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| Cooperative cannery located at a cave near Ruskin, Tennessee. |
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| Members of the cooperative. |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Tuesday, November 16, 1897.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Another
Social Experiment.
At Ruskin, Tenn., has been established a
colony which seems, indeed, too beautiful to last. It is an attempt to make the
theory of co-operative labor a living reality. The colonists are enthusiastic
and happy as far as they have got, but they have only been conducting their
enterprise a year.
The plan is as follows: Each grown person
pays into the common treasury $500, although in the case of a married couple it
is optional whether the wife takes a share. Each grown person must work nine
hours a day with a Saturday half holiday. Each family has a home to itself but
the members of the association take their meals in a common dining hall and
there is one kitchen for all, "thus reducing labor and expense." Medical
attendance, drugs and laundry work are furnished free by the association. No
money circulates in the community. There is a system of labor checks which takes
the place, a pound of tea being given in exchange for 11 hours of labor, a cut
of tobacco is paid for by an hour's work. "One pair best shoes, 70 hours."
The community has built 30 houses and has in
operation a printing house, a chewing gum factory, sawmill, stage line,
blacksmith and wagon shop and many other industries, including farming. Will it
wear?
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| 1893 map of Cuba. |
The
Intervention Question.
Hon. Hannis Taylor, ex-minister to Spain,
must be glad he is out of that country and out of office so that now he can
speak his mind on the question of United States intervention to stop the war
in Cuba. He does speak his mind frankly and ably in The North American Review.
Briefly, he believes the time has come when our country should intervene. The
cause of humanity, the upholding of the Monroe doctrine and our own commercial
interests alike demand it. It is to be remembered, by the way, that it has cost
us already $2,000,000 to help Spain by capturing and attempting to capture
filibuster vessels on their way to Cuba; that it costs continually a large sum
to patrol the waters along the Atlantic and gulf coasts.
At the same time we have been doing this,
American merchants and manufacturers in business in Cuba have been losing all
their property and have more than once had the lives of themselves and their
families endangered. In some cases, as that of Dr. Ruiz, citizens have been put
to death.
Are we going to stand this forever? Hannis
Taylor says no. In Europe the powers do not hesitate to intervene to stop a war
whenever their trade interests are endangered. We have the same right.
"Spanish statesmanship is impotent." "Spain has demonstrated
that she is powerless either to conciliate Cuba or to conquer it." She
cannot give to Cuba what she herself has not and never did have—home rule. Therefore
let the United States stop a war from which we have suffered in one Cuban
struggle and another 15 years out of the last 29.
Mr. Taylor thinks the way to move in the
matter will be by a joint resolution of congress, signed by the president, setting
forth our right and duty to end the war and declaring that the United States
will use its "entire moral influence" for that object, reserving to
ourselves the right to use whatever means may be necessary to enforce our intention.
Spain could do no more than suspend diplomatic relations on the passage of such
a resolution, but that would not necessarily mean war with her. The resolution
itself would be sufficient, in the judgment of Mr. Taylor, to set Cuba free.
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| Fitzhugh Lee. |
CONSUL LEE
SATISFIED.
Paid Official
Visits to the New Spanish Officials in Havana.
HAVANA, Nov. 16.—Consul General Fitzhugh Lee
paid official visits to Marshal Blanco, the governor general; General Pando,
who has been assigned by Marshal Blanco to conduct the military operations in
the field, and Senor Jose [Congrosto], the new secretary general of Cuba.
He was courteously received by all and
according to the official account, subsequently expressed himself as well
satisfied with the results of the interviews.
Spanish
Reinforcements Arrive.
HAVANA, Nov. 16.—The Spanish steamer [Alcanta]
started for Spain with 800 sick or invalided soldiers.
The Spanish steamer Alfonso XII arrived,
having on board Sanitary Sub-inspector General Mass, Brigadier General Diego
Figueroa, 25 officers, five chaplains and 700 soldiers.
Admiral Luis Pastor Landero also arrived by
the Alfonso XII. He immediately relieved Admiral Navarro, the Spanish commander
in these waters. The latter will return to Spain on Saturday.
Russia
Troublesome to Japan.
LONDON, Nov. 16.—A special dispatch from
Shanghai says serious tension exists between Japan and Russia, owing to the latter's
efforts to control the Corean customs, and that some of the leading Japanese
ministers are urging the adoption of strong measures, even to the extent of war
with Russia.
But the Marquis Ito discountenances this
step, and urges instead, that Great Britain,
the United States and Japan make joint representations to Russia on the subject
of Corea.
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| Lawrence J. Fitzgerald. |
NO FRANCHISE GRANTED.
BOARD OF
VILLAGE TRUSTEES DEFER ACTION.
Will
Probably Heed the Advice of the Board of Trade and Grant no Gas Franchise Until
a Well is Sunk—Opposition to the Proposed Franchise.
The village trustees at their meeting last
night listened to arguments for and against a proposed gas franchise in Cortland,
listened to the advice of the board of trade and deferred all action in the
matter until the next meeting on Dec. 6.
At the last meeting of the board, a company
composed of Marsh C. Pierce and W. K. Pierce of Syracuse, W. W. Hout, Wm. Martin,
John Courtney, Jr., and C. S. Bull of Cortland presented a petition for a gas
franchise to run forty-nine years.
Attorney Edwin Duffey appeared in opposition
to the proposed franchise, and in the interests of the Homer & Cortland Gas
Co., which now supplies manufactured gas to consumers in Cortland. He read the
franchise of the present company and contended that the proposed franchise guarantees
to the village nothing more than does the franchise of the local company. He
claimed that the present franchise is exclusive, and was given for some consideration,
while the consideration named in the proposition is $1. He held that the
franchise now in existence guarantees that the company shall furnish natural
gas if such can be found at any time, and if desired by the village. This, he
claimed, was just as much as is guaranteed in the proposed franchise. He then
read the proposed franchise of Pierce and others, and argued that it is not
designed for the interests of the village as the only consideration named is $1;
that it has apparently no requirements as to when the work shall be completed.
He then argued that competitors, either in gas or in water, are sure to work
ruin to one or the other. He closed by saying that the local company had had
experts investigating in this vicinity and was fully advised that Cortland is
not in the gas belt.
Mr. Duffey was followed by C. S. Bull, one
of the petitioners, who spoke briefly, saying that the proposed franchise is in
the interests of the whole people; that no one was going to put down a test well
or sink any money in the project without paving the way to dispose of the
product. The petitioners do not propose to try to keep any one else from
getting a franchise and do not ask for a perpetual or exclusive franchise. They
simply want the privilege of laying mains in Cortland for the distribution of
gas if they succeed in finding it.
At this point Henry A. Dickinson, who was present
inquired why the petitioners had in their propositions one proposition to
furnish manufactured gas, whereupon T. E. Courtney replied by asking the
question as to what would be done if after a few years the supply of natural
gas failed.
W. D. Tisdale, the secretary of the board of
trade, being present was called upon to address the board. Mr. Tisdale said
that the board of trade had appointed a committee to investigate the gas
question and in doing so had learned that Mr. Morse of Pittsburg had leased a
large number of farms about Cortland for the privilege of testing for gas. The
committee had heard Mr. Morse, and had invited representatives of the
petitioners to appear before the committee, but they had not made an
appearance. Mr. Tisdale said Irving H. Palmer was one of the committee, and
introduced that gentleman who stated that the committee believed that the sinking
of wells would be hindered by the granting of a franchise now. He then read the
following resolution which had been unanimously adopted by the executive
committee of the board of trade:
WHEREAS, Divers persons are seeking a
franchise to lay main and service pipes in the streets and public places in the
village of Cortland for the distribution, marketing and delivery of natural gas
and
WHEREAS, This board is desirous of promoting
the sinking of wells, for the purpose of discovering and utilizing the mineral
products which may be found by boring or sinking wells in the earth in and
about Cortland, and believing the granting of such franchises will tend to discourage
and hinder the sinking of such wells, if granted in advance of their construction;
therefore,
Resolved, That the board of respectfully request the board of trustees of the
village of Cortland to defer the granting of any franchise, for the purpose of
distributing natural gas to consumers in Cortland and under such circumstances
and conditions as will warrant the laying
of pipes in the streets of the village of Cortland to convey it to consumers
and that thereafter a franchise be granted only under proper restrictions and
conditions and that the first to complete a successful well be preferred in the
granting of such franchises.
Mr. Palmer then referred to Baldwinsville,
where one party leased all the lands in that vicinity, sunk a well and found
gas, and when he went before the village trustees to secure a franchise found
that the franchise had already been gobbled up by another party. What followed,
Mr. Palmer declared, was like a pure case of blackmail. The party who had found
the gas had to buy the franchise from the party who had obtained it from the
village, but had done nothing toward sinking a well to secure gas, and the latter
was able to dictate his own terms for the sale of the franchise. The committee
would like an expression from the board of trustees which would be a sort of a
promise that the first party to sink a well should have the franchise.
T. E. Courtney argued that the present
franchise is null, as it was illegal to grant an exclusive franchise.
Furthermore, he would not concede that the present franchise is exclusive. He
thought that if the petitioners could sell gas cheaper than the Homer &
Cortland Gas company they ought to be allowed the privilege.
L. J. Fitzgerald, president of the board of
trade, addressed the board briefly, saying that he was not a believer in granting
franchises promiscuously. He would favor the granting of a franchise to the
party who would promise to do something. He had his doubts about the proposed
company ever sinking a well; it would, in his opinion, merely get the franchise
for the purpose of selling out. Get something, he said, in return for your
franchises, which are valuable.
Mr. Morse, who has been leasing lands about
Cortland and Homer, was present and listened to the discussions with interest.
He made no formal application for a franchise, but has most of the land leased
for the privilege of testing, and will probably petition for a franchise at the
next meeting. He stated last night that he would ask for a ten-year franchise.
The majority of the board of trustees seemed
to receive the recommendations of the board of trade with favor, and on motion
of Trustee Warfield, action was deferred until the next meeting, on Dec. 6.
Trustee Warfield was appointed a committee
of one to see that the street lamps were put in perfect condition, as some of
them now work imperfectly.
The walk opposite the Crandall estate on the
west side of Rickard-st. was ordered repaired, and that on the south side of Railroad-st.
east of the D., L. & W. tracks was ordered raised to grade.
A New Bridge.
The Groton Bridge company has the contract
for placing an iron bridge across the Tioughnioga river at Rickard-st., and began
getting material on the spot to-day. The new bridge is to be of iron, a single
span 70 feet in length and 16 feet wide. It will be placed n little east of the
present wooden bridge which was considered unsafe. That part of Rickard-st. has
been accepted by the village as a public street, hence the necessity of a
bridge that the public may use in safety.
Michael
McEvoy.
The funeral of Michael McEvoy was held this
morning at 9:30 o'clock from St.
Patrick's church. A large number of friends was in attendance at the services which
were conducted by Rev. J. J. McDonald. The funeral sermon, preached by Father
McDonald, was a worthy tribute to the exemplary life of Mr. McEvoy. The active
pall bearers were Edward McEvoy, T. J. McEvoy and Luke McEvoy of Cortland,
Frank O'Byrne, John O'Byrne and William Normile, five nephews and a grandson.
The honorary pall bearers, old friends, were John Gleason, Patrick Higgins,
William Normile, Sr., and John Quinn. The burial was in the Catholic
cemetery.—Binghamton Leader.
BREVITIES.
—The Fortnightly club meets to-morrow
afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. Edward Stilson, 31 Owego-st.
—A meeting of the board of trade will be
held to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock at their rooms in the Wallace building.
—The Ladies Literary club meets to-morrow afternoon
at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. Wm. A. Cornish, 70 North Main-st.
—Miss Addie Edwards of McGrawville, a
graduate of Joiners' Business school, is employed as stenographer with The H.
M. Whitney Co.
—Mr. Frank Blashfield of Little York, a
student of Joiners' Business school, has accepted a position as stenographer
with T. & J. Courtney.
—One tramp who gave his name as Daniel Nolan
was given a night's lodging at the police station and was this morning ordered
out of town.
—The police are working on clues to detect
the person who stole a suit of clothes from the store of Simmons & Grant Saturday
night. It is said that a woman is suspected.
—New display advertisements to-day are— D.
McCarthy & Co., Winter Dress Goods, page 6; W. J. Perkins & Co., Chocolate Bonbons,
page 6; Case & Ruggles, Jackets and Capes, page 4; C. F. Brown, Big
Bargains, page 4.
—A. D. Wallace has, through his attorneys Dougherty
& Miller, begun an action against the S. B. & N. Y. R. R.
company to recover $20,000 alleged damages for injuries received in the wreck
at Blodgett Mills, Sept. 2, 1897.
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