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| Li Hung Chang. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, Nov. 7, 1901.
LI HUNG CHANG IS DEAD.
Famous Chinese Statesman Passes Away in Pekin.
WORK HELPED TO KILL HIM.
Insisted On Setting Up and Transacting Government Business When He Was Really Dying—Prince Ching Will Take His Place as Chief Advisor of Throne.
PEKIN, Nov. 7.—Li Hung Chang died at 11 o'clock this morning.
PEKIN, Nov. 7.—At 9 o'clock last evening Earl Li was still breathing and displaying unexpected vitality. The physicians, however, thought he would probably die in the morning hours.
The burial clothes had already been put on. The courtyard of the Yamen is filled with life-sized paper horses and chairs with coolie bearers which his friends are sending in accordance with Chinese custom, to be buried when he dies in order to carry his soul to Heaven. Several of the ministers of powers have called to express sympathy.
The Chinese officials are somewhat uneasy concerning the effect his death will have on the populace, and to guard against a possible anti-foreign demonstration the Chinese generals have disposed their troops about the city in such a way as to command the situation. Trouble, however, is extremely improbable.
The wife of Earl Li and his two sons and daughter are with him. They are greatly distressed. Chinese officials throng the Yamen. Telegrams have been sent summoning Prince Ching, who is now on his way to meet the court, and Chou Fu, the provincial treasurer, from Pao Ting Fu. The former will assume the general charge of governmental affairs and the latter will act as governor of Chi Li until Li Hung Chang's successor in that office, who will probably be Yuan Shi Kai, is appointed.
Robert Coltman, an American, who is one of the physicians attending Earl Li, said that when he was called to act with Dr. Velde of the German legation, Nov. 1, he found the patient very weak from a severe hemorrhage due to ulceration of the stomach.
"The hemorrhage was readily controlled," said Dr. Coltman, "but owing to the underlying condition of chronic gastritis with persistent nausea, only the mildest liquid food could be digested. Tuesday he was cheerful and without pain, but at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning he became unconscious and was no longer able to get rid of the collection of mucous which he had been freely expectorating. Death is expected shortly owing to the symptoms supervening upon gradual carbonic acid poisoning."
Throughout the evening digitalis was frequently administered. Earl Li's persistent refusals to refrain from attending to government business have aggravated his malady, while the refusal of the family to permit certain measures customary in Western medical practice for relieving the stomach has contributed to bring his end near.
EFFECT ON UNITED STATES.
Not Believed Li's Death Will Seriously Affect Our Interest.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.—A cablegram has been received at the state department from Minister Conger at Pekin, stating that Li Hung Chang is dying.
The death of this distinguished Chinaman will not, it is believed here, affect the execution of the undertakings imposed on China in the protocol. Certainly the United States interests will not be involved directly, for all that remains to be done at Pekin in which our government is interested is the preparation of trade and commercial treaties and their lines have been so clearly marked that the work to be done is almost mechanical, and is not likely to be retarded by Li Hung Chang's death.
A change in the Manchurian situation is expected if Li Hung Chang should die and the United States has a very considerable interest in the outcome of the matter.
Li Hung Chang is regarded here as strongly pro-Russian, and it is possible that his death and the coming into power in China as the director of foreign affairs of another prince, less friendly to Russia, might hasten the day when Russia must relax her hold upon Manchuria, and allow the country to be opened up to the commerce of the world.
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PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Appropriation Carried.
As briefly noted in our news columns last night the appropriation of $19,500 for additional school facilities for the city of Cortland voted upon at special election yesterday was carried by the majority of 24. The polls closed at 4 o'clock, and within a half hour from that time the votes had been counted and the result had been gathered from the six wards in the city, was in type and in the forms of The STANDARD ready to be printed. Four of the six wards voted in favor of the appropriation, the First and Sixth being opposed to it.
The contest bade fair to be a close one and the result justified the anticipation. Every conceivable argument had been brought forward against it by the small band of determined opposers, and had it been defeated the result could not have been laid to any single cause and the board of education would not have been justified in making any change in their proposition in bringing it before the people again at a later time. A few people did not want to have their taxes increased the small amount necessary to build this school, but the great majority of the opposers favored some plan for schools, but did not agree with the plan of the board of education. Some wanted more ward schools, and then there would have been another difference of opinion as to their location. Others wanted additions built to the present ward schools. Others believed in the old myth about a contract with the state by which all children of Cortland must be educated by the state and must be cared for at the Normal even if additions had to be made to that building and to its teaching forces. Grant that all were honest in their convictions. But there could never have been a plan prepared that would have satisfied every man. Such a state of affairs never did exist in a matter of this kind, and it never will.
The majority, however, as it was believed would be the case and as proved to be true, recognized the fact that the city of Cortland has a board of education of which it may be proud and in whose judgment they might trust. These people knew that while they personally had not taken the time and perhaps had not the means at hand to investigate the case carefully, the board of education had done so and had looked at the matter from all sides and had finally without prejudice arrived at a definite conclusion as to what was best for the city and for its school children, and they had embodied that conclusion in the proposition submitted to the people, and they were willing to abide by the decision of the board. These people voted for the appropriation and it was carried.
The city is to be congratulated upon the result. The board of education will now be at liberty to proceed with its plan. Unfortunately the difficulty cannot be relieved at once. The schools will still be overcrowded through the remainder of this year. Some of the children who desire to go to school will still have to remain at home for a time. The poor unfortunates will still have to study in the day time by electric light in [private and rented—CC ed.] Collins' hall, and the corridors at the Central school will still have to be utilized for recitation rooms for the remainder of this year. But there is a better time coming and with the opening of school next fall there is reason to believe that the new building will be ready and the children of the city will have the privileges to which they are entitled.
The sober second thought of the American people is always to be relied upon. Had the vote been taken upon this proposition three weeks ago it would have been defeated two to one. A week ago the question would have been doubtful, but the school gained supporters every day. It was a campaign of education. The people simply needed to be informed of the true state of affairs and they were ready to put themselves on the right side. They believe in education, they want their children and their neighbors' children educated, and when they were once convinced that we had outgrown the old facilities and that the proposition submitted for more schools was the best plan, that was sufficient. They were ready to approve of it and they did approve of it, and now they are ready to put their hands down in their pockets to pay for it.
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| Main Street, Cortland, N. Y., circa 1900. |
EIGHT MILES OF WIRE.
To Renew the Fire Alarm System—Completed Very Soon.
Mr. M. J . Myres, president of the Electrical Supply company of Syracuse, is in Cortland today and closed a contract with the board of fire commissioners for furnishing eight miles of wire with which the fire alarm system is to be rewired. The wire is to be No. 12, waterproof, hard drawn copper wire, and it is to be delivered within a week's time. The work of stringing the wire will be started as soon as it is received, and will be carried forward to completion as is possible.
Ladies' Literary Club.
The Ladies' Literary club met with Mrs. E. B. Nash, 30 Clinton-ave., yesterday afternoon and the following program was carried out:
Some American Essays of Today:
Paper on Dr. Henry Van Dyke—Mrs. Murry.
Paper on Agnes Repplier—Mrs. Turner.
Paper on Hamilton Wright Mabie—Mrs. Jennison.
Piano Solo, Midsummer Night's Dream—Mrs. G. H. Smith.
Conversation, Why is the Essay Falling into Decadence?—Introduced and led by Mrs. Henry.
Miscellany, Topic, Self Esteem, Extracts from a Criticism of Prof. Sonmius Van Dope of Scolofandorf University on the Poem, Little Jack Horner—Miss Roe.
An American Woman's Protest Against the Criticism—Read by Mrs. Twiss.
The next meeting of the club will be held with Mrs. G. H. Smith, 6 East Main-st. on Nov. 20.
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| Trolley waiting beside tracks at Cortland passenger depot. |
THAT SPEED ORDINANCE.
Service on the Electric Cars Will Be Materially Interfered With.
At the last meeting of the common council a proposition was made looking toward the reducing of the speed of electric cars and automobiles within the city limits to six miles an hour and the city attorney was directed to prepare an ordinance to that effect and submit it at the next meeting to be acted upon. In connection with automobiles probably no one would raise an objection, for they run so still and are so likely to come upon one unawares that they may be dangerous. But with street cars it is a question if the public service would not be materially interfered with if this speed limit were fixed.
On the McGraw line the distance is about a mile and three quarters from the Messenger House to the city line on Elm-st. at the river bridge. The car now runs at a comparatively slow rate till after it goes down to Railroad-st., but there quickens to the station and again on Elm-st., especially the lower part of the street where house are scattering. Those who have occasion to use the McGraw car know that it is frequently late and the explanation of this is that it is almost impossible to make the round trip in an hour. If a train at the station causes delay or any thing else interferes the car is late. Though the car does not exceed six miles an hour now in the busy portions of the city, if this limit was insisted on to the city line it would mean that the cars could not give better than an hour and a half service between Cortland and McGraw. This would be bad for the business men as less frequent cars would tend to bring less people to Cortland.
On the Homer line it would mean slower cars. Now there is a twenty minute service between the two places, each car taking a half hour to run through. As the switches are arranged meeting points are all right for the three cars on a twenty minute service and a half hour's running time. If the speed were to be reduced it would mean a forty minute trip through and probably the third car taken off as the meeting points could not be arranged so that the two places would only get a forty minute service instead of a twenty service as at present. This would also reduce the number of people coming to Cortland, and probably would lessen trade hours here.
As the cars run now each car consumes ten minutes from the Lehigh station to the carding mill switch, ten more to the Tisdale mill switch and ten more to the north end of Homer. It is just about a mile from the Lehigh station to the first switch and this in ten minutes means six miles an hour including stops. The speed is slower than that through the business part of Main-st., but it increases south of the Messenger House and north of the Cortland House. It cannot get above eight or nine miles at any point, but if a six mile running speed were insisted on from the Lehigh station to the city line, at the north line of the fair grounds, it would clearly be impossible to maintain the present schedule.
These are simple suggestions, but perhaps [it] might be wise for the city council to consider before it acts whether it wants less cars in service and less people coming to Cortland to trade. The cars have been run very carefully and slowly in the business portion of the city, Cars are different from automobiles, and people are less likely to be hurt by them. Automobiles may be anywhere on the street, cars only on the tracks. Automobiles are still, cars are noisy and give ample notice of their approach. No one can be hurt by a car unless he is on the track and when he gets on the track he can see that no car is near.
Meeting of Police Board.
The police board held its regular meeting last evening at the city clerk's office and transacted only routine business.
The report of Chief of Police Barnes for the month of October was read and accepted. It showed that there had been a total of seventy-six arrests made, and that $66 in fines had been collected. The costs paid in civil cases amounted to $5.37. Eleven doors were reported to have been found unlocked.
The monthly salaries of the officers were audited as follows:
E. Barnes, $65.
Day Baker, $55.
Fred Bowker, $55.
E. Townsend, $55.
E. J. Byrnes, $55.
W. C. T. U. RALLY DAY.
Reports from the State Convention—Contributions for Christmas Box Called For.
The W. C. T. U. rooms were filled to overflowing on Tuesday afternoon, this being the day appointed for a rally meeting. The invitation sent to each member to come and bring a friend met with a most cordial response.
The meeting was opened with devotional exercises conducted by Mrs. R. J. Lucas, superintendent of evangelistic work. Rev. W. J. Howell was present and made brief and appropriate remarks followed by prayer. A short business meeting followed, and the president, Mrs. Greenman, in heartfelt words welcomed the friends and visitors and thanked them for the interest so kindly manifested in the temperance work.
The program of the afternoon was then placed in charge of Mrs. Hillock, chairman of the entertainment committee. The exercises were opened with singing "Prohibition Bells" by a quartet consisting of Mrs. Nash, Mrs. Bentley, Mrs. Cotton and Mrs. Owen. "A Few Echoes from the State Convention" held at Glens Falls, Oct. 8-11, were given by the several delegates; Mrs. Watson described the journey and the first day's session. Mrs. Polley gave a report of the second day and Mrs. Cotton of the third. Miss Libbie Robertson, the county delegate, spoke of some interesting points. In the brief time allowed these reports were given in as condensed a form as possible, but at the next three regular meetings each delegate will be given opportunity to speak more fully in regard to the many good things which so interested her and which so many others will be glad to hear about.
At the close of the reports another selection was given by the quartet and this was followed by a recitation entitled "The Song of the Market Place," by Mrs. George C. Hubbard.
After the program all were invited to remain for a social time. Cocoa and wafers were served, and at this point the paper napkins contributed by Kinney & Doubleday came in for a rightful share of appreciation.
A request comes from the superintendent of Flower Mission and Relief Work for contributions to the Christmas box. Dolls, toys, pretty cards and small scrap books are very much desired.
SUPT. PRESS WORK, Cortland, Nov. 7, 1901.
GARDNER TO MOVE.
Will Occupy the Graham Store in the Moore Building.
Mr. H. N. Gardner, proprietor of Gardner's 5 and 10 cent store, is making preparations to move his stock from the Dowd block, where he has been doing business for the past few years, to the Moore block in the store that will be vacated by Mr. A. W. Graham, who is closing out his clothing business. Mr. Gardner will be located in his new quarters by Dec. 1, and Mr. Graham will vacate his store in the Moore block one week before that time in order that times may be given for a renovation of the premises before Mr. Gardner occupies them.
Mr. Graham has been in the clothing business in Cortland for the past seven years. He will now withdraw for a time at least from all business and devote his attention to poultry raising.
Mr. Dowd states that he has not yet rented the store which will be vacated by Mr. Gardner.
BREVITIES.
—Cortland Commandery, No. 50, K. T., will meet at their regular conclave Friday evening.
—The Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. cleared $388.37 from the rummage sale held for the past two weeks.
—New display and advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Clothing, page 8; Baker & Angell, Shoes, page 8; H. N. Gardner, Removal sale, page 8.
—The funeral of Mr. Sylvester Kinney, who died early yesterday morning at his home west of the city, will be held from the house at 1:30 o'clock P. M. tomorrow.
—The Loyal Temperance legion will meet at the W. C. T. U. rooms Friday at 3:15. Officers will be elected and classes formed. Every child in the city is urged to be present.
—Vesta lodge, No. 255, I. O. O. F., will work the first degree in dramatic form at its regular meeting next Monday evening. After the degree work a banquet will be served. All Odd Fellows are invited to attend.
