Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, March 16, 1903.
PIANO CASE FACTORY
To be Located at once in Cortland Under Certain Conditions.
TO OCCUPY THE H. M. WHITNEY FACTORY.
Cortland must raise $4,000—Contract signed by all the parties with money paid as a Forfeit—No backing out by any one if Cortland fulfills—Will employ from 150 to 200 Skilled Workmen at the outset—Contracts in sight that will keep 500 men busy—Company ready to begin putting in machinery as soon as the money is pledged in Cortland.
At a late hour Saturday evening the contracts were finally signed by all the parties concerned by which Cortland is to secure a new industry that promises to be a great benefit to the place and to employ at the outset from 150 to 200 skilled workmen, This is conditional upon the raising in this city the sum of $4,000 to assist the new company in locating its plant here.
The industry is the J. E. Davis Manufacturing Co. of Washington, N. J., manufacturers of piano cases. The members of this company are J. Edward Davis, George R. Davis and Joseph A. Lundy. The company is capitalized at $150,000. Mr. J. E. Davis has been for twenty years in the piano business and is an expert piano manufacturer. For fourteen years he was an inspector and superintendent in one of the largest piano factories in the country. Four years ago he organized the Washington Manufacturing Co. of Washington, N. J., for the manufacture of piano cases. Mr. Davis was the practical man of the company. They built up a large and flourishing business. But there is a scarcity of lumber in the vicinity of Washington and a necessity for long shipment by freight to secure the lumber. Consequently Mr. Davis sold out to his partner and organized the new company. Mr. George B. Davis is now with the Needham Piano Co. and is a practical man there. A third brother who is not to be in this company is the superintendent of the Needham Co., so it is apparent that the Davises are a family brought up in the piano business. Mr. Lundy, the third member of the company, has had a large furniture factory in Washington and is an expert cabinet maker. His factory was burned out, and instead of rebuilding it he has become a member of the new piano case company.
Elmira Wanted the Industry.
Elmira has sought to secure the company and the three gentlemen went there and looked over the ground. The Elmira board of trade offered to secure for them the plant of a company that had gone out of business and the price was agreed upon between the two parties, but then it appeared that the property could not be delivered under ninety days, while the projectors of the new plant want to take possession at once and start the business. Then a certain other section of Elmira made an offer of money and land for the plant, and the whole offer amounted to upwards of $10,000.
Cortland Takes a Hand.
It was at just this stage of the game that Mr. F. D. Smith, secretary of the Cortland board of trade, heard of the project and wrote and telephoned to Mr. Davis. He promised that parties would come to Cortland and see what could be done here. The three gentlemen arrived in the city Friday night and were met by the representatives of the local board of trade. All day Saturday the matter was under consideration and negotiations were in progress, but at the time The Standard went to press, nothing definite had been reached and there was no certainty that a favorable result could be arrived at. Along in the evening, however, the matter was finally closed up.
Whitney Plant Considered.
The gentlemen were favorably impressed with Cortland from the outset and there was an additional consideration that tipped the scales here. If the splendid plant of the H. M, Whitney Wagon Co. could be obtained a factory would be ready for business just as soon as machinery could be placed. If the concern was to go to Elmira it meant a wait of ninety days for one factory building, with extensive and expensive repairs to be made or almost as long a wait as that till another factory could be put up. For this reason the gentlemen were willing to accept a less sum than the offer of Elmira if the Whitney plant could be purchased. A price was finally agreed upon between the new company and Mr. Whitney by which the company will acquire the large three-story brick factory with all its appurtenances and the large frame storehouse with the land upon which it stands, thus squaring out the lot and including all the property up to and adjoining that of the H. F. Benton Lumber Co.
The Contract Signed.
A contract was drawn by Kellogg & Van Hoesen and signed by all the parties and a first payment upon the plant was made. This, however, is all contingent upon the raising of $4,000 by the board, though in case of the failure to do so the payment already made acts as a forfeit. But the board of trade is confident that the business men will respond as promptly as they did for the Sidney Novelty Co.
There is, however, this difference between the two propositions. In this instance only $4,000 need be raised; in the case of the Sidney Novelty Co. there was a call for $15,000. In this instance a binding contract has been drawn and signed and money paid; in the other it was all a verbal promise.
It seems likely, too, that this industry will prove the more desirable of the two, for the company will employ from 150 to 200 men at the outset, and nearly all of them must be skilled and high priced cabinet makers and joiners and finishers. There will be little unskilled or cheap labor about the whole.
Mr. Davis says there is a great call for piano cases and he has contracts in sight that will soon call for the employment of 500 men and keep them busy the year around. There are very few piano case factories in the country.
One of the reasons which makes Cortland so desirable a point for this new company is the fact that lumber can be secured near here. Much maple, beech, birch, and chestnut is used in the interior structure of piano cases, and this is within reach in Cortland. Last year the Washington Mfg. Co. used 2,500,000 feet of this lumber, and Mr. Davis expects to use double that amount the first year in Cortland.
To Canvass for Subscriptions.
The board of trade will tomorrow morning begin a canvass of the city to secure subscriptions for the $4,000. They hope the business men will receive them as cordially as they did in the canvass for the Sidney Novelty works. They hope they may not have to spend more than a few minutes with each person, as they are themselves busy men, and they want to get this closed up at once.
Demand for Houses.
If this company is to come to Cortland bringing with it all the skilled employees they will need, there will at once be a large demand for houses. As one of the gentlemen was riding about the city Saturday he said to a member of the board of trade that he had not seen much evidence of houses to rent here and asked how this would be. He was told that there were not many surplus houses. "But," he persisted, "I don't see any. Won't you point out to me the next house we pass that you know can be rented?" It proved to be some time before a house was passed, but before he left town Saturday night a house was found that he could obtain for himself if he should come to Cortland.
Board of Trade Wide Awake.
It should be noted that the new board of trade is wide awake and looking for opportunities. It is to be hoped that a ready response may be made to the solicitors for this company and that within a very few days the conditions may be fulfilled so that the positive announcement can be made that the company is coming. It may be added that the board of trade already has another promising project under advisement, though it is not yet quite time to make any public announcement concerning it.
WOMEN DISSATISFIED.
Assistant Board of Managers Wanted Fuller Removed.
Binghamton, N. Y., March 16.—Following the decision of the board of managers of the Susquehanna Valley home to retain Superintendent Fuller and discharge Caretaker Watson, against whom charges of cruelty were made, the assistant board has published statements disagreeing with the action of the managers.
The assistant board is made up mostly of Binghamton women of prominence and wealth, five of its members attended every hearing of the investigation and heard all the evidence. They now announce that they reported to their associates that the charges of cruelty and negligence were fully proved by the evidence and that the assistant managers adopted a report on Feb. 26 asking that Messrs. Fuller and Watson be immediately removed.
The assistant board is merely advisory and has no real power. Its report was received by the president of the board of managers and was withheld from the board, it is asserted, until last Wednesday evening and then presented only when it could no longer be kept from the members.
Members of the assistant board express themselves as indignant at the decision of the male board. They claim that it is contrary to the evidence.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Ships and the Men.
In asking congress for the authorization of the building of three battleships and one armored cruiser at a cost of $17,000,000 the naval appropriation committee has made a modest request and one which the country will generally be inclined to regard as reasonable. Apparently the committee was not much influenced by the discussion about a wholesale increase of the navy precipitated by the extremely remote contingency of a war with a European power or powers growing out of the Venezuela incident, but rather acted in adherence to the policy of steady and systematic additions to the nations offensive and defensive force on the high seas in conformity with the steady growth of the nation in prestige, population and wealth. The need of the country of a strong and well equipped navy is generally recognized, though there is no necessity of feverish haste and extravagant outlay in its immediate expansion.
In connection with the authorization of new war vessels is the provision for increasing the facilities of the Naval academy at Annapolis, for which an appropriation considerably larger than heretofore is asked. The faculty of the institution is to be strengthened, and the number of cadets is to be doubled. This will give to each senator and representative an appointment every two years. Two steel training ships and a brig are also to be built, so that the training of men to man the new war vessels now being constructed will be conducted to the best advantage. The additional appointments double the opportunity of admittance to the academy and should result in a much greater range of candidates and materially increase the interest of young America in the navy as a career.
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| Trolley waiting to cross tracks after Lackawanna train leaves Cortland depot. |
NEW AGENT APPOINTED
To Represent the Lackawanna Railroad in Cortland.
R. R. Speirs of Bangor, Pa., has been appointed as Lackawanna station agent in this city, and arrived today to begin his new duties. The retiring agent, Mr. W. E. Buck, came to Cortland nearly two years ago from Washington, N. J., and has made one of the most efficient and accommodating agents the Lackawanna railroad has ever had in this city. He has been very popular with the shippers, and the freight shipments to and from Cortland have shown a remarkable increase during Mr. Buck's administration.
The passenger department has also shown a marked increase in traffic and Mr. Buck has proved a valuable man to his company, and has always been pleasant and accommodating to the public. It is to be hoped that he will receive the promotion he has earned.
Mr. and Mrs. Buck have resided at 10 Madison-st. and will leave in Cortland a host of friends who will wish them success when they remove to their new home.
DEATH OF MELVIN HOPKINS.
Nearly All His Life a Resident of Cortland County.
Mr. Melvin Hopkins died very suddenly yesterday at his home, 70 Maple-ave., aged 70 years. Mr. Hopkins had been ill from grip nearly all winter, but was thought to be improving during the last few days.
Mr. Hopkins was born in Homer and has always lived in this vicinity with the exception of six years that he spent in Virginia, going to that state in 1876. He has resided in Cortland for the past 15 years. In 1855 be married Miss Lucretia H. Silcox of Five Corners, N. Y., who survives him. He is also survived by three sons, Messrs. E. J. Hopkins of Cortland, George M. Hopkins of Homer and Eugene A. Hopkins of McLean.
The funeral will be held from the house tomorrow at 2 o'clock and from the Universalist church at 2:30.
THE A. O. H. BANQUET
To Occur at Taylor Hall Tonight—List of Speakers.
The annual banquet of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will be held this evening at Taylor hall. About 300 guests are expected to be in attendance.
A reception will be tendered the guests from 8:15 to 9 o'clock in Empire hall, after which all will assemble at Taylor hall for the banquet. The reception committee is made up of Messrs. J. E. Lonergan, Charles Corcoran, Thomas J. McAuliffe, Thomas Kane, Thomas Drake, James F. Tobin, Edwin Duffey, Thomas H. Dowd, John McCarthy, P. O. Burns, John O'Donnell, John Lynch, J. L. Hannon, Thomas Allen, James W. Barrett, J. T. Davern, William Gerrard, M. T. Roche. John Hamill, Martin Davern, Edward C. McEvoy and J. J. Reider.
District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd will be the toast master, and this insures a lively time from the opening of the feast of soul that is to follow the feast for the inner man. The speakers of the evening will be Rev. Thomas Conway of Truxton, Hon. T. P. Heffron of Dunkirk, Francis E. Cullen of Oswego, J. David Enright of Syracuse, and J. F. Tobin, C. B. Dowd and Edwin Duffey of Cortland. The Appllo quartet will be present and furnish music. McDermott's orchestra will also be on hand to add pleasure to the evening. Aside from this Messrs. J. F. Byrnes and William Walsh will sing solos and Mr. Patsy Conway of Ithaca will favor the company with several cornet solos.
KIEHL CASE ENDED.
Onondaga County Grand Jury Fails to Find an Indictment.
The Onondaga county grand jury in Syracuse on Saturday failed to report an indictment against Maude Kiehl or her mother, Mrs. Fenner. Twenty-three witnesses were sworn. It would appear now as though the two ladies might have no further difficulties since two district attorneys and two grand juries in two separate counties have passed upon this case, and have failed to find an indictment.
The charge against the two ladies was being connected with the death of Adam and William Kiehl in the town of Preble, Cortland county.
BREVITIES.
—A regular meeting of Grover Post, G. A. R., will be held this evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—A regular meeting of the W. R. C. will be held at 2:30 sharp tomorrow afternoon.
—Mrs. Jennie R. C. Vose this morning sold her house and lot at the corner of North Main and Madison-sts. to Mr. N. J. Peck for $6,000.
—Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., will confer the second degree in full form at its regular communication Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—The new display advertisements today are—C. F. Brown. Pure drugs, etc., page 4; Warren Tanner & Co., Lace curtains, page 6; G. H. Wiltsie, Dry goods, page 8.
—The regular meeting of the Political Equality club will be held at the home of Dr. L. A. Strowbridge Tuesday at 3 o'clock p. m. Please note change of time.
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