THE "NEW" SCHOOL BUILDING IN HOMER

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 15, 1893.

THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING IN HOMER.

   With the opening of school after the holiday recess the students of Homer academy will begin their duties for 1894 in the magnificent new building erected in place of the one burned January 17, 1893. Passersby the new school building have been overheard to pass different opinions regarding the exterior appearance of the old in comparison with the new. About the interior arrangement few were acquainted and those who ordinarily might hasten to enlighten the masses apparently have been derelict in duty. Consequently, as in the past, it becomes the pleasant duty of the DEMOCRAT to give the people of Cortland county a pen picture of the interior.

   The ground plan of the new building is 76 feet front by 180 feet deep. The frontage is some 20 feet less than was that of the former building, all taken off from the north side, greatly increasing the light in the rooms opening toward the Episcopal church.

   In the basement are located the furnaces of the Smead heating system. On either side of the spacious hall are commodious gymnasiums or play rooms for the younger pupils. In the extreme rear are [bathroom] closets constructed upon the most approved sanitary principle. Throughout the basement is a solid cement floor.

   The first floor of the school has three outside entrances, the front being designed for the teachers and guests, while at the north and south sides means of ingress and egress are provided for the students. A wide hall extends from the front two-thirds the length of the building. At the south are the laboratory and a study room. In rear of the side entrance are two more study rooms. Each study room is exceedingly well lighted, supplied with abundant blackboard facilities and thorough ventilation.

   The location of the rooms on second floor are a duplicate of those on the first, with two exceptions: directly over the front entrance is the principal's office, to the south his clothes room, to the north the room of the assistance principal; at the rear is the audience room with seating capacity for some 300 or more people. At the north end of the room is the rostrum, certainly a convenient place for lectures and the like.

   Throughout the building is wainscoted and ceiled [sic] with southern pine finished in natural wood, the intervening wall being done in a harmonizing shade of drab [sic.] Especially striking is the glazed- Kentucky floor and side walls of the front entrance Electric gongs and speaking tubes communicate from the office to each department.

   The building committee consisted of Dr. Amory W. Hobart, chairman; Porter C. Kingsbury and Lyman H. Hebbard. Every detail gives evidence that these gentlemen were forehanded and gave much study to the work entrusted in their care. In fact, it is commonly said that Dr. Hobart practically resided at the building during the period of construction with the gratifying result that the present Homer academy is a fitting monument to the old Cortland academy chartered in 1819, replaced by the Homer academy and Union school in 1873.

   The present board of education is: A. W. Hobart, president; Eliot L. Stone, clerk; P. C. Kingsbury, L. H. Hebbard, Byron Maxson,  L. W. Potter, Geo. Daniels, W. J. Smith and F. E. Williams.

   The faculty at present consists of L. H. Tuthill, A. M. principal; Miss Mabel P. Brown, A. B., preceptress; Miss Julia A. Tifft, A. B., assistant preceptress and Prof. E. Day Clark, preparatory academic department. Miss Nina Coon, Miss Kittie Cobb and Miss Fannie E. Thompson have charge of the seventh, six and fifth grades of the intermediate department, respectively.

   The remaining four grades of the primary department are carefully looked after by Miss Cora A. Carpenter, Miss Mary A. Flagg, Miss Josephine Barker, while the first grade is so large that Miss Cecilia Barker and Mrs. F. H. Alvord are kept busy in maintaining discipline. Mrs. Sarah Devoe has sole charge of the vocal culture.

   While the students will hail with joy the entrance to the new building, the teachers are thankful that the extra tension upon physical as well as mental power is nearing an end. Scattered as has been the different departments during the past year great credit is given the corps of instructors for the excellent work accomplished.

Benton B. Jones, editor of the Cortland Democrat.

The Editor Has The Grip.

   The grip seems to have made its appearance in Cortland with a vengeance, and wherever it lays hold of a victim the result is noticeable. It does not seem to have any choice as to one's age or standing in society. Merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, ministers and even editors are stricken with it, and they all have to take their quinine, etc., in [ailopathy] doses. About ten days ago the editor of the DEMOCRAT was stricken with this complaint, and he has been very busy attending to the duties connected therewith ever since. In fact he is still confined to the house and liable to be for some time to come. To make it more interesting at the editor's home, his family all came down with the grip, and now each one is trying to see how much they can bear of each other’s burdens.

   If you live among Romans you must do as Romans do, and if it is fashionable to have the grip, why of course the editor and his family must be in the swim. In order to give every attention to an attack of this kind, one must give up their dally avocation, go home to the bosom of his family, and fight it out if it takes till spring.

   The editor has not been doing skirmish duty in this line, but he has been in the front rank where the smoke is the thickest. We, who are left in the office to get out the paper, have noticed a falling off in cash receipts for subscriptions and job work, and hardly know what to make of it, but after holding a meeting of the "crew in charge,'' we decided that it was on account of the absence of the editor.

   Patrons of a newspaper like to do business with the editor. Just now the editor has other business to attend to. His coal bin is nearly empty, groceries are low, the pork barrel must be replenished, and the doctor's bill must be paid. If any patron of the DEMOCRAT is holding back cash that would be handed in if the editor was at his post, the "crew in charge" desire to announce, that it has been thoroughly trained in the financial part of the establishment, and every one from the "devil" up to the oldest compositor, can receive money, make change, have a receipt made out and guarantee satisfaction in every instance. We make this statement unbeknown to the editor, knowing however that he will fully acquiesce in the sentiment expressed, and any cash deposits for subscriptions, job work or advertising that may be made at the office, will be thankfully received and immediately applied to the needs of the editor and his grip-stricken home.

   The DEMOCRAT must be issued every week in the year. The editor may be sick, hard times may come and go, subscribers and business may drop off, but the DEMOCRAT must be issued every week just the same.

A Grip-Crazed Suicide.

   ROCHESTER, N. Y., December 12.—Alfred Bruman. receiving teller of the Rochester Savings bank, shot himself, dying instantly this morning. Grip had made him temporarily insane.

HAWAII IN A FERMENT.

Will Resist the Overthrow of the Government.

SECRETARY GRESHAM CONDEMNED.

Determined to Resist Any Attacks Upon the Government—A Mass Meeting.

   HONOLULU, Dec. 4.—At the unanimous and urgent demand of the American citizens, the provisional government has decided to resist to the utmost extremity any attempt to overthrow them by the United States force without authority from Congress.

   Leading citizens will generally be foremost in the defense.

   It is said that H. M. S. Champion's red coats are to land and protect the Queen if the United States forces have seated her on the throne, and that a joint protectorate has been planned like that in Samoa.

   Minister Willis is pledged to the government to take no action before the return of the steamer Alameda December 21. His instructions are still concealed.

   VANCOUVER, B. C., Dec. 11.—The Canadian-Australian steamship Arawa arrived from Honolulu at eight o'clock this morning.

   Immediately upon entering the straits she was boarded by a United Press reporter, who gleaned the following intelligence.

   Queen Liliuokulani has not been restored, and there has been no trouble in Honolulu. Only two things of a significant nature have occurred at Honolulu. The annexationists held a mass meeting November 25 and adopted resolutions appealing to Congress to aid the movement.

   At the mass meeting the following resolutions were adopted:

   Resolved, That we have read with surprise and regret the recommendations of the Secretary of State of the United States to the President to restore the monarchy lately existing in Hawaii.

   Resolved, That we condemn the assumption of the Secretary of State that the right of the provisional government to exist was terminated by his refusal to re-submit to the Senate the treaty of union pending between the two countries, and also his assumption that the provisional government at that very time submitted the question of its continued existence to the arbitrament of the President or of any other power.

   Resolved, That we support to the best of our ability the provisional government to resist any attack upon it which may be made contrary to the usage of nations.

   A. F. Rudd, Chief Justice, said that Mr. Blount had interviewed him last in Honolulu, but never asked him if revolution had been accomplished by the aid of Minister Stevens and the troops of the Boston.

   W. G. Smith, editor of the Star, spoke of the "infamies" of Gresham, and advocated compelling Mr. Cleveland to submit to the will of the people.

   P. C. Jones said Cleveland should have rounded his policy by ordering that all four members of the ex-council of the provisional government should be shot on the day of the restoration. Everybody should stick to the provisional government.

   He referred to the story that Cleveland won his first election to the presidency by three "r's," "rum, Romanism and rebellion," and he hoped he would be impeached now for three "r's," "restoration of rotten royalty."

   Dr. Victor J. Caprin, coffee planter, formerly of Port Townsend, speaking about the fortifications of the castle, said it was simply to make any attempt at restoration an act of war.

   Minister Willis has said nothing since the Star interview. It is generally understood that a number of companies of men stand ready to respond to call of arms at any times.

   Minister of Finance Damon made the following statement in regard to the situation. "The provisional government has come to stay and in the meantime is a very interested observer of President Cleveland's opinion and the action of Congress."

   The Attorney-General stated that the executive council was determined to resist any attacks upon the government from whatever source.

   Captain Stewart said the town was peaceable enough, although it seemed to be greatly excited. It is said the government has received two bona fide offers of assistance from the coast. One was for services here, in defense of the provisional government, of 1,000 men, and the other for 4,000 men.

   A petition signed by the leading American residents of Honolulu was presented to Minister Willis on Saturday, December 2nd.

   It concludes with this sentence: "And the undersigned hereby solemnly and respectfully protest to your excellency and Grover Cleveland, President of the United States; to Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State; to Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy, and to Rear Admiral John Irwin, commanding the United States naval forces, now in Hawaiian waters, and to all concerned, that any such war or hostility, attempted or announced in the time of profound peace, now legislating between the United States and the Hawaiian Islands, or without any full, final and timely announcement thereof, will cause all concerned in authority to be held responsible for all the consequences that may ensue therefrom, not only before Almighty God and in the forum of conscience, but by all the sanctioned rules and observances of civilized nations in their dealings with each other; and would be in violation of the rights of the undersigned, secured and belonging to them as citizens of the United States of America."

HERE AND THERE.

   Mr. John Gallagher has been appointed to be postmaster at South Cortland.

   Your presence is moat earnestly desired Saturday evening, Dec. 16, at Normal hall. Tickets 10 cts.

   Don't forget the musical to be held in the Normal hall to-morrow evening. Admission 10 cents.

   If you want your job printing done in the best possible manner, call at the DEMOCRAT job rooms.

   H. H. Pudney, who has been confined to his house by illness, is improving, but still is unable to attend to business.

   This year there will be but one Farmers Institute in this county, which will be held at Marathon, February 26, and 27, 1894.

   Mr. Samuel Bolan wishes the DEMOCRAT to announce to its readers, that the colored people of Central New York will hold a grand celebration in Cortland on July 4, 1894.

   While sickness is very prevalent, Health officer Moore in comparing the death rate with that of the same season for some years past finds this year has less deaths to record than any for four years.

   Kittie Clancy went through the ice while skating on the cove Monday afternoon, but was rescued by her companions. This makes five persons who have received more or less of a ducking there this season.

   The Albany State Normal school will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 26, 27 and 28, 1894. Hon. A. P. Smith and Miss Martha Roe of this place are graduates of this school and members of the Alumni.

   Overseer of the poor, Wheeler, says that the hard times are not sending any more of the destitute to him than is usual for this time of year. Cortland is to be congratulated, for all around us is great suffering among the poor.

   Mr. Geo. M. Stanley, formerly a well-known conductor on the E., C. & N. R. R., and ex-sheriff of Chemung county, died in Minneapolis last week. Mr. Stanley had many friends in this place, who will regret to learn of his death. Deceased was 65 years of age.

   Tickets for the benefit entertainment Saturday evening, at the opera house, only 10, 20 and 30 cents.

   Those who have taken part in the City Band Minstrels, have done so without pay or remuneration, and many of them have purchased their own costumes. The entertainment on Saturday evening is for their benefit. Fill the opera house.

   Wednesday morning Mrs. J. E. Tanner was sitting in her carriage in front of Warren, Tanner & Co.'s store when a runaway team drawing a bob sleigh came down Main-st. When near her the sleigh swung and struck the wheels back of her carriage, breaking the rear axle and reach and throwing Mrs. Tanner backwards. She was not injured. The runaways belong to Johned [sic] Burroughs and were caught about a mile from town.

 

 

AN ELECTRIC RAILROAD PROPOSED FOR CORTLAND

Car No. 16, Cortland & Homer Traction Co., in 1895.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 14, 1893.

AN ELECTRIC RAILROAD.

A NEAR POSSIBILITY FOR CORTLAND'S IMPROVEMENT.

It will be a Great Convenience and a Great Benefit to Trade—What the

Prospects are.

   For several years there have been periodical rumors that electricity was to be substituted for horses as the motive power of the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad Co. but these proved to be only rumors, as an interview with the management of the road in each case revealed the fact that they were living in hopes, but that the time for action had not yet arrived.

   Several weeks ago this rumor again crept abroad and this time it came to the ears of The STANDARD that it was not all talk, but that there was a very large probability of a change in the near future. At the urgent request of interested parties, however, no reference has hitherto been made to the matter, as it was believed that it might prejudice the cause and perhaps interfere with negotiations which if carried through will mean no inconsiderable boom to Cortland and its industries. But matters have now progressed so far that there seems to be no further need for absolute secrecy, though many of the details are not yet to be made public.

   The prospects of the change to electricity come from the possible, perhaps probable purchase of the railroad by a wealthy syndicate from Scranton, Pa. These gentlemen, under the title of P. S. Page & Co., now control the entire railroad plant of the city of Scranton, Pa., and also of Ithaca, and some other cities. We understand that it is their purpose to put electricity into the present plant, and then to extend the road to other parts of Cortland, taking in some of the principal streets, and continue it east to McGrawville. The freight traffic upon this division of the road would be large. At the other end it may go to Little York before long.

   A STANDARD reporter called upon Mr. L. D. Garrison, the superintendent and manager of the road, and asked him some questions. Mr. Garrison was very guarded in his statements, and he said that there had been no transfer of stock as yet. It had been reported, however, that a syndicate had an option upon the road until early in the spring, and that there was a fair prospect that they would take the property. If so the line would be rebuilt and equipped with electricity. He knew nothing farther. He had received no orders from headquarters which bore upon the subject.

   A representative of The STANDARD also called upon Attorney Horace L. Bronson at his office, and said, "Mr. Bronson, we find that you acted as attorney for P. S. Page & Co. in procuring options on the stock of the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad Co." Mr. Bronson said, "Yes, I did."

   "Have you any objections to giving us for publication the facts concerning the transfer and the putting in of a new electric line by the new company?"

   "Personally I have none," was the reply, "but for prudential reasons I am not at liberty to state anything upon this subject. When the time shall arrive at which I can make a full statement upon the subject without prejudicing the existing negotiations, I shall be glad to do so. I will say, however, that in my judgment the time has arrived when an electric line in Cortland would be a paying investment and there can be no question but that such a road with the extensions which would naturally and inevitably be made to the old line would be one of the most substantial booms that can be brought to Cortland."

   Though little could be extracted from either of these gentlemen it was evident from their happy and confident manner that this electric story is not talk only, and it seems probable that before the snows of another winter are flying in the air the horses which now draw the cars will be comfortably stabled, and that Oliver Wendell Holmes' "witches with their broomstick train," will be sending the cars flying back and forth between Homer and McGrawville, and that while Homer may be the northern annex to the city of Cortland, McGrawville may be the eastern annex.

   It will need little argument to convince our Cortland readers of the great benefit which would result to this village from such an improvement as is above indicated. Homer and McGrawville would become by it practically part and parcel of this village so far as business was concerned, and property all along the electric line would greatly advance in value. Little York would be nearer to Cortland, so far as time is concerned, than Homer is now, and cars would run so frequently over the road that local and business relations between the communities which it bound together would grow steadily more close and intimate. The road would be both a great convenience and a great profit to the people it served, and the general wish will be that there may be no hitch in satisfactorily closing all necessary preliminaries, and that the change from horse power to electricity may be made with the opening of spring, and that the work of extending the line may be entered on as soon as the weather will permit.

Item.

   There are 3,980 miles of electric railroad in this country.

CHARGES OF DISCRIMINATION.

Lehigh Men Growing Uneasy and Threaten to Strike Again.

   ROCHESTER, N. Y., Dec. 14.—Uneasiness among the Lehigh men increases. Some alarming facts have been presented in a forcible manner to the men who returned to work with the expectation that they were to receive their old places at the same wages and who, they claim, were told that matters would move along in the same old rut.

   An official circular was issued on Monday making a radical cut in wages on the Buffalo division. In this reduction it is claimed a decided discrimination was made against the strikers.

   Next followed a proclamation of Superintendent Esser to the effect that all men over 45 years of age must go, but in this case, too, the order seems to be confined to the strikers only.

   "If the Lehigh officers keep on," said one determined looking man at the station," the employes will be all out again within four days."

   The men on the other roads seem to expect further trouble on the Lehigh and they will be brought into the strike next time.

Elmira Reformatory Investigation.

   ELMIRA, N. Y., Dec. 14.—The reformatory investigation was continued, the time being almost exclusively given up to taking testimony of inmates of the institution. The board is working eight hours a day, and expects at this rate to conclude with the prosecution by Saturday. Mr. Brockway's attorney will then probably ask for an adjournment over the holidays before beginning their side of the case. Much of the evidence taken would have been rather startling had there not already been so much convict testimony to the same effect.

Dairymen Honor Governor Flower.

   WATERTOWN, N. Y., Dec. 14.—The State Dairymen's association, in convention here, elected Governor Flower as one of its vice presidents.

Eight Thousand Destitute Miners.

   DETROIT, Dec. 14.—The relief committee of wants of the Upper Peninsula miners reports that $100,000 is needed to keep them through the winter. There are 8,000 destitute.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Another Democrat Speaks.

  

◘ Hon. Charles D. Haines, Democratic representative in congress from the Rensselaer-Columbia district, says of the Wilson tariff bill: "It hits a blow at every industry of my district, and I prefer to take my instructions from the people rather than from the president. I have been told a number of times, within the last few days that if I vote against the bill the administration will defeat me for renomination. I do not care. The salary given me as a representative is not my sole dependence, and I can get along without it, but the people in my district cannot live without work, and if this bill passes it means that thousands of my constituents will be thrown out on the streets without employment. I am willing to leave my future with the voters so long as I do my duty toward them, no matter what the president says."

   Mr. Haines is entirely correct in every statement he has made. There is no doubt that the administration will endeavor to defeat him next fall should he seek the nomination for congress again. The coercion of the people representatives is one of the first principles of President Cleveland's system of statesmanship.

  

◘ The Danbury hatters helped elect Mr. Cleveland, though they were protected in the McKinley tariff law satisfactorily. Their case was represented ably by Mr. Miles, representative of the Danbury district, and as a reward for his labor, they defeated him. They got the notion that they were not getting a large enough share of wealth. After Cleveland's election they rejoiced, and as times grew hard they thought Republican malice was the trouble. The manufacturers ran a while at a loss rather than close the mills. This was the time the leaders of the hatters thought best to pursue arbitrary conduct, and so they forced a lockout. If the Wilson bill—any edition yet published—becomes a law, the wages of hatters will fall about 25 per cent. They control Danbury, and have voted fifty thousand dollars of the property of the town for their relief. The general result will probably be the downfall of Danbury. The hats will be made abroad, and the Democratic hatters may migrate to Kansas.

  

◘ The Anarchist who threw the bomb in the French chamber of deputies seems to have been an admirable specimen of his class. He is described as too lazy to support his family, a vagabond and thief, who has been repeatedly convicted for petty crimes. That is the stuff out of which Anarchists are made.

  

◘ The changes in the duties on cotton and woolen manufactures reported by the Wilson bill are all increases. There was danger that even the Massachusetts Mugwumps would not support the measure unless New England industries were taken care of better.

  

◘ Secretary Carlisle is perfectly consistent in insisting that a duty should be put on sugar. This is an ideal revenue duty. But the Democrats are too great cowards to imperil themselves by putting up the price of sugar to the consumer.

  

◘ Men of American descent are piling up sand bags around their capitol in Hawaii for the purpose of defending it and their liberties against the efforts of President Cleveland to erect a monarchy over their heads.

BREVITIES.

   —Mr. J. H. Ryan has recently sold and shipped to Mr. E. P. Humphrey at Glendora, Cal., one hundred grape cuttings.

   —The Ready Workers of the Universalist church are requested to meet to-morrow afternoon at Mrs. Moul's on Greenbush-st.

   —The regular assembly and election of officers of the Union Veteran legion will be held in their rooms to-night at 7:30 o'clock sharp.

   —A conference of the Cortland Deanery was held at St. Mary's parochial residence at 11 o'clock this morning. Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden of Syracuse presided.

   —Do not forget that the City Band minstrels will repeat their excellent show at the Opera House Saturday evening for the benefit of the performers, who so kindly assisted them in making it such a success.

   —James A. Barry, at one time proprietor of the Messenger House in Cortland, yesterday bought the Vanderbilt House in Syracuse. He has leased it for some time, but this new move is the result of some difficulties between the lessee and the stockholders.

   —Mr. Henry Bates has presented to the collection of curios at Fireman's hall a piece of a bed cord made of the sinews of a whale which belonged to his wife's father's father's grandfather's father. It has been in the family for eight generations, is nearly two hundred years old and is apparently as strong as ever.

   —An exchange tells of a woman who bought a new-fangled coffee pot from a peddler. In the evening she showed it to her husband, a hardware dealer, who told her he had the same thing in his store for half the price she paid. "Well," said she, "Why don't you advertise. Nobody ever knows what you have for sale."

   —The King's Daughters will hold the regular meeting of the circle with Mrs. M. A. Johnson, 32 Groton-ave., Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, at which time a special investigating committee will be appointed for each ward to assist in the local charity work. Let as many of the ladies be present as possible. Other work will be planned.

   —Charles Howard, son of Mr. William Howard and grandson of Mr. Thomas Howard, died Tuesday night very suddenly at Whitney's Point. It was at first thought that he had been poisoned, but a post mortem examination revealed the fact that the young man died of ulceration of the bowels. The body was brought to Cortland on the 4:20 train yesterday afternoon. The funeral was held from the residence of his father on Pomeroy-st. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The deceased was 16 years of age.