POST OFFICE ANNUAL REPORT

1896 Postal Logo.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, October 15, 1896.

POST OFFICE REPORT.

Annual Statement of the Third Assistant Postmaster General.

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.—The annual report of the third assistant postmaster for the past fiscal year shows that the total expenditure for the year was $90,626,296 and receipts $82,499,208, leaving a deficiency of $8,129,088 or a reduction of $1,679,956 less than the preceding year. The expenditures do not include the cost of carrying the mails over the subsidized Pacific railroads, which amounted to $1,558,898.

   The special delivery service made an increase of 13 per cent in business during the year, 4,184,327 letters being delivered. The average time required for delivery was 17 minutes. The net profit of the system was about $100,000.

   The number of postage stamps, stamped envelopes and postal cards issued was 4,195,665,523, an increase of 7 per cent over the issues of the previous year. The value of these issues was $79,178,101, which is about $74,000 more than the sales.

   The increase of second class matter mailed by publishers and news agents was nearly 12 per cent. The total weight of matter thus mailed, paid and free, was about 349,000,000 pounds.

   The business of registration was also increased, the rate being about 4 per cent. The total number of pieces of mail matter registered was 15,106,336.

   The percentage of losses was reduced, the ratio being about 1 in every 24,000 pieces mailed by the public.

   Recommendation is again made for a limited indemnity to the owners of registered matter lost in the mails.

GENESEE RIVER RAGING.

Lowlands Flooded and Great Damage Done at Some Points.

   MOUNT MORRIS, N. Y., Oct. 15.—Owing to the recent heavy rains the Genesee river has reached its maximum height, seven feet above the crest of the dam. Planks and boards have come down in large quantities. The Weeks, Allen and Peer flats are submerged. Canaseraga creek is backing up. The White basin is full. Much surface water has come down from the hills on the low meadows.

   The river floods broke over the banks and flowed across the Swett farm in a torrent, doing incalculable damage to the rich land in its new course by washing away the alluvial soil and leaving gravel and stones.

   The flats are covering rapidly below the village from river overflow and back water up the Canaseraga creek and a general overflow is imminent.

   Late in the afternoon the water began to slowly recede.

Gen. Calixto Garcia.

CUBANS TAKE A FORT.

A Great Improvement In Their Artillery Work.

BATTLE WON WITH ONE CANNON.

Silenced the Fort and Drove the Spaniards Out—Valuable Stores Captured and the Fortifications Destroyed. Cubans' Outlook Improving Daily.

   TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 15.—The family of General Collazo have received a letter from him in which he notes considerable improvement in the artillery work of the Cubans. His letter says:

   "Our previous experience with artillery has not been very flattering, because at Zanja, Sagua de Tanamo and La Venta de Casanova, the artillery had not done effective work and the Spanish forts which they attacked remained standing after quite a siege."

   He then describes an attack on the Spanish fort Lomade Hierro, near the town of Auras, against which the Cubans planted their cannon from rising ground about 400 metres distant. He says:

   "It was the first time in this campaign that a field piece had been given my command and I was very nervous for, having heard of the former experience with these pieces, I was afraid of failure, for the cannon I have is very small, although I calculated on its force.

   "On the contrary, General Calixto Garcia had every confidence of a successful outcome, and sent to tell me to keep up the fire as long as we had a shot left.

   "We fired 28 shots into the fortification and then we saw the Spanish soldiers hurriedly abandon the fort. We captured in the fort 40,000 cartridges, provisions, medicines, etc. We also found two dead soldiers. A short time afterward this fort was completely demolished and burnt down by our forces.

   "Another expedition has arrived and our situation is improving day by day. We have arms and ammunition and should the Spaniards attempt the winter campaign they will find us stronger and with the moral conviction of a brief struggle and sure triumph."

ONE LAST EFFORT.

Spain Will Let Cuba go if Not Conquered by March 1, 1897.

   NEW YORK, Oct. 15.—A special to the Herald from Cadiz, Spain, says an officer of rank in the Spanish army has made the following statement, "If Spain has not put down the insurrection in Cuba by the first of next March, it in the intention of the government to give up the struggle and let the island go."

   This view of the situation outlines clearly the policy of the Spanish government and tends to show that it is massing its troops in Cuba in the determination of making one desperate effort to crush completely the Cuban forces.

Football on Saturday.

   The Normal [School] football eleven will line up against the Cazenovia team in a return game to be played at the fair grounds in Cortland on Saturday, Oct. 17. The game will be called at 3 o'clock. Admission 20 cents. Ladies free. It will be a fine game as both teams are strong and are in excellent practice.

Children's Hospital Day.

   Friday of this week will be hospital day with the school children of Cortland. Last year the children did themselves proud on this day. Parents are requested to take an interest in this matter with the children. On Friday they will carry to their respective schools any contributions for the hospital they choose. Money, vegetables, fruit, clothing or anything that is needed at the hospital is solicited.

Police Court.

   John Glish was gathered in by Chief Linderman on Railroad-st. yesterday afternoon on the charge of public intoxication. After he had sobered up he pleaded not guilty and demanded an examination which was granted and resulted in his being sent to Onondaga penitentiary for six months, to which place he was taken this morning by Chief Linderman. He had figured in police court considerably during the past year and there was a suspended sentence hanging over him.

   Albert Hunter, who claimed to hail from Syracuse, was before Police Justice Mellon this morning on the same charge, but was discharged with a reprimand and ordered out of town. He said he wanted to get to Ithaca.

   Emmet Card of East Homer pleaded not guilty to the charge of public intoxication and demanded an examination which was set down for 2 o'clock this afternoon. The case had not been called at 3:30 o'clock.

A New Location.

   Attorney Horace L. Bronson has leased all of the rooms on the second floor In the new part of the Burgess block for a term of five years. These rooms are fitted up with modern steel ceilings—which will be handsomely decorated—fire place and large plate glass windows. Mr. Bronson will also have new office furniture throughout and when all is complete he will have one of the most convenient, pleasant and best appointed law offices in central New York. He will take possession Nov. 1.

McGRAWVILLE.

Crisp Local Happenings at the Corset City.

   There will be a meeting of the Good Templars in G. A. R. hall this evening. All members are requested to be present.

   The recent wind storm in this vicinity helps one class at the expense of another, for good maple wood can now be purchased for one dollar per cord.

   Dr. D. E. Ensign and son Harold returned Wednesday evening from visiting friends in Syracuse. The doctor attended the meeting of the Central New York Eclectic Medical society, of which he was president and is now secretary.

   Mrs. A. P. McGraw and daughter Agnes returned Tuesday afternoon from a few days' visit in Syracuse, Batavia and Seneca Falls. They attended the convention of the Y. P. S. C. E. at Rochester during their absence.

   Rev. W. P. Garrett, the new pastor of the M. E. church, was in town Tuesday morning. He will deliver his first sermon in that church Sunday morning and will preside at the union services which will be held in that church on Sunday evening.

  Mr. A. P. McGraw left Tuesday evening for a two days' trip to New York and Bridgeport, Conn.

   McGrawville has two neighboring families of five persons whose average weight is 208 pounds.

   During the great Republican rally of Saturday night the Cortland club repeatedly asked "What is the matter with the corset girls?" and as often declared that they were all right. They are all right, as a visit to the McGraw Co.'s factories will prove to the doubting ones, for such an array of McKinley caps never was seen in any factory. We announced some days since that Mr. A. P. McGraw had presented his male employees with "Corset City Protectionist" caps. It seems that some of the patriotic young lady employees knowing their influence upon the male population thought that they were slighted and informed Mr. McGraw of the fact. He with his usual gallantry and also recognizing their work for protection told them to select their pattern. It was a neat Tam O'Shanter and he at once gave instructions to have 300 of them made in the corset factory. They are made of white satin finish corset cloth, with a rosette and wing on the side, the latter bearing the inscription "We Want Protection." It may be advisable to state that this refers only to the tariff question, so that the Normal boys may get no wrong impression. The caps were made under the supervision of Mr. Fred L. Morey, to whom we are under obligations for a sample, just our fit, and they are models of fine work. It is hoped that if we have another rally the Tam O'Shanters will not be so much afraid of muddy streets as the Corset City Protectionists were.

BREVITIES.

   —The D., L. & W. paycar passed south over this division this morning.

   —Rev. H. T. Sell will preach at the Presbyterian church on Sunday morning and evening.

   —Mrs. Daniel Brown of 23 Hubbard-st. was removed to the hospital this morning for treatment.

   —See notice of the three hundred Corset City girls who "want protection" in our McGrawville letter to-day.

   —Judge A. P. Smith and Nathan L. Miller, Esq., address a Republican rally at Hunt Corners Friday evening, Oct. 23, at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The funeral of Mr. Orrin N. Joslyn, who died yesterday morning, will be held from his late residence, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.

   —The Alpha Chautauqua Circle will meet with Miss Mary Oday, 70 Railroad-st. Monday evening, Oct. 19, at 7:30 o'clock. A full attendance is desired as it is election of officers.

—The regular meeting of the A. O. U. W. will be held in their lodge rooms at 7:30 o'clock to-morrow night. A large attendance is desired as there are three candidates to be initiated.

   —Miss Grace Belle Latimer, for a number of years a member of the faculty of the Oneonta Normal school, was yesterday married at Oneonta to Rev. Frank Merrick, pastor of the Congregational church at Roxbury, Mass.

   —A regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 3 P. M., the day of meeting having been changed from Saturday to Tuesday. Mrs. F. M. Snyder will conduct the consecration service, after which will occur the business meeting followed by reports from the delegates attending the state convention. A cordial invitation is given for all who are interested to attend.