GRECO-TURKISH WAR VIEWED WITH INTEREST AND BOARD OF EDUCATION

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, April 20, 1897.

WAR VIEWED WITH INTEREST.

Military Officials at Washington Closely Watching Operations.

   WASHINGTON. April 20.—The president and Secretary Sherman were in consultation several times during the day. It is gathered unofficially that they had under consideration a telegram from Minister Terrell at Constantinople regarding the protection of American interests and the protection of Greek subjects which have been intrusted to the minister to the porte. Secretary of the Navy Long was also with the president.

   It has been suggested that the president will probably be called on to issue a proclamation of neutrality, now that war has begun between Turkey and Greece.

   The officials have looked into the precedents in such cases and have concluded that the conditions at present do not require the issue of such a notice.

   The progress of hostilities is being watched with the keenest interest in military circles here. Already there has been a great demand for accurate maps of the scene of the first outbreak and this has been responded to by the military information bureau by giving orders for the preparation of such a map as was issued during the war between China and Japan, a publication of great value to the student of war.

   The war department experts say that Turkey, on paper at least, has one of the most formidable armies in the world, and although it is generally admitted that its strength may not be anywhere near as large as thus set out, still there actually exists a military force beside which that of Greece is absolutely insignificant in numbers.

HARD FIGHTING IN GREECE.

Greek Navy Hastily Left the Piraeus Under Sealed Orders.

   ATHENS, April 20.—It is reported this morning that the Greek force which was trying to bridge the river Arichthos on the Epirus frontier has been driven off by the Turks. The Turks have advanced upon Arta and have been bombarding it since 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Sharp fighting is proceeding on the Epirus frontier. The bombardment of Prevesa, a Turkish position at the entrance of the Gulf of Arta, was resumed at 9 o'clock this morning by the Greeks on both land and sea. It is believed that the town will be reduced during the course of the day. The Greek squadron left the Piraeus at midnight under sealed orders. Several merchantmen have also been hastily armed. Detachments of Greek troops have been hurried aboard.

TO LEAVE CORTLAND.

I. Whiteson to Sell Everything Preparatory to Going to Louisville, Ky.

   Mr. I. Whiteson, who has for many years been identified with the clothing trade in Cortland as proprietor of one of the largest stores in the county, has purchased an immense department store in Louisville, Ky., and will immediately close out his business in Cortland preparatory to going to that city. Mr. Whiteson's new store is located upon one of the principal streets of the city and occupies the whole of a block 90 by 250 ft. in size and four stories high. Three hundred clerks are employed there. The stock carried includes clothing ready made and tailor made, furnishing goods for ladies and gentlemen, ladies' wear, shoes, etc. The opportunity is a grand one for a man of Mr. Whiteson's known business ability.

   Meanwhile he will offer some tremendous bargains here in Cortland. His whole stock including clothing for men and children, furnishing goods, hats and caps, trunks and valises, etc., must be closed out and will be closed out at private sale during the next sixty days. He has on hand everything usually carried in a well equipped and up-to-date furnishing store. His store will be closed entirely on Friday of this week to permit his employees to mark down the stock. Prices will be fixed at fifty cents on the dollar and less, and everything will be sold, as he has no idea of taking anything with him to Louisville.

   One of the facts which caused Mr. Whiteson to hesitate about buying the new store in Louisville and in closing out here was that he must leave his beautiful home on Lincoln-ave., which he built ten years ago this summer and fitted up  with every convenience and luxury. But he determined to sell this along with his other property here. He and his family have also many friends here whom they will regret to leave and who will be sorry to have them go.

   Mr. Whiteson was also the senior partner in the clothing firm of Whiteson & Berwin at Norwich. Mr. Berwin has arranged to buy his partner's interest, so that Mr. Whiteson will close out all his business interests in the East before going to Louisville.

   Mr. Theodore Grant of Philadelphia who prior to 1889 was with Mr. Whiteson here in Cortland, has returned to help him close out his stock here and will  go with him to Louisville.

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Teachers for Next Year Engaged—Scale of Wages Adopted.

   The board of education held a regular meeting last night and re-elected Ferdinand E. Smith superintendent of schools for the coming year at a salary of $1,400, an increase of $100. The following teachers for the year were engaged: Eleanor E. Miller, Fannie M. Galusha, Ada J. Wallace, Mary E. Williams, Anna May Knapp, Grace Mead, Mrs. Lena V. Keese, Minnie F. Cleary, Ella M. Van Hoesen, Mrs. Jasper E. Perry, Mrs. Clara H. Benedict, Mary J. McGowan, Nettie E. Cole, Mary E. Van Bergen, Lulu M. Day, Mrs. Ora K. George, Ella C. Garrity, Mabel L. Graves, Mary C. Van Gorden, Elizabeth Turner, Anna Flanagan, Mary A. Woodbury. The teachers remain the same as at present, except that Miss Flanagan and Miss Woodbury were elected to fill vacancies caused by the resignations of Misses Jennie May Allen and Anna W. Blackmer, who intend entering Wellesley college the coming fall.

   Miss Flanagan has had several years' experience in teaching in the public schools in Horseheads, and her home is in Cortland. Miss Woodbury also resides in Cortland and graduated from the Normal in January. Superintendent Smith said this morning that the location of the teachers in the various schools for next year had not yet been decided upon, though there will be a few changes. The teachers now in the Central school will probably remain there next year.

   The board last night adopted a scale of salaries for the future. The first year a teacher will receive $320, the second $360, the third $400, the fourth $440, the fifth $480. If a new teacher has taught successfully for three years, this is to be considered equivalent to one year's service here, and the first year will receive $360 instead of $320. This action of the board was taken to encourage teachers to remain for a longer period than they otherwise would perhaps, by making an increase in the salary for each year's additional service.

VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

Large Number of Bills Audited—Board In Executive Session.

   There was a full attendance of the board of village trustees last evening when President Call called to order. But before the bills were disposed of, Trustee Nodecker begged to be excused, owing to sickness in his family. The following bills were audited:

   Street Commissioner's payroll, $118.95

   Homer & Cortland Gas Co., 17.20

   First National Bank, interest, 17.00

   F. A. Bickford, salary, 25.00

   Freight, .25

   Police payroll, 105.00

   W. T. Linderman, feeding prisoners, .62

   The bill of Sager & Jennings of $22.50 for vitriol for use at the engine house was referred to Trustee O'Leary for investigation.

   A petition signed by the following asking for the appointment of Howard W. Beattie as night policeman was read: A. B. Nelson, F. Daehler, B. F. Taylor, J. F. Dowd, C. Townley, D. Bauder, C. H. Warren, Hugh Corcoran, Ollie Ingraham, John Miller, F. W. Collins, A. J. Goddard, N. L. Miller, James Dougherty, M. H. Ray, J. D. Call, J. C. Seager, D. E. Smith, F. L. McDowell.

   The matter of establishing a sidewalk grade for the corner of North Main-st. and Homer-ave. was referred to Trustee Warfield with power to act.

   Chief Barber of the fire department came before the board and asked the board to grant to the recently organized fire patrol police powers at fires. All the trustees were in favor of granting such power, but under the wording of the charter they were not clear just how to grant this authority without making the twenty-seven members of the company special policemen, which would, in the minds or the trustees, give them the power of arrest at all times. The matter was laid over until the next meeting, but the trustees assured Chief Barber that they were perfectly willing to grant the request, only it should be done in a legal way. Some one suggested that the new organization might be designated the Protective Police department of Cortland, but to this Chief Barber objected, saying that the department had had enough of that title. The chief called attention to the hydrant at the corner of Owego and Park-sts., saying that Angell & McFall had built a platform so close to it that there is difficulty in turning a hydrant wrench. The matter was left with the chief. The board then, on motion of Trustee Wallace, with Trustee Nodecker absent, went into executive session.

   The board in executive session transacted no business. Owing to the absence of Trustee Nodecker, no appointments of policemen were made. The board behind closed doors talked about electric lighting, it being a question with them whether they had the power and authority to make a contract with any company for a term of more than one year, as under the charter the money for that purpose has to be appropriated by a vote of the people at the spring charter election.

STRANGLED TO DEATH.

Formerly of the Almshouse, Later at Rome Custodial Asylum.

   George Owens, a Cortland county inmate of the Rome Custodial asylum, strangled to death over a piece of bread on Saturday. He was 47 years of age. Like a great many idiots his teeth were very poor and he had always been fed on soups and soft food. Saturday morning he stole a good sized piece of bread, and smuggled it into the ward, where he was confined. The bread was 8 or 4 inches long and about as wide. He tried to swallow it and it stuck in his windpipe.

   Coroner Nock deemed an inquest unnecessary.

   Owens had been nearly all his life an inmate at the county almshouse, and was transferred to Rome Oct. 5, 1896, by Superintendent of the Poor O. P. Miner.

BREVITIES.

   —Two tramps were discharged from police court this morning, and started to count the railroad ties between Cortland and Binghamton.

   —In Justice Kelley's court this morning the case of Driseoll vs. Henry Goddard and Thomas Carr was adjourned to April 30 at 10 o'clock A. M.

   —The case of M. J. Peck against O. D. Moore is on trial before Justice Dowd and a jury to-day. The action is brought to recover damages for alleged injury to a house belonging to plaintiff and occupied by defendant.

   —New advertisements to-day are—D. McCarthy &Co., Men's Dept., page 4; A. H. Burgess, Spring Clothing, page 8; Warren, Tanner & Co., Dress Goods,  page 6; W. J . Perkins, paints, page 4; C. F. Brown, Hawkeye Camera, page 8; Angell & McCall, Boston Baked Beans, page 6; Baker & Angell, Shoes. page 6.

   —The Elmira Gazette tells of an exciting race Saturday night between passenger trains on the Lehigh Valley and Erie roads between Owego and Waverly where the two roads run parallel. The Lehigh Valley had the lighter train and won, drawing entirely away from the Erie train, while the passengers on the former train beckoned to those on the other to come on intimating that they were too slow.