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| Washington Bridge and Harlem River Raceway. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 22, 1901.
THE ONLY SPEEDWAY.
OUR NEW YORK LETTER FULL OF INTERESTING MATTER.
How the Mammoth Tall Buildings are Constructed—The Greatest Driveway in the World—Outside Feeling Against the Metropolis.
NEW YORK, March 20.—Broadway, which as everyone knows is the chief artery of New York's commercial life, contains in its lower portion a striking series of lofty buildings. Several years ago, before the erection of a sky-scraper became so general, lack of room for growth was beginning to strangle the expansion of the city's business. The demand for space upon the narrow island of Manhattan was such that in the commercial head quarters rents were becoming prohibitive and the purchase of land impossible. Now, however, we have learned that, although we cannot build out into the rivers, we can build to a considerable distance up into the sky, and a city of thirty-story edifices, which will quadruple the accommodation for trade seems the logical outcome of the present building tendencies. It is easily apparent that among many inventions and improvements, the great one that has made the sky-scraper possible, is the development of the steel frame. Until this came, eight or nine stories marked the limit to which any building could be raised. By the use of the steel frame the entire weight of the floors, instead of resting on the walls as in the old days, now rests on the steel skeleton. Another great difference to be observed in the construction of modern office buildings is that, while from time immemorial each story had been built before the next was begun, the walls rising in succession steps to support the beams of the floor above, now a great network of slender steel arms goes up, holding on high a series of platforms to be filled in with tiles and become floors. Afterwards the walls rise slowly a separate and late construction.
It has been said and with truth that if one of New York's largest journals were to attempt to print in a single issue all the unpleasant things said on any given day about this city by the press of the United States, the purpose would have to be abandoned as being too gigantic for one newspaper to perform. For some reason not very clear, there is a good deal of ill-will abroad against this metropolis, and in the mind of the average American who is not a New Yorker, irritation against the city seems to be easily excited. Nevertheless, men who have made fortunes in the West in mines, or lumber, railroads or pork, are very likely to come to the metropolis to reside. Men of talent as lawyers, architects, painters, or what not, also gravitate hither, and in spite of the jealousy and ill-feeling that certain portions of the country evince toward New York, as voiced through the press, it is undeniable that this city attracts the very elite of the republic as a magnet attracts iron. Now the average New Yorker is quick to recognize that his city attracts eminent men from all parts of the country; he is proud of it; he talks about it; the newspapers print it; and because there is scarcely a community that has not suffered to some extent because of the metropolis, that may account largely for the ill-will. With all its defects, its vanity and its blemishes, New York is the American metropolis. A success that would be small elsewhere becomes national here, because it has been achieved in the full glare of the limelight on a stage which everybody sees.
For the men, a few hundred at most, who own fast horses and wish "to try them out," the municipal authorities some five or six years ago appropriated in round numbers three million dollars and built the magnificent driveway known as the Harlem River Speedway. The speedway is about two and a half miles long, ranging in width from fifty to one hundred feet with walks, flower beds and green terrace laid out on either side. While the fact that such a large sum of money has been expended primarily for the enjoyment of the few has been severely criticized in certain quarters, the drive, running along the Harlem River as it does, sets forth the natural beauties of a part of Manhattan Island which would otherwise be little known to the vast majority of the dwellers of the metropolis. On fine days in the spring and summer crowds line the road and watch with interest the friendly "brushes'' between the sleek steppers. The speedway has always been regarded as a marvel of engineering skill and beauty. Obstacles in the shape of marshy ground and steep ascents of rock rising immediately from the water's edge did not afford the road any foot hold whatsoever in some places. Millions of cubic feet of bulkhead and many thousand feet of solid masonry have been used to raise the gently curving drive about nine feet above high water mark. Into the mud flats and marshes of the Harlem, were driven more than a quarter of a million of linear feet of piling, and at various points cuts were made through the solid rock to the width of the speedway, and its accompanying foot paths and grass plots.
OUR OWN COMMENTS
UPON CLIPPINGS FROM SOME OF OUR EXCHANGES.
Editor Ames Out-Rivals the Editor of the Arizona Kicker—Is the Making of Pie Becoming a Lost Art?—Stop Pulpit Advertising—Not All Dogs Live in Groton, N. Y.—A Good Suggestion for Correspondents.
There is one thing certain: Groton must be the banner town of its size in the state for dogs. We have dogs to the right of us, dogs to the left of us, in front and behind us, every street, dogs everywhere. We have all kinds, sizes and conditions. Let us have a dog show or shooting match.—Groton Journal.
Oh, come off your perch over there. We admit that Groton is a good deal of a town, but it isn't in it for a minute with Cortland. We have dogs of such prodigious size that they are mistaken for Jersey heifers. We have dogs of such diminutive size that they resemble wharf rats. We have dogs of all colors, all sizes, all nationalities, all dispositions, and the greatest of all is a huge animal with his head twisted about half way out of plumb. Thirty to forty canines in a bunch is not an uncommon sight in our streets.
Pitch-holes in the roads near Cortland are said to be so deep that farmers meet at the bottom and trade horses before attempting the ascent on the other side.—DeRuyter Gleaner.
Brother Ames is a gentleman who never prevaricates, and for this reason we assume the little squib quoted above is correct. In fact we know it to be so, for we happened to be near one of these pitch-holes and looking down some twenty feet saw the transfer made.
A writer in the New York Mail and Express notes with regret that "pie is vanishing from our national life."—Genoa Tribune.
Good heavens! What would life be without pie? The thought is appalling! It cannot be! It must not be! These delicious samples of pastry are too toothsome to be discarded at the whim of some crotchety old dyspeptic. We have pastry cooks in Cortland that can put a pie together which will make a man think of his mother and of his grandmother, who used to prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners fit for a king. And the tail end was always pie.
Messenger correspondents are cordially invited to call whenever they visit the county seat. Some of the most faithful news-senders are personally unknown to the publisher. Come in, get acquainted, make yourselves at home at the establishment you do so much benefit.—Ontario Repository-Messenger.
The Repository-Messenger's suggestion is a good one, and we extend the same cordial invitation to all correspondents for the Democrat. This paper has more than forty assistants in the several towns and hamlets in this and adjoining counties, and with no intention to create a bump of vanity we candidly admit that they are all gifted, most of them handsome, all possessing excellent reportorial ability, and we hope events will so shape themselves that we can meet them in a group at a correspondents' picnic the approaching summer.
If the plans of certain English capitalists do not miscarry it will be possible ere long for the economical parent to purchase a suit of clothes which may be passed along among his sons for a fifth century. Mills are now being built in England for the manufacture of this kind of long-wearing material, which can be turned out in almost any color wanted.—Chicago Chronicle.
Think of getting a suit of clothes that will last for twenty years; that will cost only a third more than a suit now, and that will be absolutely waterproof without appearing to be so. Instead of singing ''Papa's Pants Will Soon Fit Johnnie,'' the refrain will run ''Johnnie Soon Will Wear Pa's Pants,'' for when Pa once begins to wear these extremely useful articles before Johnnie has got out of dresses, he may continue to wear them for the next twenty years, and by that time Johnnie will have grown up to them.
It is a little early to talk about it, but Cape Vincent ought to celebrate the first Fourth of July in the 20th century. A good old-fashioned celebration would be a good thing for this village.—Cape Vincent Eagle.
If there is any one thing for which the Eagle is noted, it is taking time by the forelock. Here's five cents towards a few sky rockets, brother editor.
"Early to bed and early to rise," does very well for sick folks and guys, but it makes a man miss all the fun till he dies and joins the stiffs that are gone to the skies. Go to bed when you please and lie at your ease, you'll die just the same of some Latin disease.—Binghamton Democrat.
George Lawyer seems to be having a bad spell just now. Get up in the morning, George, and hear the robins sing.
The reading of secular notices from the pulpit is a jar to the services and is exceedingly objectionable to a large number of people. These folks rightly feel that secular matter should be kept as far removed from the Sabbath service as possible. And they are perfectly justified in taking that position. It is a bit disturbing when a minister announces that a fair will be held on such a day, or that a strawberry social has been arranged for a certain evening. All our churches cannot abolish pulpit announcements too soon; many of them have done so already. They have never had a place there; they are not in keeping with the dignity of the pulpit.—Edward Bok.
The above is respectfully referred to the several Cortland clergymen.
A man left his umbrella in a stand in a hotel recently with a card bearing the following inscription attached to it: "This umbrella belongs to a man who can deal a blow of 250 pounds weight. I shall be back in ten minutes.'' On returning to seek his property he found in its place a card thus inscribed: "This card was left here by a man who can run twelve miles an hour. I shall not be back."—Norwich Sun.
What shall it profit a man if he has mighty muscles and can't run?
A SPLENDID HOST.
LACKAWANNA RAILROAD OFFICIALS TO NEWSPAPER MEN.
Elegant Special Train to Buffalo, at Record Breaking Speed—Every Minute Provided for While There—Every Want Met in Advance— Trip Around the Pan-American Buildings.
"Fine," "Splendid," "Grand," "Best time I ever had," and dozens of other complimentary expressions were constantly on the lips of the newspaper men from along the entire line of the Lackawanna railroad, who were guests of the railroad company on the excursion to Buffalo last Friday and Saturday.
One hundred and seventy-four guests enjoyed the trip, representing as many newspapers. Cortland county was represented by E. D Blodgett of the Standard; Ed. L. Adams, Marathon Independent; C. H. Danes, Homer Republican and F. C. Parsons of the Democrat.
The excursion was in every sense of the word ''personally conducted'' and thanks to General Passenger Agent T. W. Lee and his many assistants, prominent among whom were W. B. Hunter, advertising and industrial agent; E. J. Quackenbush, district passenger agent of Syracuse; F. P. Fox. district passenger agent, Buffalo; and Frank A. Gross, city ticket agent, Buffalo, the trip from start to finish was one continual round of pleasure.
The present management of the Lackawanna railroad has bent every effort to better all conditions and service of the road; indeed has taken the lead in many radical departures from old customs. All departments combined last week to outdo previous efforts of their own and other railroads.
The party was made up of men from New York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania and for their accommodation a train of four of the finest Pullman sleeping cars was provided. Guests from the Utica and this division met District Passenger Agent E. J. Quackenbush of Syracuse in Binghamton and there boarded the special at 2:25 last Friday afternoon. It was exactly on time and at Mount Morris was ahead of the schedule by several minutes and waited for Old Time to catch up.
The trip through from New York to Buffalo was made in faster time than the fastest regular train of the Lackawanna railroad. Leaving Hoboken, the train ran through to Scranton in 3 hours and 21 minutes. Leaving Scranton at 1:10 p. m., the train arrived at Buffalo exactly at 6:54. This made the time for the trip, including all stops, 9 hours and 5 minutes.
Taking out the time for the stops at Dover, Washington, Stroudsburg, Binghamton, Owego, Elmira, Bath and Mount Morris, a total of 18 minutes, the exact running time for the 410 miles was 8 hours and 41 minutes.
The last 50 miles from Linwood were made in 44 minutes, the train for a short distance of the 50 miles reaching the speed of 69.8 miles per hour.
The trip gave an opportunity to view the wonderful improvements made by the Lackawanna railroad during the last twelve months. In that period the road has been practically rebuilt. Sixty-two bridges have been constructed between New York and Buffalo. Some idea of these improvements may be gained from the following figures: There was spent for repair of roadway during the year 1900, $1,079,311 and the grand total for improvements of the road during the year 1900 was $2,775.826.
Much more work has been arranged for during the coming year. At Scranton the party saw the first of eighty-six new passenger and freight locomotives, which will be delivered during the coming year. Last year there were delivered to the road eighty-two new passenger and freight locomotives.
Arrival in Buffalo, the party went to the Hotel Broezel, where they were welcomed by Mayor Deihl and treated to a fine dinner. Later they were given a smoker at Ellicott club by the Buffalo Press club and a clever vaudeville entertainment was given by the Pan-American Midway concessionaries.
The entertainment was very nicely described as follows in the Buffalo Evening News of Saturday: It will not all be described in detail when the married editors return to their wives. There was a bit of singing by Carmen and Armian, a trifle of dancing by Stellita and Garberdon, another kind of dancing by LaBelle Rosa, some magic by the midget Major Pumebeck, sword dancing and sword fighting by a troop of Cingalese who put on a marvelous war dance, and demonstration of mental telegraphy by two mind-readers. The entertainment ended with four rounds of boxing by two local boxers. At the close A. O. Bunnell made a speech, thanking the Lackawanna and the Press club for their hospitality.
On Saturday morning the visitors went to the exposition grounds by trolley and inspected the buildings. Luncheon was served in the service building at 1 o'clock, the press representatives making a tour of the city, inspecting the city and county hall, the federal building, the Seventy-fourth regiment armory, the power plant of the street railroad and other points of interest.
One party went to Niagara Falls in the afternoon to view the ice bridge.
As to the Pan-American grounds, suffice it to say, for this week, that they are almost in a state of completion so far as buildings are concerned. The ground is still covered with snow but with the rapidly moderating weather it will soon be in shape for the finishing touches. Judge King, chief of guides for the exposition, stated that there are at present over 5,000 workmen on the grounds and that this number will be greatly increased. In future issues we will give in detail more about the exposition as learned from personal observation.
At 6:15 Saturday evening the newspaper men and many railroad officials were guests of the Pan-American at a dinner at the Genesee which occupied two hours in the eating. Extempore remarks were made by officials of the exposition and by many of the guests. The latter invariably rose to compliment the Lackawanna railroad or some official connected with it and all had been included before the repast was finished.
Then a theatre party was made up to fill in the time till the departure of the special train at 10 o'clock Saturday night. Lots were drawn for berths on Friday night, but for the return trip. District Passenger Agent Quackenbush of Syracuse arranged that those leaving the train between Buffalo and Binghamton and those for the Utica and Syracuse divisions should be in the rear sleeper which was cut off at Binghamton, thus allowing uninterrupted repose till 5 a. m. instead of having to sit about the depot for two hours.
And this little, thoughtful move was only one of many. There was nothing left undone that could in any way lend pleasant to one or more of the party.
The trip was beneficial, also in the way of bringing together newspaper men from three states who thus had an opportunity to form an acquaintance and "talk shop'' to their heart's content.
To the writer that was a very pleasant part of the trip and we would be pleased to see consummated the idea, suggested on the train by Editor Ed. L. Adams, of the formation of a Lackawanna Editorial association.
"Are you a Buffalo?"
CINCINNATUS, N. Y.
(The Democrat is represented in Cincinnatus and vicinity by Mr. H. C. Higgins, dealer in harness, horse furnishings and bicycles, who will be pleased to do business for us.)
Early History of Cincinnatus—Farm Sold at Mortgage Foreclosure—Personals—News Briefs—Church Notes.
Cincinnatus, March 21.—Central New York presents few, if any, valleys which possess greater beauty in wild, picturesque scenery than that of the Otselic. It exhibits all the requirements of a varied and sublime spectacle, with its fertile flats and forest-fringed hills presenting all the varied colors of nature. Here in this valley is situated the village of Cincinnatus, and through it the beautiful stream from which the valley derived its name passes with murmuring music on its journey, adding a charm of romance to the scene. As we see to-day the positive proof of Cincinnatus' prosperity, it is hard to realize that within a hundred years a vast wilderness has vanished before the hand of civilization. The log cabin of the settler and the little clearings have given place to well cultivated farms bedecked with the tranquil abode of the husbandman, and carriage wheels and the locomotive rapidly roll over the ground where were seen only the Indian trail. Then, too, it is hard for the young of to-day to realize all the years of toil and privation endured by the pioneers who went forth armed with the conquering axe, impressed with a determined will and inspired with a devotional feeling for home and country.
What was known as the Military tract was set aside by the New York legislature of 1872 as bounty lands to be given to soldiers of the revolution. The tract contained 1,680,000 acres and included within its boundaries the counties of Cayuga, Tompkins, Cortland, Onondaga, Seneca and portions of Oswego and Wayne. In accordance with an act of the legislature of 1789 this tract was surveyed by General Simeon Dewitt, Moses Dewitt and Abram Hardenburg, who laid out the whole tract into twenty-six townships, each containing one hundred lots of 600 acres each. Cincinnatus was one of the original towns and like many of them, embraced a number of townships. It contained Cincinnatus, Marathon, Freetown and Willet, an area of 64,000 acres. It was organized April 21, 1804, and retained its original limits until April 21, 1818, when it was reduced to its present size by the erection of the towns named.
The settlement of Cincinnatus commenced in 1795. The inducements were not perhaps as flattering as in some of the other localities, as the lands were not regarded as being of the most productive character. In this respect, however, great changes have resulted from the labor of industrious agriculturists, who are reaping the rich rewards that spring from the active pursuits of life. The early pioneers located in the dense forests, erected their rude, unadorned cabins and were often subjected to great inconvenience and suffering for the want of necessary articles of husbandry, and also those of subsistence. Previous to 1798, when a grist-mill was erected at Homer, the settlers were in the habit of going to Chenango Forks, Ludlowville or Manlius Square, with drays loaded with wheat and corn, drawn by oxen, to get their grinding done. These drays are described as made from the crotches of trees, having a few boards or cross pieces attached to them by means of pins. They were about eight feet in length and from eight to ten bushels were said to make a load. In making the journey to Manlius Square, a distance of nearly forty miles, the traveler was compelled to ford streams and expose himself to cold and storms by day and night, being obliged to camp out two or three nights during the journey to and from the mill. There were no roads and they traveled by marked trees, whiling away the dull hours by whistling, singing or in telling some legendary tale which may have been preserved for years by Indians tradition. At night beside the camp fire, built to frighten away prowling wolves and panthers, the pioneers would find a resting place, with the bags for pillows and an Indian blanket for covering, and await the return of day to resume their journey.
The settlement of Cincinnatus began under the auspices of John Kingman, Thadeus Rockwell (whose portrait will soon appear in the Democrat), Zurial Raymond, Dr. John McWorter, Ezra Rockwell and Samuel Vining. Of these pioneers we shall speak next week, as well as of several instances of those early days.
[News Briefs and Church Items follow on page 8—CC ed.]
HERE AND THERE.
It is something of a relief to walk on bare sidewalks once more.
Spring began at exactly forty-two minutes past 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Palmer & Co. have sold their store in Solon known as "My Cash Store," to Frank L. Smith, lately of McGrawville. Possession will be given April 2.
"A Trip to Tramptown'' tomorrow night, and ''Missouri Girl'' next Tuesday night, are two very funny attractions next on the boards at the Opera house.
The last entertainment of the Normal [School] lecture course will be held next Tuesday evening. It will be given by the Hungarian orchestra, and will be one of the best in the entire series.
Daniel Donnegan was on Tuesday sentenced to three months in jail for public intoxication, and Ed. Crosier was sent to the same institution for thirty days for assaulting Wm. Champlain.
The common council Tuesday evening voted to confirm the assessment roll for the paving of Groton ave. as it appears on the third page of this issue, and fixed May 1 as the time limit in which said assessments can be paid.
A grand concert will be given in Homer-ave. M. E. church on Wednesday evening, March 27, under the auspices of Prof. L. J. Higgins Sunday school class. A small admission will be charged, the proceeds to go towards swelling the Easter Missionary collection.
Mr. S. J. Parmiter, proprietor of the general repair shop at No. 22 Railroad-st., has just returned from New York with a large line of new goods. He has installed a motor to drive his machines and will do all work promptly. Electric wiring and key work a specialty. Phone No. 355.
The horse which was rescued from the railroad bridge some time ago, having been driven down the track, and whose driver disappeared, it is now learned belonged to Arthur O'Donnell, who lives about five miles northeast of Cortland. O'Donnell has not as yet claimed the animal.
The Cortland Normal [School] city government is receiving considerable attention from all over the state. In Monday's edition of the New York World, accompanying a well-written article, descriptive of the system, appeared a portrait of Mayor Fred J. Bierce and two lady members of the city court.
One in this locality who keeps a record of the weather, says that the month of February, 1901, ranks among the coldest we have had in 47 years. He says "while we have had many with much lower temperature, we can find none of more steady cold without a thaw."
Coach Courtney denies that he is in any way changing the Cornell stroke this year. He is endeavoring only to perfect the old stroke and to weed out imperfections that crept in last season while the ''old man'' was sick and the crews in the hands of the inexperienced. When the Cornell eight pulls out of the inlet for the Memorial Day Regatta, in which the Pennsylvania and Columbia crews will compete against the Ithacans, spectators will have an opportunity to judge for themselves whether or not Coach Courtney's statement of the case is correct. Freddie Colson, the most famous coxswain Cornell ever developed, and who is now assistant coach, reiterates Courtney's statement and says Cornell will stick by her old stroke.
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