L HE CAMERON COUNTY FIIKSS. ESTABLISHED BY C. B. GOULD, MARCH 1866. VOL. 37. Hessage From his Honor, the Burgess. To the Common Council of the Borough of Em' porium, Pa. GENTLEMEN:— As you will doubtless bo called upon, more or less frequently during the com ing year, for action of various kinds, relating to our Municipal Electric Lighting plant I -assume that a brief re sume of the work of the past year rnaj' prove of service. OUR ELECTRIC LIGHTING PLANT. After a few week-? of friendly contro versy in tho local press a vote was taken at our borough election held in February 1901, on the proposition to bond tlie borough $7,000 for the con struction of an electric lighting plant to furnish street lights and incandes cents. The proposition carried by a majority of nearly four to one, and Council of 1901 at their first meeting in March appointed a committee to take immediate action on the subject. This committee was composed of Messrs. Catlin, Balcomand Murry, and was requested to act with the Burgess. The committee selected Mr. J. C. Vail a well known Electrical Engineer of Philadelphia, to prepare plans and specifications. Mr. Vail looked over the ground personally about the middlo of March, and, at once prepared plans and specifications which were accepted by committee and by Council at regular meeting in April, and bids advertised for in tho PRESS and Independent of Emporium, and the Engineering Re cord, of New York City. Bids were opened April 30th. The lowest hid was §3,759.00, but the bidders were un able to show that the engine they pro posed to putin would fulfill therequire ments of tho specifications, nor could they refer to a single instance in which their engine had been used for electric light work. Next, bids were $6,849, and §6,949, both by Geo. Metzger, Jr , of Emporium; from Oioan came a bid of §7,430; Philadelphia, §7,612; Philadel phia, §7,892; Philadelphia, §8,132; New burg,N. Y., $8,507; VY illiamsjjort, §8,760; Pittsburg, §3,807. About this time Mr. 8. S. Hacicct, was appointed to Council And also placed oa the light committee to fill a vv.caney caused by Councilman Murry'A change of residence. The con trac'; wai finally awarded to Geo. Metayer, Jr., at his bid of $6,849, for complete plant except power house and connections. Mr. Metzger's band in the sum of $2,000 was accepted and contract legally closed May 13th. Owing to un avoidable delays in shipment of engine and other apparatus the contractor did not pronounce his work finished until Ssptomber 28th, and same was finally accepted by the borough Oat. 28, 1901, after au inspection by eugiuear Vail, of Philadelphia, who pronounced all the apparatus to bo first-class and as re quired by the specifications. Tha line work has stood the high winds and storms of tho past six months without a break or a cent's worth of repairs and may fairly lie considered to bo properly con 'traded. COST OF PLANT. The contra jtor received $6,767.00. Expense and bills ": n account of Elec trical Engineer lor plans and specifica tions, blue prints, inspection and etc., also bills for lumberand laboron power house, gas, water and sewer connec tions, etc, were §785.00 to which should be added §129.61 for pipes, plumbing, labor and apparatus which though purchased since the borough accepted the plant, are really a part of construction expenses, making the en tire cost of plant complete §7,681.61. OPERATING EXPENSES. Operating expenses for October, Nov ember, December, January less above items charged to construction, §432.74. Included in this, however, is §54.50 in surance for full year and payments for oil and carbons (still on hand. We find that the overcharge on these four months for supplies bought and on hand but not yet used is §21.00 and in surance for eight months to come is §36 33, reducing actual running ex pense for the four months to §375.74. Expenses for February including in surance §4 54, is §Bl 89, expense for March §93.08. making a total of 558.91 for six month or §93.12 per month for 31 arcs, or about §36.00 per year per arc To this should be added §280.00 per year interest on bonds, bringing the cost to the borough of a single arc to §45 00 per year. According to the guarantee given by the manufacturers of our apparatus,we have sufficient surplus power to furnish private lighting to tho amount of §900.00 per year. I fully agree, however, with your lighting committee in its conclu sion to defer further action regarding inside lighting till the engine bed iu the power house is reinforced. WEAK FOUNDATION. The fact that the engine bed shows signs of weakness is very much to be regretted, but I fail to find that council or the contractor can be blamed in any way for this condition. The size of the foundation and the construction of it are in every respect equal, and in the matter of the cement employed, better than the requirements furnished by the engine builders who probably lost sight of the fact that tho foundation would stand in water whenever water in tho branch was high, although their atten tion was drawn to this several times. I have recently learned that the same thing occurred when a new steam en gine was putin at the Iron Works here about two years ago. The foundation was built on precisely the same level »s related to the creek, and it was built according to specifications, hut after a few weeks use it began to shake so that its reinforcement became noces'iarj. This was accomplished by sure >u ting the foundation on .-ill aides wi'h a stone wall 18 inc es thick, about four or five feet from the foundation. This apacv was then fiile.l with slag or cinder and flooded with cement. Since this time, about two years ago, the foun lationhas remained perfectly solid. . I would suggest, Gentlemen, that your committee investigate this case, and if practicable adopt a similar plan as if this should prove efficient and economical it would certainly bo very convenient as not interfering with the continuous service of the plant. The engine and generator are repre sented and guaranteed by their respec tive manufacturers to furnish a certain amount of power, and it will at once occur to you that it is very important that,at once onour reinforcement of the foundation, inside lights be put on sufficient to test the full capacity of the plant before the expiration of the guarantees. STItEET DEPARTMENT. I wish to congratulate you gentlemen on the good work done by your street commissioner during the past year, and especially on the efficiency of his de partment during the winter. I am con vinced that there are very few if any towns in the state of any size where the sidewalks were kept in better con dition so far as snow and ice is con cerned than they were right here in Emporium. As usual, in the spring there are a large number of wooden sidewalks that need immediate atten tion, but your street commissioner will no doubt give you full particulars re garding these. FOURTH STREET. I wish to call your attention to the condition of Fourth street. For years repairs have been mado by dumping cinders and dirt in the street, and the center of the road has been gradually rising till in many places it is higher than the sidewalks. This is very notice able in the square between Broad and Chestnut streets, and is particularly to be deplored at this point, as the brick business blocks in this square cannot be raised to keep pace with the upward movement of tha road. GRADING AND REPAIRS. In this connection gentlemen 112 would most earnestly recommend that a defi nite grade line be at once established from the upper end of Fourth street, to the railroad crossing at the Junction, and that hereafter when repairs are made they he made by cutting clown the high points and filling in tho low ones till the roadway conforms to one regular grade from end to end We have right hero in the Borough, at the furnace, and free of charge, some of the finest road making material in the world. I refer of course to the slag or cinder from the iron works, and it seems to me that this ought to bo utilized while we have the opportunity. Dumping cinder here and there on top of the street, however, is of very trifling temporary benefit. The read should be excavated where necessary and filled in with 10 to 12 inches of cinder, coarse on the bottom and fine on top, and then rolled with a heavy steam roller. The fine cream colored granular cinder, which may be obtained at the furnace at bare cost of granulat ing it, would make an ideal top dress ing for the heavy cinder and give us a roadway equal to any paved street in existence. lam of the opinion, how ever, that the granular cinder by itself is of no use tor road making unless placed on a solid foundation. If you can see your way clear to be gin work at either end or in the middle on some such plan as this, while we may not be able to finish it this year and perhaps not even next year, there will bo 3ome prospect of eventually having at least one street that we may be proud of. I hope, gentlemen, that you will agree with me that all patching and repairing on Fourth street and West Allegany avenue ought to stop and every cent of money hereafter ex pended on this line of roadway should be devoted t > permanent improvement. BICYCLE SIDE PATH. Dr. Baker and Mr. Hockley have al ready secured subscriptions sufficient to warrant them in commencing the con struction of this work as soon as the weather will permit. It has been stat ed, that we would not have the author ity to protect a bicycle path from being encroached upon and damaged by horses and vehicles that are by law en titled to the road-way. This is a mis take however as a special act, applying to Emporium only, was passed by the State legislature in 1871, and signed by Governor Geary, which act reserves fifteen feet on each side of 80 foot streets and eleven feet on each side of all streets between sixty and eighty feet in width, this reserved strip is not a part of the road-way and cannot be legally encroached upon by horses and carriages which have no more rights thereon than bicycles have on the side walks. It is patent, therefore, that if the bicycle path is built on this reserved strip the Burgess will have ample legal authority to protect the path. In con clusion, gentlemen, I wish to congratu late you most heartily on your selection of officers for the coming year. Yours respectfully, E. O. BARDWELL, Burgess. Emporium, Pa., April 7th, 1902. To the School Directors of Cameron County. Gentlemen:—ln pursuance of the forty-third section of tho act of May 8, 1854, you are hereby notified to meet in convention, at the courthouse, in Emporium on the first Tuesday in May, A. D. 1902, being the 6th day of the month, and select, viva voce, by a ma jority of the whole number of directors present, one person of literary.and scientific acquirements, and of skill and experience in tho art of teaching, as county superintendent, for tho th: -o succeeding years, and certify tha re sult to the State Superintendent, at Harrisburg, as required by tho thirty ninth and fortieth sections of said act. MATTIE M. COLLINS, County Sup rintemlent of Cameron County. April 4th, ICJO21 C JO2 —7-4t. "Liberty and Union, One and Inseparable." —WKßSTKß. EMPORIUM, PA., THURSDAY, APRIL 10,1902. Letter From Prof. Coleman. The editor of the PRF' I is in receipt of a personal letter rom Prof. J. J. Coleman, formerly of J driftwood, who is engaged in educational work in the Philippines. Mr. Qnleman enlisted with Uncle Sam and remained there afterwards. Who Will Erect Houses. The growing and daily demand for dwelling houses in Emporium, with none vacant, is a great disappointment to persons who locate in Emporium. Why do not some of our citizens, with means and plenty of land, erect some j comfortable homes that will rent at j reasonable rates'? Don't all start at, once. A Hark of Appreciation. A former very prominent resident of Emporium, having removed to Buffalo and taken sick there, after unsuccess fully doctoring with Buffalo physicians for a time, sent to her former family physician, Dr. R P. Heilman, for treat ment. After a few days' use of reme dies sent, reports come back of great improvement and were accompanied with profuse thanks and a double fee. Baptist Church Notes. Preaching morning and evening by the pastor. Morning subject. "Two plus two equals four." Evening topic, "Parrots." Biblo school at the close of morning worship. C. E. Crandell superintendent. Y. P. S. C. E. (5:30. B Olmsted Pres. Prayer and praise meeting Wednesday evening 7:80. All welcome. Don't miss the Peoples Popular Happy Hour Service Sunday evening 7:30 to 8:30. 28th Benedictory song service. Distinguished Visitors. Last Friday a number of promi nent tanners, interested in West Vir ginia, visited Emporium and met many of our citizens. The party was com prised of Charles Gleason, Boston; Wm. F. Mosser, Westover, Pa.; Chas. Irvin, Big Run, Pa.; I. W. Gleason, Gleasonton, Pa.; and L. W. Gleason, Driftwood, Pa. The party, who were in charge of Mr. W. M. Lawler, of Emporium, had returned from visiting the tanneries in this section of the State. They left on mail cast to visit at Driftwood and Gleasonton. Buffalo Trade Excursion. Last Monday about seventy-five of Buffalo's business men started on their annual trade excursion to be absent one week. The train arrived at Em porium at 4:30 p. m., and was met at the junction by the Burgess and sever al of our citizens, who accompanied the excursionists to Broad street Sta tion, where a large number of our business and professional men met and commingled with the gentlemen until 5:10, when the train departed for Wil liamsport, where they remained over night A delegation of Williamsport board of trade members met the excur sionists at Emporium and accompan ied them to the Saw Dust City. They were a jolly party and met many cus tomers, as well as friends. Reporters accompanied the party, representing all the Buffalo papers. We had the pleasure of meeting Richmond C. Hill, of the Times, and F. E. Davis of News. The Close of the Star Course. With the Copley Square Trio of Boston the People's Star Course of the Season of 1901-1902, formally closed. The entertainments furnished from time to time have been uniformly of a high order of excellence and have represented not only much hard work on the part of the committee, but a large out lay of money, as only the best attractions in the Lyceum field have been listed. We believe there is a general desire that the enterprise, so successfully operated for the last two seasons, should be continued and made permanent. It is not unlikely that an effort will be made at the proper time, to enlist the co-operation of our citizens in the furtherance of this end. Ofthe Copley Trio itself only words of praise may be said. It combines elements of musical variety and novelty, beyound anything previously presented and includes only artists of decided merit. Miss Blanche Sears is a pleasing violinist and cap tivated her auditors with her masterful interpretations of classic and standard compositions; Mis 3 M. Isola Sears ex cells as a pianist, having a finished touch and is equally at home with I!, guitar and xylophone; Miss Mario:i Whitaker's skillful manipulation ofthe sleigh bells and xylophone was a highly appreciated feature, as her frequent recalls indicated, while her whistling solos won instant and emphatic favor. In fact the entire entertainment was worthy of the occasion and of the artists giving it. Letters from tlic People. [All communications under this head must be accompanied by the writer's name. We will not be held responsible for any expression in this department.]— Editou. "Patron" is After Somebody. Who? Editor I*reHß: The Mothers' Meeting, organized for the good of our schools was so taken updiscussing the "curfew" law last Friday that the following questions were considerded of not enough im portance to act upon, but were put over until the meeting in September. As they are of great importance to the majority of patrons of our schools, I send them to you for publication that those in authority may answer if they choose. 6.l.—Would it not he well for our directors to de mand the resignation of each teacher employed, as a sate guard against incompetency? 2.—ln your opinion are not the directors guilty for continuing in office a lax instructor, whom they know to be deficient? 3.—Teachers in the lower grades complain of over crowding of pupils, each room averaging <lO. Why is twelve a large number for the graduating class? 4.—ls brutalityone ofthe requisites of a succes ful teacher in our schools? ,r '- —Why is writing in all its detail not carried along with the pupils beyond the first grade? 6.—Why will teachers,who are pressed for time, spend half of their time ranting on the terrible punishment they will inflict on their scholars at the close of school, if they do this or don't do that? "■—Why are our boys leaving school in their Grammar and Freshman year? A PATRON. The above article, coming as it does Irom a patron of the schools, and a tax payer, we doem it our duty' to publish the same, yet in no matter endorsing the sentiments contained therein. School directors, and especially teach ers, have a hard road to hoe. The charges above, or rather insinuations, are questions that will no doubt be ans wered by the directors or faculty. As far its our teachers are concerned we believe they have given excellent satisfaction. All scholars are not angels—far from it—and living, as the writer doea, too close, for comfort, to the high school building, we are of the opinion that had we to live in the same building some of the little scamps, and more of the larger ones, would get a good sound thrashing three times a day; we would adjourn the mothers' meet ings and send the members home to keep their children from off the streets. George Easterbrooks Seriously Injured. Last Saturday evening, Geo. Easter brooks, employed as conductor on Em porium & R.V.R.R. met with a terrible accident, while discharging his duties. His train was crossing the mountain from W. D. Johnson's North Creek shingle mill to C. B. Howard Com pany's property, when a truck under a car, loaded with shingles, broke down. The trainmen attempted to take a truck from under an empty car to replace the broken one under the loaded car. They jacked up the empty car took the truck out and then began blocking up the car so as to usu the jacks under the car. While doing the blocking the ear swung sidewise overbalancing the jacks and then fell. Easterbrooks was caught under the car. His head was caught on the side by the end of a tie and all the tissues on the right side of head includ ing his ear were torn loose from a line about one inch back of the eye extend ing from the top of his forehead down unto his neck and torn loosa back as far as the back of his head and cutting off the temporal artery from which there was a great loss of blood. There was another cut about four inches long over left forehead extending from just above eyebrow to top of head, atid one .about three inches long on the left side of back of head. The head ofthe right shoulder blade was also broken and one finger on right hand badly lacerated. While he was held fast under the car he had presence of mind enough to l direct the whole work of his release. | He wa3 brought to Emporium on the | engine and taken to his home. Dr. Heilman was summoned and after | learning the extent of his injnries sum | rnoned Dr. Smith to administer chloro ) form while the wounds were being dressed. The wounds were carefully j cleansed and dressed, and the shoulder | putin position to heal. It was deemed advisable to take him to Williamsport Hospital for the after-treatment, which was accordingly done. Dr. Heilman accompanied him and leithim the next morning resting comparatively easy. The indications are favorable for his recovery. Eye Specialist. Prof. W. H. Budine, the well known Eye .-'pecialist, of Binghamton, N. Y., Will be at R. 11. Hirsch's jewelry stove, Emporium, April 11th and 1-th Evea tested and examined free. AH work guaranteed. If you have weak eyes or headache don't fail to call and sot! Prof. Budine, as ho makes a speciality of correcting all such cases Lenses ground totll till kinds of peculiar sight. 5-21. Capt.L.S.Hay, one of Dußois' promi nent citizens, is dead. Street Paving. Mr. Josiali Howard, our wealth iest, as well as most public spirited citizen, made a proposition to the Borough Couucil, of which he is a member, at the regular meeting last Monday evening looking to the paving of Fourth street from the Climax office to Chestnut street. Mr. Howard declared his willing ness to donate one-third of the cost (about 82,000) provided the peo ple would contribute the other two thirds, either by donation or from Borough funds. Our tax-payers are sick and tired of being taxed to keep up mud roads. Let street paving, cinder roads or something besides mud be used. Let not another dollar be expended for mud holes. Make good streets if it be only one block at a time. Mr. Howard is the heaviest tax payer in the county, has made his money here, and, probably expects to reside among us for years to come and work for tlio upbuilding of his home-town and county. His broad ideas ».' public improve ments may seem too much for some of our citizens, but they should re member that no town improves in importance unless the people are progressive and manifest the true spirit of go-aheadativeness, that at tracts the attention of the seeker for homes, the promoter of indus tries and (he manufacturer. To make our county what it should lie we all must be more progressive, energetic and wide-awake. Would that Emporium had a dozen Josiali Howard's. Ancient History. The Smethport Miner is publish ing "Ancient History" from its liles of 1858. At that date Bhippen township, this county, was then a part of McKean county. The mer cantile appraisement for that year shows only four business firms in Shippen, viz: L. T. More, Eli Felt, Z. L. Hubbard, B. Earl. Soldiers Monument. It is urgently requested that all persons interested in the effort to erect a soldiers monument shall meet at the office of M. M. Larra bee next Wednesday evening at 7:30 o'clock. J. !•'. I'AKSONS, President. A. CHAPMAN, Sec'y. Thanks. EDITOR PRESS: —Please extend our thanks to those kind friends and neighbors for their sympathy and kindness to us during our sad bereavement in the death of our daughter BESSIE. MR. ami MRS. ALBERT MURRY and FAMILY. Editor Press:— We desire to extend our heart felt thanks to our kind friends and neighbors, who assisted us during the illness and after the death of our husband and father. Also the Ladies of Gladioli Hive, Tent No. 4, K. O. T. M., of Bradford, Pa., and Mayor P. C. Foley, of Olean. who sent the beautiful llow ers. MRS. S. FAUCETT AND FAMILY. DEATH'S DOINGS. MURRY. BESSIE, aged two years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Murry, died Sat urday evening after a few days illness with pneumonia. It was a bright little child for one of its years and will be sadly missed by the family. The fun eral was held from the home on Seventh street, Monday at two o'clock. Rev. O. 8. Metzler officiated and spoke words of consolation to the bereaved family. Democratic Committee fleets. The Democratic County Committee met at City Hotel yesterday and elect ed Dr. S. S. Smith delegate to State Convention and endorsed Dr. S. S. Smith for State Senator, with power to choose his own conferees. J. P. Parsons, C. W. Shaffer, Emporium, and W. R. Chatham, of Driftwood, were elected Congressional conferees. Hello! Press. The PRESS establishment is now con nected with the local telephone line as well as long distance 'phone. Our patrons are requested to call us up at any time, send u.s news or leave orders. Please bear this in mind. Having decided to continue the busi ness of the late D. _ E. Olmsted, I hope by strict, careful and courteous atten tion to all to merit a share of the patrouago we have had since our resi dence in Emporium. THOMAS TROTTEB. Next door to the Emporium Furni ure Company. TERMS: $2.00 —$1.50 IN ADVANCE WEATHER REPORT. (Forecast by T. B. Lloyd.) FRIDAY, Fair. SATURDAY, Rain. SUNDAY, Fair. LzOGAL JNIOTICES. WANTED—GirI for general houw: work. Inquire at this office. FOR SALE on easy terms, a dwelling house on east Sixth street. Applv to W. J. Hughes. In most cases, pay me the same price for border that yon did last year and i will throw the paper in. L. Taggart. Zinc and Grinding Make Devoe Lead and Zinc Paint wear twice as long as lead and oil mixed by hand. Murry & Coppersmith sell our paint. tf Never has there been such a variety of paints, oils, varnishes, enamels and varnish stains brought to town as yon will find at Taggart's. SHAWJS PURE MALT—Is free from adulteration, drugs, crude spirits and other harmful ingredients. Absolutely pure. Sold By 36-47-ly p. X. BLUKLE. Tapestry curtains and lace curtains. A fine new line just received. Can'* be beat for quality and prices. Call and have a look. GEO. J. LABAR. The man who speaks his mind to your face is the man to trust. BUT your wall paper at Taggart's, who sell* you border for about the same price as the paper. PASTURE:—I have good pasture or Big Run for about 100 head of cattk Apply to, MRS AMANDA R. N YHART Beechwood, Pa. l-.Jt. _ Carpets! Carpets! Carpets! A liner line of carpet than ever, now on tap a' Laßar's. Will meet all competion and go one better. Costs you nothing to call and see them. Come one come a]. GEO. J. LABAK. A fine selection of ladies trimmed hats just received from New York city. Children's hats at 15c and up wards Children's summer under wear, regular pries 15c and 20c, reduced to 5c and 10c. MRS. E. O. BARDWELL. WANTED—Cabinetmakers and wood finishers. Steady employment at good wages. None but those who nave learned the trade desired. If you are competent come right on. we will t»ay railroad fares. No strike. W. "M Powell, 203 N. Water St., Rochester. N. Y. 6-2t Can Recover the Claims. HARRISBURG, April 3.—Attorney General Elkin to-day gave as his lega! opinion that under the act of ISS7, re lating to the assignment of claims, iJ the West Virginia Claim agency presses the writs ot the attachment of wages against railroaders, and com pels the railroad companies to pay the debt, the railroaders may proceed against the merchants or other credit ors making assignments of tbest claims, and under the law, recover from them as a penalty the full amount of debt, interest and costs so collected. Some time ago B. Frank Suavely, L A. Johnston and other employes offhe Pennsylvania Railroad company, wish ing to ascertain what legal right the West Virginia Collection agency hat to hold up the wages of railroad en ployes in this city, Altoona and othc? points along the Pennsylvania line, for debt, sent a letter to Attorney General Elkin stating the case and asking hir opinion on the subject. Mr. Elkin concludes his opinion at follows: "This whole system of making coi lections is vicious, savors of 3liarp practice, and should not be encourag ed. It seems to me that, when our mer chants and other creditors fully under stand the true characters of the suite instituted and the penalty which they must pay in case suits" are pressed against them, they will refrain from making assignments of claims for thir purpose." Positive Proof. The following houses have beei.- painted from Beven to twelve yeare with my paints, ( the Champion paints viz: L. Taggart's, I). W. Felt's, Mrs. J C. Metzger's, Joshua Bair's. N. Seger's. Sam'l McDonald's, J. P. McNarney l s and many others. The county jail and R. P. Heilman's house have beer, painted two years. 1 ask you in ah fairness, and in justice to myself, tc carefully examine these houses. Let no man prejudice you against my paints. 1 can assure you without truthful con tradiction, that there is not a man in our town or county, who has anv knowledge whatever, as to the quality of paints, only as he or they have"learn ed from their use, and I defy any oer son in town to give you such proof a* to quality of their paints, as 1 have. My paints are guaranteed. Yours truly, L. TAGGART. That Beautiiul Gioss Comes from the varnish in Devoe 1 * Varnish Floor Paint; costs 5 cents more a quart though. Sold by Murry & Coppersmith. 4 NO. 7.
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