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| North Bergen, N. J., tunnel tubes entrance. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Dec. 20, 1901.
OUR NEW YORK NEWS.
MARVELOUS RAILROAD ENTERPRISE IN CONTEMPLATION.
Tunnels Under North and East Rivers—Trains to Run Into Heart of the City—Water Main Bursts and Does Great Damage—No Sunday Open Saloon—Wealthy Tramp.
New York, Dec. 17.—President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Railroad company announces an enterprise that will stir even the imagination of a generation trained to take the vast and the marvelous as a matter of course. A tunnel from New Jersey deep down under the North River and Manhattan Island to the heart of New York city and then on beneath the East River to Long Island—it is a stupendous engineering feat, but think of its involvements. Transportation conditions to New York will be completely revolutionized. Without any disturbance of the surface, the Hudson and East Rivers will practically cease to exist as barriers between New York and its natural suburbs and between New York and the rest of the country. And the Pennsylvania will destroy the monopoly of the present New England railway lines, will make Long Island all over again, and perhaps—who knows?—a few years may see realized Austin Corbin's dream of the eastern end of Long Island as the terminus of the Atlantic steamship lines. The tunnels will cost in the neighborhood of $40,000,000 and it is expected that trains will be running within three years. The tracks will be thirty-six feet under the street level at the station, which will be located between Thirty-first and Thirty-third-sts., and Seventh and Eighth-aves.
◘ By the bursting of a four-foot water main under the trolley tracks at Madison- ave., last Wednesday night, that thoroughfare was converted into a lake, causing immense damage. The big four-foot main in Madison avenue had broken and the water came to the surface through the cable car slot and the tracks in the asphalt. The pavement was uplifted by the force of the Croton [reservoir] current.
The Madison avenue line of cars was put out of commission in a few minutes and word was sent to the powerhouse to cut off the electricity. Long lines of darkened cars stood in the avenue. Passengers alighted and gathered on the edges of the fast-spreading lake.
The Fifty-fifth street stream became the width of that thoroughfare, and on the north side of the street overflowed into the depressed areas and filled the cellars, drowning out furnace fires and doing great damage.
At Park avenue the flood poured into the New York tunnel, covering the rails there six inches deep and stopping traffic. A construction car with a red danger-light was placed on each of the submerged tracks. The railroad men gathered their entire yard force at the scene of the flood.
There is a down grade at the point of the bursting pipe in Madison avenue, and the water ran to Fifty-sixth street in a torrent, and naturally turned east on that street, also to Park avenue. But just before reaching that avenue the flood struck an upward rise which diverted it to both sides of the street, and soon the cellars of all the houses on both sides of the block were filled with water.
◘ Supporters of the incoming city administration who advocate a more liberal excise law for New York city than the present one have practically abandoned all hope of inducing the legislature to pass a Sunday opening bill. They admitted to-day that it would be impossible to get a majority of either the senate or assembly to vote for such a measure even if it were within the range of possibility that the governor would sign it. Nevertheless they will keep up the agitation in the hope that some amendments, however trivial, will be made upon the present law and an exception will be made in the case of New York city, whose population is mostly different from that of other parts of the state in regard to the question of personal liberty.
◘ A "funeral stenographer" is one of New York's functionaries. She is a young woman skilled in the art of shorthand writing who attends the obsequies of people of prominence and wealth and jots down in her note-book all the complimentary things the preacher says about the deceased. If mourning relatives desire, she transcribes these notes and either arranges them in book form or engrosses them upon parchment, for which she receives adequate and sometimes exceedingly liberal compensation.
◘ Poorly clad, unshaven and with a ragged sweater, a man was arraigned before Magistrate Brann in the Centre Street court yesterday, and gave his name as Martin Jordan. Policeman Pfeiffer arrested him on West Broadway, near Warren street for begging.
"Your Honor, I was hungry and had no money," he began.
"What is that?" exclaimed Pfeiffer, "why he had in his pocket a bank book of the Emigrant Savings bank calling for $2,200."
"Is this so?" demanded the Magistrate.
"Yes, your Honor," responded the man, quickly shifting the ground of his defense, "I had just made a deposit and I was not begging."
"You ought to be flogged," said the magistrate. "1 fine you $10."
Jordan refused to pay and was taken to the Tombs [city jail] to serve out the fine.
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| Brookton trestle, Tompkins County, N. Y. |
A DECEMBER FLOOD.
GREATEST AND LONGEST DOWNPOUR IN MANY YEARS.
Immense Damage in All Directions—Railroads Tied Up—Bridges Swept Away—Cellars Filled With Water—McGrawville Gets it in Full Force—Landslides Everywhere.
The magnitude of the destructive storm which was felt throughout central and southern New York last Saturday night is so great that one is at a loss where to begin the narrative. It was the most terrific rain storm that has swept over this section in years. For the first time since 1874 Cortland was practically isolated from the outside world for at least two days, no trains reaching this point from any direction on Sunday and Monday except a special from Syracuse on Monday, which went no farther south than Cortland.
The storm began Saturday afternoon at about 4 o'clock, when after a day of warm, almost humid atmosphere, rain began to fall in torrents. Premonitions of a coming cold wave had been sent by the weather bureau, and the general expectation was that after a brief season of rain, Old Boreas would make himself felt and that a snow storm would follow. This prediction was partially correct, for the cold wave and snow put in their appearance precisely as advertised, but at a later hour than was anticipated. The rain fell incessantly until 3 o'clock Sunday morning, making eleven hours of tremendous downpour. The result of such a heavy fall of water could not be otherwise than disastrous, and from all directions come reports of heavy damage by flood, cellars being filled with water, railroad trains blocked by landslides and washouts, bridges carried away and many other forms of devastation.
The 7:09 Saturday evening train from Syracuse on the D., L. & W. did not reach Lisle until Sunday afternoon and was then obliged to return to Marathon on account of high water at south of Cortland, at various points between Kellogg's crossing and Marathon, the track was covered with landslides. The train from Syracuse due here at 11:48 Saturday night remained here until Monday morning, when it ran to Syracuse from Cortland as the regular 6:11 train.
Supt. A. H. Schwarz and Train Master G. C. Ferris came from Syracuse and accompanied the work train south; they found the Saturday evening train at Messengerville, and with the aid of all the section men that could be secured the tracks were cleared so as to allow the train to reach Lisle. Here it was found that the track was under water to quite a depth and that a bridge just below the village was probably unsafe. The train was then backed to Marathon, where it remained until Monday.
On the Lehigh road the track was open between Cortland and Ithaca. Nearly one thousand feet of track was washed out between Cortland and Loring's station, and between Rippleton and Delphi several bridges were carried away. The train due in Cortland Saturday night at 8:07 from the east started out from Truxton and came out a mile towards Cortland, and the conductor deciding it unsafe to proceed farther, the train was backed to Truxton. Later they started out a second time, but after going a mile and a half they abandoned the trip, and being then unable to return to Truxton, were obliged to remain where they were until Monday night.
The west end of Madison-st. felt the effects of the flood, because of the filling up of the bed of a creek running from near the brick school-house to the Tioughnioga river, and L. E. Burnham's property was considerably damaged, his strawberry beds being gone entirely, and his walks carried away. John W. Suggett also met with the loss of considerable cinder path walk. It is hoped that the city authorities will clear out the natural bed of the stream so that further trouble of like nature may be avoided.
The Cortland County Traction company suffered serious loss by the flood, the track near the river bridge being washed away, a section of the track near the Wickwire farm on the McGrawville line badly damaged, and the company's bridge at McGrawville practically destroyed.
Near the park junction the track was under water to the depth of a foot, and the bed of the creek at the Bean bridge was entirely changed, the track being washed away for a long distance. By transferring, passengers were conveyed from Cortland to McGrawville Tuesday. The damage to the company is great.
Cooper Bros.' foundry on River-st. was flooded and damaged to a large amount by the water. The Wallace Wallpaper factory cellar was filled with water, and considerable damage done to stock. Early Sunday morning the city steamer was brought out and an attempt made to pump out the water, but the engine became disabled and the scheme was abandoned.
The Erie & Central New York company, better known as the Cincinnatus road, suffered severely and trains will not be operated this week, probably. Four or five bridges are washed out and the track in some places is under several feet of mud. Manager Fredericks has been superintending repairs and is doing his best to open communication with eastern towns.
The damage in Ithaca is placed as high as $400,000. On the north side of Six Mile creek, just at the foot of State-st. hill, one dwelling house was carried away, and Sunday morning not a trace of it could be found. The power and lighting plant of the Ithaca Street Railway Company was washed out and two trolley cars were swallowed up in the torrent. All street car traffic was suspended and the city left in total darkness. In addition all the gas mains were flooded and at night the only available source of light was found in oil lamps. The entire lumber yards of Driscoll Bros., together with large planing mills and a lumber kiln, was undermined and swept away. Several bridges in Ithaca and vicinity were swept away. Two or three steam buildings near Mill-st. and Campbell Bros.' lumber establishment were swept down Cascadilla creek, causing a huge dam at Cayuga-st.
The Lackawanna train from Ithaca Saturday night was stalled at the top of the hill. The train got as far as Caroline Saturday night but was prevented from continuing its way because of a washout at the station. The engineer started to bring the cars back to Ithaca but was held up at the top of the hill. The passengers were compelled to walk to the city through the storm.
The Lehigh trains are prevented from making the trip to Elmira because of the unsafe condition of the high trestle at Brookton. Three of the foundations which support the 100 feet trestles have been undermined. The structure now practically swings in the air.
McGrawville came in for its share of the storm which passed over Central New York Saturday evening. From a common sprinkle, which commenced about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the rain gradually increased in force until Trout and Mosquito creeks became raging rivers. The banks of both streams overflowed and soon became unmanageable. Mosquito creek tore loose from its natural bed and forced a new channel down through the center of North-st., doing an immense damage to the property owners on both sides of the street. From there it wended its way down across Main-st., moving sidewalks from their moorings, filling cellars and washing out roads in its mad flight towards Trout creek. It will take weeks to repair the damage. At the Rogers House corner a deep gully was formed, into which several pedestrians fell during the darkness. Several instances of narrow escapes of cattle and horses are reported. A. P. McGraw's corset factory cellar became inundated, the damage to stock being estimated at $25,000. The box factory also suffered a loss of about $1,500. The Empire Corset company's building had about fifteen inches of water in the cellar, but as their stock had not arrived, the damage is slight. The Cortland County Traction company loses heavily by the undermining of the bridge crossing Trout creek, west of the village, and the crossing of its tracks by debris. The creek at this point left its natural bed and formed a new channel, tearing away the banks for a distance of 200 feet. The E. & C. N. Y. railroad bridge spanning Trout creek was undermined and destroyed. The fire companies were called out and did good service in patrolling several very dangerous streets. Several amusing experiences are reported by pedestrians, who had narrow escapes from becoming "good Baptists." The iron bridge spanning Trout creek in the west end of the village was moved from its foundation and dumped into the stream. Several thousands of dollars damage will be the result of the Storm King's visit to McGrawville.
The Auburn division is most seriously damaged by the washouts between the station and Renwick where the tracks have been washed out for several feet. The ties are held together only by the rails.
Over in Dryden the dam, located above the village, burst and flooded the entire town. Henry Foster, night watchman at the dam, attempted to give a warning of danger. As he was crossing the bridge with a horse and carriage he was swept into the stream. The horse and vehicle were lost, but Foster escaped.
The flood from Dryden lake carried out three railroad bridges and the Southern Central division of the Lehigh, between the lake and Dryden village, and undermined the roadbed in a great many places. Nearly all the sidewalks on Main-st. were torn up.
At Norwich the authorities caused the fire alarm to be rung to warn the people of the dangers that threatened, not from fire but from flood.
At Painted Post the entire village was under water all of Sunday, and the water was two feet deep in most of the dwellings.
Oneida was badly flooded, the heaviest losers being the canning factory which will probably lose $30,000 worth of seed peas stored in a large warehouse.
At Rome two hundred families were without fuel Sunday night, and the authorities distributed coal to houses in boats. Thousands of dollars damage was done to the double track road recently constructed by the Utica Suburban company. The roadbed from Rome to Oriskany was under water and the greater part of it washed away.
The worst flood ever experienced in Syracuse occurred Sunday, when Onondaga creek rose six feet in a period of less than nine hours, and overflowing its banks, spread devastation in all directions. Five hundred families were driven from their homes by the deluge. Property was damaged to the extent of $25,000. No life was lost, as far as known.
HON. S. A. CHILDS OF SCOTT, N. Y.
One of the most well known men in Cortland county is Hon. Samuel A. Childs of Scott. For years he took an active part in politics and represented Cortland county in the state assembly in 1879 and 1880. He was supervisor of Scott seven years, and chairman of the board in 1877. He was the town war committeeman throughout the civil war, and enrolling officer for Scott and Preble during those dark days. During all of these years he was staunch and true to the people he represented and was a most efficient and faithful officer.
The Childs family originally came from England, Ephraim Childs emigrating from that country in 1630 and settled at Roxbury, Conn. After him came Benjamin Childs, who had seven sons, but they eventually left Roxbury and settled in Woodstock, Conn. One of these sons is the lineal ancestor of Hon. Samuel A. Childs. His parents were Charles and Mary (Hemstraught) Childs. His father was a carder and cloth dresser by trade. He was always a life-long Democrat and reared five children. Elias W. Childs resides in Jamesville, Wis., and he married a sister of Gen. Joseph Hawley, formerly United States senator from Connecticut. Marcus W. Childs resides near Owego. Lucy, widow of D. H. Whitney, resides at Campville, Tioga county. Hon. Samuel A. Childs was born in the town of Owego, January 25, 1830. He obtained his education by attending public schools and at the Cortland academy. He left school and taught when only twenty years of age, for a number of winters, five of them being in Scott. He afterwards took charge of a farm of 120 acres near Scott. He was married to Lucelia O. Whiting of Scott, and has two children, Ernest W. Childs of Scott and Henry W. Childs of Syracuse. His wife died Sept. 24, 1879, and on March 25, 1893, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Niver of Scott, she dying in January, 1901. He is a Republican in politics. Since the death of his last wife he has resided with his son Ernest, but his former active part in life during his younger days has had a decided tendency to bring a restlessness that is hard to live down to-day. The snow of over 70 winters has turned his hair white, a gentle reminder that his life's journey is nearly ended and that the time is not far distant when he will be called to enter upon that journey ''from whose bourne no traveler ever returns." But he lives with the knowledge that he will leave behind him in a name a monument that will stand the storm long after marble and granite have crumbled into dust. May he live many years yet to enjoy the fruits of his younger days is the wish of the Democrat.
The Location of Snyder Hill [in Cortland County].
In reply to a very anxious South African subscriber as to where "Snyder Hill" is, the Democrat hastens to reply. Until that inquiry was received it was not believed that there existed a person in the whole civilized world, with the possible exception of South Cuyler and East Pharsalia, who did not know where "Snyder Hill" is, or was, before the flood gates were opened last Saturday, so it is a question now whether the "Snyder" and the "Hill" are still there or have not moved off into space and taken up an abode on another planet. If the "Snyders" have moved, possibly a few years hence a new unknown satellite may come swinging into space again that will be hailed by our advanced astronomers as being an advance guard on a visit here from the Planet Mars.
Strange things are happening nowadays, it is not known for certain but it is surmised that our subscriber may be looking for a "future resting place" for the Boer president, President Kruger, where the horrors of "Spionkof" may be forgotten. If such is the case a more ideal spot could not have been selected. Jesse James could have lived here a life of perfect security and possibly have lived to have seen five score of winters, had he only known of it.
And now in answer to the original query. If our anxious subscriber (?) will drop down into his back and look straight at the dark spot of land that he will see nearest the sun, this will be "Snyder Hill." It is not located on the map, but exists just the same, or did. The railroads do not run there, the reason being given that modern machinery is useless in attempting it. Messengerville is the nearest station. From there one can learn of many strange happening on Snyder Hill. John Truck of Auburn [prison] can tell a whole lot about "Snyder Hill." He used to know a man named Miller [victim of murder] who formerly resided near there. There are others who could if they would. Some of them won't. However, it is sufficient to say this, that many, many years ago, so the legend runs, a man by the name of "Snyder," having a dog named ''Snyder'' it is presumed from which the descendants of Old Rip Van Winkle's dog ''Snyder'' undoubtedly ''sprung," in his haste to escape from the arms of an angry female, left home one fine spring morning to become a hermit. He landed on a spot where he could overlook the country for miles around. That spot was "Snyder Hill."
Several years ago afterwards, others followed on a similar errand until the time arrived when "Snyder Hill" became quite an extensive "Eveless Eden," where contentment reigned and peace and harmony prevailed. This continued on for several centuries when this "haven of rest" was disturbed by one of the new comers bringing a wife with him. Whether his name was Miller or Shevalier history fails to chronicle. Possibly it might have been Blose, Woodard or Barry, all of these are now residents of "Snyder Hill," (by the way, all take the Democrat, too). Since those early days, however, since the advent of the first female among them, many changes have taken place, possibly for the "worse," but it is to be hoped for the better. But to-day it would be difficult to find a more hospitable community than that which reside on Snyder Hill, this being possibly due to the soothing influence exerted by the good people of Blodgett Mills, Messengerville and East Virgil. Some of the best farms and finest looking residences are located on Snyder Hill. After one reaches the pinnacle, one feels a home-like feeling of contentedness creep over the entire body. The welcome a stranger receives is cordial and comes from the heart and one is apt to ask the question if "Snyder's" ghost does not still haunt these regions.
Certain it is there are few places in this part of the world more pleasant, where the residents are as cordial, where more contentment dwells, where sin less [sic] exists, where the Garden of Eden is any nearer, than this same "Snyder Hill." We believe it.
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