SPANISH TROOPS BURN FARMS IN CUBA

Capt. Gen. Valeriano Weyler.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 15, 1897.

TROOPS BURN FARMS.

WEYLER CONTINUES THE POLICY OF EXTERMINATION.

Troops Preceded by Bands of Torchmen, Who After Plundering Everything in Sight, Set Fire to Buildings—People Must go to Cities Whether They Starve or Not.

   HAVANA, Jan 13—General Weyler continues the war of extermination and destruction which, in his opinion, will end with the pacification of the island. From Gorea to Tumbadero, a distance of ten miles, in Havana province, all the farms have been burned by the Spanish troops. This means a loss of $500,000 worth of property and the misery of hundreds of families.

   Weyler attributes these outrages to the insurgent bands, though everybody knows that they are the work of Spanish columns under the special instructions of the captain general.

   A farmer of Gorea, whose small property was reduced to ashes and who was deprived of all resources, with a wife and six children to support, said that the columns are preceded by bands of torchmen who kindle fires on every side after plundering the houses. The farmers and their families are taken before the chiefs of the columns and threatened with death.

   The Spaniards say that they do not want people to live in the country, but to gather in the towns, no matter how poor they are or how much they need the produce of their farms for their daily sustenance. If any one dares to protest against living in the towns because he has nothing to live on there, he is immediately killed. The result of this barbarous policy is the re-enforcement of the insurgent army by hundreds of recruits daily, who are obliged to choose between starving in the cities or fighting against those who destroy their means of gaining a livelihood.

   Gorea is a station on the United railway of Havana, and the farms which surround it are mostly tobacco plantations. Weyler's object in ordering the destruction of all that part of the country is to deprive the insurgent bands in Havana province of food resources, as he believes they live on what the farmers provide them. This policy irritates the Spaniards in Havana who own properties in the country or are interested in agriculture.

STATE ELECTORS BALLOT.

Formally Vote for McKinley and Hobart.

   ALBANY, Jan 11.—It was a distinguished body of men, the members of which assembled in the Senate chamber this morning at 11:30 o'clock and occupied the seats of the State Senators. They were the electors for President and Vice President of the United States selected by the Republican voters of the State and had met to forward to the customary places the choice of the State

   It was ten minutes after the noon hour when Secretary of State Palmer rapped the body to order and the Rev. John Holmes, a Presbyterian divine, offered prayer.

   General Palmer announced that the labors of the body could be concluded to-day and invited the members to luncheon on behalf of the resident member, Mr. Easton, and also announced that the Governor would be pleased to meet the members at recess.

   The roll call showed all present and the constitutional oath was administered, all standing. Each member then signed the oath of office. This consumed about a half hour, after which the election of officers was proceeded with.

   Representative Dean nominated General Tracy and he was unanimously elected. Mr. Dean and Mr. Sloan escorted him to the chair.

   Leopold Stern of New York and George Urban, Jr., of Buffalo were selected as secretaries.

   At ten minutes of 1 P. M. the balloting began, the members using as ballots a handsomely printed ballot from a steel engraved plate, there being one each for President and Vice President. The tellers announced that there had been thirty -six votes cast for William McKinley for President of the United States and thirty-six ballots for Garrett A. Hobart for Vice President of the United States, and the president declared that William McKinley and Garrett A. Hobart had received the thirty-six electoral votes of New York.

   The following were announced to place the certificates of election in the beads of the Albany postmaster, William Easton of Albany, Seth M. Milliken and H. D. Armour.

   The members then signed the four district certificates of election.

   The committee appointed to select messengers announced that they had selected James G. Cutler of Rochester to carry the certificate to the Senate of the United States and Charles A. Moore of Brooklyn to carry the certificate to the Judge of the United States court, Northern district. A recess was then taken until 1:50.

   The college met at 4 o'clock after having two recesses and received the report of the Mailing Committee. At 4:39 they adjourned sine die.

Another New Industry.

   Messrs. T & R. Kennedy have rented part of the front and all the rear and second floor of the store at No. 18 Railroad-st., and will soon open the best equipped bicycle repair shop in central New York, the large cities not excepted.

   Both gentlemen arc experienced mechanics and they will be prepared to manufacture complete bicycles to order as well as to do all kinds of general repairing and machine work Their equipment includes an engine and boiler, lathes, drills, and all things necessary to a perfect machine shop, as well as a bicycle enamel room and a nickeling plant. Though not yet settled in their quarters they have a large amount of work already contracted. The past experience of these gentlemen as bicycle-makers assures the public that they will turn out a good wheel. Besides steady work at the Wesson-Nivison factory last year they built twenty wheels complete at their home shop during evenings.

HERE AND THERE.

   The ice at the Traction company's rink was flooded Tuesday and skaters will now find it in prime condition.

   The public schools will close at noon to-day out of respect to Dr. Asa J. White who was a member of the board of education.

   Bingham Bros. & Miller have adjusted their insurance and are closing out their smoked stock. See their new advertisement on our eighth page.

   The Cortland City band are organized for work the coming season and rehearsals are being held regularly under the leadership of Mr. Frank Goddard.

   "Peck's Bad Boy" with all its accustomed fun was presented at the opera house last evening. It was a right good company.

   Mr. Delos Bauder is erecting a building [just] north of Hackett's harness store on North Main-st. which, when completed, will be occupied by Mr. M. B. Filsinger, larger quarters than he now occupies in his confectionery and ice cream business.

   Mr. Frank S. Jepson, who was arrested on the charge of using the mails for fraudulent purposes, has been honorably discharged by United States Commissioner Charles S. Hall of Binghamton, who informed Mr. Jepson that there was no evidence against him.

   A woman in a neighboring town has invented what she calls a "snore diverter." It is composed of a hood and a flexible pipe. When her husband's snores grow unbearable, the hood is lowered over his head and the snore is conducted into the cellar. There hasn't been a rat in the house since the diverter has been in use.

   Mr. L. A. Coates, who has been connected for several years with public works in Cortland, has opened an architect's office in rooms in the First National bank building. Mr. Coates is favorably known here by his work when the street railroad tracks were laid, also on the sewers and the Railroad-st. pavement. He has spent some years in the study of building and architectural drafting and merits a good run of business.