THE RAILROAD QUESTION NOW

Train approaching McGrawville between Cortland and Cincinnatus, N. Y..

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 4, 1897.

THE QUESTION NOW.

WILL THE E. & C. N. Y. R. R. BE COMPLETED?

It Will If the Few Remaining Old Bonds are Renewed or New Ones Subscribed—Old Road Being Repaired.

   While the DEMOCRAT aims to publish the news, and all of the news of local importance as far as our space will permit, we desire first of all to be accurate in our statements and to confine ourselves to facts. Believing that some of the statements which have been published in regard to the Erie & Central New York R. R. were, to a certain extent, misleading, a representative of the DEMOCRAT called upon attorney I. H. Palmer, who very kindly gave us the following facts:

   Mr. Palmer received a letter from Mr. N. A. Bundy, as president of the Otselic Construction Co., instructing him to have Mr. Benson commence certain work on the road such as filling in the grade where it had been dug or washed out, and to put the road bed, as far as it had been graded, in exactly the same condition as it was when work was discontinued two years ago. This work is being done by the Otselic Construction Co., for the purpose of fulfilling their part of the agreement before transferring their contract to the G. P. Mellin Construction Co. who, as yet, have done no work on the road. The Mellin Construction Company will not accept the contract or commence any work, until every condition imposed by them on the Otselic Construction Co., and the people of Cortland and those along the line have been met.

   The deed granting the right of way across the Welch property has been executed, but on Wednesday evening had not been left at the bank for transfer as promised, but no trouble from that quarter was expected, nor from one or two other parties where the matter of the right of way had not been fully settled. It seems that practically the only thing remaining to be done to secure the road, beyond all question, is closing the subscription for the bonds, and it now remains with the people of Cortland to say whether we shall have this railroad with all of its vast benefits to the town or not. There are still remaining some of the bonds subscribed before, which have not been renewed, if they are renewed the amount is practically secured, if they are not other subscriptions are necessary.

   Mr. Bundy, personally, has put quite a large amount of money into the work so far, and has done a vast amount of work, and if his efforts are successful will be but poorly compensated for the time and money expended, as compared with the benefits which will accrue to the people of Cortland. It is hard to estimate the great advantage which this road will be to Cortland, if constructed, and if the New York connections are finally secured, it certainly will be worth to this place many times the entire amount of bonds asked.

   There is still something remaining for the people to do. Shall we have the road and its benefits or not?

Captain General Valeriano Weyler.

THE CUBAN WAR.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES IN REGARD TO CAPTAIN GENERAL WEYLER.

While Guilty of the Grossest Crimes He Hoodwinks His Home Government.

An Examination by the Home Government May Follow.

   NEW YORK, June 2—The most important statement about the situation in

Cuba made since the revolution broke out there is given by Don Santiago Barroeta, a high Spanish official, until recently deputy in the provincial assembly of Santa Clara, and during the last 14 years a judge in the upper court of justice of the island.

   Until a few days ago Senor Barroeta held the office of deputy and was the proprietor of El National, a Spanish newspaper published in Cieufuegos. He is an uncompromising Spaniard, an open enemy of the revolutionists and a close political friend of the Marquis of Apeztegnia, president of the Spanish party La Union Constitutional. He won the rank of captain in Gen. Weyler's army in fighting against the Cubans, but as he refused to yield to Gen. Weyler's orders to attack the Marquis of Apeztegnia through El National, and as he opposed also some of the cruel acts of Weyler, the captain general accused him of being an abettor in the last alleged frauds committed by the ex-governor of Santa Clara, Senor Montero Vidal, and ordered him to be arrested as a common criminal.

   Senor Barroeta has witnessed many barbarities of Weyler and has in his possession important documents which compromise the Spanish administration in Cuba and the captain general. Knowing what his fate would be if caught by his powerful enemy, be concealed himself as soon as a friend advised him of the order of arrest issued by Weyler, and a few days after he escaped to this country on a sailing vessel bound for Boston. From Boston he came to New York, and under an assumed name he has lived in this city a week preparing a pamphlet in Spanish, in which he depicts the Cuban situation.

The Grain-O Law Suit.

   ROCHESTER, N. Y. May 24, 1897—The great $50,000 damage suit instituted by a Michigan Cereal Company [Postum] against the Genesee Pure Food Company is at an end. They settled it and took it out of court for the ridiculously small sum of $500, and as a practical result Grain-O is in greater demand than ever. The new plant, only just completed, is to be duplicated, so that not only the old friends of the delicious food drink which takes the place of coffee, but the new friends it is making every day can be supplied. The beverage which the children, as well as the adult, may drink with benefit, will be furnished in unlimited quantities. Suits may come and suits may go. but Grain-O goes on forever.—N. Y. Mail and Express.

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.

Dedicated at Marathon with Imposing Ceremonies.

   The dedicatory services of the new St. Stephen's Catholic church at Marathon, were held last Sunday at 10 A. M. The church was crowded with members of the congregation and friends. The services were conducted by Bishop P. A. Ludden, assisted by many priests of the diocese. Father Quinn of Utica preached the sermon. Music was furnished by the choir of St. Mary's church, Cortland, assisted by Miss Gilgannon of Scranton, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Lannigan.

   The corner stone of the church was laid last fall and it was only completed late Saturday night. The cost is over $5,000and it will seat 500 people. The crucifix came from Munich, Germany, and is a most perfect figure. The pastor, Rev. C. V. McGuire, has labored most faithfully in the work and has been ably assisted by the members of his congregation.

THE OLD-TIME SAND MAN.

A Figure and a Business That Have Wholly Disappeared.

   "Here's your white sand, black sand:

   White sand,

   White sand and black sand.

   Now, here's your white sand,

   Black sand m-a-n!"

   Such were the words sung by the melodious voices of a few robust colored men through the streets of Washington, D. C., says the Star, half a century ago; but the sand man and his business have entirely disappeared, for no longer the market exists for the material. The white sand was then used for scrubbing purposes and sanding floors, and the black sand for use on manuscript to dry the ink. While large quantities were used in the departments, many stores and offices, as well as families, were the consumers, and in some families sand boxes are handed down to the grandchildren to remind them of the days of the old quill pen. These men, with horse and cart, would early in the morning appear with a few bushels of white sand, and possibly a peck of the black material, and for a few hours they would cry it through the streets, selling by the peck, quart and pint—a levy (12 1/2 cents) per quart for the white and often 25 cents per pint for the black. Now scrubbing soap has almost entirely superseded the white material, and blotting paper has driven the black sand out of the market.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   TOMPKINS.—Cady & Thorn have purchased recently about two hundred tons of hay for shipment at Lake Ridge.—Groton Journal.

   Business was very lively at Lake Ridge week before last. The switch was full of cars, being loaded with hay and grain.

   The Taughannock Falls House was informally opened May 13th. A dinner was served to a number of ladies. The house is now open.

   The Iowa Medicine Co. put up their tents in Lansingville week before last, and made the town lively. A free show was given every other evening in the large tent.

   An old Ithaca curmudgeon who never used a bicycle and of course is "agin" that way of getting through the world, says people only use them who are so lazy they have to set down to walk.

   Articles of incorporation of the Cornell Heights Land Company were filed at Albany May 27. The directors are E. G. Wyckoff, Herman Bergholtz and Clarence Wyckoff. Capital stock $75,000.

   The dock at Lake Ridge is in a ruined condition at present, but it is said that a few public spirited gentlemen and the Steamboat company are intending to repair it and all boats will stop there this summer. It will be a great convenience to residents in that locality.

   The Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Co. have received 52 contracts for bridges during the month of May, some of them are for five spans. The company have a large number of inquiries in regard to bridge work. The shops are running and will soon be in full blast.—Groton Journal.

   On Monday of last week ground was broken and the laying of the wall for the new passenger station at Freeville was begun, and the work will now be rapidly pushed to completion. This is welcome news to Freeville people, as well as to the many travelers who find occasion to wait for trains at that station.

HERE AND THERE.

   Conductor P. Conway of the great Ithaca band will play with Daniels' orchestra at their weekly dance at the armory to-morrow night.

   The Order of United American Mechanics received ten applications at their meeting on Monday night, and have seventeen to initiate on next Monday night.

   Some of the artists at the Music Festival rendered a fine programme under the direction of Mr. Mahan at the reception given by the Tioughnioga club Wednesday evening.

   Station Agent Brownell of the D., L. & W. has appointed David H. Gourley as freight billing clerk to succeed himself. Mr. Gourley is succeeded as cashier by C. L. Davis, and he by Henry Relyea as baggageman.

   Travelers by the D. L. & W. should consult the new time table on another page, which went into effect on Monday, the 31st. The south bound vestibule leaves at 10:02 instead of 10:17 and the milk train goes north at 4:15.

   A most pleasing musicale was given last Friday evening by Miss Carrie D. Halbert at her studio in the Wickwire building. An exceptionally fine programme was rendered and enjoyed by about fifty of the friends of Miss Halbert.

   Mr. and Mrs. George J. Mager have issued tasty engraved invitations for a reception at their home on Lincoln-ave. next Thursday, June 10, from 8 to 9 o'clock P. M. Their large circle of friends necessitated over two hundred invitations.

   Mr. N. A. Bundy of Philadelphia and C. H Benson of Cortland were in town Sunday, May 16. Mr. Bundy said that the railroad would be completed to Cincinnatus this fall, and that the prospects were good for it to go to Norwich via South Otselic—South Otselic Gazette.

   Mr. N. H. Gillette of the Gillette Skirt Co. goes to New York in a few days to complete arrangements for a moonlight excursion which the Brooklyn Chautauqua Union will have June 12 to Locust Grove on Long Island Sound. Mr. Gillette has been vice president of the union for many years. It is expected the excursion party will number over 3,000 people.