WILD RIOTS IN RUSSIA, NEW SCHOOL PROPOSED, CANNING FACTORY PROGRESS, AND OSCAR GILLETTE DIED IN ASTABULA

 

Czar Nicholas II.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, March 19, 1901.

WILD RIOTS IN RUSSIA.

Students and Cossacks Clash in St. Petersburg.

MOB DRIVEN BACK WITH WHIPS.

Demonstrators Entered Cathedral, Sang, Smoked and Threw Things at Holy Images, Then Used Sacred Banners as Weapons When Congregation Interfered.

   LONDON. March 19.—Special dispatches from St. Petersburg describe fierce fighting between the demonstrators and the Cossacks. The latter charged the mob at a gallop and the people replied with volleys of stones. A Cossack officer, who was struck in the head by an iron bolt, was unhorsed. The Cossacks, on seeing their leader fall, dismounted and engaged in a hand-to-hand fight, using their whips freely on the people, many of whom were injured seriously, although nobody was killed.

   A later dispatch says:

   "The fight lasted for an hour and the disorders until the evening. From 700 to 800 students were driven by the police and Cossacks into the surrounding yards, where they were detained for examination by the minister of justice.

   "Faces were cut open by the whips of the Cossacks. Old women were crushed almost to death. A child was killed, and it is reported that there were other fatalities, though it is impossible to confirm the rumor. Further disorders are expected tomorrow."

 

DEMONSTRATION FAILED.

St. Petersburg Police Kept Students From Raising Disturbance.

   ST. PETERSBURG, March 19.—The students organized Sunday what was intended to be an imposing demonstration in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, the occasion being the anniversary of the death of Votora, the girl who committed suicide some years ago in a dungeon of the political prison in the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul in order to escape infamous persecutions.

   Immense crowds assembled on the Newskoi Prospekt, the principal street of the city, and the adjacent thoroughfares. The military in even greater numbers occupied the district, closed the entrances of all houses and shops, patrolled the streets and time after time cleared the pavements, making many arrests, including teachers and pupils of the higher grade girls' school. Several of these young women resisted arrest.

   The demonstration was held but owing to the presence of the troops, it was rather a mild affair, although for a time serious consequences seemed likely to follow the brutality of the Cossacks in driving back the people with whips.

 

FOUGHT IN CATHEDRAL.

Students Destroyed Holy Images and Seized Sacred Banners.

   ST. PETERSBURG, March 19.—A number of students who had recently protested against the excommunication of Count Tolstoi assembled inside the cathedral and began smoking, shouting, throwing things at the holy images and whistling while the sacred elements were being prepared for the sacrament. Thereupon the congregation began to thrust the disturbers outside, and a general fight ensued.

   One of the Cathedral banners was seized by the students who used it in the fighting outside the Cathedral, where proclamations were thrown among the crowd containing such phrases as "Long Live Liberty and Free Government" and "Down With the Czar," and "Down With Rotten Officials."

   Finally the students unfurled a red flag, and an attempt by the police to seize it was the signal for a general fight.

 

Solicitations For Tolstoi.

   ST. PETERSBURG, March 19.—The Russian Society of Authors has unanimously sent Count Tolstoi the following telegram: "The Russian Society of Authors learns with pleasure of your improved health. It sends the great Russian author its warmest wishes, and hopes he will be spared for many years of labor in the service of Russia and of humanity."

 

CHINESE DUPLICITY

Was the Cause of Difficulty Between British and Russians.

   LONDON, March 19.—A dispatch to the Central News from Tien-Tsin states that the difficulty there between the Russians and the British over a railway siding has been settled, and that the misunderstanding is said to be due to Chinese duplicity.

 

M. Murphy.

Murphy Has Been Investigating.

   NEW YORK, March 19.—It became known yesterday that Police Commissioner Murphy was conducting a special investigation into the vicious resorts of the city. He has 150 detectives specially detailed to report to him personally concerning gambling houses and immoral houses.

 

Central School prior to renovation.

FOR A NEW SCHOOL.

Board of Education Will Ask Mayor to Submit Proposition to Voters.

   Mr. Bickford of the firm of Pierce & Bickford, architects of Elmira, was in Cortland yesterday and met the building committee of the board of education of this city. The committee consists of Messrs. A W. Edgcomb, Edward Keator, W. J. Greenman and A. F. Stilson. Last night he was before the whole board and submitted the preliminary plans for the addition to the Central school. These were discussed very carefully with the result that a resolution was unanimously adopted that it was the sense of the board of education that an addition should at once be made to the Central school, and directing the building committee to consult with the city attorney in reference to the proper steps for getting the proposition for an appropriation for the addition before the voters at a special election at the earliest possible date.

   The board then adjourned for one week to hear the result of the conference of the building committee with the city attorney.

   The plans submitted were after the fashion of those described in these columns a week or so ago. They call for an addition 67 by 76 feet in size, two stories and a basement high. In basement there will be the heating apparatus and a bicycle room for girls on the east side and a bicycle room for boys on the west side, a solid brick wall separating the two rooms.

   On the first floor there will be four classrooms. The two on the east side will be 25 by 30 feet in size and will be for the first and second grades. The two on the west side will be 26 by 32 feet in size and will be for the third and fourth grades. Each room calls for 47 single desks. The present hall in the Central school, 17 feet wide, will be projected north to the end of the new building. All the rooms have light coming in from the left or the rear or both. There will be an entrance from the east side in addition to the two side entrances as at present.

   On the second floor there will be a study hall on the east side 50 by 64 feet in size containing seats for 247 pupils in single desks. On the west side there will be three class rooms and a library. All are 26 feet deep, but the width varies from 16 to 18 feet. Each class room will seat forty-two pupils. This floor is entirely to be devoted to high school purposes.

   The building seems to be admirably arranged and if these plans are adopted and the school is built Cortland will have a high school building of which it can be proud indeed.

 

COUNTY COURT.

One Case on Trial—Several Go Over the Term.

   A term of county court was begun Monday morning at the courthouse, Judge J. E. Eggleston presiding.

   The case of The People vs. Norman Dorr Haskell, indicted for assault in the second degree committed on the person of Arthur J. Clark, Nov. 10, 1900, while Clark was out with others celebrating after election, was put over the term, as material witnesses for the defense were at present a long distance away. Thos. H. Dowd for plaintiff. Dougherty & Miller for defendant.

   The case of the People vs. Henry Brown, indicted for assault in the second degree upon Lavina Hill on or about June 1, 1900, was tried. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty of assault in the third degree. Thos. H. Dowd for plaintiffs. John H. Miller for defendant.

   The case of the people vs. Grant Weeks, indicted for rape la to be tried. Thos. H. Dowd for the people. C. V. Coon for defendant.

   The case of The People vs. Cory G. Eaton, indicted for unlawfully selling liquors, is over the term.

   The case of The People vs. Sidney N. Gooding and John H. Corcoran, indicted for assault in the second degree upon Fred P. Coffin Jan. 9, 1901, was not disposed of till to-day. Attorney John Courtney yesterday made application for setting the case over the term and produced affidavits of both Gooding and Corcoran that Mr. C. Fred Thompson, now confined by sickness, is a material witness in that case. The court held that there was nothing in the affidavits that showed that he was a material witness and that the case would not be put over till affidavits were produced showing that Mr. Thompson is a material witness in the case. Additional affidavits were put in to-day and the case went over the term.

   Gaetano Peluso and Antonia Reitano were naturalized as citizens of the United States.

   The case of The People vs. Orville Pickert is on trial. This is an action for assault upon the person of Dudley B. Smith. The assault was committed some two years ago and the case has been tried once, the jury disagreeing. T. H. Dowd, district attorney, for the prosecution. E. W. Hyatt for defendant.

 

THE CANNING FACTORY.

Building Nearing Completion—More Contracts for Corn and Beans Wanted.

   Active preparations are now in progress for fitting up the west half of the building, formerly occupied by the Cortland Mfg. Co., Ltd. on Squires-st., for the use of the new canning factory of Yager & Halstead. Mr. Halstead, who has had twenty years' experience in the canning business and who learned every branch of the business at the Oneida community, is here and is superintending the work. The factory will be equipped with modern apparatus, and will be completed in time for the opening of the season.

   The building is commodious and can easily be adapted to the uses of the new enterprise. The main building is 85 to 35 feet, while the "L" is 65 by 40 feet, each having three floors. On the lower floor the cooking will all be done and the bean sorters operated. A new Georgia pine floor, pitching from both ways to the center in order that it may be easily washed, has been placed here. Four-large retorts each holding 1,000 cans for cooking the materials after they have been placed in the cans and sealed, are being constructed on this floor. A large cooker for cooking the materials before they are placed in the cans is on the road toward Cortland. In the engine room is a 25-horse power engine and a boiler of much larger capacity. These were put in new in 1890 and will furnish abundant power for the concern. A new smokestack will be erected at once.

   The second floor will be used for clipping beans. This work is done entirely by hand and calls for a great many laborers. In Camden where fifty acres of beans were contracted, it took three hundred women to do this work. The Cortland factory will ask for only twenty-five acres of beans, but this amount will require quite a number of laborers.

   The third floor will be used for storage room entirely. A large elevator, built at the angle of the two parts of the building, adds to the value of this floor for such a room and helps make the place a model one for the business which these two hustling business men contemplate doing in it.

   Already a hundred contracts have been made between the firm and farmers for corn and beans, but there is still a chance for making these, as the proprietors will not close till they have contracts for 300 acres of corn and twenty-five acres of beans. Their offers of 45 cents per hundred for corn on the cob and of $2 per hundred for small pods of beans seem to meet the approval of a great many of the farmers, and they are certainly good offers. Any one wishing information in regard to contracts or raising the crops can learn all about it by calling at the Fair store, where contracts will be made till the acreage desired is secured.

   In all it may be said that the proprietors are fitting up a fine factory for their business, and it looks as though they had come to stay. The canning factory is what Cortland and the people around Cortland have needed for a long time, and the businesslike way in which it is being handled, argues well for its success.

   From the following quotation from the Binghamton Herald it will be observed that the price paid for corn in Cortland is higher than that in Lestershire. The Herald says:

   Contracts for the supplying of vegetables to the canning factory at Lestershire will be closed next week. The prices are: Tomatoes,$6.50 per ton;  peas, $1.50 per 100 pounds; string beans, 1 to 3c per lb.; Stowell's evergreen corn $6 per ton; Country Gentlemen corn $6.50 per ton; beets, fruit and small vegetables will be canned.

 

ONE-THIRD ALREADY SOLD.

Plans for Disposing of the Rest of the Baseball Stock.

   At a meeting of the Baseball association held last evening at the Emerald Hose company's parlors, it was decided to make a thorough canvass with a view of selling the remainder of the baseball stock for the support of a team in Cortland this season. The reports showed that already, without a formal canvass having been made, $400 worth of stock has been subscribed, or nearly a third of the whole amount asked for.

   Stock blanks were placed in the hands of A. D. Wallace and M. T. Roche, who with Daniel Reilly will begin at once a systematic canvass and make every effort to raise the money for the support of a team. The Baseball association is confident that if $1,250 worth of stock is sold the team will be self-supporting throughout the season.

 

DIED IN ASHTABULA.

Former Resident of Cortland County Passes Away in Ohio.

   Word has been received in Cortland of the death on March 12, at his home in Ashtabula, O., of Mr. Oscar A. Gillette, a native of this county. Mr. Gillette was one of the three sons of Deacon Hiram Gillette and was born on the Conable farm just east of the Port Watson bridge 73 years ago. His father afterward owned the farm near the home of Eugene Graham at the Graham watering trough two miles from Cortland on the Truxton road, and afterwards the Cooper farm a half mile nearer Cortland, and there Mr. Gillette grew to manhood. With his two brothers he afterward engaged in the wood bending business at Indianapolis, where they built up an extensive concern and amassed a large fortune. The older brother, Augustus Gillette, died two or three years ago in Boston, and the younger one, Charles H. Gillette, now lives at Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Gillette is survived by his wife and six children.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; Palmer & Co., Auction, page 4.

   —There will be a meeting of the Kindergarten association at the Normal kindergarten on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.

   —The board of education last night decided to have the spring vacation of the public schools come during the week beginning April 8.

   —John L. Lewis lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., works the second degree this evening at their rooms. Four candidates are expected to take the work,

   —There will be a joint meeting of the Home and Foreign Missionary societies of the Homer-ave. M. E. church in the church parlors to-morrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

 

LI A PHYSICAL WRECK, EX-PRESIDENT HARRISON BURIED, NEW FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AND STRUCK BY A MILK TRAIN

 

Li Hung Chang.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, March 18, 1901.

LI A PHYSICAL WRECK.

Chinese Diplomat in State of Utter Collapse.

MIND IS AS BRILLIANT AS EVER.

Broken in Health and, Mr. Rockhill Says   It Would Be No Surprise to Hear of His Death at Any Time. British and Russians Still at Loggerheads.

   PEKIN, March 18.—The health of Li Hung Chang is again a matter of grave consideration to the ministers of the powers. Mr. Rockhill, the American special commissioner, who visited Earl Li Saturday, says he is a physical wreck and apparently in a state of utter collapse although mentally as brilliant as ever. Mr. Rockhill would not be surprised to hear of his death at any moment.

   The removal of Li Hung Chang by death or any other cause at the present moment would be very unfortunate. M. DeGiers (Russian minister), said last night: "Li Hung Chang is a great diplomat, and his influence with the Chinese court is absolutely unique. No other man in China approaches him in this respect. This influence is not temporary but it is particularly effective at important moments in the history of China like the present."

   Senor DeCologan, Spanish minister, and Doyen of the diplomatic corps, said:

   "The Chinese court could not appoint a plenipotentiary of the same calibre and having equal influence with the Chinese and the foreigners. Although many of the ministers of the powers object to his political methods and regard him as essentially a trimmer, nevertheless they realize that he is the best possible man to represent China in the present emergency."

   Orders have been received by United States troops to depart next month, leaving behind only 150 infantry. The German headquarters staff asserts that the instructions are a "great mistake," alleging that it is necessary to retain a large body of foreign troops in the country for at least two years. Most of the ministers, however, take a different view of the matter believing that the best course is to retain a few of the troops of each nation and to withdraw the rest.

 

NO CHANGE IN SITUATION.

English and Russians Stilt Guarding R. R. Siding and Awaiting Instructions.

   TIEN TSIN, March 18.—There is no change in the situation developed by the Anglo-Russian railway dispute here. The Russian and British forces are still represented by small detachments with officers encamped on opposite sides of the railway siding. The utmost friendliness is exhibited toward each other by the opposing parties; but, as a measure of precaution, the guards have been reduced to 27 on each side in order to prevent any possible collision during the negotiations.

   A Russian general arrived from Pekin Saturday evening. Owing to the persistent rowdyism of French soldiers in the British concession, the British authorities have been reluctantly compelled to forbid the French to enter the concession unless on duty. Major Hockler of the British force was assaulted this afternoon in the French concession.

   The Russians continue purchasing land in their new concession.

   A German reconnoitering party returned to Tien Tsin yesterday with 30 captured robbers.

   Count von Waldersee is expected to arrive here Tuesday from Kiao Chou.

 

Benjamin Harrison.

GEN. HARRISON BURIED.

Great Crowds Attend Services at Church and Grave.

UNIVERSAL EVIDENCE OF GRIEF.

Persons From All Stations of Life, From President to Street Arab, Gather to Pay Their Last Respects to One Who So Richly Deserved Them.

   INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 18.—Surrounded by fully 15,000 of his fellow citizens, the remains of Benjamin Harrison were yesterday afternoon interred in the family lot in Crown Hill cemetery. Close by the grave were the members of his family, President McKinley and other visitors of distinction and the more intimate friends of General Harrison. Back a distance of 50 yards, behind ropes guarded zealously by a large force of police, stood with uncovered heads the great multitude who knew him not so well as they who stood beside the freshly upturned earth, but who honored him and admired him quite as much.

   It is doubtful if any public man, at least in this generation, has been borne to his last resting place among so many manifestations of respect. Of passionate grief there was little outside the members of his family, but the tribute of respect was universal. There was no exception anywhere to the expression that the nation had lost one of its ablest men and the greatest man of his generation in his own state.

   By the grave stood the chief magistrate of the nation and behind the ropes were the street arabs of General Harrison's city, every grade of human life in America between the two was represented in the crowd and among them all there was but the one feeling, that a man had died who was honest at all times, with himself and with others, and whose ability and character were such as the nation could ill afford to lose.

   The weather, like that of Saturday, was splendid. The services at the church and grave were simple in the extreme, all in most excellent taste and there was an utter absence of friction in everything that was done. All was well ordained and well performed.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Peace Prospects in South Africa.

   Negotiations have been going on for a week or more between Great Britain's military and civil representatives in South Africa and representative burghers of what were lately the two Dutch republics looking toward the establishment of peace.

   Great Britain is apparently anxious to end upon any terms which do not involve humiliation, a war which has cost her so much of treasure and blood and in which there has been added so little of luster to Anglo-Saxon arms. The cost of the war in money has been enormous, something like a quarter of the total cost to the United States of our civil war, in which more than ten times as many men took part and which lasted more than twice as long. But there has been a still greater cost, and that is in the loss of prestige, which will make it necessary for the British empire hereafter to do by actua1 force what she could have done before by moral influence in so many matters of imperial import.

   The obstinate resistance of the Boers against overwhelming odds in numbers and equipment, which they defied, should and doubtless will be an important factor in the terms of final peace, but just how far Great Britain will go in the direction of conciliation is another matter. The duration of the peace, if it shall now be finally effected will, however, depend largely upon the spirit with which Great Britain conducts the negotiations and the conditions which she exacts from her late foes. It must be remembered that the great majority of the whites in South Africa are of the Afrikander race and that those not in war against Great Britain were mainly in hearty sympathy with the fighting burghers. If the struggle had been between the whites of Dutch descent and those of British and all other descents actually resident in South Africa, it would have speedily ended in a victory for the former. The numerical supremacy of the Dutch seems destined to remain for an indefinite time. It is therefore necessary for permanent peace that the terms which are understood to be now under negotiation shall be such as the Boers can live under contentedly. The alternative, short of an overwhelming British immigration, which seems out of the question, is another war as soon as the burghers feel strong enough to make it. A treaty of peace predicated upon other than the most conciliatory lines would soon be broken, and even after a conciliatory treaty is effected it will require the utmost discretion on the part of Great Britain to smooth the bitter animosities and race prejudices which the war engendered and intensified. It is likely to be a long time before the Boers will content themselves with the change from citizens of sovereign states to subjects of an alien empire.

 

STRUCK A MILK TRAIN.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON LEHIGH VALLEY NEAR TRUXTON.

Edwin Fitzgerald and a Horse Killed—Daniel  O'Shea Slightly Wounded—His 8 Year Old Son Dennis So Badly Injured That He Died Next Noon—Brought  to Cortland Hospital.

   The milk train on the Lehigh Valley railroad which left Cortland at 7:45 o'clock lost night struck a horse and cutter at Pierce's crossing two miles south of Truxton, N. Y. The cutter contained Daniel O'Shea, his 8-year-old son Dennis of Truxton and Edwin Fitzgerald, a farm hand who lived a short distance above East Homer.

   It appears that the party had been to Cuyler for the purpose of making a horse trade. They had had something to drink at Cuyler and left that place at about 3 o'clock for Truxton. Here they drank some more and did not get away from there till about 7:30 o'clock. They drove south till they came to the Pierce crossing. They had crossed the railroad track when it occurred to them that they were on the wrong road and they turned about to retrace their way. As they crossed the track a second they were struck by the train. Fitzgerald was thrown 105 feet. His skull was fractured and he died within a very few minutes. Mr. O'Shea and his son were thrown about 60 feet and the horse was thrown about 30 feet and was instantly killed. The [engine] cattle guard was torn up and carried forward 125 feet.

   Dennis O'Shea, the son, had his skull crushed in, a bad scalp wound, his left arm broken in two places, the bone of this arm split part way and crushed part of its length, and a bad cut running near the whole length of his left arm. The father was the least injured of all. His head was some cut and he complained of a pain in his left side.

   The train was stopped and backed up to the scene of the wreck. All three men were taken on board and carried to Truxton. The remains of Fitzgerald were left there. Dr. F. H. Stevens was called. The two O'Sheas were then brought back to Cortland, Dr. Stevens accompanying them, and were taken to the hospital, where Dr. Dana was also summoned.

   The boy did not regain consciousness and died at noon to-day.

   Dr. Santee, the coroner, was informed of the accident and went to Truxton last night when the special train returned. He looked over the ground and decided to hold an inquest Wednesday at Truxton, beginning at 10 o'clock.

   The milk train last night was in charge of Conductor H. H. Worden, with Engineer John Fitzgerald and Fireman George McGrath in the cab. It was reported to-day that the engineer was a cousin of the man killed, but we have not been able to verify that as yet.

 

NEW FOOTBALL LEAGUE

To Include Ten Schools in Central New York—Plans and Prospects.

   Representatives from eight schools in central New York met at Syracuse last Saturday and formed an inter-academic football league, which will be a branch of the Syracuse University Academic Athletic association. At this meeting Mr. Frank Pierce represented the Cortland Normal school. The other schools represented were: St. John Military academy. Syracuse High school, East Syracuse High school, Colgate academy, Fairfield seminary, Syracuse Classical school and Cazenovia seminary. In addition to these, Utica and Oneida High schools will be invited to join, making ten members of the league.

   In order to lessen traveling expenses, the league will be divided into two parts, eastern and western, the winner of one division to play the winner of the other division for the championship of the league. This division was adopted:

   East—Colgate, Oneida, Utica, Fairfield, East Syracuse.

   West—Syracuse, St. Johns, Cortland, Cazenovia, Classical.

   It is intended by the committee in charge to have a schedule in which every team in each division will meet every other team in its division. Cornell's freeze-out scheme of a schedule was condemned as unfair to all the schools, as it breaks up the schedule. The scheme proposed by Syracuse university met with general approval.

   Dean Frank Smalley, in whose office the meeting was held, assured the members that the cup which the university will put up for the league winner will be a valuable one. The cup will go to the team winning it for three years, not necessarily successive. The officers of the new league will be those already elected for the association.

   The new plan for league foot ball in Cortland will meet with popular approval, as it will bring the Normal school again into its class of players. Cortland will begin at once to make plans for the team next fall with a view of taking the cup.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A meeting of the Baseball association will be held this evening at the Emerald Hose parlors.

   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., will confer the third degree at their regular communication Tuesday evening.

   —The Wide-a-Wake Literary club will meet at the home of Mrs. B. F. Samson of Wheeler-ave., Tuesday evening, March 19.

   —A regular business meeting of Grover Relief Corps. No. 96, will be held to-morrow, March 19, at 2:30 P. M. in G. A. R. hall.

   —County court began this morning. The case of The People vs. Henry Brown, indicted for assault in the second degree upon Lavina C. Hill on or about June 1, 1900, is on trial.

   —Dr. J. D. Phelps of Syracuse university was a visitor at the Normal school this morning, and after chapel gave to the students a highly instructive and entertaining talk on "Memory."

   —New display advertisements to-day are— E. E. Bates, Eye glasses, page 2; Burgess, Merchant tailoring, page 8; M. W. Giles, House furnishing list, page 8; Smith & Beaudry, Wallpaper, page 7; Edward E. Black, Clairvoyant, page 7; J. W. Cudworth, Optical Talks, page 5; E. M. Mansur, Groceries, page 2; M. A. Hudson, Crockery, page 2.

 

GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, EXIT FROM CHINA, THE SENATE, CHARLES H. DUELL RESIGNS, AND NORMAL SCHOOL CITY

 

Andrew Carnegie.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 16, 1901.

GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.

Carnegie Offers 65 Libraries to New York City.

WILLING TO GIVE $5,200,000.

Usual Conditions Are Imposed and It is Likely That the Offer Will Be Accepted, Giving New York the Best Public Library System in the World.

   NEW YORK, March 16.—Andrew Carnegie, who since retiring as an active figure from the steel world has been able to devote his time exclusively to his other passion, the founding of libraries,  has made his departure for Europe this spring memorable by the largest offer of that kind ever advanced. If New York will provide the sites and maintenance he has promised to give $5,200,000 to establish 65 branch libraries in this city.

   The offer was made in a letter to Dr John S. Billings, director of the New York public library, last Tuesday. The correspondence in connection with the matter was made public last night.

   Mr. Carnegie's letter follows:

   New York, March 12.

   "Dr. John S. Billings, Director, New York Public Library:

   "Our conference upon the needs of Greater New York for branch libraries to reach the masses of the people in every district has convinced me of the wisdom of your plans.

   "Sixty-five branches strike one at first as a very large number, but as other cities have found one necessary for every sixty or seventy thousand of population, the number is not excessive.

   "You estimate the average cost of these libraries at say $80,000 each, being $5,200,000 for all. If New York will furnish sites for these branches for the special benefit of the masses of the people, as it has done for the Central library, and also agree in satisfactory form to provide for their maintenance as built, I should esteem it a rare privilege to be permitted to furnish the money as needed for the buildings, say $5,200,000. Sixty-five libraries at one stroke probably breaks the record, but this is the day of big operations and New York is soon to be the biggest of cities.

   "ANDREW CARNEGIE."

   Secretary G. L. Rives of the New York Public Library association wrote yesterday to Mayor Van Wyck submitting Mr. Carnegie's letter and saying:

   "I am instructed to say that if the city authorities look with favor upon the general plan our board of trustees will hold itself in readiness to co-operate in every way possible in furthering the beneficent purposes which are the object of Mr. Carnegie's munificent offer.

   ''It is understood that Mr. Carnegie's offer is intended to apply to the entire city. The methods and agencies of administering branches in boroughs other than Manhattan and the Bronx may well be left to be settled hereafter.

   "I am further instructed to say that in communicating Mr. Carnegie's proposals to our board, Mr. Billings accompanied it with the following statement:

   "In the conferences referred to by Mr. Carnegie the suggestions, which I have made, have related mainly to a free public library system for the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.

   "I have stated that such a system should include the great central reference library on Forty-second street and Fifth avenue, about 40 branch libraries for circulation, small distributing centers in public school buildings which are adapted to such purposes, and a large traveling library system operated from the central building. Each of the branch libraries should contain reading rooms for from 50 to 100 adults and for from 75 to 125 children, and in these reading rooms should be about 500 volumes of encyclopaedias, dictionaries, atlases and large and important reference books. There should be ample telephone and delivery arrangements between the branches and the central library. To establish this system would require at least five years. The average cost of the branch libraries I estimate at from $75,000 to $125,000, including sites and equipment. The cost of maintaining the system when completed I estimate at $500,000 per year. The circulation of books for home use alone in these boroughs should amount to more than 5,000,000 of volumes per year and there should be at least 500 volumes in the circulation department with additions of new books and to replace worn-out books of at least 40,000 per year.

   "With regard to the other boroughs of Greater New York, I have made no special plans or estimates, but have said that about 25 libraries would be required for them.

   "The contract made by the city of Buffalo with the Buffalo public library, under the provisions of chapter 16 of the laws of 1897 of the state of New York is worth careful examination in connection with the question of how best to provide for maintenance of a free public library system for New York city."

   The law relating to Buffalo provides that that city is authorized for the purpose to raise annually a sum not less than three one-hundreths of one per centum, and not more than five one-hundreths of one per centum of the total taxable assessed valuation of the property of the city.

   Dr. John Billings said yesterday:

   "Mr. Carnegie's offer to provide library buildings for Greater New York at a cost of over $5,000,000 is made with his usual conditions, that the city shall furnish the sites and make satisfactory agreement as to their maintenance.

   "If accepted it will result in the greatest free public library system in the world. We may fairly infer that Mr. Carnegie's idea is that the whole system should be under one management, that of the trustees of the New York public library, but this is not made one of his conditions.

   "As to the question of sites it is not improbable that a considerable number could be obtained without cost to the municipality through gifts by public-spirited citizens.

   "It is of the greatest importance that the system of public schools in the city should be supplemented by such a system of free public libraries as is proposed and the sooner that work can be commenced upon it the better it will be for the people and the community as a whole.

   "My estimate that it will take five years to provide and equip all the buildings necessary is probably a reasonable one, but if the matter is taken up promptly by the municipal authorities it would seem as if this time could be shortened."

 

Major General Adna Chaffee.

OUR EXIT FROM CHINA.

Chaffee Ordered to Evacuate the Country.

LEGATION GUARD WILL REMAIN.

Transports Have Been Ordered to Taku to Take on Board the Returning Soldiers and the United States Practically Abandons Occupation.

   WASHINGTON, March 16.—An order was sent to General Chaffee yesterday for the evacuation of China by American troops, leaving only a legation guard of 100 men. The troops will be removed from China the last of April.

   It was said at the war department that this clears up the Chinese situation so far as the war department is concerned, as the protection of the legation can in no sense be taken as occupation of Chinese territory and the guard cannot be used for any other purpose.

   The transports Sumner and Indiana will be sent to Taku to take the troops in China to Manila. These troops consist of the Ninth infantry, four troops of the Sixth cavalry and the light battery, formerly commanded by Captain Reilly. Two transports will bring away the 1,100 animals which have been used by the army in China.

 

RUSSIANS ENTRENCHING.

Very Evident That England Will Be Given Fight If She Wants It.

   LONDON, March 16.—A dispatch received here from Tien Tsin by Reuter's Telegram company, dated from that city yesterday, says:

   "The Russians are now entrenching in the disputed territory. A [British] company of the Hong Kong regiment with fixed bayonets is in front, while two companies of the Madras Pioneers, under the command of Major Johnson, are held in reserve.

   "Both the Russians and the British are awaiting instructions from their governments."

 

China at Cost.

   Every thing offered through the week  and not already sold will go until Monday evening at 8 P. M. at cost, this offer includes lamps, dinner sets, toilet sets, cups and saucers and plates. Cash only, please. L. N. Hopkins, 31 North Main-st., Cortland, N. Y. [Paid ad.]

 

Benjamin Harrison.

Harrison's Funeral.

   INDIANAPOLIS March 16.—The funeral of ex-President Harrison to-morrow at 2 o'clock at the First Presbyterian church will be quiet, with no display of any kind. The company which will assemble in the church will be the most notable ever gathered in Indianapolis at such a time. The president of the United States, members of the cabinet who surrounded Harrison when he was president, governors of other states, United States senators and congressmen and distinguished men from all over the country will bow their heads in the church where the dead man worshiped in life.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   When the senate of the Fifty-seventh congress met in special executive session there were five vacant seats owing  to [state] legislative deadlocks. Nebraska and Delaware were without senators, and Montana was represented by but one. Of the 29 senators 14 had been re-elected—viz., Bacon of Georgia, Berry of Arkansas, Cullom of Illinois, Elkins of West Virginia, Frye of Maine, Hoar of Massachusetts, McMillan of Michigan, Martin of Virginia, Morgan of Alabama, Nelson of Minnesota, Sewell of New Jersey, Tillman of South Carolina, Warren of Wyoming and Wetmore of Rhode Island. Of the 14 new senators three—Blackburn of Kentucky, Mitchell of Oregon and Dubois of Idaho—have been in the senate before. Bailey of Texas, Gamble of South Dakota and Carmack of Tennessee were members of the expiring house, and Patterson of Colorado was a territorial delegate before Colorado was admitted as a state. This confines the senators without previous congressional experience to six—Burton of Kansas, Foster of Louisiana, McLaurin of Mississippi, Clark of Montana, Burnham of New Hampshire, Simmons of North Carolina and Kearns of Utah.

 

Charles Holland Duell.

COMMISSIONER DUELL RESIGNS.

Will Open a Law Office in New York City.

   A special to the Syracuse Post-Standard from Washington yesterday says:

   The commissioner of patents, Charles H. Duell, to-day tendered to the president his resignation to take effect upon the appointment and qualification of his successor. There are several candidates for the office.

   Commissioner Duell announced to-day that when his resignation is accepted by the president he will open a law office in New York City with W. A. McGrath, law clerk, and Parkman Warfield, examiner in the patent office, as his partners.

 

Foreign Missionary Circle.

   The annual meeting of the Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary circle of the First Baptist church was held in the church parlors Friday afternoon. The reports of secretary and treasurer for the year were read after which the following officers were elected:

   President—Mrs. R. Beard.

   First Vice-President—Mrs. H. M. Slafter.

   Second Vice-President—Mrs. J. Jenman.

   Third Vice-President—Mrs. W. H. Jones.

   Secretary—Miss Mina Bates.

   Treasurer—Mrs. F. D. Reese.

   Chairman of Literary Committee—Mrs. E. M. Mansur.

   Chairman of Envelope Committee—Mrs. F. Haskins.

   Chairman of Committee on "Helping Hand"—Mrs. L. Lowell.

   Chairman Music Committee—Mrs. W. H. Jones.

 

Aaron Sager.

The County Veterans.

   The Soldiers' and Sailors' Veterans' association met at G. A. R. hall this afternoon and re-elected the following officers:

   President—Maj. Aaron Sager of Cortland.

   Vice-President—Mills G. Frisbie of Scott.

   Second Vice-President—G. W. Smith of Marathon.

   Secretary— P. W. Chaffee of McGrawville.

   Treasurer—J. F. Wheeler.

   Chaplain—H. M. Kellogg.

 

"Buffalo Bill" Cody.

Buffalo Bill, June 14.

   S. H. Semon of New York, advance agent for Buffalo Bill's circus, is in Cortland to-day and has made arrangements with the officers of the Cortland Agricultural society for holding the big show on the fair grounds on June 14 next. The small boy will now begin to save up his pennies in order to take in the wonderful attractions.

 

Cortland Normal School viewed from Greenbush Street.

NORMAL SCHOOL CITY.

New Government to be in Active Operation Next Monday.

   At a meeting of the common council for the Cortland Normal school city, held yesterday afternoon at the building, the following police officers were appointed by Chief of Police Albert Gross and confirmed by the council: Messrs. Chas. H. Huntley, Edgar Down and Theodore Wood, Misses Mabel Munson, Laura Cotton and Zuma Bellinger. Mayor F. J. Bierce appointed Miss Mabel Holland as city clerk, which appointment was confirmed by the common council. The new city government will be in active operation next Monday.

   The common council for the new city is made up as follows: Mayor, F. J. Bierce; aldermen, First ward, F. R. Spaulding and Elizabeth Conway, Second ward, S. Cornelia Knapp and Helen G. Wager, and Third ward, Ward C. Saxton, A. G. Beha, Fourth ward, Grace E. Rogers, Glenn W. Persons, Fifth ward, Wm. N. Thayer, and Sixth ward, R. D. Hall and Edith P. Fish.

   The following ordinances, drawn by Aldermen Hall and Thayer, were passed by the common council:

General conduct of citizens under the jurisdiction of the Cortland Normal school city.

   Any citizen who shall conduct himself in a disorderly manner shall be judged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to reprimand by the court or if the offense be such as would seem to warrant his being expelled from school his case shall be referred to the principal.

Conduct of citizens in City hall during study hours.

   Any citizen who shall leave his assigned seat or in any way so conduct himself as to disturb those who wish to study shall be judged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to reprimand and to be deprived of the use thereof for a period of not less than one week or more than four weeks.

Conduct of citizens in corridors during class periods.

   Any citizens who shall' be found in the corridors during class periods shall be judged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to reprimand by the court.

Conduct in clubrooms during class periods.

   Any citizen who shall so conduct himself in any of the clubrooms as to disturb any class recitation shall be judged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to reprimand and to be deprived of the use thereof during class periods for a period of not less than one week or more than four weeks.

Conduct in libraries.

   Any citizen who shall conduct himself as to disturb others or who shall not be quiet at all times or who shall take books, papers, or periodicals from the libraries without permission of the librarian or who shall not return to their proper place books, papers or periodicals (or who shall neglect to pay his share of all losses or unnecessary damage to books by citizens using the library) shall be judged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to reprimand by the court and to' be deprived of the use thereof for a period of not less than one week or more than four weeks.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Regular meeting of Grover Post, G. A. R., Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Mr. V. E. Hills has purchased the Laurel cafe and takes possession to-night.

   —The book stores of McKinney & Doubleday and Smith & Beaudry will be open evenings till further announcements are given.

—The Women's Home Missionary society of the Presbyterian church met yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. A. W. Egcomb on Court-st.

—William Duffey and William Doherty, who were arrested last night for public intoxication, paid fines of $5 and $3 respectively in city court this morning.

   —The Assembly party dance at Red Men's ball last evening was largely attended and heartily enjoyed. Darby's orchestra of four pieces furnished music.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Opera House "Forty-eighth Highlanders," page 5; E. M. Mansur, Groceries, page 2; Home Telephone Co., Telephones, page 5.

   —A two weeks' mission will be opened to-morrow at St. Mary's church at 10:30 o'clock mass, conducted by the Rev. Fathers Menniges, C. M., and Rosa, C. M., of Philadelphia.

   —Rev. J. D. Phelps, D. D., former principal of Cazenovia seminary will preach at the First M. E. church to-morrow at10:30 A. M., and Rev. Theron Cooper, D. D., will preach at 7 P. M.

   —Mr. George L. Gutchess of East Homer has purchased the D. C. Squires farm of 240 acres near Marathon, and has taken possession. The farm is in a fine location, is well watered, has good fruit and a large timber lot.

   —The Short farm near East Homer was sold on mortgage foreclosure from the courthouse steps this morning by Attorney John H. Kelley. The farm contains about sixty acres and was bid in by Mr. John H. Miller, the holder of the mortgage, for $500, subject to a first mortgage of over $1,900.