NEW USE FOR ELECTRICITY

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, April 4, 1896.

                                  NEW USE FOR ELECTRICITY.
   ITHACA, N. Y., April 4.—The professors in the department of horticulture at Cornell have just concluded some important experiments. The investigation referred to has been as to the possibility of developing plants by electric light.

   Professor Bailey said: "We are highly gratified with the result. We have proved that by using electric lights at night and letting the plants have the natural light during the day that we can produce lilies fully two weeks before those that are growing under natural conditions. The effect is fully as marked in the case of lettuce, but we found that electricity is a positive detriment to peas. We will continue our investigation on different plants and will ascertain the effects on vegetation of the Roentgen X rays. We shall also experiment on plants by electrifying the atmosphere in which they are grown."

Charles A. Boutelle.

CUBAN QUESTION AGAIN.

The House Puts In a Day of Vigorous Debate Thereon.

   WASHINGTON, April 4.—The house received the agitation of the question of the Cuban belligerency in connection with the conference report on the Cuban resolutions.

   It was not expected that there would be much debate, but Mr. Boutelle, by his vigorous opposition, prevented action, and the chances now are that the debate will run all day today.

   Mr. Hitt, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, in presenting the conference report made a very temperate speech, in the course of which he expressed the greatest confidence that the president, although the resolutions being concurrent had no binding effect on the executive, would not "be so recreant to his duty as to disregard the express wish of congress."

   Mr. Boutelle, on the other hand, maintained that it was an open secret that the administration was opposed to granting belligerency to the Cubans. There were several exciting incidents during his speech.

REPORTS VIA HAVANA.

Spaniards Tell of Pillage on the Part of Cubans.

   HAVANA, April 4.—Four members of an armed band have surrendered at Sagua.

   Torres acknowledges the loss of 67 men by an attack upon an exploring engine, near Esperanza, Santa Clara.

   Four members of Gomez's band have surrendered at Citiecito, near Sagua.

   General Oliver had a skirmish with the insurgents near Remedios, in which four of them were killed while they carried off their wounded.

   The insurgent leader Brunel has burned 22 houses in the village of Brenas, Santa Clara.

   In an engagement at Manicaragua, Santa Clara, the insurgents suffered a loss of 12 killed.

   Major Fuendediela formed an ambuscade near Tibo Tibo for the bands of Linares and Machado and killed nine insurgents.

   The insurgents have burned the fields and plantations of Jobo, near San Nicolas, Havana.

PACIFIC CABLE PROJECT.

Mr. Bennett Presents a Substitute Bill to the Committee.

   WASHINGTON. April 4. — The Pacific cable project was once more the subject of discussion by the house committee on commerce.

   Mr. Bennett of New York presented a substitute bill embodying several amendments which had been suggested by members in former discussions. It was the sense of the committee that instead of the subsidy of $160,000 asked by the Pacific Cable company, the New York corporation, the government should not aid it in greater sum than $100,000 a year for 20 years, if any agreement was made and that government business should be done free for all time.

   Mr. Bennett's bill fixed rates for private business at $1.25 a word for China and Japan and 35 cents for the Hawaiian islands and press rates at one-fourth of these figures. The company has abandoned its intention to try to secure a mid-ocean station on the Marshall islands, which are under control of the German government, and has fixed on the Midway islands, which are uninhabited and belong to the United States.

RENWICK [STEWART] PARK THREATENED.

A Gale is Blowing From Cayuga Lake Toward Ithaca.

   ITHACA, N. Y., April 4.—A gale is blowing on Lake Cayuga directly toward Ithaca, and the summer resort Renwick Park is threatened with destruction. A wall of ice is the only obstacle that holds the water of the lake back from its buildings. A handsome boat house erected last fall at a cost of $1,500 is being buffeted by the waves and it is only a question of a few hours when it will be washed away. The waves are also playing havoc with the tracks of the Auburn and Ithaca division of the Lehigh Valley railroad. All trains on this line have been abandoned, fifteen miles of track having been washed away at Aurora and Kings Ferry.

Church Notices.

   Pastors and others interested will please furnish us the facts for this column each Saturday before noon.

  

LAND SALE.

Considerable Business at the Court House this Morning.

   Three sales of land took place at the courthouse this morning.

   Attorney Edwin Duffey as referee sold 250 acres of land situated in Preble for $900. It was bid off by John Courtney, Jr.

   Lewis Bouton also did his share of the business in selling two parcels of land on foreclosure of mortgages, he being the attorney for Louisa H. Hunter, mortgagee, in each case. The first sold was fifty acres of land in Lapeer subject to a mortgage of $215.30. It was bid in by the mortgagee for $125.

   The other land sold by Mr. Bouton was five lots in the town of Homer, one of which is in Homer village. There is a mortgage on this land for $533.20, and the mortgagee bid this in at $150.

Boxing Tournament To-night.

   Considerable interest is being manifested by local lovers of the manly art in the boxing tournament which is to occur at the Opera House to-night and a large attendance is already assured. The principal bout of the evening of course will be world's champion Tommy Ryan and Jack Mahoney, and while it is not expected that Mahoney will make any headway with the champion, yet a good interesting set-to may be expected. This will also be Cortland's last opportunity to see Ryan in his bag punching exhibition.

   The tournament will open with a "battle royal" in which four boxers are boxing all at the same time "hitting a head when they see it."

Mahan's Music Store on Court Street.

BREVITIES.

   —To-day is the last day of Lent.

   —The Y. M. C. A. Bible class meets to-night at 8 o'clock.

   —The Salvation Army will conduct a jubilee meeting in the W. C. T. U. rooms Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

   —Rev. J. J. Cowles of McGrawville will address the young men at the Y. M. C. A. rooms to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock. All men are invited.

   —A. D. Mazook, who has for some months conducted a fruit store in the

Squires building, has moved to Ithaca and opened a similar establishment there.

   —Many ladies are seen on the street to-day with suspicious looking bundles done up in paper bags, but it looks as though to-morrow would be a hard day for Easter hats.

   —The annual sale of periodicals from the Tioughnioga club readingroom will occur in the parlors of that organization this evening. Every member is requested to be present.

   —The McGrawville letter to-day calls attention to the recent birth of a Holstein calf without any eyes on the farm of Mr. C. B. Maybury, east of that village. It is a curiosity indeed.

   —There is a bad leak in a gas main somewhere on Clinton-ave. Workmen are searching for it, but it is uncertain when it will be found and how much gas there will be for lights to-night.

   —Miss Helen M. Goodhue's perspective drawing class at the Normal yesterday presented her with a beautiful potted plant containing a large number of buds and blossoms as an faster token.

   —The attention of fishermen is called to a change in the game laws which makes fishing for trout legal from April 1 to August 31, both inclusive. Don't get in a hurry and fish for trout on the fifteenth [of March].

   —George W. Spencer of Virgil was yesterday pronounced incompetent by a sheriff's jury before Hon. S. S. Knox as commissioner appointed by County Judge Eggleston and a commission will be appointed to look after his business affairs.

   —To-morrow is the Sunday upon which the time of evening services in the churches is changed from 7 to 7:30 o'clock. All the churches will change to-morrow except the Homer-ave. M. E. church which for a special reason will not change until next week,

   —The Ohio legislature has passed a bill prohibiting the wearing of hats in theatres by persons of either sex, and making the offense punishable by a fine of $5. It goes to the governor for his signature. The Albany Journal is advocating a similar law for New York state.

   —Mr. Frank Halley, the popular bootblack, is now calling on his patrons each morning. He says he will continue to do so until about May 1 when he will have his chair on the street, probably in front of The Brunswick [Hotel]. Frank understands how to give a patent leather shine to any shoe and is worthy of a large patronage.

   —Mr. Louis E. Blackmer, who has been with the Climax Road Machine Co. of Marathon for the past few weeks, has returned to Cortland to accept a position with the Wesson-Nivison Co. as superintendent of their repair department. This department has just been started by the company and Mr. Blackmer who is an experienced mechanic will have general supervision of all repair work.