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| New York City fire department photo. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 1, 1901.
A PLUCKY FIREMAN.
OUR NEW YORK LETTER FULL OF INTERESTING MATTER.
Fireman Caught Taking a Bath When an Alarm Was Given—Drove Twenty Blocks With Nothing on but Rubber Overcoat—Thieves Take Everything in Sight—A Thoughtful Manager.
New York, Feb. 28.—Taking them collectively or individually, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a class of men more devoted to their duty, or braver than the members of the New York Fire department. Not a day passes but that their courage is tried by fire, and for firemen to perform feats that make the heart of the ordinary man stand still merely to witness, is of almost hourly occurrence. To be thrown from a ladder, to have a few ribs crushed in, to break a limb or lose an ear are matters of such ordinary everyday occurrences that they scarcely cause comment. And then there are a few other accidents that firemen have to face, such as suffocation and sudden death. One afternoon a few weeks ago, a fireman attached to one of the downtown companies was taking a bath between alarms. He was very much in the midst of it when an alarm was turned in from a box on the East side. This particular fireman was the driver of an engine, and having no rime to dress fully, he seized the first garment within reach of his hand. It happened to be a rubber coat. Clothed only in this coat he drove his engine twenty city blocks to the fire in the midst of a raging snowstorm. The water from the interrupted bath froze to his bare legs, and taken in all, he was a spectacle for gods and men. The fire proved to be a small one and was quickly extinguished. Then the plucky fireman drove back to the fire house still clad only in the single garment. After acknowledging the cheers of the assembled crowd, he calmly resumed his bath. Mentally and morally the average fireman is far superior to the average policeman. Physically there is not much advantage on either side.
In this city there are numerous individuals who, although they could not accurately be termed professional thieves, are nevertheless seemingly incapable of drawing a close distinction between mine and thine. It is a sad commentary upon the honesty of the human race to see in all places of a public character so many articles of a portable nature nailed down or chained to keep the public from running away with them. Libraries and other public reading and writing rooms long ago found it necessary to adopt a policy of fastening pens and pencils and now the ink bottles are made stationary. Directories and telephone books are considered by the looters especially valuable plunder, combs and brushes are also rather highly regarded and in offices and stores it has been found necessary to chain them fast or else lay in a new supply each day. One would think that soap would be exempt, but on the contrary it is looked upon with much favor, and the looter usually is desirous of taking a towel or two with the soap just to make the collection complete. Then there are showcases standing outside the entrance to small stores. There was a time when a man could display his wares in a rack and with reasonable amount of watchfulness he was insured from loss, but nowadays everything must be enclosed in a glass case, and then the case, unless it weighs a ton or so must be chained to the store.
In one of the sky-scraper office buildings down town there are about 150 girls employed as stenographers. book-keepers and typewriters. The manager of this building, an enterprising, humane sort of a man, has recently installed an innovation in the shape of a suite of rooms where the female employees may go for a rest when tired or ill. Needless to say these rooms are greatly appreciated and the manager who is responsible for their installment is a very popular man among the ladies. On the ninth floor of this particular building are two rooms set apart for the comfort and convenience of these girls. In one of them are marble basins, soap, towel, mirrors and everything needed, even to combs and brushes. In the other room, which is carpeted, may be found easy chairs, books, papers, etc., and last but not least a matron. There are also bath rooms, open plumbing, enameled tubs, and all the rest of it. Of course these rooms represent a large amount of cash. This may readily be realized when it is known that offices in this building rent from $2.00 to 3.50 per square foot. But there is a demand for this sacrifice of profits, and landlords are compelled to yield to it. Among the big department stores also there is an inclination to provide, especially fort the comfort of the women employees. Many of the stores have [big] luncheon rooms in the basement where the employees eat at small tables and quite as comfortably as in any restaurant.
MANGLED BY CARS.
ADELBERT MCELHENY SUDDENLY KILLED ON COAL DUMP.
Was Assisting in Sending Cars Down Maxon & Starin's Trestle—Not Known Exactly How Accident Happened—Was Found With Body Horribly Mutilated—Leaves a Wife and One Son.
Adelbert McElheny, who resided on the corner of Greenbush and Venette-sts., Cortland, met with a sad and sudden death last Friday afternoon. He has for the past two or three years been in the employ of Messrs. Maxson & Starin, and drove one of their delivery teams. He also usually assisted in sending empty coal cars down the trestle after they were unloaded. On Friday afternoon, between 1:30 and 2 o'clock, he with another employee named James Cashin attempted to send two empty gondolas down the trestle. Mr. Cashin mounting the cars to control the brakes, and Mr. McElheny starting them with what is known as a pinch bar.
After the cars had begun to move Mr. McElheny spoke to Cashin, telling him to let them move slowly, and he was seen to run along on the trestle by the side of the cars. When the latter reached the level, Cashin was told by the flagman Jerry Callahan, that he had struck a man. Upon running back he found McElheny's body between the rails, lying in a pool of blood. He was dead, and the body was taken to the baggage room, where it was found that his right arm was cut off just below the shoulder, and his left leg crushed near the knee. The remains were later taken to the undertaking rooms of Messrs. Beard & Peck.
It is claimed by those who examined the tracks in the snow that McElheny must have run down the trestle ahead of the cars and then attempted to cross in front of them.
Coroner Santee made an investigation of the circumstances and came to the conclusion that McElheny's death was purely accidental and that an inquest was unnecessary.
The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the Congregational church.
OUR CENSUS RESUME.
MANY EXPLANATIONS AS TO REASON FOR LOSSES.
The Democrat's Article Aroused the People—Some One From Every Town Has Something to Say—Some Are Humorous. Others Are Sarcastic, and Still Others Are Grieved at the Poor Showing.
The article in the Democrat of February 15, showing the situation in each town in Cortland county so far as regards population as compiled by the census bureau, seems to have awakened considerable interest throughout the county, judging from the numerous explanations in the form of communications received at this office. In no other newspaper was the census returns given in such readable shape as in the Democrat, for instead of the usual tabulated form, to which but little attention is given by the majority of readers, the situation in each town was given in a manner that at once commanded attention.
It is not at all surprising that the people who reside in the country towns view with alarm the gradual depopulation of the rural districts. It is a matter that not only concerns them, but such a state of affairs bodes ill for the future. That the same condition exists in other sections is shown by reference to an item in the "Neighboring County" paragraphs in this issue which states that twenty years ago, in a certain school district in the western part of the state, there were eighty pupils, and at the present time there are only eight. From reports of the superintendent of public instruction we learn that many school houses are closed for lack of scholars.
In view of this situation, what is to become of the fertile farms in this and other localities? How may the influx of young men and young women from rural communities to the cities be prevented? These are questions of vital importance to the present generation of farmers, and they are receiving the careful consideration of all thinking men throughout the state and nation.
Speaking for Marathon, the Independent explains the situation in that enterprising village as follows:
The Cortland Democrat in its review of the census last week, notes the loss of 106 in the population of this village, and wants to know, etc. We have investigated and found it is not by reason of excess of death over births, for that is but six for the ten years. The reason is a change in industries and labor saving machinery. In 1890 Marathon was credited with 1198 inhabitants. At that time the Marathon tannery was making upper leather, and had on its pay roll 150 employees. During the ten years intervening conditions in the leather market changed, and the making of upper leather was abandoned and it became a sole leather tannery. This reduced the number, as finishers, etc., were not required. Improved machinery also still further reduced the necessity for hand labor and as a result the force last June numbered but 50, 100 less, about the decline in population.
The next explanation comes from Freetown, the writer freeing his mind in the following way:
In your last issue you inquire, "What is the matter with Freetown that she should fall off 67 in population since 1890?" That is a good many for our small town to lose, but we are glad to know that the wise ones are here yet, as was proven by our town meeting yesterday, when M. A. Mynard gained a majority of 101 votes for supervisor over A. E. Brainard, our ex-sheriff, the greatest victory ever won here. It is a satisfaction to know that the people appreciate the good work done by Mr. Mynard in the past two years, that he has been supervisor; he has left nothing undone that pertained to the interest of his town. It has also been known that Freetown has had a Republican majority for years past, but this year, regardless of politics, and with the advice of your brother editor, the thin-skinned and nearly all other Republicans managed to get through the big snow-drifts, but decided to cast their votes where they would get in return one hundred cents on a dollar, with interest for their town, with such a man as M. A. Mynard at the front. It is an old but true saying, "Honesty is the best policy."
An esteemed friend in Harford attributes the depopulation of the country towns to the ruinous policy of the Republican party. He says:
When you asserted in the Democrat of February 15 that "it is strange that Harford should show so large a decrease as 108," you evidently forgot that we are living under Republican rule, which with its fostering care of trusts and corporations allow the poor farmer to run his business under a tariff policy which if continued many years longer will send us all to the poor-house. The people of Harford are coming to their senses, as was evidenced last Tuesday when they gave John A. Wavle, our popular Democratic citizen, a majority of 56 for the office of supervisor. Give us good old Democratic times and the young men will have an incentive to stick by the farms.
Three explanatory epistles come from Virgil, one of which is so unique in composition and phraseology that we give it verbatim:
Yon quill driver of the Democrat don’t you know that the histrick town of Virgil has meny high hills and that wen a hevy wind blows lots of our people are wafted to the sitty of Cortland never to return. Our young men spehully prefer to work in Wickwire shops and in the wagon shops at Cortland than to grab a living from the hills of this town and this explains the loss of 192.
This is something of an explanation, it is true, but we fancy the citizens of Virgil will generally disagree with our ingenious correspondent. A Cincinnatus man, who evidently takes an optimistic view of things concludes that the Democrats horoscope of his town is all right for he says:
Your article on the census was all right. It is true the official census gave our town a decreased population and we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the enumeration, but Cincinnatus, N. Y., is destined to grow, and grow it will. Its population is increasing at the present time, and our business men are determined there shall be no lagging. Rest assured that the Democrat spoke within bounds when it foretold a doubling of its population within the next ten years.
A friend in Solon seems to take a despondent view of the situation as it exists in his town, for he writes:
As to that census article: I do not agree with you when you say "Solon is all right." It is not all right; it is all wrong, and so is every other town in rural communities. What is to keep the rising generation in the country? Imagine Jim Dougherty, a former Solon lad, eking out an existence with plow and hoe on the hills of this town, with four or five children to support. Compare this picture with the commanding influence he enjoys in Cortland. A. S. Brown, your honored postmaster, at one time earned his bread and butter in Solon. Think you he would exchange his present political and business standing for a home in this town? What is true of these two gentlemen is true of others. Why shouldn't every ambitions young man aim for a higher plane than digging potatoes and husking corn?
A Cortlandville reader of the Democrat believes that the census enumerators were derelict in their duty, and that the town is not given credit where credit is due. Hear him:
According to the figures given in the Democrat, and I assume they were quoted correctly from the official census returns, the town of Cortlandville, outside the city of Cortland and the village of McGrawville, gained only 29 in population between 1890 and 1900. Bosh! I take no stock in such statement. I'll bet a new hat with the editor that the figures are wrong by 150.
Several other communications relative to the census have been received, which will be published next week.
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
News Gathered and Condensed From Our Wide-Awake Exchanges.
Oswego Falls and Fulton, Oswego county towns, have decided to combine and ask for a city charter. The aggregate population is 8,000.
Buffalo is to have a temporary passenger station, 850 feet long, built of wood, to accommodate the New York Central Pan-American traffic.
One dollar and five cents per hundred is the present price paid for milk delivered at the several milk stations along the line of the R. W. & O. Railroad for shipment to New York.
It is announced that the officials of the Pan-American exposition have decided to keep open on Sunday, despite the many protests received. The midway feature will be closed, however.
A Syracuse firm has been awarded a contract for manufacturing all the official souvenir spoons to be sold at the Pan-American exposition. It is expected they will number over a million.
Six Canandaigua clerks, members of the retail clerks' union, have been indicted for conspiracy by the grand jury as a result of the efforts made by the clerks to force two merchants to close their stores early.
Miss Amanda Hill, the oldest woman compositor in the state, if not in the United States, died at her home in Bath last week, aged 82 years. For nearly forty years she has worked continuously in the office of the Steuben County Courier.
A citizen of Spencer has offered a reward of $50 to the person who shall prove that the report that the village has only 385 population is true. It is asserted that the village has almost as many residents as it had ten years ago when 810 were counted.
It is estimated by persons who are well posted regarding the matter, that there are upwards of 1,200 tons of cabbage stored in Spencerport and vicinity all awaiting the fifteen or twenty dollar mark in price before it will be thrown upon the market.
W. H. Freeborn of New Woodstock is the owner of a three-year-old heifer with head, horns, and hoof as large and well developed as those of any animal of that age. The heifer stands but two feet eight inches in height, and measures only four feet in length.
People in New York State have learned with disagreeable surprise that one out of every 300 inhabitants within its border is an inmate of some kind of hospital for the insane. The commission in lunacy reports that in all there are 23,000 insane patients in the State.
In Victory village some twenty years ago there was a school attendance of eighty pupils; now the attendance is eight. Such are the conditions that generally prevail in the rural school districts. In some instances it is recorded that school houses have been closed for lack of pupils.
Rochester merchants claim that they will gain $25,000 a week in trade by the new reduced rates given by the Central Railroad. At the same time merchants in some of the towns, Brockport particularly, are protesting against the action of the Central managers in seeking to divert trade to Rochester.
Edward J. Poppen, who was arrested in Batavia on the evening of February 9th, charged with the murder of Theresa Keating was discharged in Rochester, Wednesday morning, the evidence not being sufficient to hold him. Upon his discharge he returned to Batavia and resumed work where he was at the time of his arrest.
The Norwich Sun claims that the new law under which the Sheriff is paid a salary, instead of by fees, has already had a good effect, and that the expense of boarding the horde of tramps that usually found their way to jail every winter, has and will materially decrease under the new system. When Sheriff Flanagan took possession of the jail there were forty-one prisoners, mostly hobos, as against fifteen now, who are nearly all under indictment.
Another Great Shoe Factory.
Binghamton, Lestershire and particularly Union are to have another great boom. H. B. Endicott of Boston, and G. F. Johnson, manager of the Lestershire shoe factory, are to put up another great factory near the Erie tracks on land adjoining the Casino grounds just east of Union. It is to be the largest shoe factory in the world and to employ about 2,000 people. They will also erect there the greatest sole leather tannery in the world and the greatest factory for the manufacture of composition leather shoe lifts in the world. They have purchased 282 acres of land for these factories at a cost of over $40,000. The factories will cost over $1,000,000.
In conjunction with this great extension of the Lestershire Mfg. Co., a model city to be named "Endicott,'' is to be built around these factories by the "Endicott Land and Improvement Co. " in which are Geo. Green, G. T. Rogers and J. E. P. Clark of Binghamton, and Dr. L. D. Witherill of Union. This company has bought 600 acres of land surrounding the factory sites on all sides. A large park is to be laid out as a center, adjoining the Casino grounds. G. F. and C. F. Johnson will build palatial residences just east of the Casino grounds.
The electric railway people are also interested in the scheme with new plans. They will greatly improve the Casino property and dam the river to make it navigable for small craft to Binghamton. They have contracted to furnish special trains for the workmen from Binghamton and Lestershire at very low rates. They will commence work at once to double track the road.
The Erie management has promised to co-operate; will build fine depot at Endicott, build switches to run cars into the factories, and will elevate their tracks in the town so there will be no grade crossings, etc.
The output of the Lestershire factory, at present the largest in the world, will not be curtailed. All the coarse grades of shoes will be made at the new factory and the Lestershire plant devoted to fine shoes. Over 1,600 persons are now employed there and 18,000 pairs of shoes per day are turned out.
H. B. Endicott, the head of the Lestershire company, now lives in Boston, Mass. He is 43 years old, began life with nothing, is now several times a millionaire and the greatest shoe manufacturer in the world. It is expected he will remove to Binghamton.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The Subsidy Job is Killed.
It is admitted at Washington that the great subsidy is defeated. It will not be withdrawn or formally abandoned, but will be "left to die on the calendar.''
This is a reluctant acknowledgment of an obvious fact. The job was doomed from the moment that the Democratic senators rallied from their indifference and their dream of partisan advantage through Republican responsibility for this colossal steal and proclaimed that the bill should not pass at this session. One weeks resolute opposition killed it.
It was a measure of looting and of false pretenses. It proposed to tax 72,000,000 people for the benefit of twenty-five. It asked support for builders whose ship-yards are choked with profitable contracts. It provided subsidies for an industry that was sending steel plates to England. It pretended to favor American seaman, but left ship-owners at liberty to hire sailors where they can get them the cheapest—a privilege which our laws deny to Americans who buy ships. It aimed, in brief, to establish a transportation trust at the expense of its victims—the people.
Publicity and pluck have killed this most brazen of the jobs brought forward by those who agree with their leader Mark Hanna, that ''politics is business.''
HERE AND THERE.
Well, old March is here.
The Democrat ''poetry machine'' will soon be set in motion.
One of those peculiarly happy Vesta lodge dances will be held this evening.
Cortland county seems to be in the grip of measles. Oh. the measly disease.
The list of subscribers to the Home telephones is creeping upward at a rapid rate.
John Andrews, recently of the Mansion House, Homer, takes charge of the Sautelle House in that village to-day.
If the heavy body of snow should go off with a rush, the people of Lisle and Whitney's Point must take to the hills.
Several loads of goods moving about town the past week indicate that some folks are obliged to "get up and get."
Several Odd Fellows from Cortland attended the funeral of Rev. J. Barton French in Syracuse yesterday afternoon.
Lots of snow is being melted for washing purposes, many cisterns being dry because of a lack of rain for many weeks.
B. W. Gridley, who is employed by Maxson & Starin, is nursing a sore thumb at present, pinched by a heavy timber.
Theodore Stevenson has just completed the sale of the Wait Lincoln farm about one mile south-east of Virgil, to Henry Hall.
It makes but little difference whether one lives in Cortland this winter or in Alaska. The two places apparently stand on an equal footing.
The membership of John L. Lewis lodge, No 587, I. O. O. F., was increased Tuesday evening by the initiation of several candidates.
The county convention of the W. C. T. U. will be held at Marathon next Wednesday. Mrs. Ella Boole, the state president, will give an address.
The supervisor of Locke, elected at the recent town meeting, is G. O. Whitcomb, who not long ago conducted a grocery store in Main-st., Cortland.
At the A. O. H. banquet to be held March 14, as announced elsewhere, there will be entertaining speeches from orators in Cortland, Syracuse and other places.
Some of us may growl and find fault because we have so much snow to shovel, but the fact remains that a heavy body of the "beautiful" is a grand thing for the earth.
Dick Morris, a conceded authority upon matters pertaining to the weather, solemnly affirms that snow has fallen every day since the memorable February 2 when the bear saw his shadow.
The editor of an exchange inquires what has become of the English sparrow, adding that he hasn't seen one this winter. Cortland can spare him several thousand and not miss them.
It is a fact that there are still sidewalks in this city that have not been shoveled since the beginning of the two or three weeks storm, February 3. Such tenants are a disgrace to any town.
We understand Mayor Brown has as received no official confirmation of the rumor that Andrew Carnegie will draw his check for one hundred thousand dollars to found a Carnegie library in Cortland.
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