 |
| Brooklyn Bridge. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Sept. 27, 1901.
BRIDGE IN DANGER.
THE FAMOUS BROOKLYN BRIDGE IS TOO HEAVILY LOADED.
So Says Report of Experts Employed by District Attorney—Made $40,000 at the Stock Exchange Through an Error—Sad Death of Little Girl—Sugar Company's Stock Increased to $90,000,000.
New York. Sept. 24.—That the celebrated Brooklyn bridge, which has been the admiration of New Yorkers for several years, is becoming in need of repairs, and is nearing the danger point, is proven by the report of an expert engineer employed by District Attorney Philbin. The full report is kept secret by Mr. Philbin, but it has become known that it gives alarming figures which show that if something is not done to strengthen the bridge there is danger of collapse. That the danger is not imminent is admitted, but the necessity for making the bridge stronger is immediate, if it is to be kept in a condition of safety. Only a few more tons of weight massed together on the bridge would make it unsafe, according to the convincing figures which District Attorney Philbin now has in his hands. He has admitted that the experts reported the margin of safety to be very small, but he has not said just how small. From other sources it is learned that the report declares that the bridge is now loaded to its extreme capacity, and that it should be greatly strengthened to enable it to carry its present burden. The engineer suggests improvements which will cost nearly a million dollars.
◘ Stock exchange members have been very much amused by the first experience of a young broker on the floor. He tried law and real estate and insurance without marked success. His friends advised him to put all his money into a stock exchange seat and trust to executing orders for other brokers for his income. He acted on this advice and spent one week after securing his seat in studying the operations of other brokers. Then he announced that he was ready for business, and when a broker telephoned him for his first order to buy 5,000 shares of a certain stock he executed it with enthusiasm and credited himself with $100 commission. Ringing up the purchaser he said:
"I secured 5,000 of that stock."
"Five thousand! Great Scott! I ordered 1,000 shares. You can keep the other 4,000 for yourself.
The young broker hung up his telephone and hurried to tell his story to an experienced friend on the floor.
"I seem to have dished myself on the first throw out of the box," he said, "and I can't possibly take care of 4,000 shares of stock.''
"What was the stock?" asked his friend.
The young broker named it, and the price at which he bought it.
"You are all right," said his friend. "It is up two points now and jumping fast. Hang on to it until I tell you to sell.''
His stock happened to be the feature of the market that day, and when shortly after 3 o'clock the young broker closed out his 4,000 shares and figured out his profits he found that his mistake had profited him just $40,000. He has invested his money and he vows that he will never speculate again except on mistakes.
◘ When she was run over and killed by a trolley-car near her home Wednesday night, Margaret Fredrich was on a mission to borrow money to get supper for her mother and four younger children of the family. She had just left her home on Warren street when she was cut to pieces by the car.
The girl was twelve years old. Her father had been sick and out of employment for a year, and Mrs. Fredrich had been going out to work. The family live in two rooms at No. 322 Warren street. The rooms are almost bare. Even candles and oil for light have been denied the family in its struggle, but everything is as clean as soap and water will make them.
The mother returned from work Wednesday as usual, but her pay was not due and when she got home there was nothing in the house to eat, and no money to buy food. The woman sat in the darkness with her children until 8 o'clock, when Margaret said she would borrow some money from a friend.
Kissing her mother good-bye and saying she would return in a short time, the girl started out. The next time the mother saw her daughter she was lying on the sidewalk unconscious awaiting the arrival of the police patrol, which hurried her away to the City Hospital, only to bring her back a few minutes later dead.
◘ At a special meeting of the American Sugar Refining Company held yesterday in Jersey City, the common stock of the company was increased from $75,000,000 to $90,000,000. At the same time $10,000,000 of mortgage bonds which have never been issued were cancelled.
The new stock, it is said, will be used to acquire large sugar interests in Porto Rico and Cuba. The votes of the common stock in favor of the proposition were 285,283 shares, and of the preferred 266,539. The total shares outstanding of each class were actually 369,680.
EMPIRE CORSET CO.
GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW BUILDING IN MCGRAWVILLE.
Location Near the Railroad Tracks—Main Building 36x98 Feet, With Brick Extension for Boiler and Engines—To be Completed by January 1—Valuable Addition to McGrawville's Business Interests.
Last week Thursday ground was broken for the large new plant of the Empire Corset company in McGrawville, N. Y. The building will be located at the extreme west end of the Erie & Central New York railway company's land and next to the tracks.
The main building will be 36x98 feet, and will extend from Elm-st. to the tracks with the main entrance from Elm-st. The building will be two stories with a high and light basement. On the east side will be a brick extension for the boilers, engine and dynamos. The boilers will be of 45-horse power capacity from the Ames Iron Works of Oswego and the engine of 33-horse power. The dynamos will be of sufficient capacity to furnish lights for the entire building and furnish power for the elevators.
In the north-east corner of the Main building on Elm-st. will be the offices which will be furnished in Georgia pine with an oil finish.
The entire contract for the construction of the buildings has been let to Contractor D. G. Corwin of this city [Cortland] with the understanding that all will be complete so the machinery and stock can be installed and ready for business on January 1 next.
Mr. Corwin has sub-let the contract for the mason work to Messrs. Beers & Warfield of Cortland.
With such thorough corset men at the head of the Empire Corset Co. as W. J. Buchanan, H. K. Alexander and H. C. Chaffee, and the unlimited financial backing which they can command, the company is bound to be successful and a big boom for McGrawville, which village they will not be ashamed to own by its lawful name.
.jpg) |
| Cortland Hospital on North Main Street. |
Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Cortland Hospital association will be held at the hospital Monday. Oct. 7, beginning at 4 p. m. Reports for the year will be given. Seven members of the board of managers will be elected in place of Mrs. S. N. Holden. Mrs. W. J. Perkins, Mrs. F. J. Doubleday, Mrs. N. J. Peck, Mrs. C. Hitchcock, Mrs. W. H. Crane and Mrs. A. P. McGraw; also an advisory board in place of the following: Messrs. F. E Whitmore, A. A. Carley, E. E. Ellis, H. B. Hubbard, W. W. Kelsey, O. A Kinney, C. F. Thompson, B. T. Wright and N. H. Waters, all of whose terms of office will expire at that time.
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
News Gathered and Condensed From Our Wide-Awake Exchanges.
Alleghany county produces an even $1,000,000 worth of butter and cheese every year. There are 103 cheese factories in the county.
In Orange county 35,000 bushels of red onions have been lost by the flood. One man lost four acres. It is likely to send up the price of red onions in the market.
James Eades of Manheim, who was sued by the state authorities for watering his milk, has settled by paying a fine of $100. It is rumored that he will now be sued by the patrons of the factory to which he took his milk on the ground that their sales have been injured by the adulterated milk.
A Binghamton farmer, who has 28 acres of celery, is trying to save the same from grasshoppers by placing coops of chickens in various parts of the field. He has turned 500 fowls, old and young, into his celery rows, and claims that they eat or frighten away swarms of the unwelcome hoppers daily.
Chittenango has a strange resident in Jim Lester, who inhabits the Bolivar cemetery, living in a rude shanty with a tin pail as the sole article of household furniture. His food consists of fruits, berries, milk and vegetables taken from nearby farms. Lester has lived this reduce life entirely for the last ten years and more or less from boyhood.
When Miss Frederika R. Wells, a saleslady in an Oswego dry goods store, a few months ago, told a gentleman acquaintance going west that he could bring back a man for her, she did it in a joking way and thought no more of it until letters came from a wealthy man in Leavenworth, Wash., and last Thursday she became Mrs. Geo. Watson and left for her new western home.
Yesterday was general contract day between the patrons and managers of the Borden condensery. A six months contract dating from October 1st was entered into by a larger number of farmers than ever before. This is exactly as was predicted would be the result by some of the knowing ones at the outset of the condensery business in Norwich, N. Y. When the farmers come to realize the advantage gained by becoming patrons of this stable institution, they would not be slow in availing themselves of its benefits. Contract prices for the ensuing six months will be as follows: October $1.35, November $1.45, December $1.55, January $1.55, February $1.40, March $1.30.
In front of a bulletin board in Oneida, N. Y., last Friday night a man was knocked down and killed as a result of an argument upon Anarchism. The man who struck the blow was E. J. Smith of that place, a hop buyer in the employ of F. D. Miller of Oneonta. Mr. Smith is an ardent admirer of President McKinley and a patriotic citizen whom the people of Oneida hold in esteem. There were several in the crowd who expressed sentiments sympathetic to Anarchism and one of them, George LaVallet is said to have made statements that, at such a time particularly, would have driven any true American to desperation. Mr. Smith struck LaVallet with his fist and the anarchist sympathizer fell backward on the stone walk. Not realizing that the man had been seriously injured. Mr. Smith went home. Next day when he heard the result of the blow he gave himself up to the police.
 |
| William McKinley. |
Remarkable Coincidence.
All sorts of prognostications of President McKinley's assassination are being brought to light. Daily, now, we hear strange stories about prophesies of the tragedy that has cast gloom over the nation. Most of them are stories, pure and simple. However, those who are curious in such matters can find a very curious unconscious foreshadowing of the tragedy in an article entitled "Boom Days in Wall Street,'' by Edwin Lefevre, which was published in Munsey's Magazine for April of this year. The author made no pretense to prophesy, but in illustrating the numerous contingencies against which those who deal in stocks have to guard, he foretold the Buffalo tragedy in a remarkable strange manner. He was writing of the last Presidential election and its effect on stocks, saying, "the greatest aggregation of industrial wealth that ever united for a common purpose practically wagered a billion of dollars on Mr. McKinley's re-election.'' Then, pointing out the risk these speculators took, he added:
''They did not parade their convictions, because it would not be well to encourage a general feeling of over confidence. They were justified by the event. But they took enormous chances none the less. For who could guarantee that some dismal day in September they might not see in huge type, on the front page of the newspapers:
''THE PRESIDENT ASSASSINATED!"
The words in large type are printed in the magazine as here produced. It was indeed a dismal day in September when President McKinley met his fate in Buffalo, and every one has seen "in huge type on the front page of the newspapers" the portentous words printed in the magazine in April. Although their application to the Buffalo tragedy is merely a coincidence it is a remarkable striking coincidence.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Not a Martyr.
Many of the Democrat's exchanges in referring to our late president speak of him as a martyr, and both he and Garfield are termed martyred presidents. In fact, we think this paper has fallen into the same error. This term is not correct, as neither was a martyr. A martyr is "one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him for the sake of a principle or to sustain a cause." Neither Garfield nor McKinley will come under that definition. The man who shot the first named president was a rattle-brained fellow, who represented nothing but himself, and his distinguished victim did not yield up his life in defense of any cause or principle, and hence cannot be termed a martyr. So with President McKinley. It was not his adherence to any particular doctrine or idea that caused his death. It was the work of an anarchist, who believes in making away with rulers, no matter whether it be the stern emperor who governs by the aid of military power, or the mild president who has no power other than that given him by the people. The only assassinated president who may rightfully be called a martyr was Lincoln. At the time of his death the people were divided into two hostile camps. For four years a war had been going on, which had just resulted in the complete triumph of the union cause. During that time, as the head of the nation, he had nobly upheld the cause of the union, and the triumph of the cause had brought down upon him the hatred and malice of his enemies. It was this that led to his assassination, and he died a martyr to the cause he had so nobly upheld.
◘ Three times within the memory of men now living has the assassin's hand stricken down the chief officer of the United States, once for sectionalism, once for personal revenge, and now a third time, by anarchy. Is it not time to take measures to protect our presidents?
SPEEDY TRIAL.
Czolgosz to be Electrocuted During the Week of October 28.
The trial of Leon Czolgosz for the murder of President McKinley began Monday morning, and lasted two days only, the jury returning a verdict of guilty. Yesterday afternoon the judge sentenced Czolgosz to be electrocuted within the week commencing Monday, Oct. 28, within the walls of Auburn prison.
HERE AND THERE.
Regular meeting of Cortlandville grange in G. A. R. hall this evening.
The Odd Fellows of this state propose to erect a monument to the memory of the late Rev. J. Barton French, who at the time of his death was deputy grandmaster. It is proposed to raise the money by individual subscription.
The new two-cent piece soon to be issued has already been styled the doughnut coin, because it will have a hole in the center. This innovation was deemed necessary, as the new coin is to be the same size and the same alloy as the present five cent piece.
The frame for Mrs. Geo. W. Lansing's new house in Greenbush-st., is up.
Buyers are securing plenty of potatoes in this section for 50 cents a bushel.
There will be three tracks between the Lackawanna passenger and freight depots.
Henry B. Hubbard's favorite horse Gyp died Friday night last of old age—28 years.
At Cincinnatus Tuesday over 2,500 bushels of potatoes were put in cars for shipment at 50 cents a bushel.
Five car loads of cabbage were shipped from Cortland station over the Lackawanna road last Saturday.
The preliminary work for the foundation of the new Lackawanna passenger depot was begun Monday.
John Scollins will hereafter conduct the cigar store at 95 Main-st., having bought the same of James Porter.
The next term of supreme court for Cortland county will begin October 21. Trial and grand jurors will serve.
Mrs. O. W. Walter of Cortland was awarded Decker's special premium of a sewing machine at the Dryden fair.
Fred M. Hill of New York city will deliver the address at the Y. M. C. A. Sunday afternoon. All men welcome.
Frank Beach of Cortland has bought an undertaking establishment at Athol, Mass., in company with a gentleman from Phoenix, N. Y.
M. M. Hall of Harford has bought of William H. Beach the house and lot No. 74 Prospect-st., and will take possession Oct. 20.
Bear in mind the Merchant's carnival at the Cortland Opera House Monday evening, Oct. 7. It will be an interesting entertainment.
Geo. C. Middaugh of Whitney Point has bought the stock of goods of the late firm of E. Middaugh & Co. and will close out the stock.
A short grass editor rises to remark that feed is so scarce in the eastern part of the state that only the rich can afford to have hay fever
Theodore Spence of Homer attempted to commit suicide by hanging Tuesday morning, but was discovered in time to prevent a sad ending.
The third quarterly meeting of Cortland County Pomona grange will be held in Good Templars' hall, this city, next Tuesday, commencing at 10 a. m.
The weather forecaster has begun his fall campaign by predicting a mild winter, his reason being that hornets are building their nests close to the ground.
F. H. Cobb & Co., have helped the Michigan peach growers very materially the past few weeks, receiving a car load of this delicious fruit nearly every morning.
There must necessarily be a new pastor for the First M. E. church after the annual conference, as Rev. Dr. Houghton has served the church the allotted five years.
A truck horse turning from Main-st. to Court last Saturday morning slipped down on the wet pavement as slick as grease and drew a crowd of at least thirty spectators in three minutes.
The strange sight for this year of a tree heavily laden with apples is one of the curiosities of Prospect-st. As the tree overhangs the sidewalk, there may be a suspicion that the fruit is of an inferior quality.
When the score 35 to 0 is recorded against them, as it was last Saturday in a game of football with the Syracuse university team, the Cortland Normal boys must let their football hair get several weeks more growth.
If the unanimous expression of the Homer-ave church for the return of Rev. H. L. Rixon as pastor for another year has weight with the powers that be at conference, that gentleman will continue to preach in Cortland. Let us hope that such will be the case.
The Democrat will hereafter give a carefully revised wholesale price list of farm produce in the New York markets, prepared especially for this paper, and we can assure our readers that the figures given will be thoroughly reliable. We believe this feature of the Democrat will be appreciated by its rural patrons who have farm produce to sell.
No comments:
Post a Comment