VILLAGE FATHERS GRANT NEW TELEPHONE FRANCHISE

Main Street, Cortland, N. Y. in 1899.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, September 1, 1896.

VILLAGE FATHERS

GRANT A FRANCHISE TO NEW TELEPHONE COMPANY.

Must be in Working Order Before Sept. 1, 1897—Charges not to Exceed $24 for Business Offices and $18 for Residences—Trustees Arrange a Matter Regarding Normal School Bonds.

   A regular meeting of the board of trustees of the village of Cortland was held at the office of Clerk Hatch of said village on Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock. There were present President H. F. Benton and Trustees James J. Glann, E. J. Warfield and Benj. L. Webb.

   The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

   On motion of Mr. Glann, seconded by Mr. Webb, E. N. Sherwood, Melvin S. Wright and John Griffith were appointed special policemen on Sept. 5 and 6, the day the Barnum's circus is in Cortland and the day after.

   On motion of Mr. Glann, seconded by Mr. Warfield,

   WHEREAS, The sum of $10,000 of Normal school bonds mature Oct. 1, 1896, bearing interest at 3.6 percent per annum held by the Cortland Savings bank, and

   WHEREAS, At the annual village election held in March, 1895, a resolution was carried and adopted that said bonds be carried at 4 per cent interest payable Apr. 1 and Oct. 1 per annum from and after Oct. 1, l896, to be paid in installments in the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901 and

   WHEREAS, The Cortland Savings bank has consented to take and hold said bonds at their maturity and carry the same at 4 per cent per annum until Oct. 1, 1901 with the privilege to said village of paying the said bonds or any part  thereof on any first day of October prior thereto at their option, therefore be it

   Resolved: That said sum of $10,000 of the Normal school bonds, maturing Oct. 1, 1896, be not paid at maturity, but be held as aforesaid on the condition above specified and that a contract be drawn between this village and the said Cortland Savings bank accordingly.

   On motion of Mr. Glann, seconded by Mr. Warfield,

   Resolved: That the sum of $3,000 of Normal school bonds maturing Oct. 1, 1895, which are held by the Cortland Savings bank and others under prior contract be paid on Oct. 1, 1896, out of the annual tax levy, to wit: Nos. 11 to 40 inclusive in denomination of $100 each.

   An application of E. L. Caldwell & Co. for the granting to them of a franchise for telephone service in said village was read and placed on file.

   On motion of Mr. Webb, seconded by Mr. Warfield, the franchise was granted to John H. Drake and George F. Stitch to erect and put in operation the telephone system.

   Among the important reservations, restrictions and conditions contained in the franchise are the following:

   The duration of this franchise is twenty years. The telephone plant to be constructed and carried on under this franchise shall be commenced on or before May 1, 1897, and shall be completed and in first-class working order on or before Sept. 1, 1897. The telephones used are to be the best instruments manufactured by the Western Telephone Construction Co. of Chicago, known as the Western Giant, or a better instrument if there is such upon the market for sale. It will have a common return metallic circuit and the instruments and appliances shall be first-class in every respect and shall always be kept in [first-class] working order. The village is to have two telephones free of charge, placed wherever they shall direct.

   For five years the annual charge shall not exceed $24 for business offices and $18 for residences. After five years the annual charge shall not exceed the average price paid for any first class telephone in any other six villages or cities of this state having at that time approximately the same population as Cortland.

   No poles or structures are to be erected in, along or upon any street or public way in the village except by special permission obtained from the board of trustees, and all poles must be painted if required by the board of trustees. All must be smooth and straight and placed where directed by the trustees, and if possible on the division of the lot lines. The village is to have the privilege of stringing on the poles, fire alarm and police call wires.

   At the end of ten years all wires are to be placed in subways or under ground if so ordered by the trustees, provided the same ruling is made and enforced in the case of any other telephone company in town.

   The telephone company is to pay all damages, costs and expenses that the village may be liable for by reason of actions brought against the village for injuries to persons or property in the course of the construction of the plant, and also to defend the village and all users of the telephone from all suits, injunctions, claims and damages brought against it for infringement on patents or rights.

   The following bill was allowed and ordered paid: Cortland Savings bank, interest on $58,000 sewer bonds at 4 per cent per annum, $1,160.

   Sidewalk repairs—Opposite premises of Mary S. Alexander on south side of Clayton-ave.; opposite premises of estate of Orissa A. Baker on south side of Clayton-ave.
   [Empire State Telephone Co. had the existing franchise—CC editor.]

SYRACUSE CONVENTION.

Gold Standard Democrats Elect Delegates to Indianapolis.

   SYRACUSE, Sept. 1.—The convention of the New York state branch of the National Democracy was adjourned to meet at Brooklyn on Sept. 25, or at such date before Sept. 30 as the state committee may see fit. The work of the convention was to nominate two electors at large, to elect delegates at the convention at Indianapolis, and to adopt a platform which is specific in its declaration for gold mono-metalism.

   The fact that the convention did not adjourn sine die is looked upon as a sure indication that the gold Democrats will have a ticket in the state field this fall. In fact some of the leaders do not hesitate to declare that this will be so.

   Edward M. Shepard, who as the head of the Kings county delegation is popularly supposed to have more to do with the affairs of the gold men than any other man in the party, was interviewed. He said that the National Democrats would certainly nominate candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.

   Talks with other delegates make it evident that there is but a slim chance of the party indorsing [sic] the Buffalo nominees. The sentiment that the gold men bear toward the other wing of the party did not have many opportunities to make itself manifest, but there was one occurrence in the convention that is regarded as significant in its bearing on national affairs.

   Just before the convention adjourned Coroner Hoeber, who was a delegate from New York, moved that the plank in the platform which censures Bryan for not repudiating the Populistic platform be expunged.

   On the question being put the coroner and his seconder were the only men who voted in favor of the resolution.

   The delegates for the national convention at Indianapolis left on a special train at 7:30 last evening. They go uninstructed as to the nominations and the majority would express no preferences.

   The committee on permanent organization reported that Charles S. Fairchild had been selected permanent chairman, and Roswell P. Flower, Edward M. Sheppard, Charles Tracey and George A. Magee had been decided on as delegates at large to the Indianapolis convention. The alternates are Francis M. Scott, ex-Mayor Bishop of Buffalo, George A. Brockway of Cortland and Charles J. Bissell of Rochester.

Sound-Money Democrats.

   At the sound-money Democratic convention at Syracuse yesterday George A. Brockway of Homer was made alternate to delegate at large Edward M. Sheppard of Brooklyn to the Indianapolis convention. Albert Allen of Cortland and D. M. Osborne of Auburn were elected delegates from this congressional district to the Indianapolis convention; and Irving H. Palmer of Cortland was elected state committeeman.

BREVITIES.

   —The Normal school opens to-morrow morning at 8:45 o'clock.

   —About fifty tickets were sold at the D., L. & W. depot this morning for the state fair at Syracuse.

   —The thirty-first reunion of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh Regimental association will be held at DeRuyter Saturday, Sept. 19. There will be a reduction of fare on the L. V. R. R.

   —Rood's Candy Kitchen is in the hands of carpenters this week, and arrangements are being made to serve tea, coffee and light lunches there, in connection with Mr. Rood's already other well conducted business.

   —Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Charles Lacklan Kellar and Miss Olive Parker, both of Buffalo, which will occur Sept. 15, at 8 o'clock P. M. at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. Salome Brooks. Miss Parker formerly resided in Cortland and Mrs. Brooks was formerly Mrs. Hibbard Parker of Cortland.

   —For some time the curb line on Groton-ave. has been in dispute. Yesterday the city engineer established a permanent line, and to-day workmen are busy upon the street between Main-st., and Groton-ave. In some places it will widen the street considerably, and the uniformity of the curb will add much to the looks of the street.

   —The Cortland ball team will have no game in Cortland this week after Thursday's game with the Cuban Giants. There was a game booked for Saturday with the Bainbridge team, but as the circus is here that day, the team will go out of town for a game. The manager has offered the day for a game to four different places, but has received nothing definite as yet.

Fred Martin Sheerar.

   Fred Martin Sheerar, oldest child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Sheerar of South Cortland, died at his home yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the age of 26 years and 1 week. The cause of the death was heart difficulty. He has been in ill health all summer and has been gradually failing for the past month. He was a graduate of the Cortland Normal school in the class of Jan. '92 and has since been a clerk for F. E. Brodgen in Cortland and has also taught school in East Berne, Albany county, N. Y., whither he expected to return next week. He was a young man highly esteemed by all who knew him. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. John Bristol and Miss Emma Sheerar.

   The funeral will be held at his late home Thursday at 1 o'clock.

Mahan's Music House on Court Street, Cortland, N. Y.

MUSICAL TREAT.

Misses Keyes and Others to Give a Concert in Cortland Sept. 9.

   The return to Cortland of those favorite vocalists, the Misses Marie and

Margaret Keyes of New York will be hailed with much pleasure by hosts of friends here. On Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, under the management of Mr. A. Mahan, they will give a concert at the Opera House and will be assisted by Mr. George Oscar Bowen, tenor; Miss Grace Kinney, reader; Miss Susan Tompkins, violinist; Mrs. G. A. Tompkins, harpist; and Prof. A. E. Darby's conservatory orchestra of over twenty pieces. The sale of seats will begin Monday morning, Sept. 7, at Mahan's music house. Prices 25, 35 and 50 cents.

McGRAWVILLE.

Crisp Local Happenings at the Corset City.

   Miss Lulu A. Green died at the residence of her brother-in-law, John Fish, Sunday morning of peritonitis, aged 24 years. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at the house. Burial in Marathon.

   Messrs. Arthur Bean and Hiram Evans and families were in Freetown Tuesday in attendance at the funeral of the late Harvey Bean.

   Mr. Silas Crumb and family have removed to their farm recently purchased in South Otselic.

   Justice E. C. Parker is visiting his son, Fred A. Parker, in Onatavia.

   Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Ayres have been visiting in Scott.

   Mr. and Mrs. Charles Diel of Syracuse were guests at Lafayette Lakin's Sunday.

   Mr. George Pitcher, who has been on the sick list for a few days, left for his home in Syracuse to-day.

   The school opened Monday with a large number of scholars. Among those from out of town are Corwin Kinney, Will Gates, Marie Weeks of Truxton; Leon Tarbell and Carrie Tuttle of East Freetown; Cora Hall of Freetown and Linnie Brown, Vinnie Brown and Carrie Thornton of Solon.

   There is a new firm in town. Kinney & Cummings are the members and they will practice medicine (after they have finished the course they have just started upon.) Their friends wish them success. Dr. Kinney has been engaged by the [baseball team] Ponies as their regular surgeon and the broken fingers will hereafter receive professional care. [This could be satire—CC editor.]

   The entertainment in delsarte given last evening in the opera house was a success. The representations of different statuary was alone worth the price of admission. Miss Smith and her company are certainly entitled to the words of praise so freely expressed. Among those from out of town last evening were Miss Lillian Bays, Mildred Alexander, Rena Goodyear, Zora Fowler, and Maude Linderman and Messrs. Frank Byran, Delos Benedict, Stephen Alexander, Charles Mead and Herman Carver. The entertainment will be repeated here this evening.

Israel Rickard.

TRUXTON.

   TRUXTON, Aug. 31.—Rev. J. J. Cowles, pastor of the Presbyterian church of McGrawville, occupied the pulpit of the Methodist church Sunday morning and preached a very able sermon from Romans xiii: 10. Mr. Cowles is a very forcible speaker and the large congregation was well pleased with the discourse. Rev. E. A. Huntington occupied the pulpit of Presbyterian church at McGrawville Sunday morning.

   Rev. James Fish of Marathon preached an eloquent sermon to the young people of the Methodist church Sunday evening.

   Misses Nellie and Flossie Bliss of Cortland are visiting at Mr. W. N. Jones.

   Several farmers will begin filling their silos this week. Among them are William Crandall, William Beattie, William Youngs, Burdett Pierce, Charles Bosworth, Judson Osterhout, George King.

   Mr. Dana B. Denison has a new wheel. It is a Loyal, made by the Wesson- Nivison company of Cortland.

   Mr. Daniel Twentyman, who works for Mr. Thomas Twentyman, had the misfortune to break his leg last Thursday. He was working on a staging behind a threshing machine which gave way and he fell to the floor. He is now at his home in this village.

   Mr. Israel Rickard of Cortland, who has been the pleasant guest of his nephew, Mr. William Crandall, returned to his home Sunday. Mr. Rickard is 96 years old and is in very good health. He is and has always been an ardent Republican and he is earnestly looking forward until election when he will vote for McKinley and Hobart. Mr. Rickard has voted at every presidential election since 1821.

   CRAZY PAT. [local correspondent.]