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| A. P. McGraw corset factory and Cortland & Homer Traction Co. car #17 at McGraw, N. Y. about 1898. |
THE ELECTRIC
ROAD.
THE
MCGRAWVILLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES INTERVIEWED.
Granted
the Franchise Under a False Impression—Thought They Were Giving
it to the New Company.
Immediately after the publication in The
STANDARD of last Thursday of the franchise granted by the McGrawville board of
trustees to the Cortland and Homer Electric Co. to build and operate an
electric railroad within the limits of that village, a report was heard that
the trustees had taken that action under a false impression, believing that
they were granting the franchise to the new Scranton company which has
contracted for the purchase of the stock of the Cortland and Homer Horse
Railroad Co., and which hopes to extend its line to McGrawville.
A STANDARD reporter yesterday afternoon
called at the office of the Hitchcock Mfg. Co. and there found Messrs. C. B.
Hitchcock, H. L. Gleason and Harrison Wells, all of whom are directors and
officers of the Cortland and Homer Electric Co. The reporter stated the case
and inquired if it was true that the Cortland and Homer Electric Co. had been
endeavoring to obtain consents of property-holders to the building of an
electric road, and if the company intended to build the road if the consents
and franchises were obtained. The reporter also made inquiry in regard to the
method of obtaining the franchise from the McGrawville board of trustees. The
gentlemen told the reporter a number of things, but insisted in the beginning
that they were not for publication. They said they were not yet ready to make
any public statement regarding their actions.
Last night the reporter drove to McGrawville
and called upon Mr. W. J. Buchanan, president of that village. In reply to
queetions, Mr. Buchanan said: On
Saturday, Feb. 17, Mr. H. L. Gleason, representing the Cortland and Homer
Electric Co., called upon him and stated that he desired to meet the board of
trustees of McGrawville in regard to the building of an electric road from
Cortland to McGrawville, and he wished to secure a franchise from them for
building it within the limits of McGrawville village. The trustees were quickly
assembled and Mr. Gleason stated his case. He said that they had doubtless all
read in the papers that a company was planning to build this road, and he
appeared in the interest of that company. Though he himself was directly
connected with the Cortland and Homer Electric Co., it was not the intention of
his company to build the road, but his company was securing franchises and
consents and the right of way for the new company to whom they expected to turn
the whole thing over. A little changing of their power would make it available
for motive power as well as for lighting, and they expected to sell the whole
thing to the new company. McGrawville could then be lighted by electricity from
Cortland, as well as be connected with it by an electric road.
The board were unwilling to take any action
at that time, as they had not looked into the matter any, and finally Mr.
Gleason said he would give them a a week in which to think it over, but he
requested them not to speak of the matter to any one.
On Monday morning, Feb. 19, only two days
later, Commissioner of Highways A. L. Shuler, who lives in McGrawville,
received a telephone message from Mr. Gleason asking him to get the president
and board of trustees together that day, as he was coming over a little later
to talk over that matter further. Mr. Shuler notified Mr. Buchanan and he
assembled the board in special meeting. Mr. Gleason was there and said that he
was very anxious to settle that matter up at once. The Cortland board of
trustees was to meet that night and he wanted to present the application for a
franchise in Cortland. If he could secure the consent of the McGrawville board,
he could use it as a lever upon the Cortland board. Mr. Buchanan said, we made
all kinds of excuses why we should not take action at once, but Mr. Gleason was
very urgent and finally we consented and signed the paper which has already
been published in The STANDARD.
Mr. Buchanan added that after Mr. Gleason
had obtained their consent he went to Commissioner of Highways A. L. Shuler to
get his consent to the building of a road in the territory within his jurisdiction,
between the corporation limits of Cortland and McGrawville. Mr. Shuler had
informed him (Mr. Buchanan) that he understood from Mr. Gleason that he was
acting for the new company, and that he would have signed the permission but
for the fact that he was so soon to go out of office. Under the circumstances
he thought it would be better for the new commissioner to sign it. Mr. Gleason
pressed him, but he refused. He had, however, driven over to see Mr. E. C.
Rindge, his successor, and urged him to sign it, and he understood that Mr.
Rindge was about to do so, when he learned that Mr. Gleason was not the agent
for the new company, and he had concluded to wait a little longer before he
committed himself.
The reporter then said that he would like to
meet the trustees, and Mr. Buchanan put on his hat and coat and went with him
to look them up. In the course of fifteen minutes the whole board was
assembled, the president and Trustees Samuel Doud, F. C. Topping, H. C. Johnson
and G. H. Maricle. The ground of the interview with Mr. Buchanan was gone over
and the other four approved and verified every word of it.
The reporter inquired how Mr. Gleason
referred to the new company, to whom he said the Cortland and Homer Electric
Co. expected to sell out. They replied that he spoke of it as the company of
which we had read in the papers. Did he refer to it as the Scranton company,
was asked. No, they replied, we can't remember that he did call it that, but we
called it so to him, for we had no other company in mind.
Trustee Johnson said, Mr. Gleason said he
hadn't a thing to do with this company which expected to build the road, he was
only securing for them the right of way, and with that thought in mind he
called particular attention to the word "assigns" in the franchise we
gave. He said all the papers would be turned over to the "other
company."
Trustee Topping said, he told us that the
new company was the same one which is operating the Ithaca road. All the other
trustees remembered this remark of Mr. Gleason. Trustee Topping continued, we
even went so far as to ask him what the new company expected to call themselves
and what would be the cost of a round trip ticket from Cortland to McGrawville,
and to both questions he replied that he didn't know. All said that Mr. Gleason
had impressed it upon them to keep this matter quiet.
The reporter then inquired if they would
have granted a franchise to Mr. Gleason if
they had known that he in reality did not represent the new company. They
replied that all they wanted was an electric road and they didn't care who
built it, but they wouldn't have granted a franchise to any company without
expecting that this company or the people whom it represented did expect to
build a road.
The gentlemen then said that the first
intimation they had received that Mr. Gleason
did not represent the Scranton company was when a representative of that
company called upon them last Monday to arrange for a franchise for the
Scranton company. The Scranton company was the only one which they had ever had
in their minds.
The trustees said to the reporter that they
didn't believe that the action they had taken in granting the franchise was
legal or would hold water. As they understood it now, before a board could
grant a franchise it must advertise the fact that this matter was under
consideration and a time for hearing must be appointed, so that if any one had
any objection to the project, they could have an opportunity to come
before the board and state them. They had not done this at all, hence their
belief of the illegality of their action.
THE
ELECTRIC RAILROAD.
Rumors
Connected With it—Interview With Mr. Page.
The electric railroad which seemed a
certainty one week ago appears to-day to be doubt. It was generally understood then
that parties interested in the Scranton
and Ithaca company headed by Mr. P. S. Page would within a short time commence
active operations in changing the road as it now exists into an electrical road
and extending it to different parts of the town.
The
negotiations for the purchase of the property of the Cortland and Homer Horse
Railroad company were opened months ago by Mr. Page, and his attorney, Mr.
Horace L. Bronson, obtained options on nearly all of the capital stock of that company.
Recently those options having expired they were renewed or are being renewed as
fast as possible. The legal papers necessary to a transfer of the old road to
the new company have been drawn and so far as possible have been acted upon by
the board of directors
There is a meeting of the directors of the
Cortland company called for the 27th of this month which is being advertised in
The STANDARD for the purpose of then making the final transfer, but within a
few days unexpected complications have arisen which may defeat the contemplated
sale.
It is claimed that the so-called Cortland
and Homer Electric Co. of this place are endeavoring to procure a franchise
from the board of trustees of Cortland village and have obtained one from
McGrawville and are also seeking the consent of property-owners in these
villages for the construction of an electric railroad on some of the side
streets in Cortland and on the road between Cortland and McGrawville; and it is
further asserted that these franchises and consents are sought for the purpose
of disposing of them to the Scranton company and also to force the Scranton
company to purchase the electric light plant which now furnishes lights to this
village and Homer. If this is so it is certainly wrong. Such franchises should
not be granted to any applicant unless in good faith they intend to construct a
road and stand ready to give a proper guaranty therefor.
Rumors had also reached The STANDARD office
to the effect that Mr. Page did not intend in good faith to purchase the Cortland
road and also other rumors that he intended to purchase two thirds of the stock
from the large owners and freeze out the other small stockholders.
In order to give the people definite
information The STANDARD interviewed Mr. Page over the long distance telephone yesterday
upon these subjects. First Mr. Page was asked if he in good faith intended to
purchase the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad company. He replied,
"Certainly, and I am taking the necessary steps to perfect the papers and take
the road and I intend to commence active operations in rebuilding the road just
as soon as possible." Next we asked Mr. Page: "Do you intend to purchase
two-thirds of the capital stock of the Cortland company and freeze out the
rest?" The answer came promptly and clear: "No, sir; we intend to
purchase every dollar of the capital stock of the Cortland and Homer Horse Railroad
company and are willing to pay par therefor and have instructed our attorney in
Cortland to keep all options thereon in force. Of course, we cannot compel
parties to sell their stock and if any should refuse to sell they can retain
their stock. We prefer to buy all of the stock and are informed that nearly all
of the stockholders are willing to dispose of their holdings."
We asked Mr. Page how soon he expected to
take possession of the road and to commence the work of rebuilding and
extending. The answer was "At the earliest possible moment. We have made
Mr. Horace L. Bronson our attorney and representative and he is authorized to
employ men in getting the requisite consents of property-owners."
Mr. Page further stated that he and those
associated with him had a controlling interest in the Ithaca Electric Railroad
company and that they are also large stockholders in the street railroad system
of Scranton, and other roads.
All the information which has come to us
indicates that Mr. Page is responsible financially and is ready to give to
Cortland an electrical railway system. Under these circumstances it would seem
that every possible encouragement should be given him by our citizens and
village officers. Mr. Bronson, the attorney for the Scranton people, [informs]
us that they will not fight their way into Cortland for the privilege of
depositing $150,000 here. If they are not wanted they will stay away and it
will probably be a long time before Cortland has another opportunity like the
present. So far as he has been able to get an expression from the business men
in Cortland, Mr. Bronson says that they are practically unanimous in welcoming
Mr. Page. In this sentiment The STANDARD cordially concurs.
Ice in
the Hudson.
PEEKSKILL. N. Y., March 10.—The Hudson river
from this place to New York is clear of ice. The river is still blocked with
ice above the Highlands.
 |
| Peter Jackson. |
JACKSON
MEASURED.
Corbett's
Opponent Shows Up Well Beneath the Tape.
NEW YORK, March 10.—Peter Jackson, the
colored pugilist, who is matched to fight Champion James J. Corbett, underwent
the new customary "tape line" preliminary to the contest.
Dr. John W. Gibbs used the tape.
When the big colored fellow stripped in the
presence of a dozen or more reporters, he showed unexpectedly good form.
The fact that the man measured 32 inches
about the waist and only 33 1/2—an inch and a half more—around the abdomen, where
a lot of fat was looked for, quite confirmed the impression that the first
glance at the naked man gave.
Jackson's left arm, from the acromion to
middle finger tip, measures 32 3/4 inches, and his right no less than 34
inches.
Peter's neck covered 15 3/4 inches of the tape,
or three-quarters of an inch less than Corbett's. In chest development he also exceeds
the champion. Naturally he measures 39 inches, or an inch more than Corbett,
and when inflated he stretches 41 1/2 inches, or 2 1/2 inches more than the champion.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
Religions
in the United States.
Brillat-Savarin, who complained of the
United States nearly 70 years ago because he said it possessed a hundred
religions and only one gravy, would find if he lived in our time that his
estimate in regard to religions was far too low, however we may have progressed
in the matter of gravies. The census of church denominations for 1890 makes the
number of different sects 140, not counting Islamism, which made its start in
this country through Mohammed Webb after the census was taken. However, Apostle
Webb's church is very small, numbering at present only himself, he not having
made one single convert, so far as appears.
Of all the different sects, however, Mr. H.
K. Carroll, who writes of them in The
Forum, tells us that 76 have a following of less than 2,400 members each.
One denomination that was on the record 10 years ago has quite disappeared in
1890, and that is the Sandemanians. Who were the Sandemanians anyhow? Most of
the small sects are "chips off Methodism, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism and
other well known bodies." There are 12 different kinds of Mennonites.
Mr. Carroll says the subjects about which
warring church people argue have changed greatly. They used to be doctrinal points,
such as free will, the federal headship of Adam, etc. Now nobody thinks much
about the headship of Adam. Christian believers are exercised in mind in our
time chiefly over the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures and the higher
criticism of the Bible. Microscopic points of difference have shriveled in
importance, and evangelical Christians
are nearer a common ground of faith than they ever were before.
What Mr. Carroll calls non-evangelical
Protestantism includes apparently the Unitarians chiefly. Of these
non-evangelical Protestants there are 188,000; of evangelical ones, 18,870,000.
In works of Christian charity and helpfulness to humanity Mr. Carroll finds
that the evangelical denominations have made great advance, while their foreign
missionary work has not lapsed or lagged. The membership of these denominations
is everywhere larger than it was. They are full of life, and there is no sign
of their decline in either material or spiritual strength.
◘
Probably
some American citizens are ignorant of the reason why the bankers of New York
turned at first a cold, deaf ear to Secretary Carlisle's appeal to them to subscribe
for his $50,000,000 bonds, then changed their minds suddenly and in 24 hours
took the whole loan. The reason was that they found out Secretary Carlisle was
going to coin some of the silver bullion in the treasury and put it into circulation
in case he failed to secure the loan. Rather than see the currency expanded by
silver they took the bonds in a hurry.
◘
Is a
current of the offscouring of Russian pauper Hebrew immigration pouring into
this country by way of South America? A report to that effect is abroad. The
Jewish colonization association that distributes Baron Hirsch's benevolent fund
is finding out that the only people who are worth helping are those who help
themselves, One of the colonies in Argentina, Mosesville, has been abandoned
because the settlers are too lazy and shiftless to earn their living when
ground and farming utensils have been provided, and the lazy and shiftless ones
have been shipped to the United States, so it is said. But it seems very
strange that there are Jews too worthless to earn their own living. That is not
the kind of Jews we have in America.
Went too
Far.
A well known Cortland young man intending
to get what he thought to be a good joke on two of his friends a few days ago
used the columns of The STANDARD to perpetrate it. On Thursday morning he saw a
STANDARD reporter and gave him an item to the effect that Messrs. John Williams
of Utica and M. Bowler of New York, together with their wives, all of whom were
former residents of Cortland, were registered at the Central House. As the young
man has frequently given the reporter tips and previously they have been all
right, the latter did not question the item and on Thursday evening the item
appeared in The STANDARD.
Upon investigation it proved that the item
was utterly without foundation and it places Messrs. Williams and Bowler, two
estimable young gentlemen who are working in Cortland, in a rather bad light to
those who did not understand that it was a so-called joke. Guys and jokes are
all right in their place, but The STANDARD is published for news, not for the
purpose of placing innocent individuals in an unpleasant light to the
community.
BREVITIES.
—The polls will be open next Tuesday from 9
A. M. till 4 P. M. only.
—The new West Side Dairy milk wagon appeared
on our streets a few days ago.
—Mr. F. N. Harrington has sold his black
mare to Mr. C. E Hurlick of Syracuse for $250.
—Lincoln lodge, I. O. G. T., will hold a
masquerade social, Saturday evening, March 24, in Good Templars' hall.
—Baker & Angell's store is being
revarnished and the woodwork is being otherwise dressed over. John Tuthill is wielding
the brush.
—The large number of canary birds in the
south window of the popular market of John O. Reid on Main-st. are attracting
much attention.
—Dr. Cordo will preach at Memorial chapel on
Tompkins-st. Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Residents of the vicinity are
cordially invited.
—Rev. Geo. H. Brigham will lead the meeting
at the East Side readingroom Sunday at
4:15 P. M. Singing will be led by Mr. J. B. Hunt.
—Next Tuesday evening Watkins Brothers will
begin selling at auction the balance of their large stock of dry goods. The
sale will continue until further notice.
—Oneonta had a great celebration when the
news was received there that Governor
Flower had signed the school bill and that the new Normal building was assured.
—The ladies' society of the Memorial Baptist
chapel will give a new maple sugar social at the chapel, Monday evening, March
12, from 7 to 10 o'clock. Sugar ten
cents.
—The students of the Normal have voted to
adopt a button of crimson, the school color. The gentlemen will wear them upon
the left lapel. The ladies will seek the most available place for bestowing them.
—The bills of the Forty-fifth Separate Co.
have been audited, sent to Albany and allowed, but before payment a set of receipted
bills for filing in the controller's office must be forwarded. All having bills
against the company are requested to leave at once receipted copies with Lieut.
Santee.
—The meeting of the Cortland County Agricultural
association was called to order in Fireman's hall at 2:30 this afternoon by
President Harrison Wells. Mr. E. E. Mellon was elected chairman. The report of
the secretary and treasurer was being made by Mr. G. J. Mager as we go to
press.
—About thirty of the friends of Miss Edna
Doubleday made her a surprise last evening at her pleasant home on Pomeroy-st.
The young people took refreshments, which were served at about 10 o'clock.
Games were played and a most excellent time was enjoyed by all. Miss Doubleday
expects to move next week to Truxton, which will be her home for the present.
Tea
Table Talk.
An Englishman said to a Boston girl: "What
do you do with all your vegetables in the United States?" She replied:
"We eat all we can and we can what we can't."
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