TOWN MEETING AND LAST CALL ON SNOW

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 20, 1895.

TOWN MEETING.

   Town meeting passed off quietly in Cortlandville yesterday. The vote was smaller than that of last year by some five hundred ballots, but this was perhaps accounted for by the fact that no supervisor was elected this year and that the interest in the election of the other officials was not sufficient to draw out the entire vote of the town. The Republican candidates were all elected, and the plurality on the head of ticket was 495.

   The resolution for a division of the town into two election districts for town meeting was carried by a vote of 1,228 to 157. This will in the future obviate the difficulty which has existed for many years of getting in the entire vote of this large town in one day. On several different years it has been voted to continue town meeting a second day. The matter was brought up at the business meeting yesterday at noon, and an opportunity for a motion to that effect was given. None, however, was made and so when the time for closing the polls came, the town meeting was at an end. Just prior to the closing of the polls a motion was made to continue the town meeting a second day, but the justices of peace, who were in charge of the election were unanimously of the opinion that no such motion could be entertained at that time, that it would be illegal to vote up on this except at the regular business meeting which is every year held at the stated time—noon.

   Several other prominent lawyers of Cortland expressed a similar opinion. One lawyer is quoted as saying that in his opinion the presenting of the matter at the business meeting and the giving of the opportunity for an expression upon it at that time and the neglect to take any action upon it then was equivalent to having taken adverse action upon the subject.

   When the time for closing the polls came every vote was taken in which was actually presented, but it is known that a large number of voters came and looked at the long line of men extending down the stairs, each awaiting his turn, and then went away without voting, not having the time to spare to wait for a chance to get to the polls. However, this is a difficulty which will never occur again under the new division.

   The Memorial day appropriation was carried by a vote of 1042 to 289.

   It is a cause for gratification that the voters again decided against the granting of licenses. The vote was 878 for Prof. Banta [Prohibition] and 711 for Mr. Phillips [Republican]. How much satisfaction can be derived from this, however, will depend upon how well the law is enforced. Many citizens who prefer to see a restriction of the liquor traffic rather than an open bar this year voted again for no-license with the idea of giving it the advantage of the fullest trial. It can hardly be expected though that the people will continue to vote for no-license if liquor is sold freely. The three members of the excise board are now all opposed to the granting of licences and are prepared to work in perfect harmony. The result of their efforts will be looked forward to with interest. Homer also went no-licence and several other towns which have some times granted licences also made a similar decision.

LAST CALL ON "SNOW."

Another Communication From the Street Commissioner.

   (We give space to-day to the street commissioner to reply to "Citizen," but we must decline to continue the controversy further over the snow question.—STANDARD Editor.)

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   Sir,—It begins to look as though that "Mountain of snow" stands a poor chance of dying a natural death; first it was to cause a flood. People below the grade built rafts and boats and became reconciled to their fate. Now they have another terror sprung upon them. "Citizen" predicts that the mountain will breed a pestilence. What next?

   Our "heroic" disposition immediately set us to work in the interests of our people to guard against danger, we found our apothecaries had an ample supply of microbe killer (one gallon jug $2 or for unhealthy neighborhoods three jugs for $5). If the innocent snow bank should breed anything in the shape of an epidemic and could make its special mission the attack of chronic kickers, it would confer one of the greatest blessings on this community it has had for years.

   During a residence of over 26 years in Cortland this is the first instance that we have known of the snow being carted off Main-st. The supposition is that in former years it melted and ran off in the gutters. Now the only way that he can account for our longevity in such unhealthy surroundings is that our winter boots were in such condition in the spring that we could not go out in the wet.

   We have unfortunately had this burden thrust upon us (we begin to think it was done with malice and aforethought) and unless some "hero" comes to the rescue and relieves us from our perilous position we will be compelled to inhale the poisonous vapors from that mountain of snow through the balmy spring. The board of health or the trustees should at once forbid the fall of any more snow within the limits of the village, for if it falls it is sure to melt and when it melts it might give some one a throat difficulty. "Eminent physicians" claim melting snow will cause throat difficulties.

   We had the best of motives in placing the snow on Court-st. We expected to see it disappear as rapidly as did the gold reserve from Uncle Sam's treasury and still think it will when old Sol gets a fair chance at it. We cannot ask the further indulgence of either the press or public on this insignificant topic which in the end only amounts to a few barrels of water.

   A. H. D. [A. H. Decker]

   Cortland, Feb. 20, 1895.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

A Match Head Started a Fire which was Extinguished.

   When Mrs. C. S. Strowbridge of 16 Monroe Heights came down stairs on Monday morning she found her dinningroom table in flames and the table cloth very much of a wreck. It took but a few minutes to whip it out. The cause of the fire was first a mystery, but later it was concluded that it proceeded from the broken head of a parlor match. Mr. Strowbridge had risen earlier and after eating his breakfast had gone to Homer where he is engaged through the day at the wire mills. He struck a match in the dining room that morning and the head broke off. Without looking for the missing head he used another match. It is thought that the match was burning as the head flew off and that it is the cause of the fire. This experience is frequently happening to many people.

   An insurance agent in town says he has known of four such little fires here within a month, all of which have been extinguished without giving any alarm. Had this fire got a little larger start though, the results might have been serious.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   The temperance class under the leadership of Mrs. Marshall Briggs will meet at the home of Mrs. Briggs on South Main-st. this evening.

   The annual meeting of the Glenwood cemetery association was held at the Homer National bank this afternoon. The chief object of the meeting was to elect four trustees in place of G. D. Daniels, C. A. Ford, A. H. Bennett and Thomas Knobel whose terms of office have expired.

   The remains of Mrs. Catherine Bramer, who died last Saturday were forwarded from this village to Syracuse this morning by Briggs Bros. The remains will be interred at Oakwood cemetery.

   What might have proved a very serious and fatal accident occurred near the D., L. & W. depot in this village this morning. Michael Galvin aged 11 years and his brother were picking up coal by the railroad track when the vestibule express train from the north rounded the curve at Clinton-st. There was a coal train standing on the northbound track and just beyond the southbound track little Michael was standing. It is probable that the noise of escaping steam from the engine standing but a few feet away was so great that he did not hear the express train approaching. At any rate it struck him and tossed him into the snow bank in a jiffy. He was picked up insensible by the crew of the coal train and was soon surrounded by a crowd of men and boys. Dr. F. H. Green, who happened to be at the station at the time of the accident, made a hasty examination of the lad's injuries, but failed to find any broken bones. He received a slight scalp wound, but aside from loss of wind his injuries are not thought to be serious. But he had a narrow escape from instant death.

   General satisfaction is expressed at the result of yesterday's town meeting. It is thought that the cause of the large no-license majority may be attributed to the growing feeling of disgust at liquor business. It was reported last evening that one man, for whom the license men drove six miles to bring to the polls, voted for no-license when he reached the polling place and he had to walk home in consequence but the truthfulness of the story was not vouched for.

CONSIDERABLE BUSINESS.

By the Board of Trustees Monday Evening— Polling Places.

   At the meeting of the board of trustees Monday night considerable business was transacted. The following sums have been paid to the village treasurer during the current year:

   Fees, dues, etc., collected by police justice or audited by town board or board of supervisors, $1,255 65

   Back taxes, 48.87

   Licenses, street sales, etc. collected by clerk, 80.50

   Gravel and dirt sold and rent of gravel bank house, 120.68

   Collected by president from Cortland and Homer Traction Co., 660.95

   Poll tax collected, 10.00

   Gravel sold, 65.50

   Zinc sold by Superintendent Bickford, 10.16

   Old Iron sold from engine house, 8.75

   Rebate on insurance, 5.40

   The sums of $120.68 gravel sold, $660.95 from the Traction company, $65.50 and $10 amounting to $857.13 was credited to the highway fund.

   The sum of $48.87 back taxes, and $80.50 for licenses, amounting to $129.37, were credited to the contingent fund.

   To the fire department fund was credited the sums of $5.40, $2.75 and $10.16, amounting to $18.30.

   The $1,255.65 fines collected was credited to the salary fund.

   The following polling places were selected by the board for the annual village election to be held March 12:

   First ward—The south store of the Squires block, west side South Main-st., formerly occupied by A. B. Frazier for a meat market.

   Second ward—Fireman's hall, Main-st.

   Third ward—The office and store of Harrison Wells on Clinton-ave.

   Fourth ward—Nottingham's shop on South Main-st.

   The meeting was then adjourned till Feb. 21.

BREVITIES.

   —One drunk in police court this morning. Three dollars or three days.

   —The Fortnightly club met this afternoon with Mrs. W. R. Cole, 6 Argyle Place.

   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, worked the second degree on one candidate last evening.

   —The person who exchanged hats at the Young People's social at the Presbyterian church last evening can find trace of the same by calling at the STANDARD Office.

   —To-night is Ladies' night at the Tioughnioga club. No special program has been prepared, but cards are in order and it is likely that there will be the informal generally good time which the ladies have so often enjoyed there upon these occasions.

   —Pages nine to sixteen of the woman's paper to be issued on Friday were printed this morning. The edition will be seven thousand copies. The whole sixteen pages will be full of valuable reading and advertising matter. It is safe to say that every line of it will be read with the greatest care. If there is a single business man in town who is not represented there with an advertisement, here is a great opportunity to tell the public about his business and he may be sure that his words will be read.

Wire Drawers' Ball.

   A ball will be held Friday evening, Feb. 22, by the Fine Wire Drawers' Social and Beneficial society in Taylor hall. The following committers have the matter in charge:

   Arrangements—Messrs. T. A. Jenkins, A. J. Lucy, T. Connel, J. Harriott, J. Luther and H. Holcomb.

   Reception—B. H. McNiff, S . Job, E. H. Stockwell, R. Lee, J. Porter, W. Hookway, T. Ashworth, D. Lucy and A. M. Duffy.

   Floor—A. J. Lucy, Charles Roethig, J. Harriott, J. D. Hyde, M. W. Edwards and H , Holcomb.

   The following are the permanent officers of the association:

   President—M. W. Edwards.

   Vice-President T. A. Jenkins.

   Financial Secretary—D. N. Lucy.

   Corresponding Secretary—J. Summers.

   Treasurer—Harry Swan.

   Trustees—A. J. Lucy, S. Summers and A. G. Klotten.

SNOW IN GEORGIA.

Part of a Letter From J. C. Puder at Savannah.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   My son-in-law, J. C. Puder, a business man of Savannah, Ga., writes me as follows: "I must write you of the grand treat we are having. When we awoke this morning, (Feb. 15), the ground was white with snow four inches deep. It snowed all last night. Oh my! What a grand sight to behold. Our city is all broken up over it, business generally suspended, everybody out doors snowballing. It is almost impossible to get through the city without the crowds covering you with snow. I had to make up a lot of snowballs and carry them in the bottom of my buggy to defend myself with as I came through the streets to dinner. Some business men have taken the wheels off their buggies and converted them into sleighs. My little daughter Eleanor thinks that her grandpa sent the snow from Cortland and she is delighted."

   He wrote me that a few winters ago they had just enough snow to make snowballs and that business men went out and snowballed each other, and pelted the police and they had a jolly good time all around. It is so seldom that they ever see snow down there it really is a beautiful and rare sight and everybody enjoys it to the utmost for it only lasts a few hours.

   H. M. K.