AMERICAN OFFICERS RECEIVED BY KING EDWARD, DANGEROUS OPERATION, TRACTION CO. FRANCHISE, AND MATTER OF ELEVATION

 

King Edward VII.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, July 9, 1903.

ARE SIGNALLY HONORED.

Officers of American Squadron at Buckingham State Ball.

FORMALLY RECEIVED BY KING.

First State Ball Since Accession of King Edward—Climax of Visit of President Loubet—2,200 Guests Present, Including All the Ambassadors and Ministers in London.

   London, July 9.—King Edward signally honored the officers of the American squadron last night at the state ball given at Buckingham palace—the climax of the visit of President Loubet.

   His majesty formally received Admiral Cotton, the captains of the American ships and 25 of the junior American officers, and Queen Alexandra later gave them the same distinction.

   The ball—the first since the accession of King Edward—was a brilliant function, 2,200 guests being present, including President Loubet and his suite, practically all the ambassadors and ministers in London, the majority of the members of the royal family, prominent representatives of the nobility and the officers of the American and French squadrons now in British waters.

   To Rear Admiral Cotton the king expressed his gratification at the visit of the squadron. Admiral Cotton replied that every care had been taken of himself and the others. His majesty had a pleasant word to say to each of the officers presented. The captains and Staff Lieutenant Hussey were then presented to Queen Alexandra. During the supper several American officers were also introduced to the Prince of Wales, Field Marshal Lord Roberts and other distinguished Englishmen.

   The king and queen led the royal quadrille which opened the ball.

   Before the ball Admiral Cotton, the American captains and Staff Lieutenant Hussey dined with the Earl of Selborne, first lord of the admiralty, at Whitehall.

 

USS KEARSARGE BB-5.

A Week Longer in England.

   Washington, July 9.—The navy department has decided to allow the European squadron to remain about a week longer than was intended in English waters. Orders were sent to Admiral Cotton to leave England in time to arrive at Lisbon on the 22d inst., which will involve his sailing on the 17th. The Kearsarge is authorized to remain in England until that date when she will sail for Maine to rejoin the North Atlantic squadron. The Brooklyn has been directed to leave the Azores in time to arrive at Lisbon on the 22d.

 

James Longstreet.

A Dangerous Operation.

   Atlanta Ga., July 9.—The condition of General James Longstreet, who is ill at his home in Gainesville, remains unchanged. He will go under the knife today to have a cancerous growth removed from his left eye, which has destroyed the sight of that orb.

   Owing to extreme age and an infirm condition caused by old wounds and rheumatism he is in poor condition to stand the operation. Great fears are entertained that the anesthetic rather than the operation may prove fatal. General Longstreet has been apprised of his condition but insists on the operation.

 

FRANCHISE COMING

For the Traction Company Through the Town of Homer.

TERMS ARE ALL AGREED UPON.

Franchise Now Being Drawn—Traction Company to Have Privilege of Taking Either East or West Road to Little York—Decision as to Which One to be Made Later.

   Commissioner of Highways Clarence A. Knapp of the town of Homer has decided to grant a franchise to the Cortland County Traction company to extend its tracks through the town of Homer from their present terminus to the point north of Little York where it desires to locate its new park upon the shores of Little York lake. The announcement of this decision was made to representatives of the railroad company this morning, at which time the commissioner and his attorney, E. W. Hyatt of Homer, met the representatives of the Traction company and talked the whole matter over. The terms of the franchise were then agreed upon, and the franchise is now being drawn. When completed it will be signed and delivered.

   The franchise does not specify whether the east or the west road shall be used, but permits the company to take its choice. The decision in this matter will be made by the Traction company at a later time and this will depend partly upon the physical condition of the two roads and the comparative ease or difficulty of construction.

   As soon as the franchise is signed and delivered the matter of looking into details of construction will be begun preparatory to deciding on the route, and when the route is settled the preparation will be pushed for building the road so as to have it in operation early next spring.

 

ST. MARY'S PICNIC.

Over 430 Children Spent a Fine Day at the Park.

   The Sundayschool [sic] of St. Mary's Catholic church held its annual Sundayschool picnic at the park yesterday and over 430 children spent a very happy day. In addition to these were a large number of the grown up members of the church and congregation who were present during some portion of the day.

   Special cars were provided and these left the church at 10 o'clock. Arrived at the park the boys had a ball game and others made use of the swings and enjoyed the other attractions of the popular resort. A fine dinner was served upon the broad piazzas of the pavilion, and then the afternoon was given up to pleasure. The day, though warm, was a very perfect one for such an affair.

 

Fractured His Elbow.

   Cornelius Hicks, the 9 year old son of C. L. V. Hicks of 40 Pendleton-st., Cortland, met with a severe accident at the park Tuesday afternoon. Together with several other children and his grandfather, A. C. Deusenbary of New York, he was spending the afternoon at the park. In going from the bear's cage to the pavilion he ran and jumped on the edge of' one of the benches. The bench tipped over and the child fell doubling his arm under him. It was evident at once that the arm was broken and Mr. Deusenbary immediately brought the injured child home. Dr. Ver Nooy was summoned and found that the boy was suffering from a compound fracture of the elbow, every bone being broken. He reduced the fractures and the child is now doing as well as can be expected.

 

Fourth of July Party.

   Miss Florence L. Jennison, teacher in district No. 1, Cortland, gave a Fourth of July party to her pupils and a few invited friends at the home of the trustee O. C. Stoddard on Friday evening, July 3. The time passed most delightfully with games and social cheer. A delicious supper was served by Mrs. Stoddard and Miss Jennison in the large diningroom [sic], which was gaily decorated with bunting and flags. Attached to the game card at each plate was a souvenir appropriate to the occasion and the day. The evening will be most pleasantly remembered by all who were present.

 

Bingham-Rindge.

   Hon. William Bingham of Northampton, Mass., and Mrs. Clara Rindge of Homer, N. Y., were married at the home of the bride in Homer at noon on Saturday, July 4, the ceremony being performed by W. F. Kettle, pastor of the Congregational church of that village. The rooms were made additionally attractive by decorations of ferns, daisies and smilax. The bride wore a gown of foulard silk and carried a bouquet of white carnations. A fine wedding dinner was served after the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Bingham will be at home in the early fall in Northampton.

 

THE MATTER OF ELEVATION.

Highest and Lowest Points in the County—Other Facts.

   The highest point in Cortland county is the town of Virgil is 2,130 feet above the sea level, and the lowest point in the Tioughnioga Valley in county limits is 1,050 feet above the sea level.—Marathon Independent.

   We know not the source of the information of The Independent in these figures, but it seems as though the lowest point was a little high. In 1896 some questions in regard to elevation in this vicinity were asked and The Standard wrote to the office of the state engineer at Albany and received the following figures from Deputy State Engineer H. Roberts. They were published at the time, but may have been forgotten by this time and will be of interest again:

   The elevation of Cortland is 1,129 feet above the mean ocean level. With the fall there is between Main-st. in Cortland and the Tioughnioga river at the Port Watson bridge it would seem as though there would be more than 79 feet between the city and the lowest point in the Tioughnioga valley which of course is south of Marathon.

   According to the figures sent The Standard the elevation of Syracuse at the West Shore R. R. station is 400 feet. The highest point on the Lackawanna railroad between Syracuse and Cortland is 1,253 feet, 1 1/4 miles south of Apulia station. The elevation of Ithaca at the shore of Cayuga lake is 378 feet.

 

BREVITIES.

   —There will be an Assembly party at the park tomorrow night. Cars every half hour.

   —Through an error yesterday the name of W. A. Dunn of Cortland was omitted as being one of the surviving sons of the late Patrick Dunn of this city.

   —The new display advertisements today are—J. B. Kellogg, Special sale of ladies suits, page 8; Buck & Lane, Plumbing, page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., Carpets, page 6.

   —At the prayer meeting at the Presbyterian church tonight D. F. Wallace will continue his very interesting talk upon his recent trip to the Holy Land. His words were so interesting and profitable last Thursday night that he was then and there asked to continue it this week.

   —On account of the funeral of the late Mrs. W. E. Powers the meeting of the Home Missionary society of the First M. E. church will be held with Mrs. F. J. Doubleday at the home of the Misses Conable, east of the Port Watson-st. bridge, the place previously named, at 7 o'clock Friday evening instead of at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Take the McGraw [trolley] car or the park car.

 

EMPEROR ON KEARSARGE, PRESIDENT WILL ACT, CAUSE OF FLOODS, LOST SEA LION, VERNON PHELPS, AND TROLLEY TO ITHACA

 

USS Kearsarge (BB-5).

Rear Admiral Charles Cotton.

Emperor Wilhelm II.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 26, 1903.

EMPEROR ON FLAGSHIP.

Interested In Double Turrets of the Kearsarge.

PLEASED WITH CONNING TOWER.

Referred to Captain Hemphill's Service on the Monitor—Talked Familiarly With Some of the Blue Jackets and Enjoyed the Luxury of a Rocking Chair.

   Kiel, June 26.—Emperor William entered one of the double turrets of Admiral Cotton's flagship and scrutinized the mechanism. Lieutenant Mustin of the Kearsarge showed his majesty the speed and smoothness with which the turret could be turned. In calling the attention of one of the members of his suite to Captain Hemphill's service on the Monitor when she first went into action, and to other fierce contests of the civil war, the emperor added: "Those men are God's, to us."

   His majesty also said the conning tower was the roomiest he had ever been in.

   While the emperor was inspecting the men's quarters he conversed with several of the blue jackets and jokingly asked one old hand how long he had been in the service. The sailor replied:

   "Twenty-four years."

   "That is long enough to be an admiral" said the emperor.

   The party went to the admiral's cabin and the emperor, seeing a large rocking chair, exclaimed:

   "What is this for?"

   "For emperors," replied. Admiral Cotton.

   "Then I will take it," said Emperor William.

   Some bottles of champagne were then opened.

   After a quarter of an hour's general talk the emperor left the battleship and Admiral Cotton assembled the entire ship's company aft and thanked them for the condition of the ship, saying that the emperor was very much pleased. He concluded:

   "We are here by order of the president. It is our duty to do all in our power to preserve the feeling of friendship and cordiality between the United States and Germany.

   "Three cheers for his majesty, the emperor."

   The 700 officers and men of the Kearsarge thereupon gave three hearty cheers for Emperor William.

   The emperor received Ambassador Tower on the imperial yacht Hohenzollern immediately after returning from his inspection of the American flagship. His majesty expressed to the ambassador his gratification over his experiences on the Kearsarge.

   "Captain Hemphill knows his business," said Emperor William. "He is a captain who understands his ship. He does not have to ask other people before answering questions."

   The emperor gave a dinner last night on the Hohenzollern to Admiral Cotton, the American captains, Ambassador Tower, United States Naval Attache Potts and all the other members of the United States embassy staff, Prince Henry of Prussia, the German admirals and the other members of the imperial party and Chancellor Von Buelow.

   The presence of the American squadron at Kiel and the consequent functions has quite taken the interest out of the yacht races, which began with competitions among small raters.

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

PRESIDENT WILL ACT.

Will Forward Petition of Jews to the Czar.

DELICATE PIECE OF DIPLOMACY

Inasmuch as Russian Government Has Announced That it Will Not Receive Foreign Representations in Regard to Kishineff Outbreak—May Cause Diplomatic Rupture.

   Washington, June 26.—The call of the Russian ambassador upon Secretary Hay was shorter than usual, but it developed officially the fact that the government of the United States intended to forward the Jewish petition to the czar if it is possible to do so.

   At the White House conference on the 15th inst. the Jews had made the point that the czar was kept from knowledge of the truth as to the condition of the Jews in his empire by the bureaucrats who hedged him about on all sides, and they were sure that if the president would only once assist them in laying their case before the czar himself, he would at once adopt measures to alleviate their condition.

   The president at that hearing promised to do what he could. It was at once perceived that to do what was asked, involved the danger of a short reply, and a disposition developed to regard the full publicity which had been given to the White House conference as sufficient to meet the needs of the case, for it was assumed that the czar could not fail to see some of the newspaper comments and reports upon this subject.

   The Jews, however, were not satisfied with this passive attitude and the president decided to adopt the bold course of sending the petition direct to the czar through the United States embassy at St. Petersburg.

   Officially it is expected that this will be received, but privately it may be stated that there have been no lack of intimations from informed sources that the czar will never be permitted to see the petition, as the Russian prime minister will not receive it for transmission. In fact it is realized that the Russian position is still correctly described in the statement telegraphed from Washington on June 9th, from which this extract is taken:

   "Nor will it be possible for Russia to receive any representations regarding the Kishineff incident from a foreign power. The Russian government takes the same position as that long held by the American government, namely that it refrains from interference in the internal affairs of another power and must insist on similar treatment for itself."

   If there is to be a refusal on the part of the Russian government to receive the Jewish petition, then upon Mr. Riddle, the United States charge of embassy at St. Petersburg, will fall the mortification, for Ambassador McCormick has not yet returned to his post from his hasty visit to Chicago and it is entirely possible that what happens at St. Petersburg when Mr. Riddle undertakes his disagreeable task may delay the ambassador's return to St. Petersburg indefinitely. Of course in such case, Count Cassini, who is sailing a week from yesterday for Russia, might make a correspondingly long stay at home.

   Upon the departure of Count Cassini, Theodore Hansen, the first secretary of the embassy, will act as charge de affaires. He will remain here until the latter part of July, when the embassy will be temporarily established at Bar Harbor, Maine. Count Cassini's summer plans contemplated a return to the United States in September.

 

John P. Brown.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Cause of Floods.

   In a paper of especially timely interest John P. Brown, secretary of the International Society of Arboriculture, predicts that this country is now entering upon a period of disastrous floods, which will become greater and greater until the newspapers will contain items of two or three lines in length such as now come from China, "It is estimated that 1,000,000 lives were lost iu the recent overflow of the Yellow river." The cause of the floods in China, he says, is precisely the cause whose effect is now being seen in this country—the destruction of the forests. The soil of China is unproductive because of its treeless condition, and he contends that Americans have destroyed more timber in sixty years than the Chinese have in 3,000. We are now, he asserts, destroying 25,000 acres of forest daily, or something over 9,000,000 acres annually, and we are planting 5,000,000 trees each year. In other words, for every tree we are planting we are denuding over two acres of their trees, and the time is not far distant when this country will be as treeless as China and as unproductive, according to Mr. Brown, as the deserts of Arizona.

   To the objection that the recent floods in Kansas and South Carolina were not caused by the lack of trees, but by cloudbursts, Mr. Brown replies that it is a well established fact that these cloudbursts are caused by electrical disturbances, and electrical disturbances, in turn, are caused largely by the absence of trees in large bodies. While it is impossible to tell to what extent this is true, it is certain that the influence of forests is very great upon atmospheric conditions. Rains are more regular in sections covered by trees than elsewhere, and the floods are not so severe. The rainfall is more gradual and extends over a greater time.

   Mr. Brown calls attention to another and even more serious result of the destruction of the wooded area of the country. This is the gradual erosion of the soil, as we are told that the rains having washed the productive soil into the river, the fields will become sterile where they are now exceedingly fertile. The less fertile become the fields, of course, the smaller the population they will support. The vast volume of silt which annually flows down such great rivers as the Mississippi and Missouri represents the ruin of thousands of acres of land up stream which has lost its anchorage because of the denudation of the hillsides and the slopes. Acres upon acres of productive soil are being emptied into the gulf of Mexico with a regularity which in the end, says Mr. Brown, must bring poverty upon the agricultural classes up stream, and with the poverty of the agricultural will come the poverty of all other classes.

   After making due allowance for the overzeal of the specialist it must be admitted that the dangers which Mr. Brown predicts are not altogether imaginary. They are more real and threatening than most people realize. The remedy, of course, is to restore the forests, but the planting of 5,000,000 trees annually while above 9,000,000 acres are at the same time being denuded will not do it. There ought to be a tree planted for every one felled by the woodman's ax.

 

THE LOST SEA LION.

Search Made for it—Believed to be Well on Toward the Sea.

   The Binghamton Republican this morning said:

   Nelson Pike, the keeper of the animals in the Cortland [trout] park of Jack Boone, from which the sea lion escaped a few days ago, is in the city, anxiously waiting for news from his wayward pet.

   The lion passed through this city shortly after 7 o'clock on Monday morning, and passed the Casino about 9 o'clock. Mr. Pike learned that he passed Owego some time during Monday night. The people in that village, living near the river, were alarmed during the night by a strange bellowing or barking, evidently made by some animal, but unlike anything they had ever heard. It was not until they learned the next morning of the escaped sea lion, floating down the river that they were able to explain the noise.

   The animal was evidently lonely and bellowing for his mate, while passing through Tioga's county seat.

   Shortly after daylight on Tuesday morning people at Nichols saw the lion swimming down the river past that place.

   Mr. Pike has not been able to learn of the lion being seen below Nichols. He telegraphed to Waverly and Wilkes-Barre, requesting people in those places to be on the watch for the strange creature..

   Mr. Pike says that if he could only get track of the lion, so that he could be on the river bank as the animal passed any place, he could easily call the lion out of the water to him. He says that the animal is as tame as a kitten, and if any of the people who see him only knew what to do they would have no difficulty in catching him, and there is no danger in handling him.

   Mr. Pike thinks that the lion must be well towards Wilkes-Barre by this time. He thinks the animal will keep traveling down the stream most of the time, except perhaps that he may stop occasionally an hour or two at a time in some eddy to catch fish. According to the nature of these animals he will seek to get to salt water; and instinct will tell him that to do that all that is necessary is to follow the river downward.

   A liberal reward is offered to any one who will capture the lion. If any one hears of the runaway, Mr. Pike would be glad to receive word at the Columbia hotel, Binghamton, N. Y.

 

NORMAL CLASS DAY.

Exercises Full of Interest to the Graduating Class.

   In the presence of a crowd that taxed the seating capacity of Normal hall to its utmost, the class day exercises of the class of 1903 were held yesterday afternoon. The rostrum was tastefully decorated with the class colors, palms, ferns and daisies.

   Those taking part in the exercises of the day were seated on the rostrum. The class inarched in and occupied seats reserved for them in the two middle sections. They presented a pretty appearance as they came in, the girls in white, and all wearing their class colors of green and white.

   Music was furnished by the Normal orchestra and the Normal Mandolin and Guitar club.

   The class president, Brainard H. Woodward, was absent taking the Yale entrance examinations at Albany and the president for the day was Robert I. Carpenter who delivered the president's address. He said that this was essentially a day of the class; that after a period of hard work covering several years they had come to the end. As they looked back on the difficulties and hardships they had overcome, the blue haze of time seemed to have softened them and the pleasant times appeared to stand out more clearly. They have had the benefits of hard work without being denied the happiness and pleasure of school life and school environment. The class will soon rank as graduates of a noble institution of learning, and upon those that graduate from year to year depends the rank and standing of that institution.

   Miss Winifred Sexton's poem was one of the best ever given at a class day and was attentively listened to.

   The class historian was Miss Mary E. Hand. She said that the class did not spring into existence at once, some of its members had been here two, some three, and others four years and that it was in senior year that they really became a class in name and spirit. The class will never totally disappear as they have "Hills" and "Rocks" that never pass away. If the class feels "bumpy" Dr. Chaney is to blame as, at the first class meeting, he told them what a splendid class they were.

   Miss Florence Hubbard's solo seemed especially pleasing to the audience.

   The orator of the day was Edgar F. Down, who took as his subject "The Spirit of the Times." He spoke of patriotism, and said that it is being taught in the public schools much more than ever before. It is right that it should be, as it is not easy to tell when our country may reach a crisis. Slavery was the cause of one awful crisis. The antagonism between capital and labor is a menace to our government. They are allied and dependent, the one upon the other. People must be taught that they are dependent upon another, and the schools must do this. Such men as Morgan, Carnegie and Rockefeller should not be held before the people as the great men, but men like Lincoln, Grant, McKinley and President Roosevelt. He urged the graduates to go into their profession determined to work for their fellow men, homes, and country.

   Miss Maude A. Howes was class prophet and the prophecy was full of interest, especially to those who knew the members of the class.

   Miss Belle Hayden's recitation was excellent, and showed the speaker to be possessed of considerable talent along this line.

   J. Earl Griffiths read the will. He said the class left to the Normal a Sexton who would at times relieve Mr. Seeber from ringing the bell; a Butler who would always be found at the door; a gentle Steed, which is more easily led than driven however; a Crook with which Dr. Cheney can keep his flock together and under control; and finally a heavy Bond as a guarantee that the class was in good faith.

   Miss Newkirk's violin solo was well rendered.

   Miss Louise Burt as presentator [sic] for the class presented the Normal with a statue of the Winged Mercury mounted on a pedestal. The gift was accepted by Prof. Cornish in an especially pleasing manner, after which he spoke to the class for a few minutes giving them some good thoughts and advice to carry with them into the active life of their chosen profession.

 

DEATH OF VERNON PHELPS.

Boat Thought to Have Been Upset by a Stump.

   Some further particulars have been received concerning the drowning of Vernon Phelps, formerly of McGraw, in Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks on June 18, which has already been noted in our dispatch columns. It is supposed that the boat in which he was crossing the lake struck a submerged stump, which caused it to upset, as the body was found near such a stump.

   The funeral was held at the home of his brother, Herbert Phelps, and was conducted by Rev. Charles Atwood. He based his remarks upon the beatitude,

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He said this was particularly applicable to the deceased, for he was indeed a pure hearted boy. The choir sang "It is well with my Soul." The burial was at Cranberry Lake.

 

TROLLEY TO ITHACA.

Incorporation Papers Filed With Secretary of State.

NOW CAPITALIIZED AT $200,000.

List of Directors for the First Year—To Connect With the Ithaca Trolley Railroad at the Steel Arch Bridge Over Fall Creek and to Extend to a Point on Tompkins-st. in this City.

   The Ithaca and Cortland Traction company yesterday filed papers of incorporation with Secretary of State O'Brien at Albany. The capital stock of the company is $200,000. The company is to build, maintain and operate an electric railroad from University-ave., Ithaca, where the steel arch bridge crossed Fall creek in Ithaca, to a point on Tompkins-st., in Cortland. These places will be the termini of the road. The road will be twenty miles in length.

   The directors for the first year are: Howard L. Chandler, Philadelphia, Pa., Curtis J. Harrington, New York, Ogden Armstrong, Philadelphia, Pa., Francis S. Howell, of Philadelphia, Pa., James D. Staley, of Philadelphia, Pa., George F. Archer of Camden, N. J., E. H. Chandler of Atlantic City, N. J., and C. Taylor Leland of Philadelphia, Pa.

   The road will connect with the Ithaca Street Railroad at University-ave., in Ithaca, and doubtless an arrangement will be made at this end of the line to connect with the tracks of the Cortland County Traction Co.

   Some weeks ago The Standard forecasted the building of this road. One of the directors mentioned is the proprietor of the proposed new $100,000 hotel at Dryden and be was quoted as saying that he would form a company to build a road from his hotel both to Cortland and Ithaca. Such a railroad will be a great thing for the people along the line as well as for those at the termini.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Regular conclave of Cortland Commandery No 50, Knights Templar, this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —A regular meeting of the Plumber's union will be held tonight. The semi-annual election of officers will occur.

   —There will be a regular meeting of the H. C. Hall circle, No. 439, P. H. C. this evening in the John L. Lewis lodge rooms.

   —The Home Telephone Co. today opened its long distance line to Oswego and all intermediate points.

   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M. will make Homer lodge, No. 352, a visit Monday evening, at which time the third degree will be conferred. A special car will leave from front of Masonic hall, Cortland, at 7:30 o'clock, returning after the ceremonies.

   —More subscription money received today without a mark of any kind upon the coin card to indicate the sender or to whom to credit it. The tender will probably read this, and remember the failure to put on his name. Will he kindly notify us and also state the amount forwarded so that we may surely indentify the writer with the transaction.

 

COMMERCE AND LABOR, USS MAINE SAILED, EPIDEMIC AT ITHACA, TYPHOID CRIME, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND NEW AUDITORIUM

 

George B. Cortelyou.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, February 17, 1903.

COMMERCE AND LABOR.

George B. Cortelyou Head of New Department.

SENATE PROMPTLY CONFIRMED.

Official Career Began in 1889 as Private Secretary to New York Postoffice Inspector—Promoted by President Cleveland — Private Secretary of McKinley and Roosevelt.

   Washington, Feb. 17.—The senate has confirmed the nomination of Hon. George B. Cortelyou to be secretary of commerce and labor under the act creating the new department.

   The nomination was referred to the committee after the senate went into executive session and the committee was polled on the floor.

   Senator Depew reported the nomination with a favorable recommendation. He asked for immediate action and Mr. Cortelyou was confirmed without opposition.

   Mr. Cortelyou, head of the new department of commerce and labor, was born in New York City July 26, 1862. He is descended from a distinguished family, his ancestors being among the leaders in the colonial and revolutionary history of the state of New York.

   After attending public and private schools he was graduated from the Hempstead institute in 1879 and three years later completed his preliminary education at the State Normal school in Westfield, Mass. On leaving the Normal school he entered the New England conservatory of music to continue the musical studies which he had begun early in life.

   Subsequently he became a pupil of Dr. Louis Maas, formerly conductor of the Boston Philharmonic society. It is not generally known that Mr. Cortelyou is an accomplished musician, a thorough student of the best composers and a musical critic of rare ability.

   In order to equip himself for an active business career, Mr. Cortelyou, while continuing his musical studies, began the study of stenography and was graduated from Walworth institute in New York. While acting as an assistant in the Walworth school, he took the clinical course in the New York hospital. He became widely known as an expert medical stenographer, and in association with James F. Munson, author of the Munson system of phonography, reported many notable cases in the courts of New York.

   In politics Mr. Cortelyou is a staunch Republican. His official career in the government may be said to have begun in 1889, when he became private secretary to the postoffice inspector in charge in New York.

   After serving the surveyor of the port of New York as a confidential stenographer, he came to Washington, in July 1891, as private secretary to the fourth assistant postmaster general. His record in the postoffice department was such that in 1895 President Cleveland appointed him executive clerk and confidential stenographer.

   He served President McKinley in the same capacity until 1898, when on account of the vastly increased amount of work at the White House, he was appointed assistant secretary to the president.

   On the retirement of John Addison Porter, Mr. Cortelyou was named as secretary to the president. The wisdom of Mr. McKinley's choice has been demonstrated thoroughly. While Mr. Cortelyou's ability was appreciated before the assassination of President McKinley, the work performed by him during all the anxious days at Buffalo revealed an entirely unexpected phase of his character. His relations with President McKinley were those of tender regard and affectionate friendship, yet notwithstanding his personal suffering his outward demeanor was unruffled.

   He preserved his composure, looked after every detail, provided every care for the stricken president, comforted the bereaved wife, and kept the anxious people informed of the conditions of the distinguished sufferer from hour to hour, day to day. In the presence of a heart consuming sorrow he performed this wonderful work, only his smile was absent. Otherwise he was the same courteous, affable Cortelyou.

   It was at the personal request of President Roosevelt that Mr. Cortelyou continued as secretary to the president and in naming him as the first secretary of the new department of commerce and labor and elevating him to a position in the cabinet, the president has done gladly that which Mr. McKinley probably would have done had he been permitted to provide for the organization of that department.

   Both the president and Mr. Cortelyou have been inundated with congratulations from all sections and classes of the country on the appointment and the senate stamped the nomination with its cordial approval by confirming it unanimously on the day it received the nomination.

 

USS Maine (BB-10).

Maine Sailed to Hampton Roads.

   Philadelphia, Feb. 17.—The new battleship Maine left the League Island navy yard for Hampton Roads where her bunkers will be filled with coal. The war vessel will then proceed to join the North Atlantic squadron at Galveston, Texas. She is in command of Captain Leuize.

 

The Epidemic at Ithaca, N. Y.

Dr. Nash Called from Cortland as an Expert on Typhoid.

   It is thought that this week will mark the crisis of the typhoid fever epidemic in Ithaca us many patients are now approaching the critical period. This being passed it is believed that the stringent preventive measures employed will result in a lessening of the number of cases.

   Physicians interviewed yesterday say they believe the number of deaths will be large during the week and the strain on nurses and doctors will be even more severe than it has been.

   There were four deaths in the city between Saturday afternoon and Monday noon.

   Fifteen physicians Monday reported twenty-six new cases since Saturday afternoon, but several of these were not then positively pronounced as typhoid. Five physicians report that they had sent twenty-seven students home since Saturday.

   The Ithaca News says: "A typhoid fever expert, Dr. E. B. Nash of Cortland, was called to the city today by Dr. A. B. Eadie. Dr. Nash is author of a work on typhoid, is president of the International Hahnemannian association and a professor of materia medica in the New York Homeopathic medical college. He has seen several patients while here and declares that the disease is unquestionably typhoid fever.''

 

Jacob Gould Schurman.

PRESIDENT SCHURMAN MOVES

Boarding House Keepers Must Boil Water—A Filtration Plant.

   President Schurman of Cornell university has sent out four men to make a canvass of all the houses where university students room or are served with meals to secure from the proprietors their signatures to a pledge which in effect states that they will not use or permit to be used in their houses any water for domestic purposes which has not been boiled, In case the proprietors decline to sign the students will be advised by the university authorities to seek quarters elsewhere.

   President Schurman has also taken steps to compel the Ithaca Water Co. to put in a filtration plant, The university holds $100,000 of bonds in the company and is in a position to speak with authority on the subject.

 

Guest editorial.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Typhoid Due to a Crime.

   Typhoid fever is a preventable disease. The Philadelphia Record, therefore, is justifiable in declaring that "wherever there is an epidemic of typhoid fever there is a crime." Somebody, somewhere, sometime is or has been guilty. It may be the authorities who located the water supply at a tainted source. It may be somebody who, after the source had been located, turned into it the drainage of some settlement or town. It may be the farmer who has his well too near the house or a closet. It may be from the milkman who goes from the bedside of a typhoid patient to milk his cows or peddle the milk without disinfecting his clothes. It may be the nurse who neglects or refuses to take proper precautions in her work. Somebody is guilty, for typhoid fever comes from a well defined germ which almost invariably enters the body with drink or food, usually the former.

   Ithaca and Cornell university are now suffering from somebody's crime. Hundreds are ill with typhoid and many have died. If this disease is to be stamped out it must be done, first, by spreading knowledge widely regarding its origin, and, secondly, by sternly calling to account all persons or officials who have recklessly contributed to the propagation of the disease.

 

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

Depositions Taken Concerning the Raid Upon the Park Hotel.

   Seven depositions were taken in the matter of the Park hotel [formerly Messenger House] raid this morning. At 9 o'clock Fireman's hall was filled with onlookers, but when it was found that the statements of the people who were found in the hotel by the officers were to be taken behind closed doors the crowd quickly dispersed. Only City Judge Dougherty, District Attorney Dowd, Chief Barnes and the stenographer were present when each witness gave his or her statement of what transpired at the Park hotel at the time in question.

   No warrant for the arrest of any of the parties has been issued as yet.

 

DEAD IN BED.

David Finn Found in His Room at the Farmers' Hotel.

   David Finn, a brother of Cabman Isaac Finn, was found dead in his bed in his room at the Farmers' hotel where he boarded a little before 11 o'clock this morning. Death was due to heart disease.

   At about 7 o'clock this morning A. D. Beedle of the hotel went to his room, but did not disturb him as he appeared to be resting. The next time he went to the room the sick man was in the same position that he had been found in before, and Mr. Beedle then thought he would investigate the matter.

   The dead man's brother was notified at once and Dr. Johnson was summoned, but all attempts to revive him were in vain. The body was taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. Verne Coville, 72 Cleveland-st., and the funeral will be held from the house at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Burial in Cortland. Deceased was nearly 46 years of age.

   Beside the brother and sister referred to Mr. Finn is survived by his mother, Mrs. Mary Finn of Ithaca, a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Davenport of Ithaca, and three brothers, George Finn of Cortland, Alderman W. M. Finn of Scranton, Pa., and Alderman A. S. Finn of Millerton.

 

DISAPPEARED UTTERLY.

Lloyd Campbell Has Not Been Seen Since Wednesday.

ALL VIRGIL SEARCHING FOR HIM.

Sixteen Year Old Boy of Excellent Habits—Worked for Jacob Shults—Left House in Working Clothes—Last Seen at 4 p. m. at Virgil Corners Headed for Home—No Explanations or Theories.

   All of Virgil in the vicinity of the village is excited over the mysterious disappearance from that town last Wednesday of Lloyd Campbell, 16 years old. The young man is a son of James Campbell who lives on Virgil south hill, and since Nov. 17 last has been at work for Jacob Shults who lives between his home and the village and about 1 1/2 miles from the village. The last positive sight of him was at about 4 o'clock that afternoon when he was in the village and was at the postoffice and was then seen to start east from the village headed toward Mr. Shults' farm.

   Mr. Shults was in Cortland that day and the lad was at home alone with the exception of Mrs. Wieland, Mr. Shults' sister. He continued his work as usual during the forenoon, but about 2 o'clock left the house, wearing his working clothes, and headed toward the village. This is the first time he had left the place since being engaged there without speaking to Mr. Shults about it or asking permission to leave. He has an excellent reputation in the town and in his home neighborhood, having no bad habits whatever, never drinking and not using tobacco in any form.

   His father says that in the fall he talked about going down into Pennsylvania in the spring and seeking work, but so far as he knows he had given that all up. That very Wednesday afternoon William Munsey at the store asked the lad what he was going to do this year and the reply was that he had decided to remain where he was with Mr. Shults during the summer.

   It is remembered now that while he was in the postoffice he was seen to read through very carefully the big poster hanging there calling for young men to enlist in the United States army, but he made no comment upon the bill.

   While Mr. Shults was returning from Virgil he saw in the road some distance in front of him a young man walking toward Cortland, but the young man turned in at a farm house on the road and disappeared behind the barns, and Mr. Shults thought no more about him till his employee was discovered to be missing, and then he fell to wondering whether it could have been he whom he saw in the road and whether the boy recognized him coming had dodged out of sight.

   It is known that some time ago he was kicked on the head by a horse. And the question is now raised whether or not he was Wednesday in full possession of all his faculties, though he had never manifested any lack of sanity, so far as known.

   When last seen he was wearing a drab felt hat, striped overalls, and rubber boots. Recollection differs as to whether or not he had on his overcoat. If so, it was a blue beaver. He was of medium height, weighing about 165 pounds, and had a prominent nose.

 

THE NEW AUDITORIUM

To be Fitted up by the Cortland Conservatory of Music.

   The Cortland Conservatory of Music has contracted with the Readsboro Chair Co. of Vermont for 311 new folding opera chairs for its new auditorium on the third floor of the new Tanner building on Main-st. These chairs will have a wire rack for hats beneath the seats and a folding rack behind each back for ladies' opera cloaks. This will be one of the finest little auditoriums in the vicinity when it is fitted up. It will have a total seating capacity of about 370, and loose chairs will be used to fill in when necessary beyond the requirements of the opera chairs.

   The stage will be the full width of the block 25 feet, and will have a depth of 12 feet with space in front of it for doubling the depth temporarily when needful.

   The lighting of the room will be like that of the First Baptist church, with separate incandescent lights about the sides of the room and within pear-shaped globes and frosted shades.

   The rooms will be ready for occupancy about April 1.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Seven suicides have occurred in Syracuse within the past month.

   —The Geneva fire department has bought a new team for its chemical [cart]. Cost $250.

   —The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30, with Mrs. F. J. Peck, 41 Tompkins-st.

   —A carload of scenery has been received in Cortland to he used in the presentation of the extravaganza "Cinderella."

   —A charity euchre party at Ithaca on Saturday afternoon netted over $300 which will be given to the city hospital to assist in its present emergency.

   —Mr. G. H. Wiltsie has rented the Copeland place at the corner of Homer and Fitz-aves., and will take possession of it with his family April 1.

   —This is a typical town meeting day for the county districts. The country roads were by noon fast filling up, und those who voted early this morning were fortunate.

   —The members of the L. C. B. A. and the C. M. B. A. will hold a social in C. M. B. A. hall this evening. A musical entertainment will be given. There will also be dancing and refreshments. All members with their friends are invited to attend.

—New display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Boys' suits and overcoats, page 7; Smith & Beaudry, Wallpaper, page 8; M. A. Case, Kid gloves, page 6; McGraw & Elliott, Cameras, etc., page 6; W. W. Walters, Shoe dressing free, page 7; A. Mahan, Pianos, etc., page 8.

— Mrs. Adaline M. Norton, widow of the late W. H. Norton, died yesterday at her home, 26 North Greenbush-st. The funeral will be held at the house Thursday at 2 p. m. Burial in Homer. A more extended notice will be given later.