KLONDIKE AND MISERY

Dyea, Alaska,  Klondike Gold Rush.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1897.

KLONDIKE AND MISERY.

Trails Will Be Strewn With Dead This Winter.

PROSPECTORS MAKE A MAD RUSH.

Packs and Provisions Thrown Away in the Headlong Rush For the Gold

Fields— Party of Orange County (N. Y) People Will Join the Merry Whirl.

   WASHINGTON, Aug. 17.—William J. Jones, United States commissioner to Alaska assigned to St. Michaels, has sent to the interior department the following report on the gold rush, in a letter dated at Dyea, Alaska, Aug. 4:

   "There are nearly 1,800 people in Dyea, and Skaguay routes and both trails are blocked. People are throwing away their packs and provisions and rushing headlong to the mines. Great distress, hardship and suffering, and possible death from hunger and exposure, is sure to follow next winter, an opinion that is entertained by all old Alaska prospectors who have visited that part of the world in late years and know the situation."

   Mr. Jones is one of the two men whose duplicate appointment for the same post created a complication which has not yet been entirely straightened out. Neither man yet knows that the other has been commissioned.

Gold Rush on Chilkoot Pass Trail.

NEWS OF THE TRAIL.

Route by Chilcoot and White Passes Are a Tough Climb.

   SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17.—Thomas Magee, well known as a conservative business man and a careful observer who accompanied his son to Dyea, writes from that point to the effect that the ignorance displayed by the crowds who are flocking to the Klondike is lamentable.

   The two starring points, Dyea and Skaguay, are separated by four miles of salt water. The Dyea trail goes over the Chilcoot pass and involves a climb of 3,500 feet, while the other, which is not yet completed, has a 2,650 foot climb over the White pass, and besides being six miles longer, is boggy in places.

   The Indians, who are the sole packers, all pack over the Chilcoot pass from Dyea. Nearly 500 pack animals are now en route and on arrival will be pressed into regular work trains, which will remove the chief obstacle for the transportation of supplies over the 35 miles of land, which is much more formidable than that over the 560 miles of water on the other side of the pass.

New York State People After Gold.

   MIDDLETOWN, Aug. 17.—The Klondike gold fever has just struck Orange county forcibly. John G. Hutchinson left for New York to join a party of 15, who leave for Seattle. They will spend the winter there, going to Klondike in the spring. Some of the members of the party have been there before and know the ground. George F. Van Houten, Gabriel Tuthill, James Kelly, J. H. Phillips, the latter an California miner, and Thomas Casey are going to start in the near future.

Canada's Special Constables.

   OTTAWA, Aug. 17.—The government is considering the advisability of swearing in all government officials who are going to Klondike as special constables, so that they may be called on in time of any trouble or difficulty in collecting royalty.

ROCKEFELLER'S PROTEST.

He Says That His Property Has Been Excessively Assessed.

   Because of what he considers an excessive assessment by the authorities of Mount Pleasant township, in which his Tarrytown (N. Y.) property is located, William Rockefeller has placed the property on the market. He sold his summer place at Greenwich, Conn., about eight years ago on account of what be claimed was excessive taxation and is now said to be looking toward Newport as a retreat from tax extortion.

   Mr. Rockefeller is now in Europe. He sailed on June 30, and Henry Fielding, a real estate agent of Tarrytown, who has been acting for Mr. Rockefeller in contesting the assessed valuation of a year ago, said the other day that before sailing Mr. Rockefeller had authorized the sale of his property for $350,000. The assessed valuation is $2,533,905. That of a year ago was $1,100,000. The purchase price, according to Mr. Fielding, was $125,000, and the improvements have cost about $350,000.

   Next to it is Sleepy Hollow and Sunnyside, made historical by Washington Irving. Tarrytown's chief claim to fame comes from the millionaires who live on the high plateau overlooking the Hudson. More men of wealth have homes within the town and near by than in any other place of similar site in America.—New York Journal.

A GREAT FAIR.

Cortland County to Outdo Itself in All Lines This Year.

   The annual fair of the Cortland County Agricultural society has begun.

   To realize this one has only to take a position upon Main-st. above the Cortland House and watch the teams. It seems like a grand moving bee. All the loaded teams are bound northward and all the empty teams southward. If one still has any doubts of the fact he had better take a look inside of the fair grounds. It is a veritable beehive. Every one is on the jump and haste is apparent on all sides. Tents and booths are taking shape. Patent fences are rising out of the ground, not to stop cattle, but simply to be shown. Agricultural implements of every kind and description are being brought into position. The pop corn, fruit and candy men are already driving a stiff business. Unless one has cotton in his ears he will fairly be driven wild by the crowing and cackling of the great collection of poultry, which has already overflowed the space set apart for it in the usual angle of the buildings.

   In the hall one gets a full idea of things. There is not space enough for the exhibitors. Many merchants who have not usually exhibited have taken a look about the building and have suddenly resolved to go in with the others, as they saw such a host of exhibitors. Then the fight for space has begun. Not a foot to spare downstairs. Upstairs there is very little room left and that is all being snatched up.

   But the display of stock is almost astounding. The pens and stables are full. This morning General Superintendent Baker was compelling exhibitors to crowd together, was dividing the pens to make two out of one and was building more pens to accommodate the crowd. Several families who with their stock exhibits are taking Cortland in on the way to the State fair have erected tents and are living there, cooking their own food in true gypsy style.

   There is no question about it Cortland has got a fair—a genuine old timer, and all that remains now is for the people to turn out and see what is on exhibition. The weather dispatch this morning said "Fair till Thursday." That will be encouraging for all.

   The bicycle races are on this afternoon To-morrow the program includes the general exhibition of live stock all day, the baby show in Floral hall at 2 P. M and races at 2 P. M. Everybody go.

NEW TEACHER CHOSEN.

Miss L. May McCulloch of Syracuse to Succeed Miss Miller.

   The board of education of Cortland village held a meeting last night at the superintendent's office in the Central school building. A number of bills were audited, chiefly those relating to repairs at the school buildings which have been in progress during the summer.

   The chief matter of interest, however, was the selection of a new teacher to succeed Miss Eleanor E. Miller, resigned, as assistant principal at the Central school. There were thirteen applicants for the place and nearly all were excellent teachers presenting first-class testimonials. The whole matter was carefully looked over by the commissioners and at last choice fell upon Miss L. May McCulloch of Syracuse who was appointed at a salary of $440 per year.

   Miss McCulloch is a graduate of the Syracuse High school and afterward took a post-graduate in the high school in history and Latin. She has also completed two years' work in Syracuse university which covers all the required work in Latin and mathematics, the subjects she will have to teach in Cortland. She has taught with great success for three years the Morrisville Union school. She is highly recommended by the principal of the school at Morrisville, by the president of the board of education, by the school commissioner in that district and by Myron T. Scudder, the inspector of the University of New York state. The board of education feel that they have made no mistake in selecting Miss McCulloch.

THE VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

What They Did In Adjourned Session Last Night.

   The board of village trustees held an adjourned meeting last night at the office of the village clerk. All were present except Trustee Wallace of the Third ward. An invitation from the board of engineers of the fire department to review and inspect the department on Saturday, the day of the annual parade, was accepted.

   Norman Thompson of 55 Elm-st. appeared before the board and entered complaint in regard to water from a ditch overflowing his garden and damaging the crops. The ditch in question is the one which leads from

Railroad-st. to the rear of Ryan's grocery and under the D., L. & W. tracks.

The matter was left with President Call for remedy.

   Verne Topping, who resides on Frederick-ave., came before the board and entered complaint in regard to one of the police officers, who appeared to him over zealous in the discharge of his duties. He also made some serious charges against the officer. On motion, President Call appointed a committee of two consisting of Trustees Warfield and Nodecker to investigate the charges.

   Trustee Nodecker brought up the matter of street lighting and said he wanted to go on record as opposed to the paying of extra bills for gas lights in close proximity to electric lights.

   The following walks were ordered repaired or rebuilt:

   The driveway between Beard & Peck's and J. A. Jayne's on Main-st.

   Opposite C. O. Smith's feed store on Groton-ave.

   D. Dalton, Hamlin-st.

   Mrs. George Hollenbeck, 163 Homer-ave.

   Mrs. Corden, 119 North Main-st.

   George Kenfield, 4 Washington-st. and 76 Clinton-ave.

   John Lynch, Pendleton-st.

   Curtis Moss, Railroad-st.

   Mrs. Jennie Lamont, 21 Groton-ave.

   P. Sugerman, Main-st.

   The bond of Village Collector Isaac M. Seaman was approved.

   The following bills were audited:

   Street commissioner's payroll, $332.50

   Police force, 126.00

   F. A. Bickford, [monthly] salary 25.00

   Jennie Lamont, rent of barn, 10.00

   Cash bookstore, .75

   Unpaid taxes of 1896 amounting to $207.49, prior unpaid taxes of $90.08 and sidewalk taxes of $51.54 were authorized to be added to the tax roll this year.

   The president and clerk were authorized to issue to the collector his warrant for the collection of taxes when the roll is completed. The total amount of tax to be raised this year is $48,188.24, consisting of $30,350 ordinary expenses and $17,838.24 special appropriations.

   The board adjourned to Sept. 6.

A COMMUNICATION.

Some Facts that Appeal to Pocketbooks as Well as Humanity.

   To the Editor of the STANDARD:

   SIR—A Republican county convention is soon to be held to nominate candidates for county offices to be supported at the election in November next. In the strife among candidates and their friends for political preferment, merit is too often overlooked.

   There is one office to be filled that it seems to me should be filled by one who has proved himself to be a faithful, capable and successful public servant. I refer to the office of superintendent of the poor. This is one of the most important offices in the county, especially in regard to our county expenses, and also the prevention and lessening of pauperism in our midst. The writer has watched the work of the present incumbent, Oscar P. Miner, on these lines with satisfaction, and is pleased to learn that he consents to again be a candidate.

   I know his views on these matters and speak from actual knowledge of facts here related. Mr. Miner believes that while there may be no hope for some of the older dependent poor to ever become self-supporting, yet be believes that future pauperism and crime can be most effectually combated by teaching our orphan and dependent children self reliance and habits of industry. This cannot be done in our orphan asylums so well as in a good family home. For this reason he has removed all our orphans from asylums except one who is a cripple, and placed them in good family homes for adoption or indenture, excepting a few, who have been returned to their parents. Twenty-five children who were in asylums at the commencement of his term have been removed, thus saving to the taxpayers of Cortland county an expense of over $2,300 annually for their support. Besides those removed and placed in homes, nine other children who had become county charges have been placed in good families instead of in asylums, as has usually been done, making in all thirty-four thus placed during his administration, and virtually saving to the county nearly $3,0000 annually in expenses.

   To my knowledge the inmates at our county house have received the best of care under his direction, and he has said to me that he courts the fullest inspection of the county house and farm unbeknown to himself or keeper by any one and at any time. It is universally conceded that we have never had a more careful and painstaking superintendent than the present one and that that the worthy poor have never had better care than under his administration. It would seem to me that from these statements of facts and the results following his labors in behalf of our homeless orphan children for the betterment of their condition, and also the savings to the taxpayers of the county this large expense for their support, he is entitled to a unanimous re-nomination and an election by an increased majority.

   Yours very truly,

   REPUBLICAN.

   Cortland, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1897.

GRIEVANCE DAY.

Many [Appear Before] the Town Assessors to Make Complaints.

   To-day is grievance day with the town assessors, F. H. Sears, J. K. Greenwood and B. S. Conger, who are in session at the courthouse. A large number of taxpayers have been before the board to-day for the purpose of getting their assessments lowered. The number appearing is larger than usual, owing partly to the endeavors of the assessors to assess property at full value, and largely to the fact that persons who occupy property purchased with their pension money are compelled to appear in person in order to get the reduction. Judge S. S. Knox is assisting the board in the examinations. Probably a couple of days will be required in which to hear all the grievances.

BREVITIES.

   —The Cortland public schools open on Tuesday, Sept. 7. The Normal opens on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

   —A social meeting of the board of governors of the C. A. A. is called for to-morrow evening at 8:30 o'clock.

   —The annual reunion of the Hilsinger family will be held with Sheriff A. Hilsinger at the courthouse to-morrow.

   —The Epworth league of the First M. E. church will hold a parlor meeting Wednesday evening at the home of Miss Maude Grannis, 25 Union-st.

   —The third annual reunion of the Corwin family will be held at Ross park,

Binghamton, on Wednesday, Aug. 25. The Cortland members of the family will many of them attend [sic].

   —The consolidated circus of Adam Forepaugh and Sells Brothers will exhibit on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The advance agents were to-day in town to make arrangements for advertising.

   —Shortly before 11 o'clock this forenoon one of the large trees in front of the Hopkins block broke partly over, leaning against the building. It is this afternoon being cut down from the top.

   —Oliver B. Griswold died early this morning at the home of his son, C. E. Griswold, 7 Water-st., at the age of 86 years. Burial will be made at German, but the time of the funeral has not been decided upon.

   —A regular meeting of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., occurs to-morrow night, and a full attendance is desired as further arrangements for attending the National encampment at Buffalo next week are to be made.

   —The annual convention of the W. C. T. U., of New York state will be held in Cortland on October 5, 6, 7 and 8. The county and local unions are working hard to make preparations for the entertainment of over 400 delegates. It will be a great week for Cortland.

HOMER.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   The Homer baseball team have succeeded in arranging for a game of ball at Tully Lake park with the Tully team on Saturday next. A very exciting game is promised.

   Dr. Geo. D. Bradford and Mr. Vernon T. Stone are making a few days' business trip to New York City.

   Mr. H. Wendover, who has been stopping with his wife and family at Mr. and Mrs. William H. Foster's, returned to his home at Tenefly, N. J., on Saturday last.

   After many discouragements in the way of rain storms, slow trains, etc., the Onondaga Indian baseball team arrived on the afternoon freight. The game was called immediately after their arrival at 2:40 P. M. The Indians were first at the bat and by the way they knocked the ball over the diamond it looked as if a very exciting game was promised; they succeeded in placing three men on bases when Wiegand steadied down and struck out the next three men at bat, thus retiring the side. The game was never afterwards in doubt as to the result owing to the fine twirling of Wiegand and heavy batting of Bates, Kinney and Wiegand. The triple play by the Homers in the third inning was the feature of the game when with three men on bases Hill's fly to Klock thence to Beattie to Bates putting out three men. The score at the first of the eighth inning was 14 to 2 in Homer's favor, when it was necessary to call time so the Indians could return home at 4:51. There was a large and enthusiastic crowd present and the Homer team feel much encouraged at the enthusiasm shown. Umpire, Lowell Bates. The batteries were:

   Homer—Wiegand p, Murray c.

   O. Indians—A. Hill p, A. Lyon c.

   Capt. Dunster and wife arrived here from Utica to take charge of the American Volunteers. He has been a captain in the Salvation Army in the past. The meetings will be every night except Monday night. On Saturday night the Volunteers will have a pound party for the captain and wife, and all will be welcome.