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| Li Hung Chang. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, July 11, 1901.
TO RESIST THE RUSSIANS
Chinese Soldiers and Bandits at Manchuria Get Together.
PEKIN, July 11.—It is reported that the Russians are rapidly completing the Manchurian railway, and that they will employ 50,000 troops for the defense of the line.
Li Hung Chang proposed to withdraw all the Chinese troops from Manchuria with the object of avoiding all chances of a collision with the Russians. If this is done Russian troops will be needed to preserve order in the province, as only Chinese policemen will be employed there according to the definition now given to the Russo-Chinese agreement regarding Manchuria.
It is stated that the Chinese soldiers have combined with bandits to plunder the people and resist the Russians. It appears that no control is exercised over the Chinese soldiery there.
Chinese Troops Meet Defeat.
PEKIN, July 11.—Two thousand mounted Chinese Mohammedan rebels met and defeated 8,000 imperial troops at Poyeh, near Pao Ting-Fu, capturing all their arms and ammunition. Li Hung Chang has ordered 1,000 of Governor Yuan Shi Kai's foreign-drilled soldiers to proceed against them.
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| Maximo Gomez. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Why Gomez Is Here.
General Gomez, who came up from Cuba a week or so ago, has dispelled the mystery of his presence in the United States, though why there should have been any mystery attached to the visit of the battered old patriot, who has now sheathed his sword and is a private and peaceful citizen of the island, no one can quite understand. After much importuning by the metropolitan newspaper reporters General Gomez issued a statement, saying: "The sole object of my visit to this city has been my great desire to embrace my old true and loyal friend, Mr. Tomas Estrada Palma, whom I have not been able to see since peace was re-established and, of course, to pay a visit to President McKinley, to whom we Cubans owe so much."
The general declares that, as the Cubans are all anxious to establish self government, they are all working toward this end. Although this is hardly an exact statement of fact, it is a pardonable exaggeration coming from a leader whose struggle for independence has lasted 20 years and who can hardly be blamed for intimating that annexationists are not Cubans as he understands the word.
In concluding his statement General Gomez indulges in a fine bit of Iberian eloquence and distributes compliments broadcast. He adroitly says: "On again setting foot in this free land I feel happy, for in every American I see a friend who, having shed his blood side by side with us for Cuba's freedom, has earned our eternal gratitude and established the mutual obligation between the two people to maintain the peace and the independence of the island of Cuba." While the language is somewhat extravagant and takes for granted some things which may not be regarded as wholly settled, the enthusiasm of the old hero as he sees the near approach of the "Cuba libre" for the accomplishment of which the better part of his life has been given is natural and wholly commendable.
NEW INSURANCE COMPANY.
May do Business in Cortland County on Co-operative Plan.
ALBANY, July 11.—A certificate has been filed with the secretary of state announcing that the Chenango County Patrons' Fire Relief association has enlarged its field of business operations so as hereafter to include in its territory the counties of Madison, Cortland, Broome and Otsego.
Chance for the Dog Catcher.
A message was telephoned to The STANDARD office this afternoon requesting us to recommend that the dog catcher go up on Maple-ave., where dogs without collars are said to be thicker than toads after a thunder shower. A tagless dog was also discovered seated in front of the post office looking up Tompkins-st. as though waiting for the dog catcher to come from his home and gather him in. The collarless dogs which went into innocuous desuetude on Monday are beginning to get bold and come out of their retreats seeing that no harm comes to them.
INSURANCE RATES
TO BE RAISED VERY SOON IN CITY OF CORTLAND.
Underwriters Claim It is by Reason of Defective Fire Alarm System—Local Agents do Not Believe It, but Claim It is simply Because the Rates War is Ended and a Higher Price Can be Secured.
The following recommendations have been sent out by the state board of underwriters of fire insurance to the local insurance agents in regard to the fire alarm system and fire department of Cortland, according to an inspection of Oct. 13, 1893, and a re-inspection of May 27, 1901:
1. The present defective fire alarm iron wiring should be replaced by first-class copper wiring. The wire should also be either placed underground, or elevated above the tops of poles by extension arms, so as to insure safety and prevent contact with other wiring. Divide the present single circuit of fire-alarm wire, and make at least three circuits; introduce lightning arrestors and fuses as a precaution against damage by lightning and electric light currents.
2. The present central fire department building on Main-st. should be remodeled, so as to secure suitable quarters for four horses, and accommodation for the firemen. This station and apparatus is located in the business-section, and should be maintained in first-class condition.
3. One combination chemical and hose wagon, with double 25-gallon capacity cylinders, also carrying 800 feet of hose, should be obtained, and located at the central fire station; also permanently employed driver and two horses.
4. An ordinance should be adopted, establishing fire limits, to include the entire business section, and regulating building construction; also regulating the sale and storage of oils and combustibles.
Insurance inspectors, representing several of the largest fire insurance companies, are now at work revising the rates of insurance for Cortland, and it is the general belief of the local agents that the rates will go up to where they were in 1895, before the rates war was begun. The rating of 1895 was the last one issued for Cortland, although several revisions of these rates have been made. In the city there are over 800 different rates, varying from risks that are very good to those that are considered very poor. For instance the different rates for the different blocks range from $6 on each $1,000 to $10 on each $1,000, for one year.
The former rates of $6 on each $1,000 for three years on dwelling houses, that had been reduced in the last two or three years to $5 on the same amount for the same time, will most likely be resumed, and the rates on blocks will be raised in proportion to this. The reason for the increase is given by the local insurance writers as being that the rates were so low that the companies were not making anything out of their business and that the companies had combined to raise the rates of insurance to where there would be some profits for them in the enterprise.
In regard to the matter of the fire department, the local agents are mostly of the opinion that it has nothing to do with the increase of rates that is bound to come. The large fish have swallowed up the small ones during the rates war, and now the companies are ready to do business at the same rates they had before the war was started. The most of the local agents are of the opinion, however, that the fire alarm system should be overhauled and the wires placed where they will not come in contact with high current wires, because of the danger to the lives of those who try to send in alarms.
One of the agents suggested that the alarm system might be done away with entirely, and that the new telephone system be used in its place. He contended that the new telephone company had telephones in all parts of the city and that the alarms might be sent to the engine house over this line. It might puzzle the one sending in the alarm in the excitement that generally accompanies such occasions to tell the number that the superintendent ought to ring to locate the fire and there would probably be other objections to such a system, all of which, however, might be overcome.
The insurance men are looking for the new rates in from one to two months. The inspectors, they say, do not tell them what is going to happen, but that the rates are to be raised materially on account of the rates war being ended is assured.
GRASPED A LIVE WIRE.
Fred Snyder Climbed a Tree and Grounded the Wire.
Fred Snyder, aged 8 years, who lives with his mother Mrs. Frederika Snyder in the Squires block, got hold of a live electric light wire, leading into the hotel today having climbed up into a small butternut tree back of the Messenger House. His cries of pain brought Michael Kelley, porter at the Messenger House, to his assistance at once, and the lad was pulled off the wires. His hands were badly blistered and he says that it made him shiver all over, and without doubt it did. A current of 2,000 volts was going over the main electric light wire, but this was reduced by a transformer to 104 volts on the wire leading into the Messenger House which the lad had grasped. But because the tree was wet forming a perfect conductor and the boy was in the tree, thus grounding the wire, he made a connection through the tree and the ground with the main line and consequently was receiving the full current of 2,000 volts through the ground, and this was pretty hot for him. In fact, as Mr. Bugler of the Traction company said, it was like the bite of a mosquito in the hand and the kick of a mule in the back. But except the blisters he is none the worse off for his experience.
SHIRTWAIST NO FAD
Because not Frivolous Boys but Older Men are Ordering Them.
Lawrence Dillon, the custom shirt-maker in the Sugerman building, was inquired of as to what he had to say about masculine shirtwaists, and replied, that he believed in there. This is not because he makes them for he had just as soon make a negligee shirt for a man as a shirtwaist, but because he has worn them and finds them comfortable. Last year he made nearly all negligee shirts, but this year the percentage is quite reversed. Now every one who comes to him wants a shirtwaist rather than a negligee shirt. He did not wear one himself at first, but continued his negligee till he was led to put on one he had made for his brother. He found this so good he has worn no other style since. He is assured that the shirtwaist craze is no fad because the demand does not come from the young men who are given to fads, but from the older men who dress simply for comfort. Mr. Dillon concluded by saying that the shirtwaist, in his opinion, is here to stay.
A HANDSOME DEMI-COACH.
Built Under Special Order for Use Here in Cortland.
Mr. R. H. Beard of the firm of Beard & Peck has just received a handsome demi-coach from the James Gould Co., of Albany, which he will use as a family carriage for funeral purposes. The coach was built for Mr. Beard by the company under his special order and supervision and is certainly one of the best coaches that was ever brought into Cortland. It is elegantly upholstered in drab, with tufted satin roof and satin quarters to match. The bevel plate glass windows are curtained with silk which also matches the other inside decorations. Outside the coach is equally well decorated and handsomely built. It is provided with a rubber head spring, rubber tires, spring washer axles and other late improvements to reduce noise to a minimum. The body is black with dark blue panels and stripes of the same color and very narrow stripes of gold. A patent leather dashboard distinguishes it from the ordinary hack and gives to it the appearance of a private carriage. This would make a swell turnout for a wedding party.
Though this coach is Mr. Beard's personal property and is not owned by the firm of Beard & Peck, it will be used at the funerals at which this firm officiates.
BALL SEASON IS OVER
So Far As Cortland is Concerned—Team Transferred to Waverly, N. Y.
President John H. Farrell of the New York State league is in Cortland today, preparing to transfer the Cortland team to Waverly. All the men will go to Waverly with the exception of Gannon and Cooper who have been released. The men will be tried out in Waverly with the local players there and the team will be selected. The game this afternoon with Schenectady was postponed on account of rain, thus the last game of professional ball that is liable to be played in this city for some time has been witnessed.
BREVITIES.
—There will be a meeting of Canton Cortland this evening at 8 o'clock.
—New display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Clothing, page 8; W. J. Perkins, Ice cream Soda, page 6,
—The choir of Grace Episcopal church will rehearse tonight at 8 o'clock. Every member is especially requested to be present.
—The annual meeting of the Woman's Home Missionary society of the First M. E. church will be held at the home of Mrs. C. O. Smith, 61 Groton-ave., tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. A full attendance is earnestly requested.
—Five vacation schools have this year been opened In Syracuse this summer and more than 1,300 children are enrolled. The capacity of these schools has been reached and all further applicants have to put their names on a waiting list.
—A flock of guinea hens is said to be the surest and most economical means of ridding the farm of the potato bug pest. Farmers who have given this noisy little fowl the right of way on the farm have been enabled to say goodby to Paris green.—Ex.
—The time has about expired which Ryan & Hall had allotted them in which to move their building off the lot needed by the Lackawanna railroad for a new station. Nothing has yet been done by them, though they have several places in view for the location of their store and building. They expect to come to a decision about the matter next week and take action at once to comply with the railroad company's request.
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