 map.

Open for the Season.

   An American flag floating from the staff on the pavillion in the Floral Park reminded the public that Wednesday afternoon and evening an opportunity would be presented [to] feast at the barbeque and supper in honor of the opening of the park for the season of '90. A town tennis court, croquet grounds, swings, and boats have been constructed and the ponds enlarged. These in connection with clean promenades cannot but offer a pleasant retreat from the hustle of business life. A portion of the east side has been converted into a flower garden, a hitching barn and other features will be appreciated. The rainy weather has prevented some work that was designed to be complete before the opening. All present apparently enjoyed the occasion especially the evening exercises in the pavillion which was decorated with bunting and Chinese lanterns. Mr. Robinson and wife are in attendance to further the comfort and pleasure of patrons in every possible way.