1893 AGRICULTURAL FAIR NOTES

George J. Mager.

Cortland County Fairgrounds.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 28, 1893.

Agricultural Fair Notes.

   The preparations for the agricultural fair on September 12-15th next, are gradually chrystalizing into completeness, and we are assured that everything will soon be in readiness for the great festival. Not having had a full-fletched exhibition for several years past, and the general prediction in the early part of the season that none would be held, it has required extraordinary efforts on the part of the managers to overcome that feeling and prediction, but judging from the program of attractions which is in store for us, we are free to say that the exhibition of '93 will be a grand and memorable affair. Get yourself and your exhibits ready for the big fair.

   The premium [awards] list has been revised and enlarged and will soon be published in the papers and also in pamphlet form.

   Messrs. Maher Brothers will present a fine black Derby hat to the party who will have the largest number of relatives upon the grounds on any one day during the fair.

   Prof. W. Eugene Powers very generously gives one of his best Indian ink life-sized portraits to the best lady driver [trotting] on the grounds. The portrait will be handsomely framed and may be of the lady herself or of any other person whom she may designate,

   A grand air-ship ascension will be made by Prof. Carl B. Myers, one day during the fair. Prof. Myers is a professional aeronautical engineer and promises to give a magnificent and thrilling voyage among the clouds.

   The large and prosperous society of patrons of husbandry will hold a picnic on the grounds on the second day of the fair, September 13th, at which time Ex-Governor Luce, of Michigan, a member of their fraternity and an able and brilliant speaker, will deliver an address. A committee consisting of Messrs. F. W. Webb, J. D. F. Woolston and F. J. Collier, have the arrangements in charge.

   Messrs. D. P. Wallace & Co., donate a beautiful picture valued at fifteen dollars to be used by the society as they may elect. The object for which it will be given will be announced later in the premium list.

   Dr. E. M. Santee is making arrangements for a grand bicycle tournament to take place one day during the fair. Suitable prizes will be presented to the contestants.

   Mr. C. R. Payne of Hamilton, N. Y., an expert judge of cattle, has been engaged for that department. The officers are now in search of an equally competent party to act as judge of horses.

   The celebrated Cortland City Band has been engaged for the four days of the fair. Their concerts alone will be worth the price of admission.

   Mr. G. J. Mager, the secretary of the association, who is compiling the Fair pamphlet, respectfully asks all those who have the welfare and success of the fair at heart, to aid the undertaking by inserting business cards into the little books. Besides it being an excellent advertising medium, it will be replete with matters of interest, and as a souvenir and for reference, it will be invaluable.

   The secretary is now prepared to receive applications from good and competent men to serve as guards, gatemen, watchmen and police during the four days of the exhibition. He is also in readiness to receive bids for the privilege of selling refreshments, pop-corn, &c, under the grand stand, or for any other lawful privilege upon the grounds of the association.

Gov. Roswell Flower.

THE GOVERNOR AND COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

To be at the Cortland County Fair, Thursday. Sept. 14, 1893.

   Governor Flower and Commissioner of Agriculture Schraub have accepted an invitation from the managers of the Cortland County Agricultural Society, to visit the fair on Wednesday, September 14, the second day. The people will be highly favored at their fair by having in attendance the Governor of the Empire State, who is chief executive over more people than any one person on the American continent, save the president, and as a statesman has few equals and no superiors.

   The governor takes a great personal interest in all matters pertaining to agriculture and during his term of office has done more than any of his predecessors have been able to accomplish in years, in furthering the interest of the farming class. The State has now for the first time in its history a fully organized department of agriculture, charged with the enforcement of the laws pertaining to agricultural interests and particularly charged with the prosecution of any charges for fraudulent deception in these products, a position which renders it essential that the executive head of the department should be a competent and efficient lawyer. As is well known the farmers are indebted to Governor Flower for the creation of this department, especially charged with protecting and guarding their interests.

   The Hon. Frederick C. Schraub, commissioner of agriculture is at the head of the agricultural department of the great State of New York, which is the greatest agricultural State in the union and as such commissioner, he passes upon all matters pertaining to agriculture, and has already inaugurated many improvements in the agricultural department, which will prove of great benefit to the industry and has shown that he is possessed of rare executive abilities and as an orator has few equals, and Cortland county will take just pride in having the governor and the first commissioner of agriculture at the fair.

.30-40 Krag-Jorgensen rifle.

NEW ARMY GUN.

It Carries a Small Bullet but is Terribly Destructive.

   The United States army officials recently adopted a new arm for the infantry. After a sufficient number of arms are manufactured to supply the army, the National Guard of different States will be supplied. The arm is known as the Krag-[Jorgensen] gun, and is much superior to any recently adopted by the foreign powers. The gun is thirty caliber, shooting a ball about the size of a pea. It has a magazine holding seven cartridges and can be used as a magazine or a single firing gun. The cartridge used is bottle-necked to hold the requisite amount of powder. Smokeless powder may be used. The ball may be either of lead, steel or copper. There is no perceptible recoil. The barrel is some six inches shorter than the present arm, and is in two parts, the true barrel and an outside tube, by which it is confined to the stock. There is an air space between them. The object of this outside tube is two-fold. It prevents the gun from getting so hot that it cannot be used, and the true barrel is not affected by the bands which are liable to contract when the gun gets hot.

   The power of this gun is great, its range is two miles, it will shoot at 600 yards without any perceptible fall. It will penetrate two courses of brick and about thirty inches of seasoned pine. It would go through several ranks of men. The gun weighs about a pound and a half less than the old arm.

Call for County Convention.

   There will be a People's Party County Convention held at Cortland on Saturday August 12, 1893, at one o'clock P. M., to place in nomination for the coming election one Member of Assembly, one County Treasurer, one School Commissioner, one Coroner and one Justice of Sessions, also to elect delegates to State Convention.

   Primaries should be called as soon as August 5, 1893.

   July 26, 1893.

   By ORDER OF COUNTY COMM.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   Tom King, the horse thief who escaped from the Oklahoma city jail three weeks ago, was captured on Saturday at Guthrie City. O. T. The prisoner proves to be a woman. She has been masquerading as a man and leading a daring band of horse thieves.

   Western New York farmers report the prospect of fine crops. Hay and all grain will exceed the average. The grape yield will be an enormous one, while peaches and plums will be abundant. The apple crop, however, will be a failure, and pears will also be scarce.

   The amount of the indemnity demanded by France from Siam is said to have been abated from 3,000,000 francs to 2,500,000 francs or less. The territorial demand represents 95,000 square miles.

   The Rev. Isaac Heath of Windsor, Broome county, who is seventy-eight years old, has sheared 300 sheep this season.

   New York has 300,000 working women.

   It is stated that Cayuga County Agricultural Society have an indebtedness of eleven thousand dollars.

   The Dryden woolen mills have closed for the present and the employes are seeking work in other directions.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Pumpkin Club held a picnic in Salisbury's grove Tuesday.

   Don't fail to attend the wheelmen's tournament on the fair grounds to-morrow.

   Mr. J. Hub. Wallace has purchased Mrs. S. C. Putnam's house and lot on Greenbush-st.

   Mr. Chas. Andrews has sold his stock of groceries in the store on Railway-ave., to Mr. F. Allen who has taken possession.

   Mr. Jesse L. Judd, village collector, on account of physical infirmities has been obliged to resign the office of village collector, and Mr. Geo. T. Latimer has been appointed to fill the vacancy.

   Malachi Collins, the man who created so much trouble Thursday evening July 18, when arrested by officer Goldsmith, plead guilty to public intoxication and was fined $10. The officer withdrew the complaint for assaulting an officer.

   All wheelmen whether members of the Wheel club or not, are requested to join the parade, which starts at the headquarters of the club in the DEMOCRAT Building, Railroad-st., Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. The ladies will set the pace and will be given the right of the line.

   There will be no longer three sizes of postal cards as the Postmaster General has decided to adopt one size for both single and reply cards. The uniform size will be 3 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches and is that now known as the international size, it being generally used by all countries composing the national postal union.

   Thursday afternoon while the editor of the Sentinel was helping make ready a pamphlet form on the large cylinder press his left foot was caught in the machinery and his first and second toes were crushed in a terrible manner. Dr. H. C. Hendrick dressed the wounds and the editor is now taking time to get acquainted with his family.—McGrawville Sentinel.

   The seventh annual reunion of the Central New York Veteran Association will be held at Sylvan Beach, Saturday, August 12th. Good speaking and music will be the attractions. Low rates have been secured on all railroads and a good time generally may be expected. Maj. Joseph P. Cleary, Department Commander, and other well known veterans have been invited and are expected to be present and address the assembly.

   The first address at the third annual Assembly at Floral Trout Park, will be given July 30 by Mrs. Helen M. Gougar of Indiana, subject, "Our Harvest." Mrs. Cougar has won for herself as a lecturer an enviable reputation and stands without a peer on the American platform. She is witty, humorous and at the same time eloquent and instructive. No one should miss hearing her. Other attractions for other dates will be announced later.

   Two well-known and well dressed ladies and a boy walked past the residence of Mr. J. L. Watrous on Clinton-ave., last Sunday evening. The house appeared to be closed and the boy went into the yard, pulled up a handsome foliage plant by the roots, overtook the ladies and handed it to one of them, who placed it under her wrap and walked on. Mr. H. D. Watrous was sitting in a room in the second story of the house, saw the whole transaction, knows the women and ought to tell who they are.

   The roof of the Howe Stove company's works caught fire last Friday, but the fire was discovered and extinguished before much damage was done.

   Mr. H. S. Hudson has purchased the entire property of the Ellijay Land company at Ellijay, Ga. He has resigned his position with the Cortland Wagon Co.

   The members of the Tioughnioga Club will have an excursion to Taughannic Falls [sic], on Cayuga Lake, next Friday, August 4. Special train leaves Cortland at 8:45 and returns to Cortland at 7:15. A special steamer on Cayuga lake will be at the service of members during the day. Dinner served at the Taughannic House. Good music in attendance.

 

 

FRESH AIR ITEMS

William R. George.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 28, 1893.

Fresh Air Items.

   The characteristics of the children who went to West Dryden (through the kindness of Mr. Arthur Baker) to eat cherries, and to have a good time, were exemplified in quite dissimilar ways. The three most prominent characters were Silas, Morris and Joe. Silas was pronounced the champion cherry picker, and as he counted the number of quarts he had picked he expressed a modest desire to send a few of the many be had picked to his parents in the city.

   Morris remembered his parents who were left at the camp, and as he came in with each succeeding pailful he would remark, "they are for my mamma."

   And Joe, did he think of any one but Joe? He came to West Dryden to eat cherries and be was going to enjoy it to the fullest extent. He had conquered all fear and was willing to climb the highest tree. He went up a victor but alas he came down vanquished, and as he laboriously wended his way to the barn his very look seemed to say, "let me sleep and forget my misery and think of cherries no more."

   The children were guests of the members of the Presbyterian church of Cortland last Sabbath. They highly enjoyed an early morning ride from Freeville. The pastor, Dr. Robertson, preached a special sermon for the children, one that they highly enjoyed. This is saying a great deal, for it takes an extraordinary minister to please the New York small boy. One boy manifested his approval by saying afterwards, "I tell you he was der boss preacher, wouldn't I like to go by his Sunday school if he was in New York."

   The children gave a few exercises in the Sunday school and were then invited to dinner by the good people of the church. On their assembly at 4:30 at the church their arms were filled with bundles of clothing, books, fruit, &c. Their comments proved beyond doubt their entire satisfaction and appreciation of their entertainment at the different houses, and the remark that one made regarding Mr. Ballard was evidently the opinion of all when he said, "Dats de man whats der kind of a gentleman everybody should be."

   Anyone desiring children for entertainment in their homes for two weeks will kindly notify Mr. Wm. R. George, Freeville, N. Y. at once, in order that he may bring them from the city on the evening of August first, with the first lot. If any parties have had children in the preceding years that they would like this summer, by notifying the children at their homes and Mr. George also, he can bring them, providing they can be met at Freeville. Let it be understood that the fresh air season proper does not open until August first. The children that we have at present are simply the Crusaders numbering about thirty. These are in training for work among the other boys and girls when they arrive next month.

   Many are the little marks of kindness shown the children; one will be related which will simply be a sample of many others. On the trip to Cortland Sunday, in passing through McLean, the children were noticed by a kind hearted lady, who made up her mind that she would make the children happy on their return. She accordingly popped several bundles of pop-corn and as they passed through McLean on their way home, were met by a pleasant faced man, the head of the household who produced the pop-corn, and he and his thoughtful wife were at once rated by the children as the right kind of people.

   It is a busy time in the camp just now and anyone thinking for a moment that it is a small matter to make ready for 250 should spend one week in the camp doing the necessary preparatory work.

   W. R. GEORGE, Supt.

Of Interest to Sportsmen.

   Local sportsmen are anxiously awaiting the time when they can go out and bag woodcock and partridge. There has been some dispute as to the date when the season opens. Section 74 of the game laws provides that woodcock and partridge shall not be pursued, shot at, hunted or killed between January 1 and August 15, except as provided by section 164. This is a general law for the state.

   Section 164 was amended by chapter 547 of the laws of 1893 and makes the season for hunting partridges open November 1 and for woodcock August 1, but section 164 of the game laws relates exclusively to the counties of Kings, Queens and Suffolk and Long Island Sound and not to the rest of the state.

   The local sportsmen will be in order August 15. The season for hunting of deer commences August 15 and closes October 31. Hounding is permitted from September 10 to October 10. No person is allowed to kill more than two deer and these cannot be transported unless accompanied by the owner. The season for trout fishing opens April 15 and closes September 1.

Dunning by Postal Card.

   Monday afternoon Deputy U. S. Marshal Black arrived in town and arrested Mr. Geo. H. Ames, the popular shoe dealer, on the charge of using the U. S. mails for improper purposes. The facts are as follows: About Christmas last, Mr. Ames sold a pair of shoes to a man residing at Whitney's Point, the party agreeing to pay for them later. He did not pay for them and some weeks since Mr. Ames sent him a postal card asking him to remit the amount. The party paid no attention to the request and some two or three weeks ago Ames sent another postal calling his attention to the matter and asking him to remit. Instead of sending the money, he made complaint before the U. S. Commissioner and Mr. Ames was arrested as above stated and taken before that officer in Binghamton. The complainant and his witnesses were sworn and the case was adjourned to Aug. 20 to enable Mr. Ames to procure necessary witnesses. He gave bail in the sum of $500.

   If there is a law on the statute books of the United States that will punish a man for asking for his just dues by mail it certainly ought to be repealed at once. The Congress that passed the law must have been composed of a large majority of dead beats and a fellow feeling for their friends seems to have made them wondrous kind. If any Judge has construed any law to mean that, unless the law plainly says as much, he too must be a sympathizer with this very large element of the inhabitants of every considerable town. Laws that sustain dead beats and assist them in defrauding hard working, frugal people who pay their honest debts, ought to be wiped off from the statute books as contrary to public policy and common decency. Such tenderness for the feelings of the dead beat is misplaced.

An Important Decision.

(From the Cortland Standard.)

   I. H. Palmer, Esq., of this village, received this morning a copy of the decision and opinion of U. S. Judge A. C. Coxe in the case of Parry Mfg. Co., of Indianapolis, Ind. against the Hitchcock Mfg. Co. and Caleb B. Hitchcock of Cortland for infringement of the Robinson patent on road carts, owned by the plaintiff. The case was a very important one to the defendants, as tens of thousands of road carts had been made by the Hitchcock company which were claimed to be infringements.

   The Robinson patent had been once sustained by a decree of Judge Brown of the Supreme Court of the United States, while circuit judge of Ohio in another case, no appearance at the trial, however, having been made by the defendant in that case. The patent, had it been sustained by Judge Coxe, would have made liable every manufacturing concern in Cortland which has built road carts.

   The case was argued before Judge Coxe at Canandaigua on June 23, after voluminous testimony taken on both sides—Hon. Wm. Eckles of St. Louis, Mo., the noted western patent lawyer, appearing for plaintiff, and I. H. Palmer and John W. Suggett, Esqrs., for defendants. The decision dismisses the plaintiff's bills with costs, and the opinion holds that the carts manufactured by defendants were not an infringement of the Robinson patent, and also that certain claims of that patent were void, having been anticipated by prior inventions.

   The plaintiff had notified the Cortland Wagon Co. that suit would be brought against it, and a number of actions instituted in different parts of the country were also awaiting the result of the one just decided. The victory of Messrs. Palmer and Suggett, therefore, means many thousand dollars to cart manufacturers all over the United States.

Death of Thomas Kennedy.

   Mr. Thomas Kennedy, an old and esteemed citizen of this village, died at his home on River-st., last Saturday evening, aged 82 years. He was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1851, stopping in Brookfield, Mass., until 1855, when he came to Cortland, where he has since resided. He was an honest, industrious, frugal citizen and accumulated considerable property. He never married. His sister Mrs. Mary Lanan, her son John, and a brother John Kennedy, survive him. The funeral was held last Monday morning from the house and at St. Mary's church.

ANOTHER ORIGIN FOR "O. K."

Now Said to Be a Colonial Corruption of a San Domingo City's Name.

   O. K. is a popular American abbreviation meaning "all right," used not only in current talk but in serious business, as in the marking of documents, etc. It is plausibly held by the Brooklyn Eagle that in early colonial days the best rum and tobacco were imported from Aux Cayes, in San Domingo. Hence the best of anything came to be known locally as Aux Cayes or O. K. The term did not, however, pass into general use until the presidential campaign of 1838, when the very much supposed illiteracy of Andrew Jackson, the democratic candidate, was the stock in trade of his Whig opponents. Seba Smith, the humorist, writing under the name of "Major Jack Downing," started the story that Jackson indorsed [sic] his papers O. K., under the impression that they formed the initials of "Oil Korrect."

   It is not impossible that the general did use this indorsement, and it was used by other people, also. But Mr. Parton discovered in the records of the Nashville court, of which Jackson was Judge before he became president, numerous documents indorsed O. R., meaning order recorded. He urges, therefore, that it was a record of that court with some belated business which Major Jack Downing saw on the desk of the presidential candidate.

   However this may be, the Democrats, in lieu of denying the charge, adopted the letters O. K. as a sort of party cry and fastened them on their banners.