USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > Englewood > Englewood : its annals and reminiscences > Part 5
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after this a flash of light revealed the flames that destroyed the old ice houses. Public sentiment was satisfied, but an individual suffered loss.
The fateful hand of time has swept away all these ancient landmarks, forty years have come and gone, like breakers on the shores of time. Englewood has had its summer skies and winter storms, but Time's withering hand has only re- moved useless relics, new and more beautiful buildings arise, and nature remains with her everlasting vitality.
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XLVI.
THE PRESS.
UNTIL 1861 all attempts to establish a paper in Hackensack township had been a failure. The Bergen County Journal, a union paper, made an unsuccessful effort to succeed, but went down in 1861.
In the fall of that year Mr. Eben Win- ton joined Mr. C. C. Burr and issued the Bergen County Democrat. In March, 1862, Mr. Winton purchased the interest of Mr. Burr, and the paper became a success. In 1874 Mr. Eben Winton founded the Englewood Times, and published it as a non-partisan paper. Mr. Winton became very popular with all parties, and this paper was well received.
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In 1879 a new "Richmond" entered the field and came to stay. Mr. Joseph H. Tillotson, a man of energy and persever- ance, established the Standard, and managed it with such ability that Mr. Winton was glad to transfer the Engle- wood Times to his ownership in 1884. The two journals were then united under the title of Standard and Times. In 1886 the name of Standard was dropped and the paper assumed the name of Engle- wood Times.
March 29, 1890, Mr. Tillotson disposed of the Times and established the Engle- wood Press, which has met with far greater success than any of its predeces- sors. Mr. Tillotson is a courteous and affable man, who is always willing to give and receive information; attends strictly to his business, has the confi- dence and good will of the citizens of this town and has from the beginning met with uninterrupted success.
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The Englewood Times was first issued in 1874 by Mr. Eben Winton as a non- partisan paper. It met with immediate success, which has continued until this day. In 1879 Mr. J. H. Tillotson bought out Mr. Winton. In the spring of 1890 he sold the Times to Mr. H. M. Litchten- berg, who issued it a few years, when he disposed of it to Mr. W. H. Eicks in 1893. Mr. Eicks sold it to John P. Stockton, who disposed of it to the Times Publishing Company in 1895. The Times is a very enterprising and well-conducted paper at the present time.
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XLVII.
ENGLEWOOD SEWER COMPANY.
THE Englewood Sewer Company was organized in 1887. This company has always been under good management and was a welcome sanitary relief. There is no doubt but what water and sewerage has been the means of bringing to this village a large increase of pop- ulation. The first officers were: Direc- tors, J. S. Wetmore, Dr. D. A. Currie, Samuel F. Gold, Oliver Drake Smith, R. H. Rochester, George W. Betts, R. P. Wurtendyke; Oliver Drake Smith, secre- tary and treasurer; Samuel F. Gold, superintendent.
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XLVIII.
A SWISS MOUNTAIN ROAD.
AN enterprise that cost a large amount of money flourished for awhile and then expired was the "Palisades Road and Turnpike Company."
It was a stock company and the road was built to accommodate the patrons of the "Mountain House," a large summer hotel on the brow of the Palisades, also to turn travel from the valley to the Hudson River. This road was built after the manner of zigzag roads in Switzerland, and was well patronized for some time.
It was a toll-gate road, and a stage ran from the hotel to the river, also from the village of Englewood. A fine dock was
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built, where two boats called daily for passengers.
A footpath was made to accommodate those who desired to climb. After pay- ing a few assessments the stockholders abandoned the road. The boats ceased running, and traveling in that direction became a thing of the past. It was also found to be more business than pleasure. Before the Mountain House was de- stroyed a company was formed with sufficient capital to build a steam eleva- tor to take passengers by more rapid means than by the Swiss road. This means of conveyance never matured, as the destruction of the hotel checked travel in that direction. This was the last effort to colonize the top of the Pali- sades.
The Mountain House, which was so important to the Swiss road, to the docks, and also to the building-up of that neigh- borhood, was built in the spring of 1860.
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It was a very imposing structure, and could be seen a long distance up and down the river. It accommodated a large number of summer boarders, and was crowded every season for several years. Mr. Hammond, of the Murray Hill and Plaza Hotels, New York City, leased it. It was consumed by fire several years ago and never rebuilt.
This fine hotel was owned by William O. Allison, who built a magnificent stone mansion on the brow of the mountain near the ruins of the hotel, where he re- sides. Mr. Allison was born under the shadow of the Palisades, near where he now resides, but by his own exertion and ability has risen to wealth and position. He has climbed from the foot to the top of the mountain.
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XLIX.
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY BRIDGE COMPANY.
VERY few of our citizens know that the charter for a bridge across the Hudson River originated in Englewood, and was obtained over thirty years ago. Two bills were presented to the Legislature of New Jersey at the same time, one from Hudson County and one from Ber- gen. A fierce contest took place between the two interests. The Bergen County bill was, by a fine piece of strategy, suc- cessful. This bill was introduced by Cornelius Lydecker, Nathan T. Johnson, and others. Mr. Culver had charge of the unsuccessful bill. Mr. Culver, being anxious for an interest in the charter,
:
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purchased in the interest of several of the incorporators of the Bergen County bill. Messrs. George S. Coe, J. Wyman Jones, Cornelius Lydecker and others were incorporators. That charter was revived nearly thirty years after this period. Mr. Culver, who is interested in the present Hudson River bridge charter, purchased his interest in said charter from residents of this town about 1868.
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L.
CELEBRATING THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT GRANT IN 1868.
THE election of General Grant as Presi- dent of the United States in the fall of 1868 was an occasion of a great public demonstration by the citizens of Engle- wood to show their patriotic regard for the great captain who had restored the Union to peace and happiness.
A grand procession was inaugurated by the citizens of Englewood to celebrate the occasion. Houses were illuminated and decorated with the national colors, and such patriotic enthusiasm has never been exhibited in this village since.
Colonel Henry W. Banks was grand marshal, and Lebbius Chapman, Jr., chief of staff.
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The order of procession will interest our citizens. It was as follows:
1. Grand marshal and staff.
2. Seventh Regiment band.
3. Citizens on foot.
4. Orators of the day in carriages.
5. Citizens of Englewood mounted.
6. Organization from Hackensack.
7. Organization from Paramus.
8. Organization from Paterson.
9. Other organizations.
10. Citizens of Englewood in carriages.
LINE OF MARCH.
First-The line will be formed on Pali- sade Avenue, right resting on the rail- road.
Second-Chief of organizations intend- ing to take part will report to the grand marshal or chief of staff at De Mott's store.
Third-The column will move as soon
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after the arrival of the 2:30 train as the grand marshal shall deem proper.
Fourth-The line of march will be through Palisade Avenue, Lydecker, Chestnut, Engle Street and Humphrey Street, to the ball ground.
Fifth-The following are aids to the grand marshal, and will be respected ac- cordingly by Lebbius Chapman, chief of staff: George S. Coe, Tappan Hoadley, C. H. Tomes, T. S. Taylor, J. A. Hum- phrey.
Sixth-The staff will report mounted to the grand marshal at De Mott's store promptly at 12: 30 P.M.
HENRY W. BANKS, Grand Marshal.
LEBBIUS CHAPMAN, Chief of Staff.
I have quoted the above, and hand it down as a legacy from the fathers of Englewood to their children. Of the six staff officers but one is living.
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LI.
A SURRENDER TO OUR FLAG.
I WILL relate a single incident that took place at the Englewood House in the summer of 1865. Two young gentlemen, formerly from the South, were spending the summer at this house. The windows and doors were draped with the Ameri- can flag on the day when the great pro- cession welcomed the return of our sol- diers.
Our Southern friends refused to make their egress or exit under the American flags that draped the doors and windows. A committee of gentlemen was appointed to wait upon them, and demand that they decorate themselves with the Stars and Stripes, and walk under the American
REV. HENRY M. BOOTH, D. D.
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flag or pack their trunks and take their departure from town at once. As they desired to remain in Englewood they complied with the request, joined the others in the celebration and exhibited no more evidence of disloyalty.
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LII.
A REVIVAL OF BUSINESS.
FOR several years after the close of the war Englewood improved rapidly. Houses went up in great numbers, and money was plenty. The Atheneum, a large public building with a public hall, shops and offices, was built in 1868. This building stood on the corner of the Avenue and Engle Street. It was burned several years ago. The post office and several stores occupied the first story. It was completed in 1870. The rapidity with which the stock was taken showed the public spirit and liberality of the people at this period. Thirty- five thou- sand dollars was the amount originally
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subscribed, but the plans and specifica- tions called for seventy thousand.
A meeting to consider the subject was held in the parlors of the Englewood House. At this meeting it was resolved to raise forty-five thousand dollars in cash and place a mortgage on the build- ing for the balance. A committee was appointed with power to go on and erect the building without delay. At its com- pletion a mortgage was placed on the property of eighteen thousand dollars.
The loan was obtained from the Mutual Life Insurance Company. A second mortgage was afterward placed for a small amount.
When this was completed the "hall" was opened with the greatest number of people that ever assembled within its walls on a similar occasion. Clara Louise Kellogg was to appear in concert. The seats were all sold, and standing room was at a premium.
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This building flourished until the panic of 1873, when the stock fell from fifty to nothing. One gentleman purchased nearly all of the stock. Two of the three gentlemen who were bondsmen on the first mortgage had died, and the third one paid the Mutual Life, who loaned the money. The building was burned soon after, and the insurance realized very little more than enough to satisfy the bondsman who paid off the first mort- gage. This building never was a suc- cess. Its architectural construction was bad, and it never was safe, as it was a frame building In the event of fire dur- ing a performance exit would be very difficult, and might have caused a panic. Its destruction by conflagration was not regretted.
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LIII.
A NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
IN June, 1867, a committee was ap- pointed to consider the subject of build- ing a new church. This committee con- sisted of Messrs. J. Wyman Jones, Liv- ingston K. Miller, L. Chapman, Jr., Wil- liam Walter Phelps, and Nathan T. Johnson. The committee presented a report stating the amount raised as nearly twenty-five thousand dollars. Plans for a stone edifice were presented at the same time. A building committee was appointed consisting of J. Wyman Jones, George S. Coe, James Vander- beek, Washington R. Vermilye, and J. A. Humphrey.
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Mr. Livingston K. Miller was made treasurer. On the 17th of April, 1870, the congregation worshipped for the first time. The entire cost of the church was about fifty thousand dollars. David Hoadley presented the church with an organ costing about thirty-five hundred dollars.
At the completion of the church a debt of fifteen thousand dollars remained. Colonel Vermilye was very anxious that the church should be free from debt and offered to contribute five thousand dol- lars if the church would raise the balance. This offer was increased to ten thousand dollars, when the balance was raised and the church, one of the finest in New Jersey, has always been free from debt.
After the death of Colonel Vermilye his only daughter, Mrs. E. A. Brinker- hoff, erected a beautiful memorial chapel in his memory. She furnished it com-
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pletely and has always kept it in perfect repair. The officers of this church at this time were:
Elders, Livingston K. Miller, Frank B. Nichols, James Vanderbeek; deacons, John J. De Mott, Bryon Murray, Jr., Jeffrey A. Humphrey ; trustees, Lebbeus Chapman, Jr., James O. Morse, Charles H. Waterbury; treasurer, Bryon Mur- ray, Jr.
It may interest the public to know what this church was contributing for charitable and other purposes during the first twenty-five years of its existence. The total amount of receipts for all pur- poses were three hundred and eighty- seven thousand dollars or nearly fifteen thousand for each year.
An exhibit of a few years separately will be interesting: 1861 receipts were $3,179; 1865, $2,571; 1870, $10,234; 1871, $26,000; 1875, $15,000; 1880, $14,000; 1885, $13,000.
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This is a good showing when we con- sider that the twenty-five years include many early years when there were but few inhabitants.
On the 18th of March, 1891, a call was extended to the Rev. James Eells which was accepted, and on the 24th day of September he was installed as minister. Mr. Eells occupied the pulpit until the spring of 1898, when he resigned to ac- cept a call from a church in Boston.
The church was without a pastor until March, 1899, when Dr. Samuel M. Hamil- ton of Louisville, Kentucky, received and accepted a call, and now occupies the pulpit of this church.
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$
4
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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LIV.
A METHODIST CHURCH.
THE Methodist Church was dedicated in December, 1863. The Rev. E. Hewett was installed its first pastor the follow- ing January, who has been succeeded by many successful preachers. The Rev. Dr. Wise became a resident here Decem- ber, 1863, and through his efforts services were held. Dr. Wise was a great acqui- sition to the town, as he was a very elo- quent, scholarly and earnest preacher; moreover he was a brilliant writer, his literary talents being of a high order.
Moses E. Springer was one of the prin- ciple organizers of the church, and has always taken a deep interest in its affairs. Mr. Springer was one of Englewood's
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early citizens. He has built several houses and filled many important offices of public trust. R. A. Gorham, an old and esteemed resident, has always been active in the Methodist Church, and is one of its earnest workers.
The Rev. J. W. Dalley is its present pastor, and is a very active and earnest preacher, and very much esteemed by his people. An extended residence here would be gratifying not only to his peo- ple, but to citizens of the town.
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LV
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
THE Catholic Church was built in 1866. Until that date we were obliged to send our help to Fort Lee in our own car- riages in order to retain them in our em- ploy; that was the nearest church of that denomination. Many people of that church walked back and forth-a dis- tance of two and one-half miles each way. Our citizens were willing con- tributors to a fund to build a Catholic Church as to send to Fort Lee every Sab- bath was very inconvenient. This church building was very much enlarged in 1868.
The church has a very large member- ship, and has had many acceptable pas-
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tors connected with it, and under its charge is a parochial school, and many societies that bring together and elevate their people. Father Smith was its first pastor. He spent several years here, and was much beloved.
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LVI.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
THE Episcopal Church was built and the church organized in 1865. The money was quickly subscribed to complete the edifice. Every public spirited citizen in Englewood took an interest in its construction as they had in everything that contributed to the growth of the town. The Rev. O. W. Whittaker (now bishop) was its first pastor. He was a very successful preacher, and his people parted from him with regret. He became the friend of all denominations, who esteemed him highly. He was followed by the Rev. W. S. Langford, the Rev. John W. Paine and others.
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The first wardens were: E. W. An- drews, Charles T. Chester, William King, John H. Lyell, Herbert Turner, Richard K. Cook. This church has had a steady growth from the beginning, and its members are very much devoted not only to the church but to each other.
Having outgrown the present church building a new and larger one is about to be erected for its worshippers. The present minister, the Rev. G. F. Flicht- ner, is very highly esteemed, and is a very popular and successful rector.
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ENGLEWOOD.
LVII.
A PICNIC ON THE PALISADES.
EXPERIENCE has taught visitors to the rocky heights of the Palisades to ap- proach the dangerous steeps with caution. Before the lesson was learned many serious accidents had occurred. Ander- son's terrible fall from the top of the Palisades a few years ago will long be remembered by all living in Englewood at the time it happened. A company of young ladies and gentlemen had gathered near a gorge on the mountain to enjoy a summer afternoon in this shady spot. While in the full enjoyment of the oc- casion, young Anderson, in moving around, stepped on some running vines that carpeted the top of a gorge, think-
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ing he was on solid ground, and fell two hundred and fifty feet. It was con- sidered miraculous that he could take such a plunge without being dashed to pieces. In an instant the young man was seen falling with lightning speed down the steep sides of the rocks. After falling fifty feet he struck a small tree among the bushes, where he was held a moment, and then plunged two hundred feet farther down.
It was nearly an hour before he was rescued.
Imagination can hardly picture the difficulty in reaching him, and returning to the residence of Mr. George S. Coe on the top of the mountain, Dr. Currie was immediately sent for, and attended him until he recovered. One of the young ladies present had just previous to the accident remarked that there were thirteen present, and they must be care- ful. This remark led them to repeat the
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superstitious legend that the number thirteen always calls out. A second ac- cident happened at the same time. A horse that had been tied to a tree, with the wheels of the carriage near the brink, broke his fastenings and backed over the precipice. An eyewitness said when he crept near the gorge and looked over that he saw flashes of light fly from the rocks far down, and the horse passed to the river five hundred feet below. Eight years previous to this time a young woman fell from the same point that Anderson did, and was instantly killed. Many years have passed since an accident has happened, showing that this sad lesson has not been forgotten.
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ENGLEWOOD.
LVIII.
SPECULATING BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE TOWN.
FROM 1868 to 1873 some of our most enterprising citizens having outgrown speculating in village lots, reached out far beyond the limits of the town, pur- chased many farms, and founded many villages, such as Creskill, Norwood, Sparkill, and so forth. Seven farms were purchased near Blauveltville on the branch road which runs from Sparkill to Nanuett.
A new town was to be founded, and a station erected on the line of this road. The farmers retired to live on the inter- est of their mortgages, leaving their land to run to weeds and thistles, their build- ings to decay, and their fences to ruin.
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Several visits were made with the president of the road to locate a new station, but nothing came of it. Specu- lation had reached its limit. The panic of 1873 cast a dark shadow over the country and the first lesson in suburban village history was ended.
These abandoned farms with fences and buildings going to decay were over- grown with weeds and underbrush.
Rather than go to the expense of fore- closure the poor farmer took back his farm for the mortgage, returned to it, and began life anew.
Thousands of acres of land in Bergen County were returned to their original owners.
The Mansard roof broke out in archi- tecture about 1868.
Its craze appeared all over the State, but with the fall of Napoleon that style of architecture disappeared. Wherever you see a Mansard roof you can know to a certainty that it was built about 1870.
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LVIV.
THE PANIC OF 1873.
THE cyclone that struck real estate in 1873 could not have been foreseen by any financial weather prophet. It called for a settlement of accounts of nearly all speculators in village lots or outlying lands.
It was eight or ten years before a re- vival came. In the meantime the grave of financial ruin had overtaken a great many. Very few houses were erected, or lots sold, for several years. In the interval the world was not idle. The student in mechanics, architecture, and all other sciences was hard at work, and when business revived a new order of things took place.
Architecture became a thing of beauty, as well as comfort.
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LX.
THE TABLES TURNED.
A CHANGE of fortune in which an En- glewood gentleman was interested, proves the uncertainty of worldly affairs.
A gentleman purchased a large tract of land near Closter, agreeing to pay two hundred and seventy-five dollars per acre. Real estate at that time was boom - ing. The gentleman that made the sale discovered that he had sold too cheap, and refused to deliver a deed. A law- suit was the result. The court ordered him to complete the sale. The panic came and the land became almost worth- less. The law compelled the seller to make his fortune, while the one who
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succeeded in the law was ruined. This was nearly twenty-five years ago, and the land remains in the hands of the pur- chaser.
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LXI.
THE PALISADES LAND COMPANY.
A MINE of stranded hopes lie buried in the dark shadows of the Palisades on the mountains near Closter. A land com- pany was formed by Englewood gentle- men, who sold its shares for thirteen thousand dollars each. Many men of wealth became interested, expecting to see a large and prosperous city planted there. The panic came, followed a few years later by a return to specie. The land company dissolved. Each share- holder took a deed for his special share, or shares, and it is very doubtful whethe any one of them could locate his land should he attempt it. Many who were interested have long since passed away.
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James G. Blaine and Whitelaw Reid were interested.
For the purpose of introducing this enterprise beyond the boundaries of the county, invitations were sent far and near for a forest picnic to be held on these lands.
It was a beautiful autumn day. The location was charming for a gathering of that kind. A large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled to enjoy the oc- casion. There were many inducements to inspire one to purchase an interest in these lots. The Honorable S. B. Chit- tenden was present. He was a member of Congress at the time. Many other distinguished persons were in evidence. The views and refreshments were much enjoyed, but as an effort to unload real estate it was not a success. These lands remain in their primitive state. Were a tribe of Indians to locate here I doubt whether they would be disturbed.
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LXII.
SPECULATION IN OIL.
THE "New Jersey Oil Company" was a child of Englewood. Lands were pur- chased in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and stock issued. Messrs. Nathan T. John- son, Cornelius Lydecker, Francis How- land, I. Smith Homans, and many others were officers of the company.
The writer received stock to the amount of five thousand dollars with a guarantee. This stock was returned, and money refunded within twelve months and has always been worthless.
There was nothing strange about this speculation. The oil fever had just broken out, and many fortunes were
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made and lost. A large number of wise and conservative men became interested.
The girl whose "dad struck ile" flour- ished in silks and satins about this period.
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LXIII.
PURCHASING A GAS MACHINE.
IN 1868 we began to consider the sub- ject of illuminating our houses with gas or something more convenient than oil. As there was no immediate prospect of gas, Mr. E. S. Monroe and the writer had their attention called to the Spring- field gas machine.
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