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| Main Street, Cortland, N. Y. circa 1899. Arc lamp hangs by wire over street near top center of photo. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, November 2, 1898
TURN ON THE LIGHTS.
This is a Case of Emergency While the Streets are Bad.
It is a shame that in a place the size of Cortland if a "moonlight schedule" of lighting is to be observed some attention cannot be given to the character and requirements of the individual nights rather than to follow a calendar which says that a moon is supposed to shed abroad its rays at a particular time. As a matter of fact, it is often the case that because of clouds or the failure of the moon to rise early enough in the evening some of the alleged moonlight nights are darker through a period of time than many clear and starlight, but moonless nights. However, the people of Cortland have no one to thank but themselves for this back country state of affairs in general, for they themselves last spring voted away the money for another purpose which had already been appropriated for constant lighting.
But at the present time with Main-st. and its cross streets in such bad condition it seems as though the village trustees should consider it an emergency case and order the lights on for a short time, at least in the early evening before the moon rises. The trustees have the power to do so, and they exercised that power during the firemen's convention by keeping the lights on all night.
The moon did not rise till after 7 o'clock last night and then was in such a bank of clouds till late in the evening that it made everything dim. But at 6 o'clock when people were going home from work there was an Egyptian darkness over the streets. With Main-st. in its present condition, with sluiceways uncovered, with crosswalks removed and with sidewalks on all kinds of levels and grades or gone entirely according as the property-owners have advanced much or little in the work of bringing them to the new grade of the street there is every reason why all the light possible should be thrown on the street and on the walks. Failure to properly light the streets at this time will very likely subject the village to heavy suits for damages for injuries, and a little money spent in lighting will benefit a larger number of people than a greater sum spent in defending damage suits.
So dark was it last night at 6 o'clock that people walking in opposite directions collided with each other solely because they couldn't see each other, and rubbers on their feet deadened the sound so they couldn't be heard approaching. One man got a bad fall on North Main-st. because the grade of a walk had been changed since noon and he didn't know it and couldn't see it. The result was that he stubbed his toe and fell headlong. Several such cases have been reported.
And one poor miserable little lantern with a chimney so badly smoked that the light was hardly visible twenty feet away was all that showed where the row of barrels was placed that was supposed to mark the crossing of Main-st. for teams at the Messenger House corner. The village trustees of course had nothing to do with this. The paving people were in fault for not providing more and better lights, but altogether it seems like an emergency case and every one would approve of the action of the trustees in furnishing extra lighting at this time even at extra expense. The moonlight period will soon be over for this month, but let there be no delay, let us have lights to-night, or some one will be injured and the village will have to pay for it.
Work on the Pavement.
Asphalt pavement on Main-st. is being laid with rapidity. The west side of the street from the hospital corner is completed as far as Tompkins-st. and the east side of the street except a short strip north of Lincoln-ave. If rain does not interfere, this will be completed by tomorrow morning, making the whole street finished to Tompkins-st., except sweeping cement in a portion of the brick portion, and this is being done.
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| John D. Rockefeller. |
NO FOUNDATION.
Cherokee Indians Cannot Sell Their Allotted Lands.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.—The interior department has no information regarding a reported project for buying up the lands of the Cherokee Indians in the Indian Territory and the authorities say that the Cherokee nation could not sell its lands save to the United States government. The project was mentioned in a dispatch from Wichita, saying that it was reported that Mr. Rockefeller had joined with a syndicate to buy the whole Cherokee nation and let the Indians have the country.
The only foundation suggested here for the report is that an agent for the Delaware Indians recently was in Washington seeking assistance for the Delawares in fighting for certain rights from the Cherokees, and appealed to Mr. Rockefeller for aid.
CHARGES DENIED.
The Leach Lake Indian Outbreak to Be Further Investigated.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.—The attorney general has received from United States District Attorney Robert G. Emory at St. Paul an answer to an inquiry in regard to the recent trouble with the Leach Lake Indians in their state, in which he warmly defends United States Marshal O'Connor and his deputies from the allegation recently made against them by Mr. Jones, the commissioner of Indian affairs, who alleged collusion between boarding house keepers and deputy marshals by reason of which large numbers of Indians were uselessly brought long distances as witnesses in liquor cases. Mr. Mooney denies that the charges are well founded.
United States Marshal O'Connor also has made a report to the attorney general in which he denies every allegation made and asks that the matter be promptly and fully investigated.
In compliance with this request the attorney general and the secretary of the interior agreed to institute an investigation, and to that end each department will name an officer to conduct the inquiry.
POSTOFFICE ON WHEELS.
It Will Travel Over Designated Routes in Rural Districts.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.—The postoffice department has ordered an innovation in the postal service by the experimental establishment of a "postoffice on wheels," to operate in the vicinity of Westminister, Md. The service, which is to begin shortly, calls for the use of a postal wagon to travel over a designated route in rural districts. Mail boxes can be placed at some point on the route for every farmer living within a mile or two from the proposed route and mail will be collected therefrom.
One important feature of the contemplated innovation which, if successful, will be extended generally, is that it will have money order and registry matter facilities.
ECHOES OF THE WAR.
Military Notes and Items About the Recent Conflict.
There has been no change in the plans of the war department respecting the sending of troops to Cuba. No date has ever been fixed when troops shall depart. The only thing that has been determined upon is that the control of the Island shall pass to the United States Jan. 1.
At the Military division hospital in San Francisco there are now 300 patients, including the sick who came from Manila on the Rio de Janeiro. The hospital contains 36 and the convalescent hospital [20] patients, making [356] in all. Only a few of the cases are regarded as serious.
The cabinet devoted most of its attention to consideration of questions connected with the administration of affairs in Cuba and Porto Rico. The administrative feature of the Philippine question also received some attention.
The Fifth cavalry, now in camp at Huntsville, Ala., will be sent to Porto Rico within a few days and railways have been asked to make rates to Savannah.
The request of the First Colorado infantry to be returned from Manila to the United States cannot be granted by the war department.
A CASE OF SUICIDE.
Alanson Robinson Hung Himself in a Barn Near Messengerville.
Alanson Robinson, who lived about a mile west of Messengerville on his farm with William Barry, who works the farm, committed suicide this morning by hanging himself in a barn belonging to Clarence Ayers, about a quarter of a mile from his home. Mr. Robinson ate his breakfast as usual and went out to the barn and was not seen again till found dead. His age was about 78 years, and he was reported to have no living relatives. No cause for this action is known.
Coroner W. J. Moore of Cortland was sent for, but until nearly noon it was impossible to find him. In the meantime Coroner M. R. Smith of McGraw was summoned and started for the scene. Coroner Moore also left for Messengerville on the 2:43 train this afternoon in response to a second summons. It is not known why the second call was sent for him, but it is probable that on account of bad roads Dr. Smith was late in getting there and that the second call was sent to Dr. Moore before it was known that Dr. Smith was on the way. No further particulars are obtainable yet.
FOR INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
They Must be at Their Polling Places by 5:30 o'clock Tuesday Morning.
The attention of inspectors of election, poll and ballot clerks who are to serve at the election next Tuesday is called to the fact that the polls must be opened at 6 o'clock in the morning, and according to the election law these officers must be at their polling places at least a half an hour before that time. It is the duty of the town clerks to supply the ballots, etc., at each polling place before the hour for opening, and in the town of Cortlandville with its ten election districts, it would be impossible to get all the districts supplied and receipted for in time if the officers are late. It is the general impression that the polls open at sunrise and close at sunset, but that is not the fact. The polls open at 6 o'clock A. M. and close at 5 o'clock P. M.
MORE HALLOWEEN PRANKS.
A Masquerading Caller Meets With a Damp Reception.
There is a sequel to the Halloween story of the masquerading young lady which was told in yesterday's STANDARD, it appears that the young lady referred to was accompanied by two or three of her lady friends, though she was the only one to go indoors. Before she made the call which was described yesterday she also stopped at the home of another neighbor and asked for something to eat. Only ladies were at home there and the one who answered the ring not recognizing her quickly closed the door in the face of the caller and wouldn't admit her to the house at all, though she promised to get something for her. In a few minutes a nice little lunch done up in a paper bag was passed out and thankfully acknowledged.
Meanwhile a gentleman of the neighborhood who had started down street saw and recognized the young ladies and, as he is somewhat of a joker himself, thought he would have a little fun all on his own account. So he slipped across the street in the dark and down 15 or 20 rods and then recrossed and came back up on their side presenting the appearance of one who had pretty freely imbibed the liquid that makes happy, and occupying a very large share of the sidewalk. All the young ladies but one were in sight and they were decidedly frightened and retreated up the street watching him from a distance. As he saw they were still keeping their eye upon him he mounted the steps at the same house where the lunch had been obtained and was apparently about to knock at the door when he heard one lady say to another inside "If any more of them come around here just give them a good big dipper of cold water." The ladies had been looking out of the window, had seen the little group and realized that some one was joking with them. He didn't wait for the water himself or for any more particulars as to the program, but slipped away in the darkness and from the other side of the street watched the progress of events.
Just then the other young lady returned who had left her friends before the man was noticed by any of them. She had gone to her home a few doors away and secured some outer garments of male attire belonging to members of her own family and returned to call at the same house to ask for more lunch. She made the third person to go up on those steps within a few minutes. As she rung the bell the door flew open and—swish went a big dipper of cold water full in her face and all over her. She didn't wait a second, but beat a retreat right over the piazza railing and cut a bee line for home. The man across the street fully understood the situation and nearly exploded. The other young ladies further up the street saw that something had happened, but they didn't know exactly what it was, and they followed on to get the particulars. When they learned about it all it was their turn to laugh.
But then it was all on Halloween, and Halloween comes but once a year and everything goes that night, even water.
BREVITIES.
—A big flock of wild geese went south yesterday. Sure sign that winter is coming.
—The funeral of Mrs. Edward L. Smith was held this afternoon from her late home on East Garfield-st., and was in charge of Grover Belief corps, No. 96, of which she was a member.
—Mr. Edward E. Woodward and Miss Julia A. Baldwin both of Truxton were quietly married by Rev. W. H. Pound, pastor of the Congregational church, at his home in Cortland this morning.
—Mr. Clayton Smith returned yesterday from spending a few days at his home in Union Valley, bringing with him four gray squirrels, six partridges and two ducks, the results of Monday's hunting expedition.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Gazlay, Stoves, page 7; C. F. Brown, A Bargain, page 7; Pope Mfg. Co., Columbia Wheels, page 7; Dey Bros. & Co., Autumn Garments, page 7; Baker & Angell, Jenness Miller Shoes, page 7.
—Last Sunday's Syracuse Herald gives a sample of the "home news" that people get in away-from-home papers. In the list of "members elect"' of the next assembly it gives the name of W. A. Cook, Jr., Democrat, from Cortland county. As the newspapers used to say during the war this is "important, if true." [Mr. Cook had withdrawn his name from election—CC editor.]
—The Journal says an Ithaca fireman rose in his sleep Monday night as the result of a bad dream and ran half dressed to the enginehouse, thinking that an alarm of fire had been rung in. He waked up just as he reached the enginehouse doors. A policeman, whom he passed on the way, followed on not understanding why he was running so fast. The policeman tells the story, the young man is not saying a word.
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