Description: Niagara County News.

Date: March 3 1889

Newspaper published in: Buffalo, NY

Source: New York State Library Microfilm

Page/Column: Page 7/Columns 2&3

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Niagara County.
Suspension Bridge.

The candidates for collector are James Low of Suspension Bridge and James Compton of Middleport. The former was a bolter last fall in the congressional fight, while the latter was a warm supporter of the Republican nominee for Congress. Which faction the coming administration will recognize, is a question. A dark horse would stand a good show.
A bill will soon be introduced doing away with the office of a Fifth Justice of the Peace of the town of Niagara.
At the Democratic caucus Saturday night M. B. Butler was nominated for village president; Thomas Gaskin and Gayton Swan, trustees; H. J. Delmage, treasurer; Michael De_itt, assessor; W. B. Horne, Gottlieb Murr, and Patrick Maloney; board of education.
The Republican caucus Saturday night nominated Denby Waud for president; E. J. Smith, Jebez Hallett, trustees; James Hoga_, treasurer; John Schumacher, assessor; Philip R?sendale, Emanuel Neussbaum, James McConnell, board of education.
J. J. Grace of Troy, special agent for the Treasury Department, is at Suspension Bridge investigating the violations of the alien contract labor act. "I was sent," said he, "to obtain the names are foreigners and aliens who are employed on the American side of the river, it also the names of their employers. I found between 60 and 70 persons working at Suspension Bridge and Niagara Falls, who are residents of Canada. I made an official report to Collector Cutler in notices were issued to their employers, calling their attention to the fact that the employment of this labor was a violation of the United States Alien Contract Labor law, and that if they persisted in the employment of such persons it would be necessary to report their names to the United States District Attorney for prosecution. This was merely a matter of courtesy. Some of the firms think they do not violate the law in employing the labor, but the department has ruled on the question, and decided that the daily coming from a foreign country formed an implied, if not express contract. In 1888 a Congressional committee of which Representative Ford was Chairman, sat in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities, investigating the matter of foreign emigration and the contract labor question. This committee found that laborers under contract were coming in violation of the law, and since then the Treasury Department has been more rigidly enforcing the law. It is the intention of the Government to rigidly enforce the law. A brief time we'll be allowed the employers to govern themselves in accordance with the provisions of the act, and the if they still refuse to comply their cases will be presented to the United States District Attorney. Several have moved to this side from Canada, and others will follow as soon as the weather will allow. Some have declared their intentions of becoming citizens of the United States. Either of these actions on their part will release their employers from prosecution. The law, does not affect Americans who reside on the Canadian side and do business on this side. The Canadians have no law touching the subject. It is not the purpose of the Government to interfere with capital."
Mr. and Mrs. Asher Cuddaback gave a progressive euchre party last Wednesday night. Mr. Munro of DeVeaux College took first prize for gentlemen, and George Whitehead second. Mrs. McGuire of St. Catharines took the first prize for ladies, and Mrs. Perrine of Niagara Falls second.

Lewiston.

The injuries received by Thomas Gillig in his fall from a freight train in the New York Central yards are more serious than were first thought.

Niagara Falls.

A bill has been introduced in the Senate authorizing the trustees of Niagara Falls to regulate railroad travel through their streets, and to regulate the stringing of telephone and telegraph wires. Few citizens knew about it. The Hon. W. Caryl Ely, village attorney, has a copy of the bill. The trustees of the village are given power to prohibit the unnecessary obstruction of streets by where road locomotives and cars, and to control their running and rate of speed, and the length of time they will be allowed continuously to impede travel at any crossing. They are to compel railway companies to keep flagmen and switchmen at such places, and to maintain proper hoist or other gates or bars at street crossings deemed dangerous by them. They may prevent the string of telephone, telegraph, and electric light wires, and the setting of poles. They may require owners and occupants of lots to enclose the same by fences or railings. They may give names to streets and numbers to lots, and prescribe penalties for violation of the ordinances in relation thereto, and to change the names of streets on the petition of the majority of landowners on the same. The object is to discriminate against railroads. For years the Street Commissioner has complained to the trustees that the railroads blocked the crossings of Second Street, Third Street, and Niagara Street. The telegraph companies have strung their wires, and set their poles where they saw fit, and did not ask permission to the trustees or property-owners. Two years ago they placed a poll in the street at the corner of Falls and Second streets, and dug a terrible hole. The town had men fill it and placed policeman on guard. Mr. Ely says committees should be appointed at once to go to work on a new charter.
Capt. C. B. Gaskill, President of the Tunnel Company, says that a bill has been introduced in the Legislature to amend the charter, the object of which is to authorize the Company to issue bonds and change the name from the Niagara River Hydraulic Tunnel & Sewer Company to the Niagara Falls Tunnel Company. The old name was too unwieldy. When it becomes a law they will open books for subscription and issue $2,500,000 of bonds, bearing 6 percent interest. The sum of $1,250,000 will complete the tunnel, a mile and a quarter. As soon as the amount is subscribed it will be paid in. Ten thousand copies of the new prospectus will be issued. They have applications for 10,200 horsepower, a revenue of $72,000, which amount will pay interest on the first issue of bonds. On Saturday a Western party subscribed for 2,500 horsepower, and proposed to erect a mill as soon as they can give him power. They say they can place $300,000 of the bonds at Niagara Falls, for a majority of the property will be paid for in bonds in payment thereof. There will be other liberal subscriptions in the village and town. The balance will be placed in New York and Boston.

Lockport.

Supt. Servoss is receiving any hearty offers of assistance, no small share of them from unexpected sources, to thwart the movement on foot to bring about his removal. It is generally believed that the crusade against him will amount to nothing.
Fred Dunning, a favorably known young man, took his departure for Colorado Saturday, intending to reside there are permanently.
The next club party will be held at the residence of C. M. Van Valkenburgh on Locust Street, Monday night. Frank Kuhn's Buffalo orchestra will furnish the music.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Storrs agreeable entertained about 50 people Thursday night.
M. A. Nicholls will start Monday, with his son Harry, on an extended Southern and Western tour.
Not a local Republican of prominence is "enthused" enough to make his appearance at Washington on Monday.
Mrs. William Richmond of High Street gave an elaborate children's party Saturday.
The trouble the city authorities and the Board of Supervisors are having over the closing an alley in the rear of the new Court House will doubtless cause a big lawsuit. The country members of the Board are never quite happy except when in a jangle of some kind with those whom they evidently regard as their hereditary enemies, the people of Lockport.
A local paper is waging a sort of left-handed warfare upon Prof. Wamon, "the magnetic healer," but it is not apparent that the current stock of credulity is thereby being diminished. He has all the business he can attend to, his receipts probably not averaging less than $100 a day. He extracts payment in advance.
The engagement of Ms. Blanche Davison to Mr. Holcomb of Norwich, N. Y., is announced, their marriage to occur in May.
The home of Miss Francis Guild on Genesee Street was the scene of an exceptionally fine musicale Thursday night under the direction of Mrs. L. A. Chaffin.
Over one hundred tickets have been sold for the opening of the Grand Hotel Tuesday night.
A mesmerist who has been holding forth at the G. A. R. Hall during the week is reported not to have created much astonishment by his display. He had difficulty in finding "subjects," and those he found were not first-class.
William Herspool, a Locust Street grocer, and his wife, whose bickerings in the courts for the past two or three years have made them conspicuous, have signed a treaty of peace and are living together again.
Real-estate transfers and building contracts are at present plentiful -- beyond precedent at this season of the year -- indicating that the building record of the warm months will be something unusual.
Next Monday local facilities for knocking out disease will be further increased by a traveling medicine company who will take possession of Central Hall. They will remain a month, and their agent counts on sales amounting to from $350 to $500 daily.
It is taken many years for show-goers to come to it, but at last they have begun to realize that the orchestra chairs are the best seats in the Opera House, and those seats are now always well filled. Not long ago in that part of the house would be almost vacant while every desirable point in the dress circle was occupied.
The existence of a local coal exchange makes it hard for people "on the beat" to heat their houses for nothing. As soon as they are listed they find that changing their dealer only results in their being informed that they must pay up so-and-so and then they will be accommodated. Mercantile in some other lines will leave it would be greatly to their advantage to adopt a similar method among themselves.
It is estimated that at least one-third of the mechanics employed in the local machine shops are Canadians.
Lan??ord Willoughby of the American Hotel is said to be negotiating for a hotel at Wilson, which town long promises to become a popular summer resort, especially if the proposed Lockport & Northern Railroad should be built.
A point upon which spectators have an eye is the land in the vicinity of where the bridge will cross the canal that the South end of Prospect Street, if the State authorities the consent to make the improvement.
County Judge Potter gets $10 a day for the extra duties of Surrogate.
The excise regulations are supposed to be pretty stringent here now, but the Commissioners are aware of half a dozen or more places where liquor is sold without license. They say it is the duty of the police to look after these violations.
That animated type of sport that once had great popularity in this community, polo on roller-skates, has lost its grip. An exhibition of it Friday drew slim attendance and most of those present voted it a bore.
Charter election is not far distant, but candidates for office are a yet rather scarce. The City Treasuryship will be the principal thing to fight over.

Newfane.

The Newfane dramatic club will soon enact the drama "Rip Van Winkle" at Olcott for the benefit of the Olcott G. A. R. Post.

Wright's Corners.

A fox hunting association has been formed with the following officers: President C. C. McKee, vice president, B. Rice, Secretary and treasurer, C. B. Glazer.

County Line.

Robert Arlington Has Sold His Real-estate. Sanborn.

The I. 0. 0. F. Lodge as enacted the drama "Past Redemption" last Thursday evening. Cards have been issued for the wedding of Miss Minnie L. Bagwell to William E. Beuber next Wednesday.

Barkers.

Ground will soon be broken for a $1,500 town Hall. The necessary amount of stock has been taken. It will be erected near the railroad station.

Ransomville.

C. B. Corwin, who has been seriously ill for a week past, is convalescent.
Revival meetings are in progress at the Baptist Church, and considerable interest is manifested.
Miss Ida Gatchell (Gatehell?) Friday evening entertained 40 of her friends.
A ball was given at the home all of W. S. Rill Thursday evening. Nearly 150 persons were present.
Ira Wilcox, who suffered paralytic stroke a few weeks ago, is convalescent.

Somerset.

The members of the band will percent the drama "The Stolen Will" at several places in the county within a few weeks. The proceeds will be used to purchase instruments.

Middleport.

Cooper & Rudd, proprietors of the Herald, are negotiating for the steam press of the defunct Medina Press.
Prof. Morris entertained an overflowing audience at the Opera house last Wednesday evening with his dogs and horses.
An epidemic of donkey parties has broken out. Minnie Lahey entertained friends last week, and Episcopal Society's social Thursday evening furnished amusement to a large number.
Reception given by the Young Men's Social Club at the Grove House Thursday evening proofed one of the most delightful affairs of the season. A select company of 20 couples were present and thoroughly enjoyed the inspiring strings of Slayton's orchestra.
Judging by the numerous dramatic entertainments now under preparation there seems to be no dearth of histrionic ability. The Thalians, a juvenile dramatic club, have worn the boards smooth, and now Profs. Danford and Herman are organizing a class and singing and elocution, to conclude with a concert. Prof. Manley is actively rehearsing the advanced pupils of M. F. D. in a drama, and the Thespians, an organization that expired with the "Willow Copse" a couple of years ago, are to be revived in " Esmeralda" under the auspices of Spaulding Hose Company.