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| Edward M. Shepard. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Nov. 1, 1901.
OUR NEW YORK NEWS.
THE METROPOLIS APPARENTLY LOSING ITS GRAIN TRADE.
Two Horses Play a Joke on Railroad Train—Ferryboat Cut Down—Sues Neighbor for Breeding Mosquitoes—Star Bet of the Campaign—Sad Case of Young Girl—Estimated City Population 3,536,517.
New York, Oct. 29.—Figures prepared by the produce exchange show that New York's grain export trade is falling off at an alarming rate, and that Baltimore's shipments are constantly increasing. Last June New York received 51 per cent of the grain shipped to the seaboard and Baltimore 11 per cent. In August New York's share was 36 per cent, while Baltimore's reached 36 per cent.
Hundreds of vessels are lying idle in our harbors, unable to get cargoes; ocean freight rates are from 40 to 75 per cent lower than they were a year ago; it is almost as cheap to send a large lot of grain from this side of the Atlantic to the other, as it is to send it from one bank of the East River to the other. Such is an outline of the facts of the present depression in our export trade.
A train on the New York Central was delayed some time last Friday by the antics of two horses, which persisted in keeping on the track instead of turning to one side. Finally they came to a trestle and the train crew imagined they at last saw a way of raising the blockade. But the horses chose the trestle instead of the level green stretch beside the track, and picked their way carefully over the ties. Finally the animals left the track, after they had paced the train for ten miles and threw the railroad schedule out of time.
Albert Turner, a wealthy citizen, has sued A. T. Valentine, another gentleman of wealth, for $2,000 damages for mosquito bites, claiming that a small stream damned up by the defendant had caused the "breeding of mosquitoes, detrimental to the health, happiness and peace of mind of complainant.''
Edward M. Shepard met a delegation from the Retail Shopkeepers' league at the Hoffman House yesterday afternoon and was assured by their spokesman that the 46,000 shopkeepers in the league had indorsed his candidacy.
According to the estimate of the health board the present population of the greater city is 3,536,517, an increase of 99,315 over the census figures.
The star bet of the campaign was made at the Morris Park race-track Saturday. It was $25,000 against $20,000 that Shepard would be elected mayor. Frank Farrell a member of the Tammany Hall ''combine,'' put up the $25,000, and George Wheelock, bookmaker, the $20,000. Farrell is said to have represented a number of Tammany Hall politicians, while the money supplied by Wheelock was contributed by Republican sympathizers. Farrell says he has $100,000 more to wager at the same odds.
The ferryboat College Point was run into and cut down to the water's edge in Hell Gate last Saturday by the steamship Horatio Hall. The ferryboat's passengers, of whom there were only a few, were thrown into a panic. They hunted for life-preservers, while children cried, the ferry-boat's whistle screeched, and the crew ran through the cabins to calm the passengers. They knew the ferryboat was in the most dangerous part of Hell Gate. Fortunately they were all rescued.
A sad case has come to light the past week when the charities commissioner and examining physicians decided that Mary Lake who was in 1886 committed to a state institution for feebleminded children, and recently returned to New York as insane, is perfectly rational and also that she has never been even feeble-minded.
The Manhattan Democrats, formerly known as the Stecklers, met Monday evening and indorsed Seth Low for mayor. Per contra, the O'Brien Democracy, which helped nominate Low, now comes out for Shepard. The betting seems to somewhat favor Shepard. The campaign is one of the warmest ever seen in the city.
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| Barber Shop, periodical illustration. |
Cortland Barbers Mustn't Read This.
Ithaca barbers are trying to get together, and if successful in forming a local organization they will advance the price for hair cutting to 25 cents. Shampooing will be 25 cents, bay rum or witch hazel will be 5 cents extra, and shaving the neck will cost 5 cents extra. There are about twenty-five barber shops in Ithaca.—Ithaca Journal. We have applied for an injunction to restrain Cortland barbers from getting on to the scheme of their Ithaca brethren.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
A Few Facts for the Consideration of Taxpayers.
Since the editor of the Democrat, in company with some other citizens of the village, made a tour of the public schools last week it has been practically settled that more school accommodations are demanded in Cortland. The only question now discussed is as to where it is best to build.
Some advocate building to our frame ward buildings instead of to the Central school. We think the people do not understand the grading of the public schools, who advocate this. The three ward buildings have the pupils in their respective localities up through and including the first six years in the school or the first six grades. At the beginning of the seventh year they are promoted to the Central school.
Now, to build to our frame school buildings would necessitate keeping back the pupils of the seventh, eighth and ninth years in these ward schools.
The Central school has been provided with maps, globes, reference books, library books and apparatus to the amount of about fifteen hundred dollars for the advanced grades at the Central. Now, to keep back these advanced grades in the ward schools would necessitate an expenditure of from two to three thousand dollars to equip the ward schools the same as the Central school is now equipped for advanced pupils.
No pupils can be promoted from the ward schools until the Central building is enlarged.
Each teacher in our ward schools now has three divisions and has to hear eighteen classes a day. The more the grades are kept back the more grades the teachers in these buildings must have, resulting in so many classes that they cannot help pupils individually.
Scattering School Buildings.
It is the most expensive that can be devised for a city. It would make our city schools like the common district schools outside.
No city in this state adopts this system.
It would cost the city from twenty to twenty-five per cent more to run the schools under this plan. It would cost us more for teachers, for janitors and for fuel, aggregating from two to three thousand dollars per year.
Frame School Buildings.
The Board of Education think [period usage—CC ed.] it is not good policy to invest more money in our frame school buildings.
The parents of the pupils are anxious to have their children promoted to the Central school after they have completed the fifth or sixth year in the ward schools. There never has been a complaint during the past ten years because a pupil was promoted to the Central school.
Why Build at the Central.
The addition to the Central school makes room for four hundred more pupils and provides sufficient room for the city schools for the next ten or fifteen years. It duplicates the capacity of the Central school for $19,000, the original building costing $37,000.
The assembly room on the second floor of the new building is not a hall, but a room where pupils sit and study when not in recitation. If will be occupied every moment in the day.
Everything considered, the Board of Education has provided the most room for the least money possible. It can run the schools in the future on less money than under any other plan.
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S DESK.
Saturday Night Sketches for Thoughtful Readers.
(Written for the Democrat.)
Every village in the state should maintain, at least during the winter months, a club for the study of politics, holding weekly meetings and possessing a good modern working library. Professional men and others in a community who have had educational advantages, ought to give freely of their time in promoting such a school, for school it certainly is, where young men, rising voters and citizens may learn the rudiments of government.
There is very little profit in corner grocery political discussions, and men trained in no lyceum have a small hold on public questions. A systematic, regular and guided study of economic problems would be one of the surest and quickest means in elevating the political tone of any neighborhood.
Did you ever stop to consider the case of the approachable voter? I do not refer to the man who will sell his vote for so much cash or barter; the man who can be influenced to vote this way or that simply by being approached, the man who never attends a caucus or a school meeting unless someone pulls him thither in order to use his vote, and the one who is never sure of his ticket on election day until he has been asked to vote for or against certain candidates. Men who vote at the mere dictation of others are in no wise better than those who sell their vote for a fixed amount. Men who are led about by the mere whim, favor or spite of some one when it comes to casting a ballot are enemies of free government. Men who have to be hunted up and braced up, coaxed, bantered, driven, or in any way induced to vote after the dictates of another man's mind, are poor specimens of American citizens.
What is to be said of the so-called party leaders or whose business it is to look after this numerous class of approachable voters? Theirs is a bad business, to say the least. Such methods belittle the franchise and lower politics to a mere scramble after meaningless ballots.
There is a remedy for all this. When citizens become sufficiently educated to understand the meaning of self-government in its Republican or representative form, then each man will vote according to his own convictions and allow every other man the chance to do the same. The crowd on election day should be as orderly as a congregation on its way to church. Not until every elector approaches the polls and deposits an unsolicited secret ballot will an election voice the real sentiment of all the men whose names go on the poll list.
I have more faith in the politics of the youth who votes with a party because of his father's instruction than in the independent politics of the new voter who has received no instruction at all. It is natural and right for a boy to look to his parents for instruction in all matters, particularly in politics and religion. The pity is that in so many homes, lessons along those lines are unknown. I am glad that I was reared in a political atmosphere. The itinerancy of school teaching has changed my residence a number of times, but it has never changed my politics. I think I am just a little proud of the fact that the name of my native country and my own family name are both almost synonymous with the name of a political party. "Always stand square in politics and religion" was my grandfather's platform and creed. He came from Rhode Island Puritan stock with whom toleration was born.
I like to teach civics to a class of students who read newspapers. Then there is interest, life, growth. If my class can spend only an hour each day on the subject, I advise them to use half of that time now on keeping posted on the majority contest in New York city. The editorial page of a good newspaper is of vastly more importance to a young American than the sporty columns.
There comes to mind, as I write, a little town in Eastern New York, cut off by five miles of mountain road from railroad communication, when a dozen years ago, just such a club as I have suggested was organized. A doctor was its president and two lawyers its most active support. Its debates and public meetings drew attendants from miles around. All it cost the community was energy, yet I am sure it did as much for the young people as either the school or the churches, and I know that the teachers and the ministers there did their own work better than they could have done without the club. I believe too, that the influence of that club increased the influence of that town in county politics and made for good generally.
The one thing to be guarded against in any town, especially any small town, is stagnation. Debating clubs, lecture courses, grange meetings or anything else that will make people think, are to be commended. Have something, even if it is no m\ore than an old fashioned spelling school or a revival meeting.
The public school can do much, but it cannot do all that is necessary in training for citizenship. I like to have boys and girls taught at home the preamble of the constitution along with the ten commandments and to hear the Declaration of Independence read at the hearth stone alternately with the Sermon on the Mount. I like to see men pay taxes and church subscriptions in a patriotic and religious spirit, freely, not grudgingly. The two things that our forefathers fought for were the rights to vote and to pray according to their own free will. We of this generation should not neglect to do either and should know why we do both.
THE LATE LESTER TINKER OF PITCHER.
Lester Tinker, whose portrait is given above, was at the time of his death (which occurred May 17 last) the oldest resident of the town of Pitcher. Mr. Tinker was one of a large family of children, and was born in Madison Co. October 6, 1811, being in his 90th year at the time of his death. When yet very young--probably when about 14 years old—he came to Chenango county. He chose carpentry as an occupation, and having a natural aptitude for the business soon made a name for himself. While yet a boy he helped do the work on the Brackle church edifice. He was married August 13, 1834, to Betsey Stewart of Chenango county, and afterwards lived in Taylor. In 1854 he went to Brooklyn, where he remained until 1865, when he again returned to the neighborhood of Pitcher. His wife died in January, 1894. of old age, and was buried in Pitcher. One daughter, Helen, was born to them. She is now Mrs. Daniel Baldwin, mother of Supervisor Fred S. Baldwin of Pitcher, at whose home Mr. Tinker died. In politics Mr. Tinker was a Republican, belonging to the old school which advocated honesty of purpose and equal rights to all.
HERE AND THERE.
Election next Tuesday.
And still the ice-man goes on his daily rounds.
Cortland will have almost a surfeit of entertainments this season.
This has been a great week for the First Baptist church and society.
Burglars and thieves seem to be having things their own way over in Taylor.
O. L. Crofoot has sold his livery business at No. 14 Orchard-st. to H. J. Metcalf.
The Cortland Normal football team will play the Cascadillas at Ithaca tomorrow forenoon.
At last the work on the First Baptist church spire is completed and the staging has come down.
Pecos tribe, No. 357, I. O. R. M., will give one of its popular dances in the wigwam tomorrow.
The Kings' Daughters will serve a supper in the parlors of the First Baptist church next Wednesday evening.
The new Lackawanna depot and freight house received a very thorough inspection by our city people last Sunday.
Cincinnatus struck a small vein of gas Tuesday and we hope a greater depth will furnish it in paying quantities.
"Sockdolager" may be termed a slang word, but it can properly be used in describing some of the ladies' hats this season.
Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., will hold a special communication next Monday evening and confer the second degree.
The foundation for a new water tank, to be located nearly opposite Venette-st. is being constructed by the Lackawanna railroad company.
Many residences in Cortland are receiving new coats of paint this fall. Improvement seems to be the watchword all along the line.
The Phebe Helpers of the Memorial Baptist church will give a chicken-pie supper in the church next Wednesday evening. Price only 15 cents.
The Cortland Normal football team defeated the East Syracuse High school team last Saturday by the score of 6 to 5. It was a well-played game.
The Greenbush-st. weather prophet who pins his faith in the caterpillar sign says we will have a severe winter with the worst of it in December.
Supt. Becker has begun the work of repairing the Railroad-st. pavement. Tis well, provided winter doesn't catch him with the job half done.
The early train from Binghamton last Friday morning made the run from that city to Cortland in 47 minutes, making two stops between the two points.
Dr. M. D. Peck, a brother of Chas. T. Peek of Cortland, died at Washington. D. C., last Friday. The deceased was formerly well known throughout this county.
The police are enforcing the ordinance against wheelmen riding on the sidewalks, nine arrests having been made Tuesday evening. It cost them a dollar each.
The remains of Mrs. Charles W. Sanders, who died in New York Tuesday, will arrive in Cortland for burial to-day. Deceased was formerly well known in this city.
By the will of the late Miner Howland of Triangle, Dr. Frank P. Howland of Cortland is bequeathed $500 in annual payments of $50 a year. The doctor is named as sole executor of the will.
Mr. H. H. Pomeroy, who had been engaged in business in Cortland for several years, died at his home on West Court-st. Wednesday noon. He had been in poor health for some time.
''When We Were Twenty-one,'' which so captivated an audience at the Cortland Opera House last season, is booked for Tuesday, Nov. 21. The company is receiving very flattering notices this year.
Wm. B. Landreth of this city, who had charge of the Railroad-st. paving five years ago, but who has for some time been employed by the state on the canals, has been appointed a resident engineer at Albany at a salary of $2,500.
Editor W. W. Ames of the DeRuyter Gleaner says it was a novel if not a pleasing experience to hire walks cleared of snow as early as October. Brother Ames' shoulders are broad enough to shovel an inch or two of snow himself. Why do any hiring?
John H. Mourin has leased the Messenger house to George McKean, who takes possession to-day. Mr. McKean is a hotel man of experience and will keep up the good name of this popular hostelry. Mr. Mourin will now devote his entire time to his Glen Haven hotel and sanitarium. The lease had not been signed yesterday afternoon, but it was expected that the matter would be closed last night.
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