TO SAVE THE BISON AND STEAM OR ELECTRICITY

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, May 7, 1897

TO SAVE THE BISON.

Only Thirty Left—Proposition to Corval the Remnant of Them.

   WASHINGTON, May 7.—Buffalo Jones of Oklahoma, who is at present in the city, has made the interior department a proposition to corval the remnant of the once mighty herd of American bison. Practically all of these animals left in a wild state are in the Yellowstone National park, and Mr. Jones says they do not exceed thirty in number.

   He is an authority on buffaloes and he says that if the remaining animals were to be preserved they must be gathered at once, as the game in the park has been mercilessly slaughtered the past two years. Mr. Jones says the superintendent of the park has abandoned all hope of preserving a single specimen. The secretary has not acted upon the proposition.

FOREST RESERVATIONS.

Cleveland's Order Revoked by the Senate.

DENOUNCED BY MR. RAWLINS.

Senators lndulge In Some Exciting Debates—Pettigrew Called to Order by the Chair—Sundry Civil Bill Was Passed.

   WASHINGTON, May 7.—The senate agreed to an amendment to the sundry civil bill revoking the order of President Cleveland establishing forest reservations aggregating 17,000,000 acres.

   The debate brought out much criticism of Mr. Cleveland's order.

   Mr. Rawlins of Utah declared that Mr. Cleveland's order was "as gross an outrage as that of William the Conqueror in setting aside his hunting preserve."

   Mr. Pettigrew declared that the president had threatened to veto the entire sundry civil bill if that item was retained. Yielding to the president's threat, the provision had been abandoned. "And a president that would make such a threat,'' exclaimed Mr. Pettigrew, "is a disgrace to civilization and a disgrace to the republic."

   The presiding officer sounded the gavel sharply and Mr. Gray interjected the inquiry: "On what authority does the senator assert that the president made such a threat?"

   "It was so stated in committee," Mr. Pettigrew answered. "It was well known also, he said, that during the last four years the president menaced congress by threats."

   Mr. Gray remarked that when the senator had been challenged for his authority he had repeated the gossip of the senate chamber, and had assumed this to be a threat by the president.

   Mr. Allison endeavored to have the amendment restricted, so as to leave the question of revocation to the president, but he was defeated on a yea and nay vote—14 to 32.

   Mr. Gorman made a point of order against the amendment, but this being submitted to the senate was defeated—23 to 25. The amendment was then agreed to without division.

   Another amendment agreed to provides a continuance of the investigation of the condition of the fur seals in Bering sea.

   The provisions as to a Nicaraguan canal commission were left as in the original bill, the amendment by Mr. Hale increasing the commission to five, of which three were to be civil engineers, being defeated.

   The sundry civil bill was passed. It carried an aggregate of $53,000,000.

   Mr. Bacon introduced a joint resolution deprecating war and announcing the policy of the government in favor of arbitration. The resolution was referred to the committee on foreign relations.

ENGLAND IS HOSTILE.

Not Pleased With Our Rejection of the Arbitration Treaty.

   LONDON, May 7.—The afternoon newspapers are bitter at the rejection of the arbitration treaty by the United States senate. The St. James Gazette publishes a long article headed, "Free Trade and Brotherly Love," during which it says:

   Great Britain has removed every hampering tariff, and thousands of square miles of American territory, scores of her cities and millions of her citizens thrive by virtue of the English market alone. Yet the senate committee has just piled up the most vexatious, harassing and impenetrable wall of tariffs any nation ever formed against another, while the senate itself has decided against a permanent machinery for the peaceable settlement of disputes.

   The much abused diplomats were advised that the treaty would be accepted, but the politicians preferred to listen to the counsels of an ex-convict and sworn enemy of England who, having taken the oath of allegiance to the queen, spends his vacation in Washington advising the senators to hope and work patiently for twisting the British lion's tail.

   We rejoice at the new Canadian preferential tariff for many reasons, not the least of which is that it restores us a weapon with which to fight our rivals in the future. Free imports at any price deprived us of that weapon.

STEAM OR ELECTRICITY.

IRVING H. PALMER ON THE ROAD TO CINCINNATUS.

Expresses His Doubts as to the Sincerity of the Traction Company's Offer to

Build the Road—Believes There is Something Behind it and That it is a Scheme to Get the Steam Road Out of the Range of Prospect.

   A representative of The STANDARD today called upon Irving H. Palmer, attorney for the Erie & Central New York railroad to inquire if the proposition of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. as presented by its attorney H. L. Bronson, to build the proposed [rail]road to Cincinnatus would open any new lines of procedure for his company. Mr. Palmer thought that the proposition would make no difference in the plans. "I do not believe," said he, "that the offer is made in good faith. It is the same old bluff made over again. We called them on the old one and they failed to show up."

   The STANDARD man inquired as to the former matter to which he referred and Mr. Palmer said, about a year ago W. D. Tisdale, president of the Erie & Central New York R. R., received a request that a meeting of the directors of the road be called at once as the Traction company desired to present to them a matter of importance. The meeting was held in the parlors of the Savings bank. The Traction company was represented by Messrs. C. D. Simpson of Scranton and H. Bergholtz of Ithaca. After some preliminary talk Mr. Simpson inquired if the contract of the Otselic Construction Co. had expired, and was told that it had. He then asked the amount of bonds issued and inquired if any had been negotiated. The directors were inclined to think that they had not. Mr. Simpson threw in the remark that it was not likely that they would meet with a ready sale while the Traction company was already operating its road and had a switch to nearly every business place in McGrawville.

   The representatives of the Traction company then made the proposition that the directors of the Erie & Central New York R. R. have the franchises and rights of way sold upon execution and thus freeze out the Otselic Construction Co. The directors replied that Mr. Bundy had proceeded thus far in good faith and it was not his fault, but his misfortune that the road was not yet built, and that they were not prepared to and did not purpose to drop him, nor even to consider the matter till some one else at least made a proposition for the earlier construction of the road. The representatives of the Traction company agreed to submit a proposition in writing within a few days for the building of the road, but nothing farther has been heard from them up to date.

   My belief is, continued Mr. Palmer, that the Traction company simply wants to get us out of the way. What they say about selling the bonds may be mutual. They say the steam road cannot sell bonds while the electric road is in operation as far as McGrawville. Perhaps the fact that the steam road is in prospect prevents the ready sale of Traction company bonds, and they want to kill our prospects to help themselves.

   Their statements are not consistent. Mr. Bronson says in his proposition, "There is no question but that Cortland would be benefited by the construction and operation of this road by responsible parties, but as to whether the road will pay or not is extremely doubtful," and then immediately he goes on to set forth the proposition of the Traction company to build the road. They would not be likely to care to build it if they did not think it would pay. I repeat that I am confident that the only thought is to get the steam road out of the way; or to get us into some litigation with the Otselic Construction Co. that will ruin our prospects.

   There is something behind this plausible proposition. Mr. Bronson went to Scranton this week and when he came back he was ready to make this offer. The very fact that this thing emanates from Scranton makes me think the D., L. & W. R. R. may be assisting in the matter. Mr. Hand was at one time a heavy stockholder of the D., L. & W. R. R. I don't know whether he is now or not. The D., L. & W. has always been hostile to us. They fear we will go on and build the road to Deposit and make a rival line to New York, and that truly is our object and aim. Of course if the Traction company should build this road that would end up all such prospect. The Traction company would probably continue it as an electric road to Cincinnatus and stop there, and an electric road cannot compete with a steam road in the matter of freights.

   No, said Mr. Palmer, in conclusion, the prospects are now bright for the building of the road on our own account, and I don't believe it will be decided to accept a proposition from the Traction company.

Mr. Mager at Alexandria Bay.

   The Clayton Independent says: "Mr. G. J. Mager of Cortland, N. Y., was at Alexandria Bay last week looking after his property there. During his brief stay he ordered some much needed improvements in the Hotel Columbia, now so well conducted by Mr. Weston Fall. The outside stairway leading to the second floor, so long a matter of considerable inconvenience, is to be inclosed and made accessible from the main office. The barns are also to be repaired and other minor alterations and improvements made. Mr. Mager also purchased of Dr. J. D. Cole the office building formerly occupied by the latter and ordered it moved upon land owned by him and will put the same in order for occupancy. The old telegraph office is also to be raised, enlarged and fitted up for the Dominion Telegraph company. Mr. A. F. Bachman will do the work. Mr. Mager has also leased to Willard Davis for a term of years the store building formerly occupied by J. S. Keeler.

BLOCK SIGNALS ON THE LEHIGH.

Intervals Must Elapse Before One Train Can Follow Another.

   The Elmira and Cortland branch of the Auburn division of the Lehigh Valley railroad is to be equipped with the block system at once, work having already been commenced at Camden. Each station where there is a telegraph office will be fitted with the signals, and no passenger train will be allowed to follow another at a closer interval than five minutes. Freight trains will be compelled to keep at least ten minutes apart. The signaling arrangements will consist of posts about thirty feet high, from which semaphore arms will extend on each aide at right angles with the track. The arms will be painted red on one side and white on the other, the sides alternating so that a train may be blocked in one direction, and the track left open in the opposite direction. The signals will be operated from the office.

   It will be some weeks before the work will be completed, but when it is once in operation it will be a great improvement and will be of much value in preventing the possibility of accidents. The move is quite in keeping with what would be expected of a progressive and up-to-date railroad like the Lehigh Valley.

Schermerhorn-st. School.

   The following is the program of Arbor day exercises held this morning at the Schermerhorn-st. school:

Song—Welcome to Arbor Day, School.

Recitation—Who? Leora Dodd.

Recitation—Planting, Kenneth Moore.

Exercise—Game of Trees, First Grade.

Song—Our Spring Holiday, Second and Third Grades.

Recitation—What Do we Plant? Three Boys.

Recitation—A Milkweed Story, Arthur Caldwell.

Recitation—Return of Spring, Five Girls.

Song—Sweet Robin Redbreast, First Grade.

Recitation—Talking in Their Sleep, Winnie Ross.

Recitation—Plant Trees, Three Girls.

Recitation—Spring's Party, Grace Clark.

Song—Sports of Childhood, Fourth Grade.

Recitation—Welcome to May, Genevieve Ryan.

Recitation—Pussy Willows, Emery Doran.

Recitation—Daisy, Agnes Lucey.

Song—The Little Bird, Primary.

Recitation—The First Up, Winnie Higgins.

Recitation—Marsh Marigold, Bertha Mack.

Recitation—Butterfly's Fad, Harry Coon.

Song—Bluebird, Fifth and Sixth Grades.

Exercise, Three Little Boys.

Recitation—What? Ethel Puderbaugh.

Autoharp Solo, Grace Cogswell.

Exercise, Five Boys.

Song—Spring Song, Five Girls.

Reading—Arbor Day in Spain, Lillian Mack.

Recitation—Nature's Tree Planters, Three Boys.

Recitation—Apple Blossom, Maggie Hernon.

Song—Over the Meadows, Fifth and Sixth Grades.

The John-st. School.

   The following is a program of the Arbor day exercises in the John-st. school this morning:

Salute the Flag.

Song—America, School.

Recitation—Spring Heralded, Jennie Medes.

Recitation—The Crocus, lrvin Lounsbery.

Dialogue—What we Plant, Anna Hartnett, Lena Beers, Edythe Lord.

Recitation—Columbine, Glenn Wadsworth.

Recitation—Chrysanthemum Land, George Lounsbery.

Song—Spring Joy, School.

Recitation—All Things Beautiful, Thomas Murray.

Dialogue—Mother Earth, First Grade.

Recitation—How Johnny Jump-up Became a Pansy, MaBelle Murray.

Recitation—The Plant's Song, Abbie Littleton.

Dialogue—A Day in Brownie Land, Second Grade.

Recitation—The Violet, Neil Fuller.

Recitation—The Grasshoppers Game of Tag, Daniel Murray.

Song—Two Robin Redbreasts, School.

BREVITIES.

   —A daring escape of a prisoner from an officer is noted in our Homer letter today.

   —Word has been received of the death in Chicago, Ill., on May 4 of Henry Keep, who was born and passed his early manhood in Homer. His age was 77 years.

   —A. Mahan of Cortland and daughter Mary R. were guests of Miss Murphy of East Hill yesterday.—Ithaca Journal, Thursday.

   —Chief Linderman appeared on the streets this morning with the regulation policeman's summer hat weighing four ounces.

   —The local branch of the A. O. H. which conducted so pleasant an excursion to the Thousand Islands is arranging for another excursion to the same place this year, which will probably take place about the middle of July.

   —If you find you can spare a book from your library, remember the Young

Men's Christian association would be very glad of any useful book in its effort to form a library for the use of the young men of Cortland. Here's a chance to form a free town library.

   —The steamer Frontenac begins its regular trips on Cayuga lake on Monday, May 31. It leaves Ithaca at 8:45 A. M. for Cayuga and returning leaves Cayuga at 3:15 P. M., arriving at Ithaca at 7:05 P. M. in time for the train to Cortland reaching here at 8:17 P. M.

   —Word has been received in Cortland that Mrs. Elvira Hyde, widow of the late Dr. Frederick Hyde, is very seriously ill with a sudden attack of pneumonia at the home of her son, Dr. Miles G. Hyde, in New York, where she went a few days ago for a visit. Very slender hopes were entertained of her recovery.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—D. McCarthy & Co., Bicycles, page 8; T. P. Bristol, Unmentionables for Men, page 7; D. H. Wesson. Bicycles, page 7; Stowell, Bargains, page7; F. E. Brogden, Get the Best, page 7; Palmer & Co., Special, page 4; I. Whiteson, Only 30 Days More, page 6.

   —Eliza A. Frize, widow of Matthias W. Frize, late of Company F., One Hundred Eighty-fifth Regiment of New York Infantry Volunteers, has just been allowed a pension of $8 a month and arrearages from the date of her application therefor, Dec. 9, 1896. L. P. Hollenbeck of Cortland is her attorney.

   —Edward Brown and J. E. Dillon, who were arrested yesterday afternoon on Port Watson-st. by Constable Ira Crandall, were brought before Police Justice Mellon last night charged with public intoxication. They were each sentenced to pay a fine of $10 or to board with the sheriff for ten days. Brown paid and Dillon is boarding it out.

HOMER.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   HOMER, May 7.—Mr. George I. Pruden of Seneca Falls is visiting with friends in town.

   The recently organized baseball game composed of the following members were badly beaten at a practice name played with the Normal team on the fair grounds yesterday: Catcher, Oliver C. Murray; pitcher, William Bates or Nelson Wiegand; short stop, Charles Terry; first base, Carl Bates; second base, Fred Newcombe; third base, Lewis Clark; right field, Wiegand or Bates; center field, William Gerrard; left field, Harry Davis.

   Herbert Larmuth, about whom an item concerning his arrest at Little York for stealing boats appeared in yesterday's STANDARD is again at large. As was stated yesterday, Officer Raymond started with him for the Onondaga penitentiary where he was sentenced to serve six months. The two took the train leaving here at 10:00 A . M. Shortly after the train had passed the Jamesville station Larmuth asked the privilege of stepping into the water closet which was granted him. He soon had the window opened and had climbed through, out on the platform. At Oakwood cemetery he jumped off the train and ran up the hill in the direction of Syracuse university and shortly disappeared. As soon as Mr. Raymond found he had left, he got off the train also but could not find the boy. Young Larmuth boarded the midnight freight last night and came back to Homer stopping at his home over night. He left very early this morning and his whereabouts are now unknown.

   Mr. Homer Phelps has accepted a position with the Union News company on the D., L. & W. road on a train running from Binghamton to Buffalo.

   Two handsome Diana wheels which were donated to the Homer band who are to give them away at their coming fair are now on exhibition in the window of the clothing store of C. R. Merrill & Co.

   Mr. Manly Daniels visited the Sessions hill school yesterday afternoon.

   Many of the Homer people will be disappointed in learning that Mr. Eugene F. Williams is closing out his stock of bicycles and is no longer to deal in them. There will hereafter be no place in town where one can buy bicycle supplies.

   A rather novel advertisement recently appeared in connection with the market of Moore & Merrick which was headed as follows: "A place where we meat (meet) our friends."

   Mr. Leon Carley, who has been visiting at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Carley on North Main-st., has returned to his home in Syracuse.

   Rev. J. A. Hungate has at his home on Cayuga-st. a very beautiful bed of tulips. Any one who loves flowers would be repayed for the time spent in going to see them.

   Mr. James Geagan representing Clancy Brothers, heavy hardware dealers in Syracuse, made a business trip to Homer this morning.

   Arbor day exercises are to be held at the Homer academy this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

   Mr. Joseph W. Fassett is confined to his home on Cayuga-st. with the mumps.

   The Homer Whist club will be entertained by Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Tallett this evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Carley on North Main-st.

   Herman Ackerman of Boston, Mass., was in town on business yesterday.

   Mr. William J. Roche of Scott is in town to-day.