CANAL CAN BE BUILT AND DEATH OF WESLEY HUTCHINGS

 

John Tyler Morgan.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 29, 1898.

CANAL CAN BE BUILT.

Three Feasible Routes Have Been Recommended.

ESTIMATES MADE ON ITS COST.

Senator Morgan Says That It Can Be Constructed for One Hundred Million Dollars—A Higher Estimate Made by Other Experts.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Copies of the preliminary report of the Nicaragua canal commission, of which Admiral Walker is chairman, have been furnished to Senator Morgan and others interested in the bill now pending in congress on that subject. The commission has not yet fully worked out all the details of construction of the proposed canal, but the report simply presents briefly the views of the commissioners as to the feasibility of the work, and the maximum cost at which it is believed the waterway can be constructed. Three routes are spoken of, viz: The old low level, the high level or Menocal route, and an intermediate route, and all of these Senator Morgan says the commission consider feasible of construction.

   For the purpose of arriving at an estimate of probable maximum cost the commission submitted figures on the low level route, which the senator says is considered longest and most expensive. For this route Admiral Walker estimated the cost would be $124,000,000, Professor Haupt $123,000,000, while General Haines added 20 per cent to those figures because of various conditions, chiefly the question of the cost of labor, which it was impossible, he thought, to figure on with absolute definiteness.

   The report, says the senator, shows conclusively that the project is an entirely feasible one and that in its construction the government has the choice of any one of the three routes. It shows further, Senator Morgan stated, the absolute accuracy of the survey made by Engineer Menocal some years ago. The senator believes, however, that all these figures are too high and expressed the opinion that $100,000,000 will cover the entire cost of construction, basing his belief on what has been done in the case of the Manchester, the Riel and the Chicago drainage canals, and on the reduced cost of materials and labor today as compared with what would have been necessary in the early discussion of the building of the proposed waterway.

 

CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES.

United States Responsible For All Caused by the Recent War.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Immediately upon the ratification of the peace treaty by the senate the president will recommend to congress the enactment of legislation looking to the settlement of the claims of American citizens for damage sustained in Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish possessions which formed the seat of war. Claims to amount to $26,000,000 on this score have already been lodged with the state department. An unknown proportion of these are claims based on depredations committed by Cuban insurgents for which it is questionable whether the Spanish government could be held responsible. On the other hand, it is believed that there are many claims for large amounts that have not yet been presented.

   Now, however, by an article of the treaty of Paris, the United States has assumed liability for all claims preferred by the citizens on account of depredations, or in fact on any proper score.

   In its turn the Spanish assumed liability for any claim that might have been made on account of Spanish citizens or the Spanish government itself against the United States. What such claims would have amounted to cannot be estimated. None were filed with the United States government prior to the declaration of war, but it is recalled that there was much criticism on the part of high officials (Spanish) to the alleged failure of the United States government to observe the requirements of the neutrality laws and more than one statement to the effect that the Spanish government intended to present a claim for a round number of millions on that score.

 

VITAL STATISTICS.

Monthly Bulletin Issued by the York State Board or Health.

   ALBANY, Dec. 29.—The bulletin of the state board of health showing the vital statistics of the state during the month of November has just been issued. During that period there were 8,709 deaths in the state. The bulletin makes the following remarks:

   The mortality reported this month is at the average rate for the state of 290, and an annual rate per 1,000 population of 15.75, against 15.30 for the corresponding month of last year. There were 400 more deaths than in November, 1897, when there was likewise 400 more than in the year preceding. There has been a diminution from October of 900 deaths. The saving in mortality from last month is in zymotic diseases, which constitute now 9.0 per cent of the deaths, against 14.0 per cent then, the chief decrease being in diarrhoeal diseases, which caused 300 fewer deaths, and typhoid fever, from which there were 90 fewer deaths, diphtheria showing a moderate increase.

   Of local diseases, acute respiratory diseases caused 250 more deaths, and there was an increase of 75 deaths in diseases of the circulatory system; but diseases of the digestive system are less by more than 300.

   The mortality of early life was lessened by 900 deaths. This is the month of lowest mortality in 10 months in this state, the average daily rate of the preceding 10 months of the present year being 330, which rate would have added 1,200 deaths to the mortality of the month; the diarrhoeal and digestive diseases of summer have subsided and respiratory diseases have not reached the winter rate.

   Diphtheria has not shown the usual increase from October and caused less than half the average mortality of November, 2.7 per cent of all deaths, and but70 deaths outside the maritime district. Typhoid fever caused 100 fewer deaths than in October, and about the average for the month for the past year. All zymotic diseases caused 9.0 per cent of deaths from all causes, against the average for November of 14.5 per cent.

   The first death from smallpox in the state since July, 1897, is reported from New York city where during the year there have been 13 cases from a source distinct from that of the western part of the state; for a period of four weeks there has been no new point of development of the disease, until recently a case appeared in Almond, Allegany county, and one in Batavia; since the 1st of December Caneadea and Rochester have each reported two new cases.

 

Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt.

Rear Admiral George Dewey.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Official Opinions About the Philippines.

   Rear Admiral Dewey's remarks about the situation at the Philippines are guarded, practical, noncommittal and in the main reassuring. He insists that the great body of the insurgents are friendly to the United States; that the officers of his fleet have visited different parts of the island and made tours inland, acquainting themselves with the disposition of the people, and found them to be favorable to a peaceful settlement of all difficulties, in spite of Agninaldo's grandiloquent assertions. These people admit freely that they would be unable to stand alone without American protection and, although there has been a good deal of wild talk about independence, the admiral thinks that they would agree to any project which gave them an assured peace and guardianship. He also points out that most of the discharged American volunteers desire to remain in the Philippines and go into business, which he regards as a good sign that means much for the regeneration of the islands. As for the ability of the American government to hold its own, he declares that with the fleet now at his disposal he can keep the islands against the whole world.

   General Merritt's views, expressed upon his arrival here from the Philippines, coincide in the main with Admiral Dewey's. He says that the islands will accept the American decision peacefully. They have great respect for power. They have no leader capable of uniting and directing them, Aguinaldo, in the general's opinion, not being such a leader. As to their offering a long and stubborn resistance to the United States or any other first class power, that is out of the question, as they have no military organization and their arms are very inadequate. He estimates their fighting men at 15,000, with the ranks full of boys. They are, he says, an amiable and easily satisfied race, capable of being educated up to self government, but at present wholly unfit for it.

  

ACTION OF INSURGENTS.

How They Took Possession of the Works at Iloilo.

   MANILA, Philippine Islands, Dec. 29.—Details regarding the occupation of Iloilo by the insurgents have just been received here. The American expedition commanded by Brig. Gen. Miller, arrived there yesterday and found that the Spaniards had evacuated the place on Saturday, on board the steamer Churnca and had been transferred to the Inland of Mindanao, in accordance with an agreement arrived at with the insurgents. The latter entered Iloilo and occupied the trenches on Monday at noon. They immediately established a municipal government and placed guards over foreign property. The insurgents were fairly quiet and orderly, although there was some looting at night. But five of the natives were shot, which had an exemplary effect upon the rest. The only foreign warship in the harbor was the German second class cruiser Irene.

 

CABLE IN PHILIPPINES.

The Various Islands to be Connected at Once.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 29.—Colonel Kimball of the quartermaster's department in the Army building has received orders from the war department to secure at once an iron ship of from 1,000 to 1,200 tons for use as cable ship to lay cables to connect the islands of the Philippines. The department has ordered for this purpose 166 miles of marine cable weighing 525 tons.

 

OFFICERS ELECTED

At the Meeting of the Associated Academic Principals.

   SYRACUSE, Dec. 29.—The Associated Academic Principals of the state in annual convention assembled here elected the following officers immediately after calling to order this morning:

   President—D. C. Farr of Glens Falls.

   Vice-President—C. W. Evans of Elmira.

   Secretary—S. Dwight Arms, Albany.

   Assistant Secretary—J. Crissey of Penn Yan.

   Executive Committee—Thomas O. Baker, Yonkers; F. S. Losdick, Buffalo; C. H. Warfield, Little Falls.

   The resolution from the Regents demanding a college education and professional training for certificates of high schools was virtually defeated by reference back to the Regents.

   A resolution praying congress to make obligatory the use of the metric system was passed and the rest of the session was spent in scientific discussion.

 

Those Ten Cent Fares.

   The Ithaca Journal says: "The numerous actions instituted against the Ithaca Street Car company for overcharging five cents on a ride to and from the E., C. & N. depot and the city, and that have taken up so much time of courts, officers, jurors and of hundreds of other people waiting for their own cases to be heard and decided have perhaps found an end in one decided last week in favor of the company by a jury of twelve men in the supreme court. It was proven that ten cents had been charged for a ride. The company did not dispute it. But under the law, and upon the advice of Prof. Charles Collin, given at the time of the extension of the road to the E., C. & N. depot, that the company could legally charge ten cents fare each way, the fares were collected in good faith by the company. That fact having been decided by the jury defeated recovery against the company. It will make a serious ending for some people and rescue the company from what appeared to be a severe amount of costs and damages, after Judge Mattice's charge to a former jury in one of these cases. These cases have been intensely interesting for the lawyers of this county."

 

VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

Another Hearing for Main-st. Property-Owners Jan. 16.

   The board of village trustees held an adjourned meeting last night in the office of [Cortland] Village Clerk W. C. Crombie and received a communication from Engineer Allen relative to alleged mismeasurements in making out the paving assessment to pay in part for the Main-st. improvement. The engineer stated that he had confirmed his previous measurements relative to the property owned by Dr. H. O. Jewett and by F. A. Woodworth, and with reference to the claims made by the Messenger estate, he said that 21.8 feet had been assessed against the estate which should have been assessed against Hannah H. Blair, the present owner of the property in question.

   The board adopted a resolution that a notice be served on each property-owner or occupant on Main-st. adjoining the pavement, as required by the general village laws, section 168, and that a hearing be given Jan. 16 in the office of the clerk.

   The bill of Dr. W. J. Moore relative to expenses incurred during the time he was in quarantine while he had the smallpox, was again brought up, and again referred back to the board of health with a request that the latter board certify whether or not it ordered bedding, clothing, etc., burned or destroyed. The claim amounts to $190 and evoked considerable discussion in the course of which Trustee Nodecker of the Third ward strongly objected to payment of the bill, and expressed a desire for proof that the doctor had even had smallpox.

   The newly chosen officers of the fire department were approved, and the board adjourned to Jan. 2.

 

DEATH OF WESLEY HUTCHINGS.

Was a Member of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh Regiment, N. Y. Vols.

   Wesley S. Hutchings of Virgil died at his home on Gee hill in that town on Saturday morning, Dec. 24, after an illness of nine months from paralysis. He was 61 years old and had always lived in or near the town of Virgil. He leaves four brothers and three sisters: Mrs. Susan Barnes of Slaterville Springs, Mrs. Sully Ann Reynolds and John A. Hutchings of Allegany county, Charles Hutchings of Homer, Leander Hutchings of Dryden, Mrs. Emily Watrous of Cortland, and Miles Hutchings of Dryden.

   Mr. Hutchings was married twice, to Sarah Owens, who left six sons all living, and to Mary Jane Olmstead who, with one son, survives him. The sons are as follows: William, Harry, Adelbert, Clinton, J. and Lloyd, all of whom live near Dryden, excepting Harry, who lives near Etna.

   Mr. Hatchings was a member of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh regiment, New York volunteers.

   The funeral was held Monday at 1 o'clock, Rev. Smith of Virgil officiating. Interment at Virgil. A large number of relatives and friends were present.

 

The Great Flint Show.

   There was the usual large crowd at the Opera House last night to see the wonderful exhibition put up by Flint, the hypnotist. His subjects were completely under his influence, and the "monkey" act pleased everybody. There are only three nights more of the present engagement and then the company proceeds on its journey to the West. It will be years before Prof. Flint returns to the East.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Baker & Angell, Women's Shoes, page 6; Samson's Compound, page 5.

   —The pews of the First Presbyterian church in Binghamton were rented Tuesday night and the rentals aggregated over $9,000.

   —Frank Copeland of Homer sold this week sixty tons of cabbage to Harrison Wells, Cortland. The price paid was $8.50 per ton.—Homer Republican.

   —There will be a watch meeting held at the Free Methodist church New Year's eve, Saturday, Dec. 31. Services commence at 8:30. All will be welcome.

   —Mr. N. H. Gillette very pleasantly entertained the members of his class of young ladies in the Presbyterian Sunday-school at his home on West Court-st. last night.

   —Among the Christmas gifts received by W. W. Kelsey was a box of large fine juicy Florida oranges from his friend, Mr. Thomas Sims, now of Altamonte Springs, Fla.

   —In Justice Dowd's court last night, the case of The People against William Willis and John Neary, charged with cruelty to animals, was adjourned until to-morrow night at 8 o'clock.

   —The Christmas dinner at Auburn prison included 300 pounds of cheese, eighty-five gallons of oysters, 300 pounds of crackers, fifty-five gallons of milk, 180 pounds of butter and eight barrels of apples.

   —The Loyal circle of King's Daughters will meet for the annual election of officers at the home of Mrs. W. G. McKinney, 5 Church-st., Friday, Dec. 30, at 3 P. M. sharp. A large attendance is requested.

   —Deputy Sheriff W. A. Shirley left this morning for Rochester to place in the Industrial school the young Potter boy who unceremoniously took a horse from the home of Will Boyden in Homer Sunday as told in yesterday's STANDARD.

   —Cortland commandery, No. 50, K. T., will hold a service at the Cortland hospital on Sunday afternoon, New Year's day at 2:30 o'clock, and its annual offering taken for some benevolent object will this year go to the hospital.

   —A little 7-year-old girl on Seneca-st. found two dolls sticking out of her stockings Christmas morning. She ran to her mother and exclaimed: "O, mamma, Santa brought me a pair of twins, a blond and brunette, Blanche and Belle.''—Ithaca Democrat.

   —The Ithaca Journal anticipates a change of time on this branch of the Lehigh Valley R. R. soon as a result of the protest of its Business Men's association. A conference of the passenger agents was held in New York to see what could be done. It is to be hoped that Cortland will likewise be benefitted.

   —The new Presbyterian church will be much larger than the present one in DeWitt park, and of the same kind of white Ohio sandstone used in the new Catholic church. The same amount of money ($60,000) will be spent to build it. Architect Miller is now engaged on the plans. The work will begin April 1.—Ithaca Democrat.