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| Ice Skating at 72nd Street Lake in Central Park. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 15, 1901.
ICE IN THE HARBOR.
OUR NEW YORK LETTER FULL OF INTERESTING MATTER.
Navigation Extremely Difficult—The Rivers Full of Ice Floes—Servants in Great Demand—Curiosity a Predominant Feature in Gotham--Decline in Skating in Central Park.
New York, Feb. 13.—During the past week ice has been playing havoc with navigation in the harbor from Staten Island to the Battery and up both the East and North rivers. The waters were fairly icebound and old river men assert that conditions were never worse within their experience. It was a difficult task for any kind of a craft to make headway, for some kinds almost an impossible one. In the North river conditions were especially bad. Most of the traffic being across stream or up and down the New York side and the embargo laid by the ice on such traffic was heavy and extensive. It is conservatively estimated that every morning not less than 150,000 workers from New Jersey are transported across the North river, and the ferry boats being delayed by the ice floes, a resident from Jersey has no means of knowing with any degree of accuracy just when he will reach his office in New York. The outer edge of the ice field, that in mid-stream, was composed of rather mushy looking cakes neither thick or locked together, offering little obstruction to paddle wheel and propellers, but deeper in the ice field the impediment became serious enough. There the ice was very dense, consisting of large and heavy chunks thrown up by the action of the ice pack. A ferryboat could pass easily enough through the outer edge of the ice field without appreciable reduction in headway, but immediately [when] it came in contact with one of these ice floes it would slacken speed perceptibly and in a few minutes come to a dead halt. Then followed an annoying delay, while several powerful tug boats broke through the ice to the ferry ship. Finally by dint of pushing and hauling by the tugs the ferryboat would affect a landing.
It is said upon excellent authority that never before in the history of this city has there been such a dearth of servants as at present. Last winter was thought to have reached the very limit of distress, but this winter makes last seem absurd in comparison. The few applicants for work at the employment bureaus are treated with all the respect due such rare jewels and they own the place. The domestic problem is further complicated by the fact that no cook means no entertaining. Such being the case the grocer, butcher and candle stick maker are affected and perhaps a host of others. For the cause of the trouble the same old reason is invariably assigned, namely, that more and more girls are leaving domestic service and going into shops and factory work. Few girls fall victims to the undoubted charms of domestic service at present, the result being that about the only happy persons are the restaurant and cafe proprietors. As a substitute for maid servants many friends of wealth have engaged Japanese, and thus far the experiment has been very satisfactory. Chinamen, while their natural adaptability is perhaps not so great as that of the ''Japs,'' have also been tried as domestic servants with success. Probably at no very distant day the employment of men servants will prove to be a satisfactory solution of the domestic problem.
The shivering small boy depends for his skating almost entirely upon the lakes in Central Park, but the red ball, the signal that the ice is safe, has not been hoisted this winter and the immediate prospect of its appearance is decidedly poor. Five inches of good ice is the requisite covering to permit the lakes to be thrown open with safety, but for several years past skating has been on the wane in Central Park, owing to climatic conditions. A meteorological expert attributes the lack of the necessary covering of ice for skating purposes to climatic changes, and to the fact that the city surrounding the park is being built up with tall structures, thereby shutting off the ponds from the clean sweep of the cold winds. In addition, all the park ponds are low lying and naturally sheltered. The most exposed of the three lakes is the Harlem Mere which invariably freezes over first. The Park policemen would welcome skating as it is rather difficult to keep the irrepressible small boy away from the thin ice. One morning last week some ten or twelve youngsters who should have been in school, were seen to be whispering together on one of the paths that run along the lake side. After a while all but three appeared to give it up and start for home. The three walked over to a secluded but conspicuous rock, sat down and leisurely began to put on their skates. Immediately several policemen plunged through the snow and over the rocks after the boys. When the "cops" were well started the boys who had apparently gone home appeared on the scene, and got in some fine sport before the vigilant blue coats noticed the game. The three decoy boys did not move when the police arrived. "Were only tryin' on our skates, mister," they stated to the first copper who appeared, and the big policeman pathetically asked an amused bystander, "What can we do?"
Curiosity kills great numbers of people in New York every day, or at least, if it does not actually kill them, it must cause some disorders of various kinds. Oftentimes one who is riding along in a surface or elevated car will overhear some old resident telling another citizen in chuckling tones of the curiosity exhibited by a visitor to the city from the country, and yet [the] average stranger does not begin to express his natural interest in the many more sights as conspicuously as many old New Yorkers do. At any hour of the day or night there seems to be hundreds of people of all ages and colors who have apparently nothing to do but gather around anything that furnishes the slightest excuse for a crowd to collect. A street faker comes along Broadway selling collar buttons or shoe laces. He stops at a corner and begins to cry his wares. Immediately a crowd gathers not to buy but merely to listen and gape at the faker. At Grace church, Broadway near Eleventh-st., two or three wedding ceremonies on an average are performed every week. An ill bred mob of men and women springs up from somewhere to stare at the bridal party when it arrives. After the ceremony has been performed, the mob augmented by late arrivals surges around the bride when she leaves the church, peers into her face, and in fact seems to consider that for the time being she is a public property.
GETS FIVE YEARS
FOR STEALING CATTLE FROM D. K. CUTLER OF SCOTT.
Tried In Auburn Last Week—Defendant Insisted That He Was Hired by Dorr Dennis to Drive the Cattle—Admitted the Trip Was Made in the Night—Could Not Convince Jury of His Innocence.
Some time in the latter part of September last Mr. Dwight K. Cutler of Scott called at the Democrat office, and while here incidentally mentioned the loss of two head of cattle from his farm in the town of Sempronius, and of his inability to secure any trace of them. The circumstance was mentioned in this paper, and the sequel was reached last week when one Joseph Marks was convicted of the crime of stealing the cattle and was sentenced to Auburn state prison for a term of five years.
The case was called in the county court, in session at Auburn, on Monday, and after a jury had been secured an adjournment was taken until next morning when evidence was begun. Patrick Mitchell, John Martin, Robert Shaw, Arthur Glanville, James N. Wyles, Timothy Ryan and Fred Riegle, all of Auburn, were sworn and testified as to the disposition of the carcasses and hides of the alleged stolen cattle there.
Wimia McSweeney of Niles sworn, testified that he saw Dorr Dennis and the defendant pass his place going toward Sempronius on the morning of September 11 last. He knew Dennis well. On the following morning they returned again passing his place with two cattle, stopping in front thereof to water the cattle and his horse. Witness didn't remember the color of cattle but as he recalled them they looked very much alike.
Frank S. Curtis, J. Fitch Walker and George Sturtevant were sworn and testified to the arraignment of Marks in Justice's court.
At this point District Attorney Dayton announced that he had three more witnesses who were snowbound in the country and were unable to be present. He was willing to go to the jury with the evidence he had and he would rest providing he be allowed the right to call any of the absent witnesses if they should put in an appearance. This was agreeable to the defendant and the people rested.
A. H. Clark, attorney for Marks, then moved to dismiss the indictments on the ground that the people had failed to prove the facts alleged therein and that the commission of a crime had not been proven.
"It has not been shown," said Mr. Clark, "that the cattle were at any time exclusively in the possession of the defendant, and the defendant and Dennis have not been jointly indicted. The court overruled the motion and gave the defendant an exception.
After Mr. Clark had opened for the defense J. Fitch Walker was re-called to testify as to some distance and then the defendant was called to the stand to testify in his own behalf. He was discharged from prison two years ago and has been employed almost continuously since that time.
Defendant said he saw Dennis in Auburn on the 10th day of September last and had a conversation with him.
"What was that conversation?" asked Mr. Clark, to which Mr. Dayton objected on the ground that the evidence was incompetent. The objection was overruled.
Witness went on and gave his conversation with Dennis. The latter, witness said, asked him if he was working and he said he was not. "Then," continued Marks, "Dennis said that he had a couple of head of cattle in the South end of the county which he was going after the next day and he said I could earn a few dollars by going along with him and driving the cattle.
Witness told of the trip to the South end of the county and of a number of stops that they made along the way, Dennis getting out each time and going into the lots. "It was 10 o'clock," witness said, "and was quite dark when I first saw the cattle. They were in the road and Dennis was driving them. He had been gone three hours when he returned with the cattle."
Witness then rehearsed the tiresome trip home on the 12th, the cattle being taken to Sincerbeaux's slaughter house. He saw Dennis kill the cattle on the following day.
Marks was convicted by the jury, and on Friday he was sentenced to Auburn state prison for the term of five years.
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| Train on Erie & Central New York tracks near McGraw, N. Y. |
THE BOILER FOAMED.
AN ENGINEER ON THE ERIE & CENTRAL N. Y. ALARMED.
The Boiler Loaded With Milk—The Engineer a Very Surprised Man--Dare Not Leave East Freetown Because His Locomotive Was Foaming Badly—An Unintentional Joke, But a Rich One.
Since L. N. Frederick became general manager of the Erie & Central railroad many innovations have taken place on the line of the road, and so far as we can learn they have all been of a beneficial nature, except possibly a new departure inaugurated on Monday of this week, for which Mr. Frederick is in no wise responsible.
When one of the trains enroute for Cortland reached East Freetown on that day the engineer noticed something wrong about the boiler and upon investigating the matter he learned that the locomotive was "foaming." Now when a locomotive foams, why, she foams, and we believe such a circumstance disarranges the plans of the engineer, who in this situation called up the manager's office by phone and informed Mr. Frederick that his locomotive was "foaming," and that he had doubts at his ability to pull his train to Cortland. The manager didn't scare worth a cent, and he calmly told the engineer to remain at East Freetown until he could send another engine to bring the train to its destination. When engine No. 2 arrived on the scene, the locomotive which had been "foaming" was found on the side track, and the engineer had made the startling discovery that the boiler was full of milk, which of course, when brought to the boiling point very naturally "foamed" to a surprising ex tent. To say that the engineer was surprised is putting it mildly. He was mystified. He couldn't account for it. Had the day of miracles returned? Had the locomotive the power to convert water into milk? Or had a herd of cows been pasturing around the boiler during the night?
The explanation of this phenomena is simply this: The gentleman who has charge of the milk station at Cincinnatus, who is supposed to supply the water tank at that place, had accidentally turned the wrong valve and the result was that the tank became supplied with milk instead of water. On account of the natural greasy qualities in the milk, it became necessary to thoroughly cleanse, not only the locomotive boiler, but the water tank as well, not a very desirable job.
The circumstance brings up a train of thought that may lead to a revolution in railroading, and why may not this comparatively small Cincinnatus road take advantage of the accident to make a name for itself and become world-wide famous? Suppose all the locomotives on the passenger trains were to be supplied with milk at the several stations, and while it made steam as a motive power, suppose pipes were brought into use connecting the boiler with the passenger cars, how easy it would be to furnish the patrons of the road during the winter months with hot drinks of delicious milk. What a popular road it would be for babies! And the scheme could be carried still farther by substituting water in which were several pounds of coffee, and in like manner the passengers could help themselves to this warming beverage at will. These hints come to the writer as he reviews the strange discovery of the frightened engineer whose locomotive "foamed," and they are thrown out for Manager Frederick's consideration, who will we are sure, appreciate the Democrat's assistance in making suggestions for the good of the Erie & Central New York railroad. By all means take advantage of this milk episode.
THE OLD CORTLAND PAPER-MILL.
Above we present a view of the buildings which constituted the paper-mill erected in the early 20s by Nelson Spencer on the site now occupied by Cooper Bros.' foundry and machine shop. In the early 30s Messrs. Speed & Sinclair became owners of the property and continued in possession until they sold the same to Daniel Bradford in 1847, since which time its history is familiar to most of the older citizens of Cortland. Mr. Spencer made only wrapping paper, but Speed & Sinclair manufactured writing paper in large quantities, and a store for the sale of the mill's products was located on River-st., between the present residences of Lester and George Cooper. A bindery in the same building enabled the firm to manufacture blank books, and they enjoyed quite a trade in these and school books, as well as others of a miscellaneous character.
A blank book issued by this firm has the following on the first page of the cover, properly displayed and surrounded with a fancy border:
''Paper manufactory at Port Watson, one mile east of Cortland village."
(Cut showing a fort, company soldiers, tents, cannons, flags, etc.)
"Speed & Sinclair manufacture and keep constantly on hand all kinds of writing, wrapping and printing paper."
At the bottom of the page is this imprint:
"Rufus A. Reed, book, blank, plain and fancy job printer, Cortland and Homer villages."
Some of the early settlers of this section intended to establish a village near the river, and a survey, plot and map of the streets were made of the land bordering on River-st. which, had the original design been carried out, would have been extended north to the Truxton road. A dam was constructed across the river east of the paper-mill site, and the water power propelled a saw mill a short distance south of the dam. A carding mill was erected on the north shore of Tioughnioga river, a few rods west of the junction with East river. Traces of the dam, saw mill and carding-mill are yet visible.
The flour-mill now owned by the Wickwire Bros, was put up in 1801, followed by a saw-mill and cider-mill just west, all operated by the same water power.
An engraving of the paper-mill was procured by Speed & Sinclair for business purposes, and an impression of the same, from which our cut was made, is in the possession of F. G. Kinney, who writes this account.
(Every reader of the Democrat should preserve
this cut and sketch.)
[The half cut or half tone on front page is a blob of ink without definition or dots, as the reader can see--CC ed.]
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| Senator Eugene Hale. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
A Billion Dollar Congress.
Time tries all things, adjudges many claims, settles many contentions and therefore makes many converts. Rarely, however, has Time brought prophecy and fulfillment face to face with such dispatch, as in the matter of the mooted question whether the imperialistic policy of the Republican party would create an enormous increase in our governmental expenses. Less than four months ago the Democratic party was charged with outrageous mendacity for asserting that, under the policy pursued by the Republican party, our military budget for the coming year would be greatly in excess of the military expenses of any European power. The claim was branded as a partisan falsification, a mere ante-election decoy to lure voters into the Democratic preserve, an extravagant statement as unpatriotic as it was dishonest and untrue. The statement was characterized as the device of a demagogue to stir up class hatred at the expense of love for our institutions.
That was four months ago. That was the era of political prophecy. Election is over. The voters are no longer feared. The Republican line of policy has been pursued with a zeal and enthusiasm, born anew in the confidence expressed in its methods on last election day. Since that decision about three months have passed. The era of fulfillment is at hand. The assertion, increased in scope, is repeated, not as an ante-election claim, but as a post-election affirmation; not by a Democratic political speaker, but by one of the leading Republican senators of the country ; not upon the political hustings, but upon the floor of the senate at our national capital. For on February 7th in this year of our Lord, Senator Eugene Hale of Maine in the senate chamber in Washington said: "The military budget of this republic for the coming year will be nearly $400,000,000. It will be nearly twice what any great European power is spending.'' Not a single Republican senator contradicted the statement. The chairman of the appropriations committee gave assent to the declaration.
Of course some little wonder will arise, just as to when and how Time changed that ante-election Democratic falsehood into this post-election Republican verity. And there will, doubtless, be those who will believe that the Republican party had equal knowledge with the Democratic party as to this imperative demand for this imperialistic expense, and wantonly and willfully deceived the people for partisan advantage on election day. Shame on the thought! To think that the g. o. p. of immaculate perfection would stoop to such a depth as that, is a monstrosity in thought!
But we are equally perplexed, if we ascribe to the Republican leaders honesty in their denials of so greatly increased expenses for military purposes, for then we are confronted with the present status of the question, that would seem to convict these leaders of dense ignorance of governmental affairs. Such a thought, of course, cannot be tolerated, as it has been a constant Republican affirmance—repeated so often that it has passed into belief—that all ignorance is gathered within the Democratic fold.
But that is not the only note of ominous warning sounded by Senator Hale in regard to the dangerous limits reached through the iniquitous scheme of treasury-looting now carried on at Washington. He said on the same occasion. "The tide, immensely swollen heretofore, is more swollen and more turbid and rapidly rising. We were shocked at the idea of a 'billion dollar congress,' and before we know it we have a billion-dollar session." When we call to mind that at the first session of this expiring congress $710,000,000 was appropriated, then add the estimate of Senator Allison for this session as about $780, 000,000, and we are confronted with the startling fact that we have not only reached the "billion-dollar congress," so much talked about, and so much dreaded a few years ago, but we have a billion-and-a-half-dollar congress, and stand shuddering facing the future. In this computation is not included the ship subsidy bill sought to be passed for the benefit of a few favored individuals and corporations, and carrying with it the proposition to pay them nine million dollars yearly. How long shall this system of national legislative robbery be carried on? Just so long as the people will tolerate it, and no longer.
The representative has not a license to do as he pleases, but only the liberty to act within the limits marked out by his constituents. Public offices and public officials are merely the pivots and cranks of the political machine. The impelling, as well as the governing force, is public opinion. Let the people sleep on their rights, and they lose them. If our military expenses be growing alarmingly, let the people bring forth conditions where there will be no excuse for such extravagant expenditures. It is said that in Europe every laboring man carries on his back a military drone. How will our military expenses affect laboring classes, with expenses almost doubling that of any European power? European tribute and European taxes have reached us. European militarism has been eclipsed by us. How long will it be before European monarchism and imperialism will possess us? That is the question which must come to the front. We are making history, but in what direction?
"History," says Freeman, "is only past politics; politics only present history." Our present politics points the index finger toward what kind of history for this republic? Let him answer who will.
A Capable Supervisor.
The Democrats of Truxton have done wisely in renominating for supervisor that tried and true gentleman, John O'Donnell, who has led the party to victory for the past seven years, and there seems no question but that he will be re-elected next Tuesday. There is certainly no reason why he should not be, and many reasons why he should serve the town on the board of supervisors.
During his past service he has advocated many measures for the benefit of the taxpayers, and has been the originator of several important changes in the interest of the county at large. In 1894 Mr. O'Donnell was instrumental in securing the services of a stenographer for the grand jury, which saves at least $300 a year. In 1898 he served on the committee to press Cortland county's claim against the state for the value of condemned insane buildings, and assisted by Riley Champlin recovered $4,750. In 1899, as appears by the supervisors journal, page 117, he offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee to present the claims of the county for a reduction of its share of the state tax, which resulted in Cortland being reduced in its assessed valuation nearly one million and three-quarters dollars.
He has also procured for his town a section of macadam road about one-half mile in length, which was badly needed in the village of Truxton, and is the first step in the adoption of the good roads system in this county.
Mr. O'Donnell should certainly be re-elected by an increased majority and we believe he will be.
HERE AND THERE.
John Shea has begun the study of law with Judge Eggleston.
Homer has already thirty-five telephones subscribed for over the Home line.
The ground hog or bear myth is no myth at all. It has been proven a reality this year.
The third and sixth pages of this issue contain much more local and vicinity news than usual.
We hope and expect to hear good Democratic news from several towns in Cortland county next Tuesday night.
Messrs. Bingham & Miller furnished the new and handsome suits in which the Orris Hose boys will shortly appear.
Our Cincinnatus and other correspondence from the eastern part of the county seems to be snowbound this week.
The annual meeting of the Cortland Union Beekeepers' association will be held in Good Templars' hall Thursday, Feb. 21, at 10 o'clock a. m.
Attorney William J. Mantanye has moved his law office from its former quarters to the room just west on the same floor of the Grand Central.
The four Y. M. C. A. associations of Cortland, Auburn, Syracuse and Geneva have arranged an athletic meeting to be held at Auburn May 30.
The Lehigh Valley railroad will sell tickets to Washington. D. C., March 1, 2 and 3, on account of inauguration, at the low rate of one fare for the round trip.
Rural free delivery carriers out of Cortland reached South Cortland yesterday on horseback and then returned. The drifts had not been shoveled out beyond there.
D. E. Shepard has enlarged his mercantile facilities by leasing the vacant store just west of his present quarters in the Samson block, and will connect the whole floor surface into one store.
The Ithaca Journal of Tuesday stated that W. E. Chamberlain was to leave that place the following day to teach a class in vocal music in Cortland, and that he is to sing in the Congregational church in this city.
Thermopylae-at-Marathon lodge, No. 438, F & A. M., will hold its annual festival and dance on Friday evening, Feb. 22. The members of the honorary committee from Cortland are J. W. Angell and Hon. S. S. Knox.
Ernest I. Edgcomb of Syracuse, a brilliant young attorney well known in Cortland, has been appointed a referee to take testimony in the matter of the Frontenac hotel property, which has gone into the hands of a receiver.
Bishop J. B. Small, D. D., A. M., bishop of the Eighth Episcopal district, will make an official visit to Cortland charge, A. M. E. Zion church, on Friday evening, March 1, and will preach in the regular place of worship on that evening.
The severe storm has prevented a large attendance at the baseball fair this week, yet it is proving quite a success in spite of this drawback. The fair closes tomorrow evening, and all are urged to give one good solid lift for a successful baseball season.
M. W. Wilcox of Syracuse was arrested by Chief of Police Smith in Syracuse Monday at the instance of F. M. Quick, who charges Wilcox with appropriating to himself two mileage books secured of Mr. Quick. The case will come up before Judge Davis Feb. 20.
E. E. Bates, an optician of ten years practice, a graduate of Detroit and Syracuse Optical institutes, has moved to Cortland and will open an office in the Wallace block. He expects to begin business next Monday, and with his large experience we anticipate that he will meet with success.
Mrs. Mary Dorsey, a colored woman about 50 years old, was found frozen to death in a field near her home between Little York and East Homer last Sunday. The remains were brought to Cortland by the direction of Coroner Santee, and the burial took place from Wright's undertaking rooms Wednesday.
Fireman's hall is receiving a new coat of paper at the hands of George Peters, The new office of the mayor and commissioners of charities is ready for business. Future plans include the housing of the fire team in the building. There is plenty of room, by removing Tom Howard's bedroom.
It is needless to inform Cortland county readers of the Democrat that a terrible storm has raged in this section all the week, for every one is aware that such has been the case. It has snowed, and it has blowed, and it has frozen many noses and toeses making travel by team almost impossible and the railroads have experienced great difficulty in keeping the tracks clear. It is the worst storm of the season, and it is rare that we ever have one so severe.
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