SCHOOL FACTS, CONGER ARRIVES HOME, SAUTELLE CIRCUS, NEW ELECTRICIAN, AND TEMPERATURE IN 1888

 

Ferdinand E. Smith.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, April 26, 1901.

FACTS AS TO OUR SCHOOLS.

A PLAIN AND FULL STATEMENT OF THE SITUATION.

Superintendent Smith Shows Why and for What Purposes Additional School Facilities are Required.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   SIR—I understand that the impression has gone out among our citizens that the Board of Education of the City of Cortland are determined [period usage—CC ed.] without reason to build an extension to the Central school. I wish to make a statement in regard to this matter.

   The following are the facts that have been before the Board of Education for the past two years for consideration, and particularly within the past year. There are registered in the Central school at the present time 522 pupils, with an average daily attendance of over 500 pupils. The reasonable capacity of this building is 400 pupils, so that we have crowded into the building 122 pupils more than ought to be accommodated there with the facilities which we have at present. Forty pupils are as many as any teacher ought to be required to teach. There are enough pupils in this building to fill three other rooms, requiring three more teachers. Four years ago we had only five grades in our ward schools. We have been holding the pupils back because of the lack of room at the Central school until now we have the Sixth grade in all the ward schools, and the Seventh grade in the Schermerhorn-st. school. It will be necessary next September to receive into the primary departments of these ward schools from twenty-five to thirty pupils at each of our buildings, or from seventy-five to ninety additional pupils in the ward schools. To do this, the sixth grades to the number of from sixty to seventy-five pupils, must be promoted from these ward schools to some other central place. As the Central school is already more than full, the Board of Education next September must have rooms built for them, or rent at least two rooms for the pupils promoted from these three ward schools.

   Now we have in our Academic department at the Central school 100 pupils. We have in the Ninth grade pupils to the number of more than fifty who are taking part Academic and part grade subjects. In the Eighth grade there are over thirty pupils. Now these pupils are all entitled to be Academics during the next school year if they pass their examinations. Allowing for those who fail and those who drop out, our Academic department will number before the close of the next school year at least from 175 to 200 pupils. Our utmost capacity in this department is 100, and these seventy-five extra academic pupils at least must be provided for elsewhere than at the Central school, if an extension is not built. It is necessary to receive into the primary room at the Central school from thirty to thirty-five additional primary pupils. We only graduate from our Academic department this year ten pupils, so that on the 1st of September, as nearly as I can estimate, there will be in the city of Cortland about two hundred pupils who will not be reasonably provided for at that time; and there are at least one hundred fifty pupils who will be deprived of seats in the public schools if accommodations are not provided. Allowing that the Normal school could take our seventy-five academics, we still should have to rent rooms for the pupils promoted from the ward schools.

   In additional to this, the Board of Education have been exceedingly anxious to establish kindergartens at the Pomeroy and Owego-st. schools. It is thought that this would be a very great benefit in these localities of our city, and that they are just as much entitled to such privileges as the people residing in the northern and central parts of the city.

   There are registered in the State Normal school in the primary and intermediate departments about four hundred fifty pupils. There are registered in the State Normal and Training class department and its Academic department seventy boys and 124 girls from the city of Cortland. This makes a total registration in all departments of the State Normal school of about six hundred fifty pupils from the City of Cortland. The total registration in the Normal department of this school is a little less than six hundred pupils, so that the City of Cortland furnished over one third of the total registration in this department of said school.

   Now the question is, can the state be prevailed upon to take into the Normal school at least one hundred and fifty pupils from our public schools, increasing the registration from this city to about eight hundred and leaving the city to care for only about nine hundred fifty or one thousand pupils? Mind you, this does not take into account the increased attendance which it is now indicated will be realized during the next school year. I have admitted into the public schools of the city within the past ten days over twenty pupils who have moved into the city since the first of April. Now the prospective registration of school children of the city, it is very evident, will increase very materially from the present year. The Board of Education are charged by law with the duty and responsibility of providing adequate and suitable school accommodations for all the pupils residing within the City of Cortland. They have had this matter under consideration, and have looked at it from every side, and have not been able to see how they could provide for the school children of the city next year unless they build an addition to the Central school. The state holds the Board of Education responsible in these matters, and the public moneys of the state can be withheld from the city of Cortland if the Board of Education do not perform their duties. The board personally represent interests that pay at least one-tenth of the taxes of the city. Now these men do not pass resolutions merely for the sake of building a school building and taxing themselves for the same. They have simply had these facts forced upon them. They are the persons selected by the city of Cortland to look after these matters, and to place before the people what is needed in the way of educational facilities. They have said that these additional school facilities are demanded, and I submit the above facts as those which they have had to consider in formulating their plans and their policy.

   Second—I understand further the impression has gone abroad that the committees selected as the result of a resolution passed by the Board of Education are criticized as being composed of men who would not get from the state further school accommodations if they could, simply because they wish to build. The mayor has said that he would call a special meeting of the common council and ask them to designate official representatives of the city to see the state superintendent and lay before him the claims of the city for increased accommodations at the State Normal. To this proposition I heartily assent, and I am sure that if the Board of Education were together and were consulted upon the proposition they too would be more than willing that this matter should be submitted to the state in behalf of the city by our best talent.

   There seem to be three classes of people in the city of Cortland as to this school question. One class honestly believe that the city is being defrauded by the state's not giving to it the Academic school accommodations which, it is claimed, the state has agreed to furnish. Then there is a much larger class, and the great bulk probably of our population, who are not satisfied from the facts at hand as to whether or not we are receiving all the rights and equities which we are entitled to at the State Normal school, and who would welcome an investigation of this matter and a final settlement. There is a third class who would wish to settle upon the State Normal school all of the burdens of educating our children, regardless of the rights and equities in the matter.

   Now all that the Board of Education asks is that there be determined in some way the amount of increased facilities which can be had at the State Normal school, if any. This matter being settled, their duty is then clear and they know how to proceed. And with this matter settled, I have faith that our citizens and taxpayers will cheerfully vote to the Board of Education any reasonable school facilities which they may ask. I have prepared a full statement as to probable cost and expense, which I can give at some future time if desired. Very truly yours,

   F. E. SMITH, Supt., Cortland, N. Y., April 25, 1901.

 

Edwin Hurd Conger.

CONGER ARRIVES HOME.

Returned Minister Says China Can Pay $300,000,000.

BUT WOULD HAVE TO ECONOMIZE.

Stories of Brutality, He Says, Have Been Greatly Exaggerated—Is Not Candidate For Governor of Iowa But Would Accept Nomination if Tendered.

   SAN FRANCISCO, April 26.—Edwin H. Conger, United States minister to China, accompanied by his wife, daughter and Miss Pierce, arrived from China yesterday afternoon on the steamer Nippon Muru. Mr. Conger's arrival was awaited with considerable interest, not only on account of his connection with events in China, but from a political standpoint. There was a great desire to know what position he would assume with regard to the coming gubernatorial nomination in Iowa. To a representative of the press Mr. Conger, when asked if he cared to make any expression on the subject, said:

   "I do not wish to make any public declaration at this time. I have not yet had time to read the correspondence which has met me here. So far as I am at present advised, I see no reason to change my position as expressed about two months ago before I left China. I received two telegrams from the United States. One asked me if I were a candidate for governor. I answered, 'I am not.' The other telegram asked if I would accept the nomination if tendered me. I replied that I would accept if the nomination came to me, but that I was in no sense a candidate. My present intention and desire is to return to China and finish my work."

   Touching events in China Mr. Conger turned interviewer and was particularly anxious to know what had been done by the powers in the matter of indemnity. He was asked for his opinion as to the amount of indemnity China could pay. "Three hundred million dollars," he replied, accompanying his answer by the statement that it would be necessary for the government to practice economy. The time of payment, too, should extend over a long term of years.

   Concerning events in China, Mr. Conger said there was nothing new to be said in that direction, as all that happened had been told fully, together with many things that never occurred. Tales of brutality had, he thought, been exaggerated. Of course there were cases of outrages by individual soldiers that were not sanctioned by officers. These were but incidents of war which found some palliation in the fact that the Chinese had killed 40,000 native Christians and 100 Europeans. Asked in regard to his future plans, Minister Conger said he would remain in this city until Saturday morning, when he would leave for his home in Des Moines, Ia. At the expiration of his 60 days' leave of absence he intended to return to China. He would go back sooner if anything important should come up.

 

Aguinaldo's Successor.

   MANILA, April 26.—It is reported that the rebel General Cailles ordered eight American prisoners to be shot April 21, the same day on which he condemned to death Colonel Sencio, one of his staff officers, and Senor de la Rosa, a wealthy native who had refused to contribute to the insurgent war fund. Sancio escaped. The others were tortured and then butchered. Cailles, who is now lurking in the mountains of Tayabas province, Luzon,  proclaims himself dictator and the successor of Aguinaldo, and announces his intention to continue a war of extermination.

 

Sautelle Circus Wagon with clowns in parade.

THE FIRST CIRCUS.

Sig Sautelle Will Visit Cortland on Saturday, May 11.

   Cortland is to be favored with an early visit from Sig Sautelle's great big 25 cent shows this season, and an they constitute the first and perhaps the only large circus that will come to this city this year; two large audiences are assured their well known proprietor. Soon store windows, billboards and all dead walls in every part of the city will present a kaleidoscopic appearance, filled and covered as they will be with the brightly colored lithographs and posters heralding the coming of this vast amusement institution on Saturday, May 11. And right here it can be stated in all truth that Mr. Sautelle enjoys the distinction attained by few showman—that of presenting everything exactly as advertised. It is his commendable opinion that honest advertising goes hand in hand with an honest show, and it is the belief which has ever prompted him to follow the methods necessary to the continued success of any business. Superlative and gross exaggeration has never figured in his advertising as he thinks such a plan is even less inspiring than a stage snow storm. Honesty in circus advertising is originality, and all of "Sig's" promises bear the imprint of the honesty of his purpose. No one should miss attending his shows.

 

A NEW ELECTRICIAN

To Have Charge of the Lines of Traction and Electric Companies.

   Hugh Beugler, who has been the chief electrician of the Brush-Swan Electric Light Co. at Ithaca, has resigned his position to come to Cortland next Wednesday where he will assume charge of all the line work of the Traction and Electric companies. The Ithaca Journal says:

   Mr. Beugler has been connected with the Ithaca company for the past five years. He has directed all of the wiring and has had general charge of the dynamos and apparatus. He has gained the reputation of being one of the best and most practical electricians in this part of the state. He has also been active in fighting fires and at the Clinton House fire he displayed remarkable bravery and intrepidity.

   Mr. Beugler will leave the Brush-Swan Co. on Tuesday night. He will go at once to Cortland to assume his new position.

   Some matters are progressing toward the reorganization of the new company. It is expected that this will be accomplished early next week, and it now seems likely that Mr. Frank Battles of Philadelphia will be elected president and Attorney Edwin Duffey of Cortland secretary and treasurer, and that Mr. Duffey will in essence be the manager of the company, though there will be no specific office of manager created.

 

Dr. Lydia Strowbridge.

The Temperature in 1888.

   Several answers have come to us in response to the inquiry from one of our subscribers for the temperature of the last week in April, 1888. The most definite is from the record in the diary of the late Robert Purvis and is furnished by Mrs. Purvis. This gives the following facts: April 22, 31 degrees F.; April 23, hard freeze; April 24, hard freeze and some flakes of snow; April 25, clear and cool; April 26, warmest 73 degrees; April 27, warmest 82 degrees; April 29, warmest 82 degrees.

   Dr. L. A. Strowbridge's record corresponds entirely with this in its general remarks on the weather, though the exact degrees are not given. We also have some other answers which substantiate the same report. We are thankful to our friends for responding to the requests for statistics and are sure that the subscriber who asked the question is too.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A special meeting of Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co., will be held this evening at the parlors.

   —The funeral of the late Col. Alfred Greene will be held at the residence, 12 Church-st., on Monday morning at 10:30 o'clock.

   —"The Man in the Case" is the name of the play to be given by the Fortnightly club to-night at 8 o'clock at the Vesta lodge rooms for the benefit of the club members and their invited guests.

   —The Y. M. C. A. basket ball team was defeated at Watertown last night by a score of 19 and 8. Over 700 people saw the game. The Watertown team now claims the championship of central and northern New York.

   —The first rehearsal of the school children for the chorus for the music festival in June occurred in Taylor hall yesterday afternoon under the direction of Mr. Bowen. Over 325 were present and the indications are that this chorus singing will be one of the strong features of the festival concerts.

   —New display advertisements today are—S. Simmons, Clothing sale, page 8; F. S. Bliven, Bicycles, page 4; Hudson Crockery Co., Lamps, page 7; W. J. Perkins,  Disinfectants, etc., page 4; C. F. Thompson, Strawberries, etc., page 5; Palmer & Co., Prices for Saturday, page4; J. W. Cudworth, Optician, page 6.