SHALL CORTLAND PAVE STREETS?

Main Street, Cortland, looking north about 1899. Arc lamp hanging by wire over intersection of Court Street and Main Street.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 7, 1895.

SHALL CORTLAND PAVE?

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD DECEMBER 13.

Village Board Anxious for Action—A Legislative Bill Drafted—Its Provisions.

   The village board of trustees held a special meeting last night at which the subject of street paving was discussed at length. A resolution was passed calling a public meeting to be held in Fireman's hall Friday evening, Dec. 13, at 7:30 o'clock, to hear and discuss a proposed bill to be presented to the coming state legislature providing for paving or otherwise improving the streets of the village at the joint expense of the property owners abutting upon the street, and the village.

   No one can dispute the assertion that some at least of our streets are in a wretched condition and in the language of Trustee Glann, ''something needs to be done and be done at once toward the improvement of our streets."

   The village board are very anxious that the people get to thinking on this question. Said President Higgins to a STANDARD man this morning, "We want to do just what the people want and instead of our making suggestions and plans, we invite the citizens to give us their ideas and suggestions and for this purpose the public meeting has been called."

   The board have employed Judge S. S. Knox to draft a bid providing for street improvement and last night's meeting was entirely devoted to the discussion of it. The substance of the bill as drafted by Judge Knox is as follows:

  The property owners representing a majority of the linear feet frontage on any street or portion of a street may petition the board of trustees for the paving or improvement of that street or portion of street. A public meeting shall then be called at which the matter may be discussed pro and con by any taxpayer. At the text meeting of the board the question shall be considered by them as to material to be used and decide by a vote whether to pave that street or not and if it is decided in the affirmative to employ a competent engineer who shall draw all the plans, established the grades, etc. Then bids shall be advertised for; the board, however, reserving the right to reject any or all bids. The one to whom the contract is awarded shall furnish bonds for the completion of the work and shall be held responsible for any damage and for payments on all liens.

   The question of cost enters very materially into the question. Upon investigation it has been found that the cost of paving varies from $2.50 to $3 per square yard. The proposed bill provides for the payment for paving as follows:

   All intersections of streets shall be paved at the expense of the village. The expense of paving of any street shall be borne jointly by the village and property owners in the following proportion: The village to pay one-third and the property owners two-thirds. The portion borne by the village shall be paid by issuing long term bonds at a rate per cent [sic] not exceeding four per cent. The portion borne by the property owners shall be paid by them in proportion to their linear feet frontage and shall be assessed upon their property for three successive years and shall be included in their annual taxes.

   When it is remembered that by the terms of the franchise of the electric road the Traction company is required to pave between the rails and switches and two feet on either side it is seen that there will be comparatively little left to be done by the village and property owners especially upon Main and Railroad-sts., which will probably be paved first.

   It is to be hoped that the citizens and taxpayers of Cortland will take up this matter and discuss it freely at the public meeting next Friday night.

Where Did it Come From?

   Yesterday afternoon Mrs. W. C. Nivison who lives on Tompkins-st. near the Baptist chapel went up stairs [sic] in her  house and found a pigeon perched on a bed in one of the chambers. A window of the room had been left open a short distance and the bird must have come into the room in this way. About the bird's neck was a cord to which was attached a piece of paper on which was written: "I got homesick and wanted to go home."

   There is nothing to indicate where the bird came from, and how it happened to be where it was found is a question. The most plausible explanation seems to be that it is a young carrier pigeon which had lost its bearings and had found its way into the house through the open window.

Richard Olney.

Lord Salisbury.

GREAT BRITAIN'S REPLY.

Lord Salisbury's Letter to Secretary Olney.

WILL BE DELIVERED TODAY.

Prominent Officials Predict That England Will Evade the Main Issue In the Venezuela Boundary Dispute. Message Will Be Conciliatory.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—While it is true that the administration is aware that Lord Salisbury's reply to Secretary Olney's note of July last touching the Venezuelan boundary dispute is adverse to the proposition to arbitrate the title to the lands lying westward of tho Schomberg line, the fact that the reply itself has just reached Washington precludes the idea of any speedy action by our government in this matter.

   When the reply is received by Sir Julian Pauncefote he may occupy himself several days at least in its careful consideration, in order that he may make sure that he is transmitting to Secretary Olney the views of his government so far as it is proper for them to be communicated to the United States government without, at the same time, imparting any portion of the note that may be framed for his private guidance.

   Then the absence of the president from Washington would operate further to delay proceedings by the state department, for Secretary Olney would not feel justified in making a forward movement at this stage of the case, which is now commonly regarded as at least approaching a critical point, without advising fully with the president.

   As the latter has promised congress to communicate in a special message the nature of Lord Salisbury's reply, further delay may be caused by the preparation of this message, so on the whole it is improbable that the next step can be taken before the latter part of the present month, if so early.

   There was a pretty general discussion of Venezuelan affairs among members of the house. The general opinion among those who will have the conduct of foreign affairs in charge in the house is that Lord Salisbury's reply will be a diplomatic evasion of the main issues and it will be couched in the most friendly terms; and while expressing a willingness to arbitrate as to a portion of the disputed territory, will deny the right of the United States to ask Great Britain to arbitrate as to territory, the ownership of which Great Britain claims is hers beyond dispute.

   "A glance at the correspondence," said a prominent Republican member, "will show that this has been England's position and policy for 50 years. She will seem to yield something, but she will take off a line beyond which she will not go in the matter of arbitration. That was Lord Granville's policy. It will be Lord Salisbury's.

   "The considerations involved in an open breach with England or anything approaching an open breach are gigantic. Credits would be immediately shaken. The question of the tariff is infinitely of more importance to Great Britain than the ownership of a few gold mines in Venezuela. Above all things, depend upon it that England will not by any act of hers aggravate an anti-English feeling in this country or give cause, if the most delicate arts of diplomacy can prevent it, for a war agitation. England dreads unfavorable tariff legislation. A tariff induced by hostility to England growing out of England's encroachments in this hemisphere, which had aroused the resentment of the American people, would send 2,000,000 Englishmen to bed without their suppers. Such material considerations England never overlooks. The loss of our commerce stopped the war of 1812."

Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, age 35.

Word Received From Nansen.

   CHRISTIANIA, Norway, Dec. 7.—The wife  of Dr. Nansen, the Arctic explorer, has received a letter by carrier pigeon to the effect that her husband's expedition is doing well. Dr. Nansen's expedition in search of the North pole sailed on his vessel, the Fram, on June 24, 1893, and since that time, almost without intermission, speculation has been rife as to its outcome.

BREVITIES.

   —Beard & Peck's furniture store will be open evenings until after the holidays.

   —New advertisements today are—Stowell's, page 7; N. L. Hopkins, page 6.

   —A new storm door has to-day been put up at the west entrance to the Messenger House.

   —At the meeting of the protective police last night it was decided to give five dollars each year for five years to the Cortland hospital.

   —There will be a special meeting of the A. O. H. at Empire hall Sunday afternoon at 3 P. M. All members are requested to be present.

   —Mr. W. K. Hollister on Thursday entertained about forty of his friends at progressive euchre at his home, 10 Pearne-ave. A delightful evening was passed.

   —After Sunday school to-morrow at the Homer-ave. church the pastor will organize a new Bible class for young married people, All such are especially invited to attend.

   —Rev, Lyman Abbott, D. D., of Brooklyn will preach in Sage chapel, Cornell university, Sunday morning and will address the Christian association in Barnes' hall Sunday afternoon.

   —Mr. H. P. Jones of Lafayette, who was injured by the train at Homer yesterday, is feeling quite comfortable today. His physician thinks that he will soon be able to be removed to his home. His son Charles was in town last night.

   —Rev. Loren Eastwood, the new pastor of the Homer M. E. church will preach to-morrow morning at the First M. E. church in this village. Mr. Eastwood has long been a leading and able minister of the church and is winning high esteem at Homer.

   —The excise cases of the Village of Cortland against John F. Dowd, Arthur Goddard, Erring Stevens and John Dowd were settled in police court this morning by the defendants, each paying fifty dollars. The cases of James Reily, H. Corcoran, Wallace & McKean and M. H. Ray were adjourned to Monday.

   —Edward S. Moore, who has been a half owner in the Chenango Union for the past five or six years, Thursday purchased the other half interest, controlled by Gilbert H. Manning. The purchase price has not been made public, but it is understood that the sum paid was about $8,000.  The reason given for the sale on the part of Mr. Manning is that his mining interests in Virginia require so much of his time that he could not devote any of it to newspaper work.—Norwich Sun.

A Japanese Embassy to Visit Cortland.

   The late war [1894-95] between China and Japan has brought the latter country very much under our attention for the past year and its ways and manners are exciting the interest of the American people more than ever before. Very few of us have either the time or means to make a trip to that delightful land of flowers. So the next best thing to do is to bring Japan to us, that is, as near as it is possible for us to do.

   The people of Cortland must keep their eyes open and be prepared to give this Japanese Embassy a cordial welcome that is to land on their shores the 17th of this month in the form of The Mikado Co. They are only to remain two evenings and one matinee, but in that time there will be more to see and hear than we have seen and heard for many a long day. There will be a scene of glittering oriental splendor that will prove a source of wonderment to every one. The pretty Japanese maidens with their sweet almond eyes, the noble lords in their brilliant costumes, and the very funny Lord High Executioner KoKo, will sing and dance before you and the cunning Baby Japs, who are hardly out of their toddling clothes will wink and blink and pose in startling tableaux until you will think for sure that you have been transplanted to the Orient.

   Oh, you will be pleased and will want to go again and again to see them. So don't miss this treat. If you can't afford but one entertainment this year let it be The Mikado and if you don't get your money's worth and more you can get it back at the end of the performance at the box office.

Messengerville.

   MESSENGERVILLE, Dec. 6—There were very pleasant family gatherings at many places in this little town Thanksgiving day. Among the out of town guests were, Clinton Johnson and family of Marathon at Walter L. Chaplin's. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Widger of Freetown at C. Widger's, Mr. John Seager and family of Cortland, Mr. Harmon Shearar and family and Mrs. S. Seager of Virgil at A. F. Dickinson's.

   There were quite a number from this place who attended the party at Virgil last Thanksgiving evening.

   Mr. W. S. Dickinson and family visited at Clarence Ayer's, Sunday.

   Mr. Leman Calkins, whose home is at Crain's Mills, but is living at Laurens, Otsego county, were he has been building a saw mill, was in town yesterday. C. Widger returned with him and will attend to the sawing for a while.

   Mrs. Voigt is in New York spending some time with her children there.

   Mrs. Davis of Sunderlinville, Pa., is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Oscar Voigt, in this place.

   Harry Widger has not been feeling very well for some time. Dr. Dana of Cortland is treating him for heart trouble.

   The [revival] meetings at East Virgil are very interesting and have been well attended.