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| New York State Capitol Building. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday,
February 15, 1895.
A POLITICAL SCANDAL.
Some of the results of applying politics to
business are exemplified in the construction of the most famous building in
America today—the state capital at Albany. The New York legislature made the
first appropriation for it in 1865. Thirty-nine other appropriations have been
made since then, 40 in all, and amounting to $20,484,675. For 27 years that
state capitol has been building, and it seems to be as far off from completion
as ever. Only the pyramids of Egypt can be compared to it in cost and length of
time of construction. As a monument showing how badly an enterprise can be
managed in an enlightened country that big building at Albany stands unrivaled
in the world and will stand.
The New York Herald has unearthed from the moldy archives of the past a few of the vicissitudes this
structure has passed through in the course of its sufferings at the hands of
politicians. One legislature would accept plans and make appropriations for
continuing the work, which would be begun. The next legislature would have some
different friends to reward, so would claw out all the former plans and order a
new set made, with more appropriations. The new idea would be just budding in
stone and marble when whop would go that Legislature! and another would come in
smiling like the clown who says, "Here we are again, gentlemen," and
all would be gone over again.
Exorbitant prices were charged for work on
the ill-fated house. An investigating committee found that John Snaith, Timothy
J. Sullivan and the state superintendent of public buildings—actually the state
superintendent of public buildings—had conspired together and charged over
$270,000 for work worth only $165,000. This was the celebrated ceiling job. New
York people are accustomed to think of their famous state capitol as one of the
sights of America. It is indeed.
Anybody who was anybody's friend could get a
job on the works, though he did not know a hod from a hole in the ground.
Sometimes there were so many workmen employed that all of them could not even
get within sight of the place where they were paid for laboring. Financiering,
which is only to be compared to that of the Panama canal, marks the progress of
what will be known in American history as the $20,000,000 capitol. Meantime the
magnificent capitol building at Washington, covering 5 1/2 acres, cost altogether
$10,725,478.
Empire
State Plaza: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Plaza
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| A. Dvorak. |
Anton Dvorak contributes to Harper's Magazine a paper which commends
itself to every American. It is on music in America. One is encouraged to learn
that the great Bohemian professor thinks the United States voice is, on the
whole, a good one. When he first set foot in the country, he was struck with
its strength and penetration as evinced among the New York newsboys. Professor
Dvorak appears to say this in all sincerity, not sarcastically.
What we most want at present is the
cultivation of a national musical spirit. When as a
nation we love music, then the genuine American music will develop among us. He
is surprised that we care so little for it and wonders why this is so. Two
traits characterize us mightily as a people, he observes. Alliteratively
expressed, they are push and patriotism. Our patriotism is unbounded, our push
everlasting. We want to know everything and know it at once, without the years
of slow teaching considered necessary in the old world. When he came among us,
Professor Dvorak says our habit of hurry and inquisitiveness annoyed him.
"But now I like it, for I have come to the conclusion that this youthful
enthusiasm and eagerness to take up everything is the best promise for music in
America." The enthusiastic, bright young Americans are the hope of the
country in music, as in everything
else.
To develop the song spirit and song ability
he wants opportunities for hearing good music cheaply to be as common as they
are in Europe. The opera has no effect at all on musical culture here because it
is enjoyed as an aristocratic privilege by the rich. They would not care for
the opera indeed if the "common people" could hear it too. And yet it
is exactly from the common people that the phenomenal voices in every case
come.
Dvorak wants the millionaires of this
country to build concert halls and opera houses in every city. They must endow
schools of music. Thus the love of music and the power to make it will be
cultivated together. The only approach to an American national music as yet the
professor finds in the negro plantation melodies and the guttural Indian
chants. But from these a love of music and culture will in time produce a
characteristic national music. Millionaires are invited to contribute.
About
That Snow.
CORTLAND,
N. Y., Feb. 15, 1895.
To the
Editor of the Standard:
SIR—In yesterday's issue there appears quite
a sharp criticism of the work of piling
snow on West Court-st. Fearing that the residents of the eastern portion of the
village will be alarmed lest a flood come from that "huge bank," I
wish to state that after careful computation I can prove that the whole
"huge bank" if melted would pass through a two-inch pipe in less than
eight hours. Furthermore when this snow melts "every particle" will not
go over the Crosswalk (nor any particle for that matter that now lays above the
walk), for we have taken every precaution to guard against sudden thaws. While
many gutters and sluice heads may now be filled with dry snow, we have an ample
force to open them on very short notice.
The outlet for water under the Court-st. crossing
exceeds two cubic feet, enough to take four times the amount of water that has
come down the hill at any time since the walk was laid.
The writer says, "It looks as though very
little foresight had been used," when in reality we had given it a very careful
consideration and concluded it was the best we could do under the
circumstances.
The "huge bank" is certainly not
more unsightly than it was on Main-st., and I think most of our merchants agree
that "distance lends enchantment to the view."
I doubt if any one has ever seen the Court-st.
crossing at Main-st. ankle deep or (if it will help in the argument) one inch
deep, with either slush, mud or water. Instead of being one of the worst walks
in town I claim it to be one of the best and most cleanly walks in the village.
And now, Mr. Editor, I wish to say in
conclusion that for ten months I have done my utmost to serve the best
interests of the tax payers of Cortland. Every man who has drawn a dollar for
public work has had to earn it, and there have been no drones or corporation
pensioners on the rolls.
While I am not looking for or expecting a
continuance of the present "soft snap" that I now enjoy, I have the satisfaction
of knowing that I have always been ready to take advice from those who knew how
work ought to be done, and just as ready not to take it from those who didn't
know,
The latter class have cursed and criticised
my work so that I am getting round shouldered and premature old age is settling
down upon me. Still I hope to survive until the lilies bloom.
A. H. DEXTER.
WILLIAM
H. NORTON.
A
Longtime Resident of Cortland County Passes Away.
Wm. H. Norton, whose long and painful
illness has been known to many, died at his residence on Railroad-ave., on
Tuesday morning last.
Mr. Norton was born in New York City in
1816. He came of a self-reliant line, his grandfather having been a
Revolutionary soldier, and his father a sea captain. He was but a child when
his father, with his ship, was lost at sea. His mother having married again he
went with her to Otsego county, N. Y., where he spent his youth and early
manhood. Here in 1845 he was married to Miss Adeline M. Smith, who survives
him.
Of the children born to these parents two
are dead, the eldest, Florence, wife of George Martin Lathrop and mother of J.
Kasson Lathrop, formerly of Cortland; also the elder son, George Norton, whose
family are residents of Cortland. These remain: Mrs. C. A. Hoag of McGrawville, Miss Claire Norton of Lyons, Miss
Myra Norton of Cortland, and A. S. Norton of New York City.
In 1850 they moved from Otsego county to
Homer and were residents of that town for thirty years. In 1880 the family came
to Cortland. Mr. Norton at this time was quite an invalid, but for the past
nine years he has been helplessly confined to his bed.
He possessed all the sterling qualities
which make a valuable citizen and through all these years has taken a keen
interest in public affairs, national, state and local. Although he had only the
limited opportunities of his early days for an education he had by observation
and reading become a man of broad information and logical power.
Early in the history of the Congregational
church Mr. and Mrs. Norton became members and identified with every interest of
such an organization. Some of the measures discussed, on which Mr. Norton at
the time stood almost alone, have since become the policy of the church.
Although so long kept at home he was always in close sympathy with the church.
Every year the birthday box had its offering and appropriate text from Mr. and
Mrs. Norton.
One brought from his sickroom, not a remembrance
of suffering, but an appreciation of fortitude and a sense of thankfulness that
the love of Christ could so ease the burden of pain. This helpless dependence
was all the harder for him to bear because the fundamental trait of his
character was self-sacrifice. This was clearly exemplified by the last incidents
of his illness. While his physicians were considering the advisability of a
surgical operation, he expressed himself as willing to undergo the ordeal, if
by it his physician could be better qualified to treat his family who might
hereafter suffer from inherited disease or even if general medical knowledge
would be increased to benefit mankind. Personally, however, he preferred to
regard this new complication, as a providential release from his suffering.
The funeral services were held at the home
on Thursday afternoon, and the remains were placed in the vault of the Glenwood
cemetery at Homer.
FITZGERALD
AND KLINE.
Receivers
for the Cortland Manufacturing Co., Limited.
At special term at Canastota yesterday Judge
Forbes appointed Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald of Cortland and Attorney J. B. Kline of
Syracuse as joint receivers for the Cortland Manufacturing Co., Limited.
When the company became embarrassed for
funds to carry on the business Mr. J. B. Kline, who was the heaviest stockholder,
applied to the attorney general to get him to bring an action on the part of
The People against the Cortland Manufacturing Co., Ltd., for the dissolution of
the company and the appointment of a receiver. He himself asked to be named as
the receiver. The attorney general commenced the action, the company making no
opposition, and Deputy Attorney General Davis appeared before Judge Forbes
yesterday at Canastota asking for a judgment of dissolution and the appointment
of a receiver. Mr. Kline was represented by Attorneys Tracey and Andrews of
Syracuse asking for his appointment. Creditors representing about three-quarters of the liabilities of the company were represented at Canastota by
Attorneys B. A. Benedict, J. E. Eggleston and O. U. Kellogg of Cortland, who
asked for the appointment of Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald of Cortland as the receiver.
There was a sharp contest over this matter. Finally Judge Forbes decided to
appoint both Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Kline joint receivers and the decision
seemed to be satisfactory to all parties.
Judge Forbes also directed the receivers to
deposit the funds equally in the National bank of Cortland and in the Second
National bank.
The appointment of Mr. Fitzgerald as joint receiver
with Mr. Kline is an eminently wise one, as his knowledge of the business in
all its details, and especially of the conditions governing the wagon and
carriage market, will make his services invaluable in finishing and closing out
the stock now on hand. His high
financial standing is also an element which probably has not been overlooked in
the appointment.
The multitude of friends of Mr. Hubbard and
of the residents of Cortland associated with him will be pleased to know that
the prospect is so excellent for closing up the business in a way to make it
yield all there is in it. The embarrassment of no business concern in this
village has ever caused more general regret, and there never has been a more universal
wish that the proceeds might be not only enough to pay all its debts, but to
return to the stockholders a liberal proportion of the amount invested, of
which we understand, in the case of the Cortland Mfg. Co., Limited, there is a
fair prospect. No Cortland industry has ever had associated with it a more
genial, faithful, industrious, honorable and popular man than Geo. C. Hubbard,
and everyone will hope soon to see him on his feet again.
The compliment paid the Second National bank
in being named by the judge as a depository for the funds coming into the
receivers' hands—in conjunction with The National Bank of Cortland—is a
specially gratifying one at this time, in view of the recent needless scare
caused by President Boynton's resignation.
BREVITIES.
—The trolley wire is to-day being strung on
the branch running to the D., L. & W. station.
—Mr. A. E. Buck is out to-day for the first
time in a week, having been shut up in the house with the grip.
—A
break occurred in the trolley wire on North Main-st. this morning, but traffic
was not long delayed as it was quickly repaired.
—It has been decided by the state superintendent
of public instruction that the trustees of common school districts are to act
as truant officers.
—Mr. Howe's bill incorporating the Central
New York Volunteer Fireman's association was yesterday advanced in the senate
to a third reading.
—If the gentleman who advertised for a gold watch
lost a few days ago will call at the STANDARD office he can learn its present
whereabouts.
—A bill was yesterday introduced in the
assembly providing for sprinkling village streets at public expense on request
of two-thirds of property owners.
—There will be a non-partisan massmeeting in
the Opera House Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the interest of the no-license
movement. Good speakers will be in attendance.
—In 1894 the Groton Bridge &
Manufacturing Co. built the largest tonnage of work since establishment. Their shipments
in the aggregate amount to 10,200 tons.—Groton Journal.
—Ament & Brazie to-day began the work of
re-painting and papering their book and paper store, and when this is completed
they will have one of the neatest business places in town.
—It is hoped that the frogs at the crossing
of the electric road over the D., L. &
W. between the villages can be put in next Monday so that the cars can run through
to Homer without transfer.
—Ex-State Treasurer L. J. Fitzgerald of
Cortland has purchased of the estate of Frank W. Truman ninety-three shares of
stock in the Champion Wagon company of Owego. Mr. Fitzgerald is one of the
owners of the Cortland Wagon company.—Owego Times.
—Speaking of newspapers published during the
war, Mr. Deville Northrup informs us that he has in his possession The Christian Banner, a paper published in
Norfolk, Va., dated Aug. 18, 1862, which is full of war news of the times and
is very interesting reading indeed.
—Mr. J. L. Watrous yesterday sold the house
and lot, 10 Clinton-ave., between the residences of Mrs. F. Ives and Mr. C. W.
Collins, to John Felkel, who will in the near future erect a business block
upon the lot. Consideration, $3,500. Mr. Felkel is to be congratulated upon his
purchase.
—The local columns of the South New Berlin Herald, a bright exchange which comes to
us, are directed by a lady—Mrs. Geo. E. Hawley. She seems to be a hustler for
gathering the news, and many local editors of the male sex might learn a few
points from her.—Lisle Gleaner. The STANDARD
on Feb. 22 will give evidence that a whole paper can be published by ladies,
and it will be a good one, too.
—C. Coles, "weather prophet" of Chester,
Pa., predicts that on Feb. 23, we will have the most vicious weather of the winter,
snow, sleet, hail, ice, rain, cyclonic winds and every other condition of the
elements calculated to make life unendurable,—Norwich Sun. This corresponds with the prediction of Dr. Irl Hicks. It is
to be hoped that it will not get along on the 22nd and interfere with the sale
and delivering of the woman's paper.
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