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| USS Baltimore (C-3) |
The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, July 7, 1887.
WAR DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING GUN BOATS.
A Curious Incident of War Times—Discussing Revenue Reductions.
WASHINGTON, July 2.—Word comes from the navy department that the new gun boat "Baltimore," now being built at Cramp's ship yard in Philadelphia, is rapidly approaching completion. The material for the dynamite cruiser has also arrived at the yard and the men have commenced work on the substructure of that craft. The use of dynamite in warfare is causing a complete revolution in the old systems of attack and defense. No vessel of an enemy would dare enter waters, where the presence of a small craft built to throw dynamite booms was suspected even. The building of fortifications about our principal harbors can no longer be advocated, as the purposes of forts has been superceded by the use of modern explosives, so small they may be carried in the hand, so deadly no man lives but fears their very existence. In the face of the horrible character that modern ingenuity now gives to war, by the manufacture of such totally destroying implements, mankind may learn to abhor wars to such a degree that no nation calling itself civilized will consent to engage in one.
A West Virginian of the conventional lean, long type appeared at the pension office this week to give evidence of a pending claim. He is one of a family of thirty-three children. Twenty of this number were boys, sixteen of whom served in the union army. Fourteen of these sons survive and draw pensions. By the death of two the mother is entitled to a pension also. General Black states that the records of the pension office fail to show a parallel case where sixteen sons of one father and mother served as soldiers. The name of this family is Brown, and they appear to have in this instance, far outstripped their rivals the Smiths.
Proposals for the new bridge to be built by the government across the eastern branch will be advertised for as soon as some legal formalities to secure the validity of the governments title to the approach on the eastern side of the river is gone through with. This bridge will be a handsome structure. It will lead to the government asylum for the insane. What with the new bridge to be built across the Potomac above Georgetown, and the new memorial bridge, Washington will have when they are completed, some approaches to the city worthy the capital of the United States. For years the bridges leading to the city have been objects of neglect, and ugliness as well as dangerous to life and limb of man and beast. Such a bridge as the one known as the aqueduct, leading from Georgetown to Arlington cemetery, would be considered a disgrace to any county of a thriving state in the west.
A conference of leading democrats is expected to take place in this city soon to discuss the reduction of the revenue. Speaker Carlisle's arrival is daily looked for. His coming will be the signal to other leading members on the democratic side of the house to come. They hope by this conference or series of conferences, to arrive at some sort of an agreement as to the best methods to reduce the revenue. These conferences are to be only preliminary to a party caucus to be held about the time of the meeting of congress. The difficulties to be met in reaching a conclusion, on the question of a reduction of tariff, are the different views held by members of congress who represent different sections of the country. Mr. Randall has not moved from his old stand on the tariff and there is talk afloat of much dissatisfaction with his leadership of the appropriation committee. All are agreed on the reduction of the revenue, but can come to no unity of opinion as to the objects of taxation which should be released.
Superintendent Graves of the bureau of engraving and printing, in order to make the appropriation run until the end of the fiscal year, has ordered his force to cease work at three o'clock each day, with a corresponding reduction of pay. The per diem men feel very much aggrieved over the order as the salaried employes [sic] are also dismissed at the same hour, without a corresponding reduction of pay. The fiscal year ends on the afternoon of the 30th of June, much anxiety exists in the several departments in regard to the changes expected to take place in the clerical force at the opening of the fiscal year, especially in the quarter-master general's office, where the recent examinations took place. The first of July is a bad time of year to be anxious about anything, certainly it is hard to be doubtful about the source of one's bread and butter at any time.
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| Floral Trout Ponds or Park was located between East Ave. and Owen Ave., upper right on map. Two small arched bridges separated the ponds. A pavilion was built on the west side of the ponds. |
CORTLAND NEWS.
HOW CORTLAND PEOPLE CELEBRATED.
The Fourth of July appeared like Sunday in Cortland. Hardly a business place was open and there was nobody on the streets. The city fathers and a big delegation were in Homer where all reported a big turnout and a good time. About 800 were at the Trout ponds most of the day. Some went fishing; and the remainder, about 800 souls in all, went to Sylvan Beach. Quite a deal of disappointment was experienced by several of the excursionists as to the surroundings, etc., having anticipated something better than the reality. The lateness of their arrival home was also a matter of unpleasantness to them.
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| Map showing Cortland waterworks at the end of Broadway and water tank on top of Prospect/Courthouse Hill. |
THE VILLAGE WATER SUPPLY.
One of the sights around Cortland that is not often visited, I reckon, is the water works. Everyone has seen the big red water tank from a distance. It stands in the fields back of the elegant new house of J. S. Bull. Its capacity is 375,000 gallons, having a height of 40 feet with 39 feet of water when full. It is built of boiler iron. It is 160 feet above the pumping works and about 170 or 180 above Main street. The supply is from springs lying down the hill just west of the tank. A trench about 150 feet long collects the water from several large springs and conducts it to the pumping house. This with the dwelling of the engineer appear to stand alone in the woods. The boiler is an ordinary 80-horse boiler but the engine is a beauty for arrangement and for obtaining every ounce of power in the steam. There are two pumps working together. To work each piston rod there is a high pressure cylinder from which the steam escapes into a large low pressure cylinder on the same piston. In addition there is a little engine which exhausts the air and steam behind this low pressure piston at least 13 pounds of the normal 15 pounds, so that this little engine alone will work the pump. Each stroke of the pump forces one barrel of water—37 1/2 gallons—through the ten inch iron pipe leading to the tank. The same size pipe extends to Main street at the Cortland house and in case of fire the water is pumped directly into the mains giving the force of the pump in addition to 170 feet fall to throw the hose streams.
There is no danger of an immediate lack of water from this source. During this hot weather the tank is lowered but 25 feet during the 24 hours. To supply this amount the pump needs to run but four hours. The springs supply water as fast as it is pumped, so almost six times the water could be furnished that is now used, and of quality almost unsurpassed.
MAIL CARRIER SYSTEM.
Free delivery is an accomplished fact but the boys are having a sweltering time. It is a big contract to travel all over the town two to four times a day in this weather. The town is partitioned off into three districts, one for each carrier. The business portion gets mail four times a day; the remainder of the place forenoon and afternoon. Several offers have been received for the post-office boxes which will be unused henceforth. All seem to be pleased with the coming new arrangement except upon the outer limits of the corporation which are left outside the delivery route.
The numbers on many of the streets have been changed this spring in order to effect a uniform system for the new directory and the free delivery. On north, and south streets numbering begins on Clinton avenue and Groton avenue; on east and west streets from Main street.
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| Wickwire or Grand Central block has a T. P. Bristol sign visible on the west side of the building. |
NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.
C. B. Hitchcock is home now for a few weeks.
A seven-pound boy arrived at W. S. Buchanan's a week ago.
Grading around the Catholic church is improving its appearance.
Rev. W. H. Latimer of East Syracuse is visiting relatives and friends in town.
The foundation of the Wickwire block [Grand Central] on new Railroad street [Central Ave.] is completed.
Mr. and Mrs. Suel Fletcher of Ithaca are visiting at the home of their parents in Clinton avenue.
Miss Clara Doubleday of Gloversville arrived home Saturday and will pass the vacation in town.
Mrs. W. C. May of Union street is in quite poor health. Her many friends are anxious as to her recovery.
J. Smith of the Fair store has purchased for his own use a fine horse. He may well be proud of the animal.
Christopher Westmoreland, who has been in poor health for some time past, died quite suddenly yesterday morning.
The marriage of Mr. Charles Roethig to Miss Lydia Suggett took place Tuesday evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Stoppard. Their future home is to be, we understand, in Ohio.
M. N. Levy, who has recently opened a jewelry store in the Cortland house block, has a clock in the show window that after winding will run 400 days without touching again. There are only two like it in the United States.
The yearly celebration of the emancipation proclamation is to be held in Cortland this year on August 11. At the meeting in Oswego three or four thousand of the colored people were in attendance. Samuel Bolden is first vice president and is making the arrangements here. Ex-Senator Bruce of Indianapolis is to be the orator of the day.
The alarm of fire was sounded yesterday morning, and proved to be in Tompkins street, a house belonging to Louis Hatfield and caused by chemicals used in the photograph business owned by the occupant of the house, Mr. Holt. The fire was extinguished before any amount of damage was done and before the fire department reached the place.
The regular meeting of the Therapeutic society was held at the Dexter house on Tuesday. A full attendance was a feature. Drs. Hunt, Bradford, Tripp, Jewett, White, Edson, Higgins, Reese, Wood, Coats and a visiting physician from Michigan, Dr. Randall. Dr. Wood read a very interesting paper on premature labor which received a full discussion.
Augustus Sanders who was noted as receiving a severe injury to the right elbow a few weeks ago, was hurt badly at Sylvan Beach on July 4. He was bathing and dove from the pier into the water where it was but three feet deep. He received some injury to the upper part of the spine so that his arms and limbs are completely paralyzed, and grave doubts of his recovery are entertained. Dr. Edson, who was on the excursion, assisted him home.
The Ever Glorious Fourth.
Independence day was heralded in McGrawville by "Young Americans" with a miniature 'blow out' and general "business front decoration." An abundance of music from midnight till morning was produced with horns, shells, bells and the noisiest of fireworks which were fired in a piece of smoke-stack. A bonfire and an ink keg saturated with kerosene oil furnished illumination. The boys enjoyed themselves hugely but there was an abundance of "kicking" by a few business men during the day. As morn came a change came over the scene and the village was one of desolation during the rest of the day. Sylvan Beach, Homer, DeRuyter and Little York lake were the principal attractions. Those who went to the Beach enjoyed themselves very much, the occasion being spiced just enough with with merriment and excitement to keep one's spirit in high ambition.
Homer drew largely from this place and surrounding hills, and all who went there say that they enjoyably spent the day. An old fashioned celebration comprised the programme. Horse, foot, wheelbarrow and engine races, business firms street parade, an oration, fusileers and fireworks served to furnish amusement.
A great many temperance people attended the picnic at Floral Trout Pond park Cortland and we understand that Phil Hoag of this place secured the prize of $5 for the best speaking by a child less than fifteen years old.
DeRuyter, however, drew those of sporting proclivities for our boys were to take prominent parts in various contests of the day. The first thing on the programme there was the "cooping" of two soakers, after which everyone was quite peaceable. A trotting race in which there was no merit took place after which the oration of the day was given on the school house grounds. Then there was a foot race between Clate Gardner, Will Waters, Jay Clark of McGrawville and John Coye of Cuyler Hill for a purse of $5, best two in three. The first two heats were decisive, in order as named above. At half-past one the game of ball between the South Otselics and Athletes of McGrawville was called. The game was very interesting but the Otselics batted the heaviest and by bunching hits won the game. The score is:
A running race was next, in which four horses were entered. The Huttleston horse took first money, Solon horse (formerly James Wheeler's) took second, third money was divided between Gardner and a DeRuyter horse. In the evening fireworks had just nicely been commenced when a fire was announced on South Hill. An unoccupied house burned completely to the ground and a lack of proper fire apparatus was a topic of special remark. Not a hook, ladder or axe could be found. A length of picket fence was used for a ladder and clubs and an old gate were used for axes or battering rams. By about twice the natural amount of labor a house just adjacent was saved. Serious mistake was the throwing of nearly all the water over the building instead at the bottom of the fire and working up. All in all the day was a long and tiresome and people came home exceedingly glad that "Fourth don't come but once a year."
EDITOR'S EASY CHAIR.
—Charley Martin has been sick the past week.
—Mrs. H. Hughes of Utica is visiting Mrs. Martin.
—Carey Grant of Richville, N. Y., has been in town visiting friends.
—Miss Edith Benjamin of Cincinnatus is the guest of Miss Ina Gardner.
—Master Willie French of Susquehanna, Pa., is visiting his cousin Jay Clark.
—F. J. Hobart of New York was in town the past week calling on friends.
—M. Powers of Summit Station was a guest at F. E. Wright's over Sunday.
—Mrs. M. M. Greenman and Miss Hattie Peake are at present stopping in town.
—Henry Martin and wife of Binghamton are visiting mother and brothers here.
—George and T. Starr Corey are at present home on a vacation from their schooling in Springfield, Mass.
—H. F. Greenman of Bridgeport, Conn., is visiting during holiday week among his many friends in this place.
—Prof. S. McK. Smith [sic] of the Ausable Forks Union school was a guest of C. M. Bean during early part of week.
—Nearly all of the ladies who work in the place and board are out of town visiting at their homes or among friends.
—S. H. White exchanges pulpits with Rev. C. J. Greenwood next Sunday. Saturday is the regular covenant meeting of the Baptist church.
—The factory printer rather obscurely gives a "discription" on a card of how L. J. Garda & Co. manufacture furniture and lumber dealers.
—The sale of the grass on the school grounds was postponed until Friday evening of this week. Sale will take place in front of A. J. Sweet's store at 7 o'clock P. M.
—On Saturday afternoon the Athletes will meet the Cortland stock company ball club for the third time this season to play the deciding game for the championship of Cortland county. The game will be played on the Cortland fair ground.
—He who reports for the Sunday papers that grind out immoral sensation "got onto" everything in DeRuyter Monday. Shall we expect another story after the "water pipe" or "peeping Tom" order? He's a boodler, boys, you can buy him off.
—During the storm of Saturday night the house of Charles Fairbanks on the Scott road and the barns (five in number) of Moses Cartright on Haughton Hill, near Homer, were struck by lightning. The latter were entirely consumed. Both properties were insured.
—The numbers of scholars who passed in the examinations at the McGrawville Union School recently are as follows: In the preliminary department, arithmetic 7, geography 7, grammar 5, spelling 26. Advanced algebra 8, American history 7, civil government 1, geometry 2, physical geography 8, physiology 7, rhetoric 7.
—A method has been adopted to hold union services alternately in the churches in this place Sunday evenings. Rev. E. H. Dickinson preached an exceedingly interesting and instructive sermon last Sunday evening in the Presbyterian church, and Rev. Carter Greenwood will conduct service in the Baptist church next Sunday evening.
—Frank Martin, who has been visiting relatives and friends in this place, has returned to New York where he is at present making his home. In 1883-4 Frank was employed for a milk server for L. Hazen of Marathon. From there he got a recommend to Robinson & Woolworth of New York city. Frank has the best wishes of his friends here as well as the young people of Marathon.
—Whew, a gust of wind from the "peppermint district." Say, Brother Clark, did you ever see a real diamond as big as your fist? No, that size is cut glass. So with your sheet; it is an immense apology for a newspaper at $2.00 a year. If the Standard was devoid of the half of its paper that tells how good the whole is, how would its columns figure up then? Last week by a mysterious arithmetical process Clark adds 1764 inches of reading matter and 730 inches of advertising together and makes a total of only 1033 inches in his whole paper. About a year ago Clark claimed a circulation of 2,000 when he only printed 1728 papers and about 200 of them were not sent out to subscribers but were saved for some other purpose. How much stronger is Clark's affidavit than his statement at that time? Of what value is a paper that cannot tell the truth without swearing to it?
—A. J. Sweet sells the "Tiger" self-dump wheel horse rake, best and most durable. Examine it. 2w3
—Dr. W. S. Garruth, dentist, will be at M W. Huntington's one week in every month to do dental work of all kinds.
—One dollar and ninety cents in advance secures for anyone the MCGRAWVILLE SENTINEL for one year, the New York Weekly World one year, and a bound volume of 320 pages entitled the "History of the United States." This is a book that every family should possess. Send orders to this office. Above price includes postage.
—See M. C. Bingham's advertisement in another column for bargain prices on goods.
—"Tiger" mowers possess many points of excellence and positive merit over all others. See them at A. J. Sweet's, McGrawville. 2w3
Obituary.
The New Milford, Pa. Advertiser has the following to say regarding the death of Samuel A. Brooks, who at one time was a resident of McGrawville and is well known in Freetown, and Pharsalia. He followed the carpenter trade to some extent while here:
"Dr. Brooks is dead!" The news was so sudden and unexpected to those who but a short time previous had seen him upon our streets in apparently robust health, that they were loath to credit the report as true.
The particulars of his death, so far as we have been able to learn, are substantially as follows: About four o'clock he went to the residence of D. E. Cross, in the upper part of the town, to visit a patient. On returning he had reached LeRoy & Braman's store when he stopped, saying that he felt ill and could go no further without resting. He sat down on the stoop and almost immediately became worse. Those present helped him into the residence of Charles Doolittle, in the rear of the store, where he took some medicine and soon growing better started for home. He got no further than the store, however, before he was again taken and was obliged to return. Dr. Kimball and his wife were sent for. He prescribed medicine for himself until Dr. Kimball arrived, but was unable to retain it, vomiting several times. He suffered intense pain and lived but a few minutes after the arrival of his wife and the doctor.
We learn that the deceased had been troubled with a disease of the heart, and he had expressed his fears that some day it would result in his death. An examination revealed the fact that death resulted from disease of the heart.
Dr. Samuel A. Brooks was born at Pharsalia, N. Y., in October 1843, and for many years made that state his home. In 1862 when the call for brave men to go to the front was resounding throughout the nation, Mr. Brooks enlisted as a private in Co. K tenth regiment, New York veteran cavalry, and was mustered into service at Elmira, N. Y., Oct 29, 1862. His war record is a splendid one. He passed through thirty-three engagements among them being the battle of Gettysburg and Sheridan's raid. He was wounded during the latter engagement, May 12, 1864, and to the day of his death carried the bullet in his body. He rode in the saddle several days after being wounded before reaching a hospital. He was enrolled the 10th of September, 1862, continuing to serve his country faithfully and well until honorably discharged from service July 19, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va.
About two years after receiving his discharge from the army he was married to Miss Anna Matthews, who remained his faithful and loving help-meet until separated by death. He continued to live near his boyhood home until he took up the study of medicine at the Hahneman homeopathic medicine college, Chicago, and from which institute he was graduated in 1878. After receiving his medical diploma he located at Candor, N. Y., for a short time, but an opening being made at New Milford by the removal of Dr. Snyder to Binghamton in 1879, he removed here and began the practice of medicine. During the years of his residence here he had a large and profitable practice, and was very successful in his profession. During the winter of 1881 he took a special course of medical studies at Chicago.
The deceased leaves a widow and three children and an aged mother who lived with him, also three brothers and two sisters living.
Funeral services were held from the family residence Friday afternoon and were attended by a large concourse of people who had gathered to pay their last tribute to the dead.
MARRIED.
HICKS—THAYER—At the home of the bride's parents near McGrawville, N, Y., Wednesday, July [6], 1887, by Rev. A. C. Smith, Mr. Edwin A. Hicks and Miss Viola A. Thayer, both of McGrawville, N. Y.
STEELE—McCHESNEY—At
the residence of the bride's parents, Saturday, July 2, 1887, by Rev. H. L. Bowen, Mr. George E. Steele and
Miss Carrie A. McChesney, all of Cheningo, N. Y.
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