BILLION DOLLAR TRUST, STOLE A SNAKE, DEATH OF MRS. MARTHA MCDONALD, MRS. WATERS' RESIGNATION, AND MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH

 

John Pierpont Morgan.

Andrew Carnegie,

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, February 26, 1901.

BILLION DOLLAR TRUST.

Articles of Incorporation Filed In New Jersey.

CHOCK FULL Of GENERALITIES.

Under Cover of Well-Worded Phrases the Articles Reserve to the Company the Right to Do About as It Pleases With the Small Stockholders.

   TRENTON, N. J., Feb. 26.—Articles of incorporation of the United States Steel corporation were filed yesterday in the state department. This is the gigantic Carnegie-Morgan combine. The articles of incorporation provide:

   First—The name of the corporation is the United States Steel corporation.

   Second—Location of principal office in the state of New Jersey is at 51 Newark street in the city of Hoboken, county of Hudson. The name of the agent there in charge thereof upon whom process against the corporation may be served is Hudson Trust company. Said office is to be the register's office of said corporation.

   Third—The objects for which the corporation is formed are to manufacture iron, steel, copper, wood or other materials and all or any products thereof. To acquire, own, lease, use or develop any lands containing coal or iron, manganese, stone or other ores, or oil and  any woodlands or other lands for any purpose of the company.

   To mine or otherwise to extract or remove coal, ores, stone and other materials and timber from any lands owned, acquired, leased or occupied by the company or from any other lands. To buy and sell or otherwise to deal or to traffic in iron, steel, manganese, copper, stone, ores, coal, coke, wood, lumber and other materials and any of these products thereof and any article consisting or partly consisting thereof.

   To construct bridges,, buildings, machinery, ships, boats, engines, cars and other equipments, railroads, docks, slips, elevators, waterworks, gas works and electric works, viaducts, aqueducts, canals and other waterways and other means of transportation and to sell the same or otherwise to dispose thereof, or to maintain and operate the same, except that the company shall not maintain or operate any railroad or canal in the state of New Jersey.

   To apply for, obtain, register, purchase, lease or otherwise to acquire and to hold, use, own, operate and introduce and to sell, assign or otherwise to dispose of any trade marks, trade names, patents, inventions, improvements and processes used in construction with or secured under letters patent of the United States or elsewhere or otherwise and to use, exercise, develop, grant licenses in respect of, or otherwise to turn to account any such trade marks, patents, licenses, processes and the like or any such property or rights.

   To engage in any other manufacturing, mining, construction or transportation business of any kind or character whatsoever and to that end to acquire, hold, own and dispose of any and all property, assets, stocks, bonds and rights of any and every kind; but not to engage in any business hereunder which shall enter in or out of the state of New Jersey.

   To acquire by purchase, subscription or otherwise, and to hold or dispose of stocks, bonds or any other obligation of any corporation formed for, or then or theretofore engaged in or pursuing any one or more of the kinds of business, purposes, objects or operations above indicated or owning or holding any property of any kind herein mentioned; or of any corporation owning or holding the stocks or the obligations of any such corporation.

   To hold for investment, or otherwise to use, sell or dispose of any stock, bonds or other obligations of any such other corporation; to aid in any manner any corporation whose stocks, bonds or other obligations are held or are in any manner guaranteed by the company, and to do any other acts or things for the preservation, protection, improvement or enhancement of the value of any such stock, bonds or other obligations, to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of ownership thereof and to exercise any and all voting power thereof.

   The business or purchase from company is from time to time to do anyone or more of the acts and things herein set forth; and it may conduct its business in other states, and in the territories and in foreign countries and may have one office or more than one office and keep the books of the company outside of the state of New Jersey, except as otherwise may be provided by law; and may hold, purchase, mortgage and convey real and personal property,  corporation yearly dividends at the rate of 7 per cent per annum, and no more, payable quarterly on dates to be fixed by the bylaws. The dividends on the preferred stock shall be cumulative and shall be payable before any dividend on the common stock shall be paid or set apart; so that if in any year dividends amounting to 7 per cent shall not have been paid thereon the deficiency shall be payable before any dividend shall be paid upon or set apart for the common stock.

   Whenever all cumulative dividends on the preferred stock for all previous years shall have been declared and shall have become payable, and the accrued quarterly installments for the current year shall have been declared and the company shall have paid such cumulative dividends of the previous years and such accrued quarterly installments, or shall have set aside from its surplus or net profits a sum sufficient for the payment thereof, the board of directors may declare dividends on the common stock payable then or thereafter out of any remaining surplus or net profits.

No Limitation of Power.

   Without in any particular limiting any of the objects and powers of the corporation it is hereby expressly declared and provided that the corporation shall have power to issue bonds and other obligations in payment for property purchased or acquired by it, or for any other object in or about its business; to mortgage or pledge any stock, bonds or other obligations or any property which may be acquired by it; to secure any bonds or other obligation by it issued or incurred; to guarantee any dividends or bonds on contracts or other obligations; to make and perform contracts of any kind and description and in carrying on its business for the purpose of attaining or furthering any of its objects to do any and all other acts and things and to exercise any and all of the powers which a co-partnership or natural person could do and exercise and which now or hereafter may be authorized by law.

   Fourth—The total authorized capital stock of the corporation is $3,000, divided into 30 shares of the par value of $100 each. Of such total authorized capital stock 15 shares amounting to $1,500 shall be preferred stock and 15 shares, amounting to $1,500, shall be common stock.

   From time to time the preferred stock and the common stock may be increased, according to law and may be issued in such amounts and proportions as shall be determined by the board of directors and as may be permitted by law.

   In the event of any litigation or dissolution or winding up of the corporation the holders of the preferred stock shall be entitled to be paid in full both the par amount of their shares and the unpaid dividends accrued thereon before any amount shall be paid to holders of the common stock; after the payment to the holders of the preferred stock of its par value and the unpaid accrued dividends thereon the remaining assets and funds shall be divided and paid to the holders of the common stock according to their respective shares.

   The holders of the stock are:

Ostensible Stockholders.

   Charles C. Cluff, Hoboken, N. J.; number shares, preferred, five; common, five; William J. Curtis, Hoboken, N. J.; number shares, preferred, five; common, five; Charles MacVeagh, Hoboken, N. J.; number shares, preferred, five; common, five.

   Duration of the corporation shall be perpetual.

   The number of directors of the company shall be fixed from time to time by the bylaws, but the number if fixed at more than three shall be some multiple of three.

   The directors of the first class shall be elected for a term of one year. The directors of the second class of two years, and the directors of the third class for a term of three years; and at each annual election the successors to the class of/directors whose terms shall expire in that year shall be elected to hold office for the term of three years, so that the term of office of one class of directors shall expire in each year.

   The number of directors may be increased as may be provided by bylaws, and the directors shall have power to hold their meetings outside of the state of New Jersey, and the bylaws may prescribe the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum.

   Unless authorized by votes given in person or by proxy by stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the capital stock of the corporation, the board of directors shall not mortgage or pledge any of its real property or any shares of the capital stock of any other corporation, but this prohibition shall not be construed to apply to the execution of any purchase money, mortgage or any other purchase money lien.

   Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole board of directors.

   Any other officers or employes [sic] of the company may be removed at any time by vote of the board of directors or by any committee or superior officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the bylaws or by vote of the board of directors.

   The board of directors may appoint not only other officers of the company, but also one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, and one or more assistant secretaries.

   The board of directors shall have power from time to time to fix and to determine and to vary the amount of the working capital of the company and to direct and determine the use and disposition of any surplus or net profits over and above the capital stock paid in; apply any such surplus in purchasing or acquiring its bonds or other obligations or shares of its own capital stock to such extent and in such manner and upon such terms as the board of directors shall deem expedient.

   The certificate is signed and sealed and delivered by Charles C. Cluff, William J. Curtis and Charles MacVeagh, in the presence of Francis Linde Stetson and Victor Morewetz, and certified to by George Holmes, master in chancery of New Jersey; Maurice J. Stack, state clerk, and George Wurtz, secretary.

   From a well informed source comes the statement that the United States Steel corporation will have $1,100,000,000 capital stock. Of this, $300,000,000 will be 5 per cent general mortgage bonds, $400,000,000 of 7 per cent preferred stock and $400,000,000 of common stock.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The Steel and Iron Combine.

   The United States Steel company, with $800,000,000 of capital and the very foundations of the iron and steel business of the country in its control, becomes quite the most powerful and extensive corporation ever created. It is the consolidation of consolidations, the constituent elements of which, we are told, are these great industrial combinations, the most conservative statement of their capital being given:

   Carnegie Steel company, $160,000,000

   Federal Steel company, 99,745,000

   American Steel and Wire company, 90,000,000

   National Tube company, 80,000,000

   American Bridge company, 70,000,000

   National Steel company, 59,000,000

   American Sheet Steel company, 49,000,000

   American Tin Plate company, 46,325,000

   American Steel Hoop company, 33,000,000

   Total, $687,070,000

   The combination of these concerns forms a substantial monopoly of the iron and steel industry of the United States. It need have no fear of successful rivalry, since it possesses extraordinary facilities for crushing competition. Its organizers are the men whose names are identified with recent operations of magnitude in the railroad world by which a "community of interest" has been established between important transportation lines. These gentlemen are also extensively engaged in the coal business and, besides, control vast deposits of iron ore. They hold in their hands the raw materials, the facilities of manufacture and transportation and the control of the markets. If in their capacity as railroad men they should kindly accord to themselves in their capacity as producers of iron and steel the favor of discriminating rates or if through their control of coal production they should lend to their iron and steel business a helping hand, any attempt at competition would be futile. Probably the worst capitalistic abuse of the present time is the secret rebate, and it is a matter of public concern to know whether the organizers of the United States Steel company feel a just abhorrence of that illegitimate and pernicious practice. Since legislation has been quite unable to check it in lesser and comparatively insignificant corporations it will be difficult indeed to reach this colossus if it chooses to use its vast opportunities to the public detriment. If it be content to do a legitimate business in a legitimate way, giving labor, which is the most important factor in its operations, a just and equitable reward and selling its products to the consumer at a fair and reasonable margin of profit above the cost of production and transportation, the public can have no special reason for quarrel with this greatest of all industrial combinations, though there are many who will decry as harmful to the public interests the centralization in a single corporate body of such vast elements of power and influences as are embodied in the United States Steel company.

 

STOLE A SNAKE.

New Form of Saloon Smasher—Created a Panic Among Inmates.

   NEWCASTLE, Pa., Feb. 26.—John Hewitt, an ironworker of this city, while drunk, entered a museum here and stole an 8-foot python. Going to a barroom near by, he caused a stampede by throwing the reptile down on the counter. When the bartenders had secured clubs to kill the snake, Hewitt picked it up and carried it off. The snake was soon missed from its cage and [museum] proprietor Hayes told the police. Hewitt was arrested at his home and the snake was found with him.

 

MRS. MARTHA MCDONALD.

Death of One of the Oldest Residents of Cortland County.

   Mrs. Martha McDonald died at the home of her daughter Mrs. J. L. Graves, 43 Groton-ave., very suddenly this morning at 7 o'clock of heart failure at the advanced age of 97 years and 28 days.

   Mrs. McDonald was of Scotch ancestry, and was one of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. David Lindsay of North Umberland, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and was the last surviving member of this family. She was married in 1828 to Peter McDonald who died several years ago. Four children were born to them, James L., Geo. W. and William D. of Mt. Roderick, Cortland county, and Mrs. J. L. Graves of this city. They also had an adopted daughter Mrs. Wm. Murray of Cincinnatus.

   Mrs. McDonald was a woman of sterling qualities and Christian character. She was a particularly bright woman and held her faculties almost undimmed to the last. She was always mindful of the comfort and welfare of others, and she sought, even in her advanced years, to make others happy. Although she was at the home of her daughter in Cortland about eleven months in the year, yet she always preferred to call the old place at Mt. Roderick her home.

   About six weeks ago Mrs. McDonald was afflicted with bronchial trouble, but had nearly recovered from the attack, and her friends were confident of her recovery. Last Sunday her granddaughters, the Misses Graves, read her Rev. Talmage's sermon, as is their custom, and in this way she counted herself as one of the noted divine's congregation. She was patient, uncomplaining, sympathetic and sweet in character, and in her death her family and friends sustain a deep loss. The funeral arrangements have not been made yet, but will be announced later.

 

Cortland Hospital on North Main Street.

RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED.

Mrs. Waters to Remain as Matron and at an Advanced Salary.

   At the special meeting of the board of managers of the hospital held on Saturday last to consider the resignation of Mrs. Helen M. Waters as matron it was by a unanimous vote of those present decided not to accept her resignation, but to offer her an increase of salary as an inducement to remain. This she has consented to do, greatly to the satisfaction of those most intimately connected with the work. During the four years she has been at the head of the institution she has shown exceptional fitness for the position. Her education, experience as a teacher, firmness of character, good judgment, intelligence and conscientious discharge of duty and watchful and sympathetic supervision of patients coming under her care have proved a rare combination of qualities most desirable in a matron and superintendent of a training school.

   A communication from the surgical and medical staff embodying a resolution adopted at a meeting of the staff held Feb. 21, was read at the meeting of the board. The resolution commended the work of Mrs. Waters in the hospital and advised that her services be retained. There came also an expression of regret from the pupils of the training school at the prospective change. That the change is not to occur will be most gratifying to the pupils of the hospital.

   The communication from the medical and surgical staff was as follows:

   To the President of the Board of Managers of the Cortland Hospital:

   At a meeting of the medical and surgical staff of the Cortland hospital held at the office of Dr. Dana the evening of Feb. 21 to consider and discuss matters pertaining to the hospital, a motion was unanimously adopted that the following resolution should be presented to the president of the board of managers.

   Resolved, That we the undersigned members of the medical and surgical staff of the hospital do commend the work of the present superintendent of the training school for nurses in connection with the hospital and her ability and fitness to instruct, her general executive capacity and judgment as matron and do advise that her services be further secured to serve the hospital in the capacity in which she has heretofore acted.

   H. T. DANA,

   ELLIS M. SANTEE,

   W. J. MOORE,

   F. W. HIGGINS,

   F. D. REESE,

   A. G. HENRY,

   E. A. DIDAMA,

   P. M. NEARY,

   H. P. JOHNSON.

 

COUNTRY ROADS ARE BAD.

Impossible to Follow Them at Night—Some Deep Pitchholes.

   It is doubtful if the country roads outside of Cortland were ever worse than now. It is almost the exception in some quarters where the track follows the road. They go from field to field, crossing and re-crossing the roads. A Cortland man wanted to drive to Harford Mills one evening last week. He was told by a livery man that he had horses to let and that the man could have one or two at his pleasure, but be doubted whether the applicant realized what he would be getting into in starting out. He did not believe he could find his way to Harford Mills in the night, for the track wound around so, disappearing into the fields through dooryards and barnyards and all sorts of strange places.

   And the pitchholes are awful. It is one constant succession of holes on most of the roads. The most startling story about pitchholes was told yesterday by a farmer at the office of the Benton Lumber Co. This man said that as he came to Cortland he had became almost exhausted by the constant pitching and wrenching of going down into and coming up out of the holes. And his horses had got tired too. A little distance out of town he came to the edge of a pitch hole [sic] and the horses stopped and in spite of urging refused to go further. The man then got out and went forward to their heads to see what was the trouble. Matter enough, for the pitchhole in front of the team was almost filled up. Down in its depths in front of the team was a man with a load of hay and a man with a load of wood, and they had both stopped at the bottom of the pitch hole to swap horses. No wonder he couldn't get his team to go forward, for the horses standing on the edge of the pitchhole could see all that which was invisible to him back in the sleigh.

 

Y. M. C. A. RUMMAGE SALE

To be Held in Mahan Building the Week Beginning March 4.

   The Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A., who have the rummage sale in charge for the week beginning March 4, most earnestly desire that every one make an extra effort to find something that they can give the soliciting committee who will call upon them this week. Following is a partial list of the articles wanted: Dishes, lamps, sheet music, carpets, rugs, stockings to make over, shoes, boots, rubbers, straw hats, window shades, curtains, stoves, draperies, table spreads, knives, forks, spoons, old trunks, satchels, tinware, rollingpins, kneading boards, hats, bonnets, all kinds of trimmings, toys, shirtwaists, skirts, underclothes, chairs, tables, furniture of any kind, books, magazines, pictures, blankets, comfortables, quilts, pillows, pillowcases, sheets, napkins, tablecloths.

 

Memorial Baptist Church.

   The theme of the pastor's strong and practical sermon Sunday morning was "Fishing;" the text being from John xxx:l-7. The text of the evening sermon was II Cor. v:15.

   Sunday-school commenced at the usual hour and was well attended. The study of the beautiful but sad lesson was very interesting.

   A committee was appointed at this time to draft resolutions of respect and love to our late lamented brother, Rev. J. Barton French. Although gone from us to his home in glory, his life of usefulness and friendship, while among us, will ever be remembered and his memory will ever be cherished by his many friends who loved him, and his beautiful family dearly, and it was with a great sadness that we learned of his death, although his eternal home will be a far more glorious one than any earthly home could be.

   The intermediates met at 4 o'clock led by Guy Stark.

   The Y. P. S. C. E. met at 6 o'clock led by Mr. Wm. Scarff, Sr. This meeting was a very profitable and interesting one and was well attended.

   The regular covenant meeting [is] Thursday evening at 7:30 o'clock, followed by teachers' meeting at 8:30 o'clock. Everybody cordially invited, and it is hoped that every member will make an extra effort to be present at this meeting.

   The Farther Lights will meet at the home of Miss Edna Allport, Tompkins-st., Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock. All members earnestly requested to be present, and everybody cordially invited.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Vesta lodge No. 255, I. O. O. F., will hold a hard times dance in their parlors Friday evening of this week.

   —A two weeks' mission, conducted by the Vincentian fathers, will be opened at St. Mary's church on March 17 next.

   —The Fortnightly club meets to-morrow afternoon at 8:30 o'clock with Mrs. Edward D. Blodgett, 8 Argyle Place.

   —The Ladies' Literary club will meet to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. C. P. Walrad, 13 Lincoln-ave.

   —John L. Lewis lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., will confer the third degree upon several candidates at a regular meeting to-night.

   —The Cortland Kindergarten association will meet in the kindergarten room in the Normal building Thursday afternoon at 3:30.

   —New display advertisements to-day are— M. W. Giles, Special prices, page 8; Mitch's Market, Fresh fish, page 6, E. M. Mansur, Groceries, page 2.

   —The large delivery tank of the Standard Oil Co. was upset in the snow banks yesterday on Sickmon hill between Dryden and McLean, and the driver had a laborious task to get it righted up again, as it was heavily loaded at the time.

   —Word has been received in Cortland of the death in Utica last Friday, Feb. 22, of Miss Almeda Newcomb, who was for many years a teacher in the Cortland county schools, and who will be well remembered here by many. Her age was 51 years. 

 

BOERS IN FULL FLIGHT, CLAIMS SHE WAS DAMAGED, REV. BARTON FRENCH, TO WIDEN THE NARROWS, AND CONGER DIAMOND ANNIV.

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, February 25, 1901.

BOERS IN FULL FLIGHT.

Dewet's Forces Scattered by Colonel Plumer.

FRENCH DRIVES ALL BEFORE HIM.

Burghers to Number of 5,000 Retreating in Disorganized Parties—Dewet Escaped Across Orange River In Boat With Only a Few Followers.

   CAPE TOWN, Feb. 25.—Colonel Plumer engaged General Dewet Saturday near Bisselfontein on the south bank of the Orange river, capturing a gun and a pompom and taking 50 prisoners. The Boers were scattered and are being pursued by Colonel Plumer.

   It is reported that General Dewet escaped to the opposite bank in a boat and is now fleeing with a handful of followers.

   It is reported from a Boer source at Zeerust that General Delarey has been captured.

   LONDON, Feb. 25.—The war office has received the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener:

   "Middleburg, Transvaal, Feb. 24.—French reports from Piet Retief, Feb. 22, that the result of the columns sweeping the country east is that the Boers are retreating in scattered and disorganized parties to the number of some 5,000 in front of him.

   "Amsterdam and Piet Retief have been occupied, and troops are protecting the Swazi frontier. French will push on but is much hampered by the continuous heavy rains.

   "Summary of total losses inflicted upon the enemy up to Feb. 16: 292 Boers known to have been killed and wounded in action, 86 taken prisoners, 183 surrendered. One 15-pounder gun, 462 rifles, 160,000 rounds of small ammunition, 350 horses, 70 mules, 3,530 trek oxen, 18,700 cattle, 155,400 sheep and 1,070 wagons and carts captured.

   "Our casualties: Five officers and 41 men killed and four officers and 100 men wounded. I regret to say that Major Howard, a very gallant officer of the Canadian scouts, was killed Feb. 17. Plumer reports that Colonel Owan captured Dewet's 15-pounder and pompom Feb. 23, as well as 53 prisoners and a quantity of ammunition.

   "We had no casualties. Enemy in full retreat and dispersing, being vigorously pursued.

   "Dewet's attempt to invade Cape Colony has evidently completely failed."

 

Gen. Christiaan de Wet.

BOER ROUT COMPLETE.

Colonel Owen's Cavalry Captured Enemy's Artillery.

   LONDON, Feb. 25.—A correspondent of The Daily Mail with Henniker's column, wiring Saturday, says:

   "General Dewet was routed yesterday by Colonel Plumer, with whom were Colonels Henniker, Craddock. Jeffreys and Grabbe. This success was preceded by a series of desperate attempts on the part of the Boers to escape from the water belt of the Orange and the Brak rivers.

   "Dewet, after unsuccessfully attempting to cross the Brak at Clip Drift and the Orange at Read's drift and Marks' drift, moved along the bank of the Orange with one gun and one pompom and langered opposite Kameel drift. At dawn Colonel Plumer left Weigevenden, 22 miles west of the Boer camp, and moved northeast.

   "At Zuurgat he attacked the enemy, taking 46 prisoners. The pursuit was continued during the afternoon, the Boers moving toward Hopetown. Toward evening the leading troops sighted the enemy, who had langered [sic] beyond gun range. Colonel Owen charged the spot where the Boer artillery was supposed to be and captured the whole of it. The enemy fled, leaving their horses ready saddled and their cooking pots full. According to the latest reports only 400 Boers recrossed to the north side of the river. The Orange is greatly swollen."

 

Mrs. Carrie Nation.

CLAIMS SHE IS DAMAGED

Because a Proprietor Named a Popular Drink After Her.

   BINGHAMTON, N. Y., Feb. 25.—Mrs. Carrie Nation has demanded the abolishment of the "Carrie Nation" cocktail, the invention of R. C. Willes, a cafe proprietor of this city and Scranton, and will institute a suit for $10,000 damages for the use of her name in advertising a cocktail. A few days ago Willes conceived the idea of christening a new drink the ''Carrie Nation cocktail." He advertised it extensively and it became popular. A temperance advocate sent Mrs. Nation a paper containing the advertisement, which from the contents of a letter received by Mayor Moir of Scranton, evidently aroused her indignation to the smashing point and it was well for Willes that a thousand miles intervened between her and his cafes. She wrote a firm of Scranton attorneys, saying that she would bring action for $10,000 damages.

 

A GIGANTIC TORCH

Two Hundred Feet High and Burning at a Tremendous Rate.

   CAMERON, W.Va., Feb.25.—Half enough gas to supply the city of Pittsburg, with all its fuel consuming factories, is escaping into the air at the W. J. Bryan gas well, 9 miles east of here. It is burning in an enormous torch that reaches 200 feet in the air, with a roar that shakes the earth and can be heard for miles around. The well is the biggest that has been struck for years, and is said by experts to be a greater producer of gas than the famous big Moses. It is estimated that there is a pressure of 4,000 pounds to the square foot and that it is discharging 50,000 feet of gas a day.

 

REV. J. BARTON FRENCH.

Death of the Former Pastor of the Memorial Baptist Church.

   Rev. J. Barton French, the first pastor of the Memorial Baptist church of Cortland, died of cerebral hemorrhage at 1:45 o'clock Sunday morning, Feb. 24, at the home of his daughter Mrs. William Berkhard, 1507 South State-st., Syracuse.

   Mr. French was taken ill on Thursday afternoon in the New York Central station, as previously noted in these columns, having become greatly excited over having missed a connection. The illness was of the nature of apoplexy or paralysis. He was removed to his daughter's home, where Mrs. French had just preceded him, having come with him to Syracuse to visit their daughter, while he was going on to Rome to make an address that night.

   Mr. French was born near Baldwinsville, May 26, 1840. He soon after moved with his family to Ovid, Mich., where he attended school. When a young man he returned to Elmira and after enlisting in the army, married Miss Sarah Allison of that place. He served in the army until the civil war closed.

   He returned to Elmira with his wife, then moved to Michigan and later returned to Avoca, Steuben county, where be practiced his trade, shoemaking, and studied for the ministry.

   He was ordained a Baptist minister about 1872. His first pastorate was at Howard, where he was ordained. He afterward went to Richfield and Troy, Pa. While at Troy he sustained a stroke of paralysis. After recovering he started building a church, which was destroyed by fire before it was completed.

   After the fire he moved to Homer, where he was pastor of the Baptist church tor two and one-half years. He then went to Trumansburg, where he stayed six years. Then he went to Syracuse and supplied the Olivet Baptist church before accepting the pastorate. He was also pastor of the Immanuel Baptist church of that city.

   Four years ago he accepted a call to Cortland, and returned to Trumansburg a year ago last June.

   Mr. French was deputy grand master of the I. O. O. F. and according to custom would have been made grand master next summer if he had lived. He held the office of grand chaplain for four years, the longest term in the history of the order. He was elected grand warden in 1899, and was elected to his present office in 1900. He is a member of Onondaga lodge No. 79 and Cynosure lodge of Syracuse.

   His wife and daughter are his only relatives.

   The funeral will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Central Baptist church in Syracuse. The body may be viewed from 12 until 2 o'clock that afternoon at the church.

 

Benjamin B. Odell.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Why Taxes are High.

   The effort of Governor Odell to reduce the expenses of the state government is meeting with the approval of the taxpayers all over the state, the only exceptions being the individuals whose positions are taken away by the course of consolidation and unification. The wonder is how the taxes ever came to be so high. The Buffalo Express has been looking into this phase of the matter and finds that the expenses of the legislature alone have more than doubled since 1891. The Express says: In 1900 they amounted to $1,101,581.96, against $506,964.30 in 1891. Part of this increase arises from additional membership provided for by a new constitution, but the additional members would be a very expensive luxury indeed if they could be charged with responsibility for all of the enormous increase. As a matter of fact, the figures show that the increase in cost of compensation to members and officers during the ten years was but $86,716.04, while the remainder of the increase is grouped under miscellaneous expenses, $208,029.01, and legislative printing, $299,872.01. Can any reasonable excuse be offered for this great increase in miscellaneous expenses and in printing?

   The expenses of the attorney general's office have increased from $53,836.85 in 1891 to $172,835.47 in 1900; those of the Regents from $15,549.55 in 1891 to $66,136.47 in 1900; banking department, from $27,703.70 in 1891 to $91,816.88 in 1900; insurance department, from $78,737.07 in 1891 to $187,252.82 in 1900; railroad commission from $67,606.66 in 1891 to $81,118.64 in 1900; civil service commission, from $15,875.15 in 1891 to $40,988.87 in 1900.

   These increases represent in the main steady and generally small advances from year to year. There is hardly an instance of expenses in one year being less than the year before. Yet the total shows an advance of more than $1,000,000 in annual expenditures for carrying on the legislature and these few branches of the state government, and the officials who were spending the public money back in 1891, when Hill was governor and Sheehan was the legislative leader, by no means afforded a model of economy. It is hardly possible to escape the conclusion that the greater part of this $1,000,000 increase is mere wasteful extravagance.

   ◘ The Tennessee senate has rejected the bill allowing women to practice law and has also refused to permit women to become notaries public. This is rather ungallant, but perhaps a majority of the legislators are lawyers who object to further competition.

   ◘ A member of the New York "Four Hundred" practices law in minor criminal courts "Just for fun." As most of his clients are sentenced to various terms of imprisonment it would seem that they are not getting much fun out of it.

 

D. L. & W. R. R. train moving southbound along the Tioughnioga river near Blodgett Mills, N. Y. On the right side of this photo is "the narrows," hidden across the river, currently Route 11.

TO WIDEN THE NARROWS.

Effort to Get the County Prisoners at Work There.

   A number of residents of the towns of Cortlandville, Virgil, Freetown and Marathon whose business takes them north and south along the whole or a part of stretch of road known as "The Narrows" between Messengerville and Blodgett Mills, are interesting themselves in the project of getting the road widened. It is about 6 miles between the two places above named and for two-thirds of this distance there are sections, probably aggregating 2 miles if they were joined together consecutively, where the road is so narrow that it is impossible for teams to meet. The valley is narrow at this point and the road follows the winding of the hills, in many places having a steep hill above to the east and the river below to the west.

   Part of the way the road is down to the river and part of the way it is high above it with a steep embankment leading from within a few inches of the carriage track down to the water below. There are frequent springs coming out of the bank above the road where the water flows over the road. In winter ice forms in the road at these places, making it difficult and almost dangerous to get across these ice patches without the sleigh slewing and going over the bank. Much of the way the road is wooded so that in the windings of the track it is impossible to see an approaching team at any great distance. There is constant embarrassment in meeting teams and sometimes they have to be backed up for a considerable distance before a place can be found where they can pass each other.

   In the past generation there was one man who used to go through the narrows almost daily and who said that he always used to "yell like thunder" and "drive like lightning" when he came to one of the narrow places so that people approaching could know he was coming and stop at a convenient meeting point.

   With this thought in mind citizens in the vicinity are now making an effort to get the road widened. They are led to do this in the knowledge that the prisoners in the county jail are going to be set at work in the spring and in the hope that the sheriff may put them at work at this place. Of course it is a matter of indifference to the sheriff where they work, as he merely has to see that they do work and that they are properly guarded, and he would be likely to accede to any reasonable request.

   The parties who are agitating this scheme state that the steps necessary to bring this about is to secure a petition in each of the towns where the work is desired and get this petition signed by twenty taxpayers. This petition is presented to the town board of that town and if favorably acted upon by the town board is then presented to the sheriff and to the committee of the board of supervisors having the work in charge. They agree between themselves where the men shall be employed.

   There is no doubt in the minds of any one who has occasion to drive through the narrows that this road ought to be widened. It is particularly bad if two loaded teams come together, or if ladies are driving one or both of the teams or if the meeting occurs in the night. This would surely be a first class place to put the prisoners at work upon if there is no objection to the idea from every other point of view. It will at least bear careful examination and all will be glad if the road can be improved.

 

COMMERCIAL CARBON.

Practical and Instructive Paper Given Before Science Club Saturday Night.

   Dr. F. D. Reese gave a very instructive and practical paper upon commercial carbon before the Science club last Saturday night. The doctor presented specimens containing carbon, and charts illustrating the various carbon formations. He first pointed out that carbon is of great interest on account of its importance and abundance as an element. It is prevalent in all organic life and in its fossil remains. In the air it exists as carbon dioxide, and all life depends upon it. It is found in peat, coal, graphite, petroleum, asphaltum, and all kinds of lime-stone, chalk, marble and coral carbon, he said, had been gathered by nature from the atmosphere and waters and had been stored in the mother earth in quantities sufficient to supply jewels and warmth to the rich and the poor as they demand.

   There are three distinct allotropic modifications of carbon: namely, the diamond, graphite and amorphous carbon. The first two given, he said, are crystalline, while the third modification has many sub-varities. The diamond was first studied. This, the doctor said, is a rare form of carbon and it is pure or nearly pure carbon. It was first distinguished from quartz in 1772 by Lovoisier who burned it. Nature's method of changing carbon into diamond is practically unknown, but it is supposed that at some period of the earth's history, heat and pressure have accomplished the crystallization of carbon into this beautiful refractor of the sun's rays. Experiments have proved that this crystallization could be performed under great heat and pressure. The diamond fields of not are in India, Borneo, Brazil and South Africa,

   Graphite was then studied. The speaker stated that this substance is supposed to be of vegetable origin, as it is generally found in beds that are continuations of anthracite coal beds. It is mined very extensively in Ticonderoga, N. Y., where over a million pounds are produced yearly. Graphite is largely used in the manufacture of blocking as a lubricant and for covering iron shot and powder to prevent their rusting or becoming oxidized.

   Amorphus carbon includes the more common forms of carbon. Charcoal is included in this, and the speaker graphically illustrated the manufacture of this product. Coal was said to be the most important product in the list of carbons and a faithful review of its formation was given.

   Dr. Reese's paper showed careful study and preparation and it was listened to with deep interest by the members of the Science club. Dr. G. H. Smith gave a review of the paper given two weeks ago by Mr. W. H. Clark on the graphophone.

 

DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY.

Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Conger Married Sixty Years Ago To-day.

   Sixty years ago to-day Mr. and Mrs. Beman S. Conger of 15 Grant-st. were married, and this afternoon the anniversary of that event is being celebrated at their pleasant home by the assembling of a small company of near relatives and friends. To a comparatively few couples is it allotted to see the coming of their golden anniversary, but a much smaller number is privileged to observe the diamond anniversary, and when both arrive at that event in such good health as Mr. and Mrs. Conger and find themselves so comfortably situated in every respect and when so little of sorrow and trouble and annoyance but on the other hand so much of joy and comfort and happiness has filled their lives throughout the whole sixty years, they indeed have good reason to feel that they have been blessed above their fellows.

   Sixty years ago this afternoon the ceremony was performed by Rev. Alba Gross, pastor of the Baptist church at Freetown, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Silas Hammond in that town which made Beman S. Conger and Fanny L. Saxton one for life. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond were the parents of Mr. S. S. Hammond of Freetown and of Dr. Lydia A. Strowbridge of Cortland and the bride was Mrs. Hammond's younger sister. Four people are present to-day at the anniversary who witnessed the ceremony sixty years ago: Mr. Damon Conger and Mrs. Esther Palmer of Cortland, brother and sister of Mr. Conger, and Mr. S. S. Hammond and Dr. L. A. Strowbridge, nephew and niece of Mrs. Conger.

   All of these sixty years with the exception of a single year have been passed in Cortland county, and then they lived in Tompkins county. Since 1865 they have lived in Cortland village, first on Locust-ave., and later on Grant-st. Two children were born to them, Mrs. S. L. Palmer of Cortland and Edmund Conger, who died when 7 years old.

   Ten years ago the golden anniversary was observed, this being at that time the third golden wedding in rapid succession in the Conger family, but neither of the other two couples lived together to see their sixtieth, though Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Conger's sister, is one of the parties concerned, but her husband died several years ago. Ten years ago fifty friends met to observe the occasion, and then five were present who were at the wedding: Mr. Daman Conger, Mrs. Esther Palmer, Dr. Lydia. A. Strowbridge, who are here to-day, and also Mr. Henry H. Saxton of Whitney Point and Mrs. Joanna Jackson of Triangle, brother and sister of Mrs. Conger.

   Ten years ago Rev. Geo. H. Brigham, in behalf of the friends assembled, presented Mr. Conger with a gold headed cane and Mrs. Conger with a gold ring. To-day again Mr. Brigham was pressed into service as spokesman and he presented Mr. and Mrs. Conger with a handsome Morris chair.

   At 4 o'clock this afternoon a sumptuous dinner was served under the direction of Mrs. S. L. Palmer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conger, and the following sat down to the tables: Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Conger, the groom and bride of sixty years ago; Mr. Damon Conger, Mrs. Esther Palmer, Mr. S. S. Hammond of Freetown and Dr. L. A. Strowbridge, who were the guests of honor, having been present at the wedding; Rev. and Mrs. G. H. Brigham, Rev. W. J. Howell, Hon. and Mrs. A. A. Carley, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Bradford, Mrs. Janette Collins, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Collins, Mrs. Jennie Lownsberry, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Dates, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Strowbridge, Miss Lola E. Strowbridge, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Palmer, the latter being the only daughter, and Mr. Edmond C. Alger, the only grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Conger.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Measles are prevalent in the city and in the surrounding county among the children.

   —A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum will be held Tuesday evening at G. A. R. hall at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Silas E. Totten of Marathon, formerly of Cortland, died at his late home on Sunday morning. Funeral will be held at the house on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30.

   —A list of subscribers to the Home Telephone company supplementary to the list of Feb. 20, has just been published and contains the names of forty more subscribers in Cortland and of forty-five subscribers in Homer.

   —A lady who has just returned from New York says there is no snow to amount to anything to be seen south of Binghamton, not even in climbing over Mt. Pocono, but from Binghamton north to Cortland the snow kept growing deeper and deeper.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—W. J. Perkins, Baking powder, page 7; Palmer & Co., Bicycles, page 2; Burgess, Clothing, page 8; E. M. Mansur, Groceries, page 2; Hudson Crockery Co., Crockery, page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., Dry goods, page 6.

   —Yesterday was probably the coldest morning of the season in Cortland. The government thermometer on the Normal school grounds registered 24 degrees below zero between 5 and 6 o'clock, but it was a quick drop during the last half of the night and the mercury lost no time after the sun was up in climbing up again.