RAINES LAW IN FORCE IN NEW YORK STATE AND PAST SNOW RECORDS IN CORTLAND

John Raines.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, March 30, 1896.

RAINES LAW IN FORCE.

Many Towns Enforced the New Law, Others Did Not.

   NEW YORK, March 30.—Outside of Long Island City New York enjoyed the distinction yesterday of being the only city in the state in which the Raines liquor bill was not assumed to be in force, and this was due to the fact that Chief of Police Conlin and the corporation counsel were in doubt as to whether the bill goes into operation before April 30.

   To the casual observer this condition of affairs seemed to be about the same as on any other Sunday in the past. The saloons as usual were closed to strangers, and many of them closed entirely.

   The exceptions, however, were few and far between for the majority of them kept their shades up with a picket on guard who released the chain on the side door only after assuring himself that the callers were "all right."

   At the University, Union League and other prominent clubs, drinks could be had the same as usual, but it was said that next Sunday the bars would be closed tight.

   At one saloon on Second avenue, near Ninety-eighth street, the proprietor "had his excise and tobacco licenses on view in the window with a sign under reading: "By order of Senator Raines."

ERROR IN THE RAINES LAW.

A Technical Mistake Which Promises Heaps of Trouble.

   ALBANY, March 30.—So far as the legislature is concerned, it was supposed that the Raines bill was finally disposed of and that no amendments of any kind would be tolerated. The beer and ale license bill is slated to die. The Kempner repeal bill is to be hung up in committee, and Senator Raines, who had some technical amendments to make to the legal part of the bill, was hesitating in putting them in, in fear of precipitating a row, when it is discovered that there is a serious technical error affecting wholesalers in cities of less than 10,000. In all the tax clauses of the bill the section relative to places of 10,000 inhabitants reads: "In cities or villages of less than 10,000 or more than 5,000," but in the wholesale liquor dealer clause the word "city" is omitted. The effect of this is to cut off wholesale liquor dealers in Olean and Dunkirk, the only two cities of less than 10,000, according to the last state census, upon which the bill is based.

   Curiously enough the discovery of this error was made by dealers in Hudson, and they at once prepared a bill amending it which is to be presented tonight by the assemblyman and senator representing the district. But the error does not concern Hudson, for by the census of 1892 she has 10,040 people credited to her, and that puts her in the next higher class and not in the one where the error occurs.

   It is thought that the offering of the amendment may precipitate a fight at once or allow the attempt being made to attach a beer and ale amendment, in which event there will be a close fight and more caucus action. Such an occurrence is viewed by the leaders with some alarm, for it is a pretty well conceded fact that if a beer and ale amendment bill is sent to the governor he will sign it.

A Veritable Drouth In Brooklyn.

   NEW YORK, March 30.—The Raines law went into force in Brooklyn yesterday. The mandate had gone forth from the police commissioners and the district attorney that the law would be strictly enforced and every saloon keeper within the jurisdiction of the police was notified to comply with this provision. That they did so was apparent everywhere. Saloons, side doors and all were closed tight. Blinds were drawn and in eases where panels obstructed a view of the bar from the street, these were thrown open. Never in its history as a city has Brooklyn experienced such a dry Sunday. The restaurants and clubs were just as dry as the saloons.

Dry Sunday In Syracuse.

   SYRACUSE, March 30.—The police paid particular attention to the saloons and hotels yesterday on account of the notice issued by Chief Wright to the effect that the Raines law would be enforced. It was a dry Sunday, but few saloon keepers evading the law. The provision requiring that the interior of places be exposed to view from the street was not satisfactorily obeyed. At all of the hotels and most of the clubs drinks were obtainable. The police gathered information of about a dozen violations of the law. Two places within a stone's throw of police headquarters were closed by detectives. After nightfall many of the saloons relaxed their rigid observance of the law and side doors were opened.

MANY RIVERS RAGING.

Warm Rain Causes a Thaw, Which Threatens Much Damage.

   NUNDA, N. Y., March 30.—The indications for a flood here are serious. The heavy rain helped to swell Kishequa creek, and the warm wave melted the snow and ice so rapidly that the little creek raised a foot in 40 minutes and was soon a raging river, overflowing its banks in many places. A washout and landslide occurred on the Central New York and Western railroad above Willard's dam, and a large force of men are now at work repairing the bank.

   At Coopersville the damage is great. The public highway has been washed out to a depth of about two and a half feet and a width of 200 feet. Two houses at this point are completely surrounded by water, and in order to escape from one of the houses the members of the family had to climb from a window to a tree and then pass to high ground with the aid of a plank.

Niagara Falls, Ont., Flooded.

   NIAGARA FALLS, Ont., March 30.—A big flood has spread over the town. Owing to the culvert which takes the surplus water from Muddy creek becoming choked, the creek backed up, flooding the first floors of houses on Huron street and Superior avenue.

   The Grand Trunk railway station is surrounded by water and can only be reached by an elevated plank. The tracks of the Grand Trunk and the

Niagara Park and River Railway companies are under water. A great deal of damage was caused.

Seneca River Freshet.

   SENECA FALLS, N. Y., March 30.—The great freshet in the Seneca river will entail great loss to manufacturers here from damage by the flood as well as by the enforced shutdowns of the various establishments. A heavy rain and thaw swelled the river to greater proportions than in 15 years, and being unexpected, much damage has resulted in the basements and low first floors of the factories, including Gould's pump works, the Gleasan & Bailey fire apparatus and the Rumsey pump and fire apparatus manufactories, the Seneca Falls Manufacturing company and a score of smaller concerns.

Some Other Winters.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   Sir—I saw a statement in your paper that February and March, 1896, would go on record as the coldest and most blustering (or something to that effect) for many years. As I have records for the past twenty-five or more years I thought I would look it up and see, and in looking back I find that February and March have in former years exceeded the present, both in temperature and snowdrifts.

   In the year 1873 on March 27 snow fell to the depth of one foot and there was about the same depth upon the ground previous to this fall. It drifted so badly that upon the 3lst it was impossible for teams to get through from South Cortland to Cortland upon the main road. The only way was to go upon the cross road over to the McLean road by the way of L. Gillett's.

   I find that in 1875 on Sunday, Feb. 7, it was twelve degrees below zero, on the 8th, eighteen below; and the 9th, fourteen below at 6 A. M., and six below at noon and ten at 6 P. M. The 10th, twelve below; 11th, four below; the 12th, seven at 6 A. M., and twenty at 9 P. M; the 13th, twenty-eight below and four at 8 P. M. Sunday the 14th, four below at 6 A. M., and four at 8 P. M; the 15th, eight below, and the 16th, two at 6 A. M., and 10 [at] 9 P. M.; 17th, 8 above and 18th, 2 below and the 19th, 3 above. The 22d, 10 below; and March 21st, 6 below; the 22d, 18 below at 5 A. M. and at 10 P. M., 10; the 23d, 18 below.

   In 1885 March 11, zero; 12th, 4 below at 8 P. M., the 13th, 14 below; the 15th, 6 above; 16th, 2 below; 17th 2; the 18th, 8 below; and the 21st, 6; and 22nd 4 below; the 23rd, 4 above; and 24th, 2 below.

   On the 15th of April people went past the house in sleighs. By comparing dates it will be seen that February and March of the present year are not quite so vigorous as in years past, but still are not very feeble.

   A. P. ROWLEY,

   South Cortland, March 30, 1896.

[A. P. Rowley was a postmaster at South Cortland, first appointed in 1861—CC editor.]

Rescued the Cars.

   The Lehigh Valley's wrecking train with a force of men spent the day yesterday near Canastota rescuing the coal cars which went over the embankment last week. Six cars were brought up, the others will come later. The coal is still down the bank where the cars upset. It has not yet been decided what will be done with that, but a suggestion has been offered that it be sold to people near by [sic] right where it lies and let the purchaser get it.

BREVITIES.

   —The amount of snow which has disappeared since Saturday and the rate at which it is now going is surprising.

   —H. Banks, the barber, is now nicely located in his new shop next north of the Model meat market on North Main-st.

   —A new plate glass was to-day placed in the north window of the City drug store to replace the one broken two months ago.

   —There will be a gymnasium exhibition in the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium to-morrow night under the direction of W. S. Haskell, the physical instructor.

   —Messrs. T. H. Youngs and Charles Antisdell have to-day received another [train] car of horses from Buffalo which are to be sold some day soon at the Cortland House stables.

   —And now Oneida and Clockville are trying to get the Lehigh Valley road to extend its lines to those towns. Public meetings are to be held and correspondence with the Lehigh people entered into.

   —The Congregational Christian Endeavor sleighride and social which was announced to have been held to-night at the home of Riley Niles has been postponed indefinitely on account of the condition of the roads.

   —Architect M. F. Howes has the plans all drawn for a very handsome new house to be built by Glann & Clark upon a vacant lot owned by them at 17 N. Church-st. The contract has not yet been let, but they hope to have the building completed by the middle of the summer, when it will be occupied by Prof J. E. Banta.

   —New advertisements to-day are—F. E. Brogden, is your liver right? page 6; A. S. Burgess, will save you money, page 7; C. F. Brown, a giddy rainbow, page 6; Bingham Bros. & Miller, spring overcoats, page 8; Wesson-Nivison Mfg. Co., wheels, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., kid gloves for Easter, page 6; Tanner Bros , one dollar, page 6.

   —The cable supporting a large freight elevator at the carriage factory of The H. M. Whitney Co. broke one of the last days of last week while between the second and third floors. The elevator was heavily loaded at the time and three men were on it besides the freight. The elevator did not fall five feet before the automatic safety appliances caught and held the elevator.