1869

STEUBEN COUNTY. A Flourishing and Beautiful Village – Some of its Advantages – Political Matters – Is Office-Seeking Dishonorable? – The Senatorial Nominations. From an Occasional Correspondent.      HORNELLSVILLE, N.Y., Friday, July 16, 1869.      This is a busy village on the borders of the County of Steuben, and at the junction of the New-York and Erie and Buffalo and Erie Railroads. Twice, recently, have destructive fires laid large portions of its best business blocks in ashes; yet the vigorous enterprise of its people, nothing daunted, has quickly rebuilt the wasted districts, and restocked the newly-built stores and shops.      The village took its name from that of the first settler, a Mr. HORNELL, and is yet in its youth, being under twenty-one years old. It numbers about 2,000 inhabitants; has several fine churches, besides banks, stores and two printing offices, each publishing a good newspaper, the Tribune and Times, both of which are Republican in politics. Though there are many Democratic voters in the village, there is no newspaper of that “persuasion.”      The nucleus of a fine library has just been formed here; it is called the “Hornell Library,” and though started within the year, by a few public-spirited citizens, it already numbers 2,500 volumes. These were obtained, at first, by contributions of books and money, by funds raised by soirees and concerts, and by dramatic entertainments given by a local amateur company. Last Winter the Legislature passed an act giving to the Board of Managers the money arising from the license of persons to sell ardent spirits, and also the fines collected from violations of the Excise law within the township. The library is not free. A fee of $2 is charged, which entitles the holder of the ticket to draw books from the library for himself and family for the period of one year. The books are generally of an excellent character, and embrace some that are rare and valuable. Here is an enterprise that every village may imitate with success. The good people of Hornellsville are doing only what may be done in every village in the country. The man who founds a library of good books is a public benefactor. May there be many such.      Hope cemetery, which is located on a commanding eminence about one mile west of the village, is well worth a visit. Beautifully laid out, and abounding in monuments, trees, shrubs and flowers, it is an attractive spot, and speaks well for the taste and refinement of the people of the village.      This Senatorial District is numbered twenty-seven, and embraces the Counties of Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler. Already candidates for Senatorial honors are busy; Chemung has the Senator, at present, in the person of JOHN I. NICKS, Esq., who it is understood, does not covet a renomination, By the rule of “rotation” which too generally prevails, one of the other counties will claim the next candidate. Steuben has a number of ambitious gentlemen and it is understood that Schuyler is not without those who have “great expectations.” It is doubtful if any of them will be content to follow Mr. GREELEY’S advice and wait for the office to “seek” them. They do not fancy his experience. They think a thing that is worth “deserving,” is not dishonorable to “seek.” They are therefore “seeking” the Senatorial nomination with all their might. And I am frank to say that, after all, I do not see any serious objection to it, Mr. GREELEY “to the contrary not withstanding.” With half a dozen candidates in the field the people get awakened, turn out to the caucuses, and without doubt generally select the person whom they suppose to be the best fitted for the place; while with the “philosophers’” plan of waiting till the “office seeks the man,” there would be little if any competition, and the doors would be thrown wide open for just what he so constantly declaims against – the packing of conventions by the paid retainers and parasites of some ambitious and unscrupulous men.      If Mr. GREELEY ever expects to get office, which he does not deny he “desires,” he will have to “seek” it just as other men do. And why shouldn’t he? When he was a “jour printer,” (which he is proud to have been, or ought to be,) he did not hesitate to “seek” what he “desired” – work. If he “desires” office why should he not “seek” it? I confess I know of no other good reason that that it is not to his taste. But he has no right to expect the world to revolutionize its practices to accommodate his particular taste. But to the candidates for Senator in this district. In this county they are Mr. HORACE BEMIS and Mr. HARLOW HAKES, ex-members of the Assembly, living in this village, and Mr. HULL, the able editor of the Bath Courier. In Schuyler I hear the names of Mr. FANTON and Mr. CASS, both of whom are represented to be good men.      The Senatorial nomination is considerably complicated by the Congressional question in this district – the one being trafficked more or less for the other.      Both MITCHELL and BRUNDAGE are candidate for renomination to the Assembly, but with what prospects I have not been able to discover.      We have had heavy rains within a few days, which have “lodged down” the heavy grass and wheat, and which it is feared may do some damage to the ripening crops. The weather has been hot and corn is coming forward rapidly.      CHEMUNG. The New York Times (New York, NY) July 20, 1869.

1890

EMPIRE STATE FLOODS. Hornellsville Inundated.      HORNELLSVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 11. - Over one-third of the ciry is inundated and great damage has resulted. It is now raining steadily and a worse flood is feared. The Erie road is completely tied up. Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) September 11, 1890; page 1.