WHERE IS THERE ANY COMFORT FOR THE FARMER?

The Cortland News, Friday, September 3, 1886.

TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.

PREBLE, September 2, 1886.

   Walter Briggs had the misfortune to have one of his cows shot in the udder by some one that was hunting on Monday.
   J. Gray started last week for Virginia. He launched his boat at Port Watson Bridge on Monday and sailed at one o'clock.

   Charley Gay is leading off on the game question. He took a trip a few days ago and brought in twelve gray squirrels.

   It is strange how the city folks envy the farmers, because of their luxurious position. Let us see about this. A close observer will see the industrious farmer crawl out of bed four hours before daylight, soften his boots with a hammer, and commence his day's work with a lantern in one hand and a bucket in the other. He has from one to a hundred hogs which shove their noses in his face or tip the contents of his buckets on him where it freezes until he looks like a skating rink. When he has escaped from the hog pen, he hunts up six or seven buckets, crawls through a wire fence to milk 21 cows. These animals wait until he has the buckets nearly filled, when they kick it over aiming so that the contents will kalsomine such parts of the clothing as the hogs spared. Now and then they vary the monotony by kicking him instead of the bucket, which makes him feel tired and homesick. When he has fed the hens and watered the cattle and hunted three hours for a twenty cent pig, and chopped some apple tree wood for the house, and carried forty buckets of water to the house, and shoveled a road through ten feet of snow--by this time breakfast is ready, and while eating, the clock strikes ten. This is gone through with twice a day for a year. Where is there any comfort for the farmer? I ask my city friend.

TRUXTON, September 2, 1886.

   There are great signs of a new bridge over a branch of the Tioughnioga river on Maiden Lane, also repairs have been made to the highway at the east end of the street which has been in such a condition for a long time, that persons who were obliged to ride over it were in danger of dislocating their joints, and it seemed strange to relate that the spirit of enterprise should be confined wholly to one end of the street and that Cook Arnold should have the best road, which certainly does great credit to the above mentioned gentleman.

EAST HOMER, September 2, 1886.

   The M. E. Sunday School picnic was held at the input of Greggs Gulf on Friday, the 27th ult., and a very enjoyable time was had by those who attended. There was the usual routine of singing, speechifying and eating "goodies." The Rev. Mr. Harris, W. R. Woodward and Dr. Hinman were among the members called upon for remarks, who responded briefly in a few well chosen words suitable to the occasion, interspersed with singing by the choir after which all responded readily and without excuse to the call for dinner, and judging from appearances, was highly relished. The thanks of the entire assembly numbering nearly eighty persons, were given with a will to William Story, who kindly and without charge, gave them the use of these romantic and rustic grounds for the picnic. Many enjoyed a ramble up the gulf paying a visit to the "Devils Den" and "three basins" and two or three of the boys succeeded in capturing a "speckled beauty." We had better go again was the judgment of all.

   The Harford correspondent of the NEWS attempted, briefly to answer my inquiry respecting the "influence of the moon upon us and ours" in your issue of the 20th inst., for which, Mr. H't., please accept my thanks, but, even this brief attempt is far from being satisfactory to me. I must be very dull or very incredulous, or perhaps exacting in requiring more evidence to invite my faith to take in simple assertion upon either side of this question. What has an "unlucky Friday" to do with the moon anyway? Or the superstition of people upon any other question? I would like to know all about the moon if one can tell! I want to plant my seeds next spring just at the right time, in or out of the moon. The Preble correspondent gives me no encouragement by his remarks in the same issue, he says, "There is no philosophical reason." That sweeps the board with one stroke! I am now suspended between a superstitious idea as to the moon's influence upon us and ours, and an assertion. Who will deliver me from this confused confusion?

"Read your answers in the stars,

You'll find no conundrums there."—ED.

Charleston earthquake, courtesy South Carolina State Museum.

THE SHAKING EARTH.

South and Eastern Portions of the United States Visited by Earthquakes.

   Earthquake shocks of considerable severity were felt over a considerable portion of the United States Tuesday night, extending from New York to Mobile, Ala., and as far west as Detroit. Mich. By far the greatest damage was done at Charleston, S. C. where houses were shaken down, telegraphic communication interrupted and a great many lives lost.

   CHARLSTON, S. C. Sept. 1.--An earthquake such has never before been known in this city swept over Charleston last night shortly after 10 p. m., causing more loss and injury to property, and far more loss of life than the cyclone of a year before. The city is wrecked, the streets are encumbered with masses of fallen bricks and tangled telegraph and telephone wires, and up to an early hour it was impossible to pass from one part of the city to another. The first shock was by far the most severe. Most of the people with their families passed the night in the streets, which even this morning are crowded with people afraid to re-enter their homes. More than sixty persons were killed and wounded, chiefly colored. Among the whites killed and fatally hurt are M. J. Lynch, Dr. R. Alexander Hammond and Ainsly Robeson. Fire broke out in different parts of the city immediately after the earthquake, and some are still burning, but there is no danger of their spreading. There is no way of leaving the city at present.

   At 8:25 a. m. to-day another [shock] wave swept over the city, coming as the other did from the Southeast, and, going in a Northeast direction. By that time the people who had been out in the parks and open places all night had, many of them, ventured into their houses to get clothing and food. The approach of the earthquake was heralded by the usual rumbling sound resembling distant thunder. Then [as] it gradually approached the earth quivered and heaved, and in three seconds had passed, the sound dying out in the distance. This is the only wave felt since 2:30 this morning. It was not destructive, all the destruction having been done at 10:35 last night.

   The city is a complete wreck. St. Michael's and St. Phillip's churches, two of the most heroic churches in the city, are in ruins. So is the Hibernian hall, the police station and many other public buildings. Fully two-thirds of the residences in the city are unhabitable [sic], wrecked either totally or partly. It is impossible at this time to give a correct estimate of the casualties. It is expected that between fifty and 100 persons have been killed and several hundred wounded. At the time of the shock fire broke out in five different places in the city. About 20 houses were destroyed by fire. Scarcely 100 houses in the city are occupied at this time, the people being encamped in the open places. All the stores are closed, and it is feared that there will be a scarcity of provisions, not from want of provisions, but because no one can be got to reach the stores to sell them.

   The city is wrapped in gloom, and business is suspended. People generally remain in the streets in tents and under improvised shelters and will camp out tonight, fearing another shock. The gas works are injured, and probably the city will be without light to-night. St. Michael's church was shattered, and the steeple will come down; likewise the steeple of St. Phillips. The steeple of the Unitarian church has fallen. The portico of the city hall and the main station house are demolished. There is much injury to mansions and [to] the East and South battery. The portico of the Ravenal mansion is down. Hardly a house in the city escaped injury, and many are so shaken and cracked that a hard blow would bring them to the ground. The shock was severe at Summerville and Mt. Pleasant and Sullivan's Island, but no loss of life is reported there. Fissures in the earth are noticed from which fine sand apparently from a great depth exudes a sulphurous smell.

Reference:

1886 Charleston earthquake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1886_Charleston_earthquake

 

 

CHEAP WATCHES

    

Railroad conductor's pocket watch

     If you were in the market for a watch in 1880, would you know where to get one? You would go to a store, right? Well, of course you could do that, but if you wanted one that was cheaper and a bit better than most of the store watches, you went to the train station! Sound a bit funny? Well, for about 500 towns across the northern United States, that's where the best watches were found.

     Why were the best watches found at the train station? The railroad company wasn't selling the watches, not at all. The telegraph operator was. Most of the time the telegraph operator was located in the railroad station because the telegraph lines followed the railroad tracks from town to town. It was usually the shortest distance and the right-of-way had already been secured for the rail line.

     Most of the station agents were also skilled telegraph operators and that was the primary way that they communicated with the railroad. They would know when trains left the previous station and when they were due at their next station. And it was the telegraph operator who had the watches. As a matter of fact they sold more of them than almost all the stores combined for a period of about 9 years.

     This was all arranged by "Richard", who was a telegraph operator himself. He was on duty in the North Redwood, Minnesota train station one day when a load of watches arrived from the East. It was a huge crate of pocket watches. No one ever came to claim them.

     So Richard sent a telegram to the manufacturer and asked them what they wanted to do with the watches. The manufacturer didn't want to pay the freight back, so they wired Richard to see if he could sell them. So Richard did. He sent a wire to every agent in the system asking them if they wanted a cheap, but good, pocket watch. He sold the entire case in less than two days and at a handsome profit.

     That started it all. He ordered more watches from the watch company and encouraged the telegraph operators to set up a display case in the station offering high quality watches for a cheap price to all the travelers. It worked! It didn't take long for the word to spread and, before long, people other than travelers came to the train station to buy watches. Richard became so busy that he had to hire a professional watch maker to help him with the orders. That was Alvah. And the rest is history as they say.

     The business took off and soon expanded to many other lines of dry goods. Richard and Alvah left the train station and moved their company to Chicago -- and it's still there.

     Yes, it is a little known fact, that for a while in the 1880's, the biggest watch retailer in the country was at the train station. It all started with a telegraph operator: Richard Sears and his partner Alvah Roebuck!

Editor’s note:

   This unvetted story was sent to a CC contributor as email on the Internet. It fits the time period of our ongoing publication of 1880's archived newspaper articles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears
Narrative History of Sears 

CIVIC DUTY

CIVIC DUTY        

Happy New Year. Yes, citizens, it's 2014, another election year; time to perform your civic duty--voting. As usual, you will listen to the debates, study the issues, and tune into your favorite pundits. Having formed firm opinions, you will then vote (usually for the same party as last time) and consider your civic duty complete. What else can one do? Afterwards, you can sit back and observe the results, satisfied that this time is different.

Many of you are aware, some of you keenly aware, of the corruption issue in Washington but consider it to be minor in comparison to the earth-shaking issues at stake between the parties. Fine, go ahead, form, or affirm, your opinions and vote. But don't stop there, recognize that your vote, and all our votes, count for less and less each year. If you can write a check for $5.00, you can add your voice to those struggling to restore our democracy, to reclaim it from special interests. Stop bitching and do something, however small, to change the system.

Not that important? How much waste and inefficiency can our economy, our society, bear and still take care of our basic needs? If one looks at all our unmet, legitimate needs, combined with our growing debt, one has to conclude that we are already overburdened with waste and inefficiency. Perhaps, you believe that the shortfall can be taken care of by raising taxes -- but only on the rich. Sadly, even this option is unavailable thanks to corruption.

Consider the following:

Our nation's infrastructure is deteriorating when it should be improving for our international competitiveness (jobs) and our standard of living. Can you imagine the circus that would result from special interest infighting--even if we had the money?

Our K-12 educational system is too expensive and its output adds to our welfare rolls and is a burden, not an advantage to business. How do the teachers' unions manage to get away with this year after year?

And our tax code, on which we spend $80B a year just to be in compliance--our pols are thinking of reforming it again. The objective, of course, is to make it more fair. Oh, and by the way, to collect even more in bribes from special interests.

Here are a few places where you might help to make a difference:

www.rootstrikers.org  

www.unitedrepublic.org    

www.freespeechforpeople.org

www.anticorruptionact.org

Joe Bakewell

STRIKE, is now available in paperback. You can obtain it on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble (use title and my full name). Or, from me $12.00 post paid.

Hammond Family of Marathon, New York

The Cortland News, Friday, August 27, 1886.

Hammond Family Picnic

   The eleventh annual picnic of the Hammond family (descendants of Dea. John Hammond, who was one of the first settlers of the town of Marathon, in this county, having settled there in the year 1813) was held Aug. 20, 1886, on the grounds of T. L. Corwin, in the village of Marathon. The day was perfect and the early trains from the north brought many from quite a distance to meet their friends and kindred. Mr. and Mrs. Corwin were busy welcoming those who arrived and made everyone feel at home.

   About 1 p. m. one hundred sat down to the well loaded tables and after all had been served the tables were again prepared and about eighty more were fed, and the baskets showed an abundance left.

   The Marathon Band were present and gave some very fine music.

   Mr. Corwin then called to order and said that perhaps it would seem amiss to come down to dry toast after so bountiful a repast, but proposed the Hammond family as the first bit. C. A. Hammond, of Syracuse spoke of the name as he had found it in ancient and modern history and also of the family as being upright and temperate it got famous [sic]. J. B. Hammond, of Michigan, spoke of the numbers of the family descended from our common ancestor in Michigan as being nearly equal to those in this State, there being in all over 400.

   The toast, "Our Country," was responded to by Rev. A. H. Todd in pleasing and patriotic remarks.

   Captain J. W. Strowbridge responded to the toast, "Patriotism of the Hammond Family."

   "Banking and Finance" by J. H. Tripp, of Marathon.

   T. L. Corwin spoke eloquently and gallantly of "Woman."

   Agriculture found a strong advocate in G. P. Squires.

   "Hammond Family Homes." Rev. E. W. Brown spoke of the institution of home as being the basis of true government and the place to strengthen and build up virtue and constancy.

   "G. A. R. Band." J. H. Tripp spoke well merited words for the band.

   "Our Host and Hostess." Rev. A. H. Todd said: Our host and hostess are a host in themselves, physically, and have shown to-day that they are each a host in entertaining their friends. Long may they live.

   The band interspersed the exercises with fine music and after the literary feast was concluded a vote was taken and the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Corwin accepted to meet with them on the 21st day of August, 1887. A vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. C. was given with a will and all went their way hoping to meet again.

Steamer Glen Haven at Skaneateles Lake

Camping on Skaneateles Lake.

   Having a day of pleasure at my disposal I concluded to take a drive and visit friends who I knew were camping near the head of Skaneateles lake. Starting from Cortland the drive was a beautiful one. passing through Homer and Scott After reaching the head of the lake I came to Fair Haven, where is being built a large hotel for summer boarders. From there the road was rather rough but the scenery was very romantic and the view of the lake beautiful. I soon traveled the next mile, passing numerous cottages, and arrived at Willow Tree Point safe and sound, where I found the party camping, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Miller, son and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. McDermid, Mr. Albert Stevens and wife and Wm. Jones and wife, who were with the party when they camped but had returned home now. Mr. O. D. Patrick and the ladies had just returned from a five mile row on the lake, visiting Glen Haven on the route.

   When we sat down to a sumptuous dinner, served by the ladies of the camp, who happen to be just the ones that can serve a dinner in fine shape and at the right time I noticed the healthy countenances of the whole party as well as the keen appetites. I came to the conclusion that the bringing of my medicine chest was an unnecessary precaution. Dinner over, each one of the party sought their own amusement, some upon the land and others upon the water, a portion of the time listening to the beautiful strains of music made by a brass band as it was being taken down the lake upon the steamer "Glen Haven." I never saw a more contented, happy party, as well they might be, having one of the most pleasant points on the lake, being able to see nearly the entire length of it.

   At 4:30 o'clock I bade adieu to the party in camp and wended my way back to Cortland, regretting that I too was not numbered with the "campers upon the banks of Skaneateles Lake.

RHODE ISLAND

Family Poisoned in McDonough.

   The family of Ephriam Mead, of McDonough, purchased a quantity of Epsom salts and sugar of lead at the drug store in that place. The salts was to be taken internally by the children and sugar of lead used as a wash for a rash that had appeared on their face. Instead of the salts the lead was put in some cider and given to the children for a day or two, it is said, but with no serious effect owing to the small quantity used. Not so, however, with Mr. Mead, who concluded to take a dose of salts on Thursday and instead took two tablespoonfuls of the sugar of lead. Of course that quantity of poison had serious effect, and Mr. Mead's life was despaired of, and at last accounts he was not out of danger. The packages of medicine were not properly labeled.-Oxford Times.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Normal [School] opens for the fall term at 8:45 a. m., next Wednesday morning.

   Rosencrans, of Homer, defeated Rood, at this place, in a three mile skating race at the Pioneer Rink on Saturday evening.

   The premium list for the county fair has been issued and copies may be had by calling on or addressing E. M. Keator.

   Rev. James C. Beecher, of Cos Cob, Conn., brother of Henry Ward and Thos. K. Beecher, committed suicide at the water cure in Elmira, Wednesday evening, by shooting.

   Eight car loads of people came to Cortland from Elmira on Wednesday and picnicked at the trout ponds. The excursion was under the auspices of the United Friends.

   It is reported that millions of grasshoppers have made their appearance near Oneida and are devouring everything in the shape of grain and vegetables, leaving the land as bare as in the spring. The loss will be heavy.

   The maple trees in front of Wm. R. Randall's residence on Main street have been trimmed up to about thirty feet from the ground during this week, giving Main street a much more pleasant and tidy appearance.

   The building of the Box Loop Company on Port Watson street is being enlarged and raised a story in order to make room for increasing business. Who says Cortland's industries are not growing?

   U. S. Bank Examiner, Clark, was in town this week examining the condition of the three national banks of this village. Mr. Clark expresses himself as satisfied with the way Cortland banks are run and says that few in the State can compare with them.

   The annual temperance picnic is being held at the Floral Trout Park to-day. Rev. J. B. French delivers an address during the afternoon and in the evening Mechanic's Band [will] give an open air concert. The grounds will be illuminated. Admission 10 cents.

   Mr. L. S. Crandall, inventor of the Crandall type writer, has commenced an action against James Densmore, of Brooklyn, for slander, for $100,000. The defendant has made answer to the complaint and intends to justify. J. & T. E. Courtney are attorneys for Crandall and A. P. Smith for defendant.

   Patrick McSweeney was severely injured at the Cortland Wagon Company's shops on Wednesday, while running a buzz saw. A splinter of hard wood flew from the piece he was cutting, striking him in the left groin, cutting a large gash. Drs. H. T. Dana and J. W. Hughes dressed the wound, which bled freely for a time, and it was feared that the femoral artery had been opened.

   Highway Commissioners, Morehouse and Conable, have been engaged this week in making a survey of North Main street from Benham's corner to Adams street [Homer Avenue] with a view to widening that thoroughfare. The labors were completed on Wednesday and the right of way secured and stakes driven for the line of the road, which will be about twenty-five feet wider than heretofore. Since the horse railroad track was put down that part of Main street has been an uncomfortable bit of road to drive on, but with a carriage way on the north side of the track, will again become popular. The work of grading the new part will be commenced at once.

   Actions are being commenced by Mantanye & Van Auken, of this village, in behalf of Mrs. A. F. Mantanye and others of Cortland, against the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad Company for injuries and damages sustained by the overturning of a street car near the S. B. & N. Y. railroad crossing between Cortland and Homer, July 29th, last. The accident was caused by careless, rapid driving over a defective or unfinished  piece of road. The road has since been repaired and the driver team discharged, as he had been made of twice before [sic]…. Mrs. Mantanye was severely injured and has since remained… at the residence of her father.

   We don't know which is worse for an alleged Republican editor to knife Chas. J. Folger, or an alleged Democratic editor to go back on David Bennett Hill. If reports are correct we have both in this town, and each is chiding the other with it. Another case of the pot calling the kettle black.

   Fire destroyed the entire business portion of Earlville, Madison county on Saturday last. Fifteen houses, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two hotels, six stores, three saloons, a barber shop, the post-office, Methodist church, two meat markets and two shoe stores were burned. Twenty-eight families comprising 110 persons were made homeless. Loss $123,000, insurance $80,000.

   The house belonging to John Barnes, situated about two miles north of Solon was burned to the ground on Sunday. Mr. Barnes was in Cuyler and about noon Mrs. Barnes and young Barney Barnes were alone in the house. She had just been out in the yard and gathered a few dry hemlock chips and started a good fire in the stove. In a few minutes the roof of the house was on fire. A bed and a few chairs was about all that were saved. Mr. Barnes lost an arm in the war and received a discharge. He has now lost a house and with it his discharge papers. He, however, receives an insurance that will partly cover the loss of the house, and a pension of $24 a month.