FIXING THE BLAME AND RECEIVERS APPOINTED

Finding bodies in brick shed near Dutchess Junction after flood.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, July 20, 1897.

FIXING THE BLAME.

Fishkill and Matteawan Water Company Are Probably Guilty.

   POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., July 20.—The inquest into the death of the seven victims of the flood, caused by the bursting of the Melzingah reservoirs in the Fishkill mountains last Wednesday, is being held at Matteawan.

   Expecting a large attendance, Coroner Bevier held the inquest in the largest hall in the village. The hall was well filled, but not crowded. The evidence, while not sensational, confirmed the interviews with experts, already published, to the effect that the disaster was due to an insufficient spillway, or overflow, in the upper reservoir, which allowed the water to run over the dam and thus eat it away until it collapsed.

   The jury has not yet heard all of the evidence, but there is little doubt that they will hold the Fishkill and Matteawan Water company responsible for the loss of life.

   District Attorney Wood, who was present with Assistant District Attorney Hoysradt, examined the witnesses.

   Edmund Sheaf, superintendent of the water company, said that the dam, in his opinion, had been in perfect order. The spillway had been raised 12 or 18 inches a year ago, he said.

   Brevoort, the civil engineer, who was sent by the district attorney to examine the reservoirs and dams, testified that the workmanship of the dam was first class in every respect.

   "It was the insufficiency of the spillway and overflow of the dam that caused the accident," he declared. "If there had been six inches off the spillway, or six inches more on the dam, according to my calculation, the latter would never have overflowed. As near as can be judged, the water had been running over the dam at least six hours before it gave way.''

   Mr. Brevoort was corroborated by John Robertson, an engineer of Dutchess Junction. Then the inquest was adjourned.

Eugene V. Debs.

MORE MINERS JOIN.

Debs Is Doing Good Work by Bringing Them Out.

   FAIRMOUNT, W. Va., July 20.—Eugene V. Debs addressed the entire male population of Fairmount last night and about 200 miners from the neighboring collieries.

   The meeting was a very enthusiastic one and he was frequently applauded by the miners.

   At Monongahela he also held a meeting, and about 300 of the 650 strikers at that mine were in attendance. He organized a branch of the United Mine Workers of America with 200 members, and they will hereafter hold meetings at 10 a. m. each day.

   Tonight Debs speaks at Riversville and the next evening at Watson, and as he has chosen the evening to make his addresses, it is supposed he does not expect the men to come out before Thursday or Friday.

   Indeed, in his speech he said in five days the great miners' strike would be settled. Besides the 650 miners who laid down their tools at Monongahela, 27 of the 41 at Pritchard joined the strikers.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Straws from the Klondike.

   Here is some recent news from the Yukon Klondike:

   "Live dogs are worth from $2 to $5 a pound."

   "A young fellow on the claim above me panned out $40,000 in two days."

   "Alec McDonald took one pan from his claim which tipped the scales at $800."

   "Dick Love is panning for a living and is taking out the modest sum of $100 a day."

   "I shall be either a millionaire or a pauper in the fall."

   "Every newcomer in camp is offered big wages, as high as $50 a day, but seldom will one man work for another."

   The strangest gold mines ever tapped are those of the Yukon fields. In sinking shafts and following veins in other parts of the earth dynamite powder and blasting are employed. On the Yukon the gold dust is frozen into gravel beds. The miners sink a shaft by building a fire and thawing their way down. As fast as the dirt is thawed out it is removed and the fire started lower down in the earth. In this manner the men dig down 18 and 20 feet to bed rock. The gold is found in the gravel as it is thawed out and washed in the miners' pans.

   Two men who went a year ago from Los Angeles located last fall a claim in the Klondike. They this spring sold out, one for $35,000, the other for $50,000, and then returned to California.

A MODEL FARM

In China to be Managed by a Graduate of Cornell.

   POUGHKEEPSIE, July 20.—George A. Brill of Poughquag, Dutchess county, who graduated from Cornell university in 1888, recently received a cable dispatch from Li Hung Chang offering him a liberal sum to organize and manage a model farm in China under the government. He was born and reared in the country and is one of the best agriculturists in the state. He will accept the offer and will soon leave for China to enter upon his duties.

SUSPENDED PUBLICATION.

The Syracuse News Not to Sink Any More Money.

   SYRACUSE, July 20.—The Syracuse Evening News suspended publication to-day. The paper was started by a stock company about six years ago, controlled and backed by Thomas Ryan, a brewer and Democratic politician. Three months ago the company went into the hands of a receiver and was sold to Mr. Ryan individually for $3,000. Mr. Ryan tried to organize a company to continue the paper, but was unsuccessful and concluded to-day to discontinue publication.

REPORT CONFIRMED

Of the Referee in the Matter of The H. M. Whitney Co. Receivership.

   On July 10, 1897, at the chambers of Hon. George F. Lyon, Binghamton, N. Y., was argued a motion to confirm the report of the referee in The H. M. Whitney company's case. For several months evidence has been taken before the referee, Thomas E. Courtney in Cortland, as to the several matters set forth in the petition of the directors of The H. M. Whitney company, asking for the appointment of a permanent receiver, and for the dissolution of the corporation. The referee made his report, wherein he found in favor of the petitioners, and against the creditors opposing. The order confirms the report of the referee, and also orders that the corporation—The H. M. Whitney company of Cortland, N. Y.—shall be dissolved. It further orders that Rufus T. Peck, the temporary receiver, shall be continued as permanent receiver of all the property of said corporation. It further orders the receiver to pay to the petitioners' attorney, his costs and expenses in the proceedings, on behalf of the petitioners. It further orders the receiver to pay the referee's and stenographer's fees on the hearing.

   A large number of creditors have been represented before the referee. Horace L. Bronson of Cortland, appeared for the petitioners and the receiver. The motion for the receiver and petitioners was argued by Mr. Bronson, and was opposed by McGowan & Stolz of Syracuse, N. Y. Edwin Duffey appeared for D. W. Shuler and others, and Messrs. Kellogg & Van Hoesen appeared for the First National bank of Cortland, and others. Copies of the orders are being served on a large number of other attorneys who have appeared in this proceeding, but did not appear upon the motion.

RECEIVER APPOINTED

By Judge Lyon for the Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co.

   At a special term of the supreme court at Binghamton this morning, Judge

George F. Lyon presiding, an application was made by O. U. Kellogg in behalf of the Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co. for the voluntary dissolution of the company and for the appointment of William H. Clark, president of the company, as temporary receiver. The application was granted. Lack of capital and trade depression are assigned as the reasons for the company's financial difficulties. An effort will be made to reorganize the company and resume the business.

   Two judgments were to-day filed at the county clerk's office against The Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co., William H. Clark and James M. Milne. One was in favor of the State bank of Syracuse for $5,049.63, and the other was in favor of The National bank of Cortland for$5,045.93.

The O. U. A. M.

   The Order of United American Mechanics initiated twenty-seven new members at their regular meeting last evening. Seven new propositions for membership were received and there was one reinstatement. A special meeting for installation of officers will be held Saturday evening, July 24.

   Quite a large number of members expect to go to Syracuse Monday evening upon invitation of the General Murray council, No. 68, O. U. A. M., to attend a meeting to be held in the interest of the Cortland council.

VILLAGE TAX RATE

Will Be Lower This Year Because the Valuation is Higher.

   Fireman's hall is receiving a large number of visitors in these days as taxpayers go up there to look at the books of the assessors and see what value has been placed upon their respective properties. New interest is attached to the matter this year, as for the first time in compliance with the new law, an effort has been made to assess property at its full value, and not at a proportionate rate, and also to assess personal property. There is some grumbling and it seems likely that grievance day, which will occur on Aug. 4, will find the assessors with plenty of complaints before them, though it may be possible for them to make answer to all fully and satisfactorily.

   No attempt, of course, has yet been made to carry out the amount of taxes assessed to each. This cannot be done till after the grievances have all been settled, all changes in valuation made, and it is fully established what the total valuation of the village amounts to. Then the tax rate can be computed and the individual taxes carried out. Last year the tax rate was 1.90, but with the increased valuation this year the assessors hope to get the tax rate down to about .75.

   It should be borne in mind by all who see the increase of valuation this year that it does not mean a corresponding increase in taxes. With only about the same total of taxes to raise, the rate of course will be much lower.

CINDER PATH NOTES.

Badges Can Be Obtained of Treasurer George I. Watson.

   George I. Watson, treasurer of the Cortland County Sidepath association, has received a quantity of wheel [bicycle] badges for members of the association and all who have paid their subscriptions can obtain one on application to him. All who have not yet paid their subscriptions are urged to do so at once and receive their badges.

   Ladies may become members of the association upon payment of 50 cents, which will entitle them to badges.

   A top dressing of fine cinders is being put on the path that is completed, and a heavy roller will be put on. The path is completed between the bridge at the north edge of Homer village and the railroad crossing at Little York.

BREVITIES.

   —Bancroft, the shirtmaker, has removed from the Graham building to rooms 3 and 4, Wells block, Clinton-ave.

   —The Central New York Spiritualists will hold their annual camp-meeting and convention at Freeville July 24 to Aug. 8.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—D. McCarthy & Co., Bargains, page 6; A. S. Burgess, Summer Clothing, page 4; C. F. Brown, Stick-em-Fast, page 8.

   —The STANDARD is indebted to Mr. J. H. Ulshoeffer of Owego-st. for some of the nicest currants we have seen this year. They were raised on his place here in Cortland.

   —Twenty-one Fresh Air children, are expected to arrive in Cortland Saturday morning from New York to remain two weeks with members of St. Mary's church and congregation.

   —Arrangements have been made by which Mr. Fred Seeber is to sell his farm of thirty-two acres, two miles west of the village, to Mr. A. H. Sanders. The deed will be dated Aug. 1.

   —Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., will hold its regular meeting to-morrow night, and a full attendance is desired, as arrangements for attending the national encampment at Buffalo are to be discussed.

   —There will be a special business meeting of the Junior department of the Young Men's Christian association on Wednesday evening at 7:30, when full particulars regarding the summer camp will be given. All members interested are requested to be present.

   —Four horses were stolen from a pasture near Weedsport some time during the night of Saturday, July 17. The man suspected of taking the property was a small, light-complexioned man, about 50 years old with sandy whiskers and moustache. Officers are looking for him and the horses.

   —Mrs. Elisabeth Chorley, who was arrested last year on the charge of disorderly conduct and was placed under bonds in the sum of $250 by Justice of the Peace Thomas H. Dowd, has been surrendered by her bondsmen, Wm. Nash and A. M. Tibbetts and the bonds have been renewed by M. Nix and D. Delaney.

SCOTT.

   SCOTT, July 19.—Again the death angel has entered the home of Mr. Francis Maxson. This time his mother was taken. Within about three and a half years a wife and little daughter, uncle, father and mother have been taken away. Mrs. Esther Maxson, widow of the late Morgan Maxson, died July 10, 1897, aged 73 years. She was a worthy member of the S. D. B. church and had been in poor health for several years. It was thought that she had the whooping cough the second time which ended in consumption. She leaves a daughter Mrs. Geo. Hall, and son Francis Maxson.

   Berry picking, haying and hoeing are the chief occupations here at present. There is a great demand for day laborers.

   Two farmers, viz.: Mr. C. J. Barber and Mr. Francis Maxson were quite highly favored last week by having a company of friends and neighbors gather in their respective cabbage fields and set out their cabbages for them as an act of kindness.

   Mrs. C. J. Barber is suffering from a complication of diseases.

   Mrs. Geo. Hall has gone to Preble to stay a while with Mr. Van Patten's people. She is suffering from the lingering effects of whooping cough. Dr. Goodell of Homer attends her.

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