USA > New York > Franklin County > Historical sketches of Franklin county and its several towns > Part 14
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With the exception of the campaign of 1836, when the Democratic nominee for Congress was charged with smuggling, subornation of per- jury, perjury on his own part, counterfeiting, and attempting to defraud the United States treasury, the campaign of 1891 has had no parallel in Franklin county politics. Allen S. Matthews of Fort Covington, the Republican candidate for the Assembly, was publicly accused of having burned his storehouse when it was practically empty, and of then having attempted to collect insurance on a considerable quantity of wool claimed to have been in it. The matter was considered in an informal confer- ence of many of the leading Republicans of the county, strong evidence was gathered in disproof of the charge, and the campaign fought out vigorously. Mr. Matthews was elected by 1,368 plurality.
" DANDELIONS " AND "SNOWSHOERS "
There was a bitter and fierce Democratic quarrel in 1893, when the local Cleveland and Hill factions fought each other for party control as "Dandelions " and "Snowshoers "- so designated because the former had wished in 1892 that the delegates to the national convention should be chosen at a late date, and the latter that they be named in
120
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
February. In Franklin county most of the men who for a generation had been representative of the best Democratic character, and had kept the party intact and alive through difficulties and discouragements, were with Hill, while the Cleveland forces were mostly of the younger class, ambitious to gain office and party control. The delegates to the county convention in 1893 were nearly equally divided between the two fac- tions, each of which attempted to organize the body in its own interest. Two sets of officers were placed in nomination, and upon a vote each crowd claimed a majority. Two chairmen undertook to preside, and a hot knockout fight resulted, with a number of the delegates par- ticipating - both factions having foreseen some such development, and in anticipation of it having included among their delegates men of pugilistic prowess. Finally each set of delegates proceeded to act separately, and each named a ticket. The courts sustained the Hill body as regular, and, deprived of the privilege of having their own candidates on the official ballot, the Cleveland crowd voted generally for both the State and county Republican tickets. The Republican plurality that year, notwithstanding the campaign was one of great apathy, was 2,275. The Cleveland element had a further revenge later, when it was permitted by the President to control the distribution of the federal offices in the county.
Republican pluralities in off years after 1888 were often in excess of 2,000, and once reached 3,000; but also they occasionally dropped to 600 or 800. Never since 1858 have the Democrats elected a single candidate to any county office. The largest Republican vote, 6,700, ever polled in the county was in 1904.
In 1887 an unfortunate Republican schism arose from the peculiar action of the convention in nominating a candidate for school commis- sioner for the district comprising the western and northern towns of the county. There had been sharp contests in the town caucuses, and it was indisputable that on a clear-cut issue a majority of delegates favor- able to the nomination of Almanzo Hutchins of Brandon had been chosen. But either some delegate was bribed or inadvertently voted contrary to what were virtually the instructions of his caucus, and a ballot gave William G. Cushman of Fort Covington a majority. 'A motion to reconsider was carried, and on a second ballot the delegates all voted in accordance with the intentions of their respective caucuses, and Mr. Hutchins was declared the nominee. Mr. Cushman then entered the field independently, but with the claim that, having received
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FRANKLIN COUNTY POLITICALLY
a majority vote in the convention on the first ballot, he was in fact the regular party nominee, and that the convention had neither the right nor the power to take a second ballot. No campaign in the county ever aroused more interest or developed greater bitterness. Mr. Cushman was elected by a large plurality. In 1893 Mr. Hutchins was again nom- inated for the office, over Willard Hyde of Bangor, who became an inde- pendent candidate without any claim that he had not been fairly defeated in the convention, but urging that his circumstances and his health justified his course. The animosities of 1887 were revived, sym- pathy for Mr. Hyde was widespread and potent, and Mr. Hutchins was again beaten.
MALONE'S GLEE CLUB
In a number of Presidential campaigns Malone had a Republican glee club of exceptional merit. The voices were superior both in nat- ural quality and cultivation, and the songs, set to catchy and stirring tunes, abounded in clever and witty passages. No feature of a political meeting was more popular or contributed more to its success. In 1888 this organization gained a Statewide reputation, having appeared at the State convention, and having also toured the State with the candidate for Governor. Captain William H. Barney, Dr. Floyd L. Danforth, Lensie L. Sayles and Frank L. Channell were a great quartet, and rendered their party a magnificent service. Incidentally, three of them sung themselves into public office.
CAUCUS SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES
A reference to caucus or primary systems and practices must con- clude this chapter. Until 1870 or a little later caucuses in Franklin county seldom or never reflected any well defined popular sentiment or preferences as between aspirants for office. In the years after 1860 the hopelessness of Democratic success at the polls served always to deter men of that political faith from seeking nominations, so that there was never incentive to strife in that party in this regard, and its caucuses were thus always perfunctory and merely a form for preserva- tion of organization. The Republicans appeared in these years to be willing generally that the selection of candidates be made practically by a single individual, Mr. Wheeler, who, communicating his wishes and plans to customs officers, postmasters and close personal friends in the several towns, was sure to have delegates commissioned to county conventions who were altogether disposed to act as he might advise.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
The caucuses were seldom attended except by the few who were Mr. Wheeler's agents and by perhaps a handful of others whom these invited to be present, while in Brighton, Duane, Franklin and Harrietstown the practice of holding caucuses at all did not prevail until years later. The general course in the towns named, even until about 1880, was that some leading and active Republican would assume of his own initiative and without authority to arrange with three men in each town to go to a convention as delegates on credentials which he himself would pre- pare. Often such pseudo delegates would vote in the convention as a body, and for the candidates recommended by their leader, who, in turn, was controlled by some one person or small group of persons in Malone. Justice requires that it be added that in the exercise of his autocratic power Mr. Wheeler usually studied to meet popular wishes so far as these were evident, and that his nominees should be men of ability and character, whose party record entitled them to recognition and reward. Otherwise he could hardly have maintained his control. In the old-style convention each town had equal representation and vot- ing power. Soon after 1870 it became the custom for individuals to put themselves forward for office, with direct appeal to the voters for support, but never failing to attempt to enlist the backing ,of the " machine " also, and the town caucuses often became animated gather- ings of considerable numbers, registering their preferences as between rival contenders for their favor either by a vote of instructions to the delegates, or by making choice of men representing a particular candi- date over the set who stood for his competitor. In a number of spirited canvasses in the eighties and nineties even more votes than the usual Republican poll at an election were cast in some of the caucuses.
In 1911 a law was enacted which substituted official primary elec- tions for the caucus and convention system, which had been operated at individual and party expense, and with no rules except such as custom or occasionally organization decree had established. The official primary is wholly under official control, with public officers presiding at them, and with ballots and all other supplies and expenses paid for by taxa- tion. The theory of the new scheme was that it would make party " machines " and " bosses " less powerful, and lodge control absolutely with the people. The intention was admirable, but in practice the expected results have not been realized, perhaps because no occasion has arisen since 1911 for a genuinely spontaneous assertion of the popu- lar will; and the party workers have had their way quite as surely and
123
FRANKLIN COUNTY POLITICALLY
with as little difficulty as formerly. Not improbably still another reason for the partial failure of the official primary election may be found in the fact that in order to participate in it enrollment has to be made nearly a year in advance, a requirement which in principle resembles personal registration, always operative to make the vote light at an election. Yet further, the mass of enrolled voters are those who are party workers and committee members, and through these the word often passes from "higher up" that the leaders and the organization stand for this or that candidate, who accordingly gets the votes. Doubt- less a principal influence toward making the law unpopular is the expense that attaches to it. Until 1918 that expense in Franklin county was over $2,300 per year, whereas the old caucus and convention plan cost taxpayers nothing, since the candidates for nomination or the party organizations paid all of the bills. An amendment made to the law in 1918 reduces the cost for its annual administration locally by about $500.
The old system of caucuses and conventions was by no means without its faults, the chief of which were its concession to a town of, say, fifty voters the same representation and voice in determining nominations that were given to one with ten or twenty times that number of electors, and the practice of voting in a convention by secret ballot, which car- ried opportunity for betrayal by a delegate of his constituency. Require that all caucuses be called upon ample public notice; that the chair- man, secretary and tellers be sworn to an honest discharge of their respective duties ; and that all voting in a convention be upon roll-call, with each delegate declaring openly his attitude upon any question or candidacy ; and the system would have much to commend it. First, experience points to the fact that a wider and more popular interest is awakened under it. Second, it would bring men together from all parts of the county for interchange of views, and for informing each other concerning public sentiment in the different towns. Third, it would promote acquaintance of the leaders of thought with each other, which is assuredly desirable. Fourth, it would provide a method for authoritative declaration of a crystallized public sentiment. And, fifth, it would inspire among convention delegates and spectators alike a quickened and broader interest in public questions and in party policies. Though there is doubtless an element that decries the desirability of the last specified condition, the fact nevertheless abides that our govern- ment is through parties, and, therefore, it follows that the stronger
124
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
allegiance to a party, based upon intelligence and conscience, the better and more responsive to the popular will an administration is likely to prove.
FRANKLIN COUNTY MEN WHO HAVE HELD PUBLIC OFFICE
Lists of the Franklin county men who have filled the more important local offices, or held higher positions in the State or national civil service, are appended. Where men are classified in years earlier than 1830 as Republican it is to be remembered that the description is prac- tically equivalent to Democratic, which name did not come into use in New York until about 1830.
Vice-President
Year of appointment or election
Name
Politics Residence
1876. William A. Wheeler
Republican . Malone
Presidential Electors
1828.
James Campbell
Federalist .
Fort Covington
1832.
James B. Spencer.
Democratic.
Fort Covington
1864.
Hiram Horton .
Republican
Malone
1868
Francis D. Flanders
Democratic.
Malone
1884
William F. Creed.
Democratic.
Malone
1900.
William T. O'Neil
Republican .
Waverly
1912.
Oscar L. Chapin
Democratic ..
Malone
Lieutenant-Governor
1838-1810. Luther Bradish
Whig Moira
Mr. Bradish was defeated for Governor in 1842.
State Superintendent of Banks
1896-99-1902-05 Frederick D. Kilburn. .
Republican. Malone
1883.
William F. Creed (deputy) ... Democratic.
Malone
1908-1911. Frederick J. Seaver (deputy) .. Republican
Malone
Delegates to Constitutional Conventions
1846
Joseph R. Flanders
Democratic
Malone
1867 William A. Wheeler
Republican .
Malone
1867. Joel J. Seaver. .
Republican
Malone
1893.
John I. Gilbert.
Republican Malone
1915
Ferris J. Meigs.
Republican Altamont
Deputy Conservation Commissioner
1917. Alexander Macdonald ..
Republican Waverly
Representatives in Congress
1830 William Hogan.
Democratic.
Hogansburgh
1836 James B. Spencer.
Democratic.
Fort Covington
1846 Sidney Lawrence
Democratic. Moira
1860.
William A. Wheeler
Republican
Malone
1868-70-72-74. William A. Wheeler
Republican
Malone
1886-88
John H. Moffitt
Republican
Bellmont
1904-06
William H. Flack*
Republicar
Malo
* Died in office.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY POLITICALLY
State Senators
Year of appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1822.
David Erwin
Republican .
Constable
1843.
Sidney Lawrence.
Democratic.
Moira
1851
Henry B. Smith.
Democratic.
Chateaugay
1857.
William A. Wheeler.
Republican
Malone
1863.
Albert Hobbs .
Republican
Malone
1871-73
Wells S. Dickinson.
Republican
Bangor
1883
John I. Gilbert
Republican
Malone
1891.
Frederick D. Kilburn
Republican
Malone
1908-10
William T. O'Neil*
Republican
Waverly
1910-12
Herbert P. Coats.
Republican
Harrietstown
1914-16
N. Monroe Marshall.
Republican
Malone
* Died in office.
Members of Assembly
Until 1822 Franklin and Clinton counties comprised one Assembly district, during which time Franklin county furnished the member five times.
Year of
appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1809-11
Gates Hoit.
Republican .
Chateaugay
1817.
Gates Hoit. .
Republican .
Chateaugay
1818.
Ebenezer Brownson.
Federalist .
Malone
1822.
William Hogan.
Republican
Hogansburgh
1823
George B. R. Gove.
Clintonian-Federalist.
Fort Covington
1824-25
Asa Hascall. .
Federalist .
Malone
1826.
James Campbell
Federalist .
Fort Covington
1827-29.
Luther Bradish.
Anti-Masonic
Moira
1830-31
James B. Spencer
Democratic
Fort Covington
1832-33
Jabez Parkhurst.
Whig
Fort Covington
1834.
Asa Hascall
Whig
Malone
1835-36-37.
Luther Bradish.
Whig
Moira
1838.
Asa Hascall.
Whig
Malone
1839-40.
John S. Eldredge
Whig
Hogansburgh
1841
Thomas R. Powell
Whig
Malone
1842
Joseph H. Jackson
Whig
Malone
1843.
Francis D. Flanders
Democratic.
Malone
1844
Hiram Horton .
Whig.
Malone
1845
Sidney Lawrence
Democratic.
Moira
18446.
Joseph R. Flanders
Democratic
Malone
1847
Elos L. Winslow
Democratic.
Malone
1848.
George B. R. Gove
Whig
Fort Covington
1853.
Andrew W. Ferguson
Democratic.
Nalone
1854
Edward Fitch
Whig.
Malone
1855
Albert Hobbs
Knownothing.
Malone
1856.
George Mott ..
Democratic.
Bangor
1857.
Charles Russell .
Knownothing-Republican
Moira
1858.
Martin L. Parlin .
Knownothing-Republican ..
Malone
1859
Wells S. Dickinson.
Republican
Bangor
1860.
William Andrus.
Republican.
Malone
1861-63.
Albert Andrus
Union party
Malone
1864-66
James W. Kimball.
Republican
Fort Covington
1867-68
Edmund F. Sargent.
Republican.
Bangor
1869-71
James H. Pierce ..
Republican
Franklin
1872-74
John P. Badger.
Republican
Burke
1875-77
John I. Gilbert.
Republican
Malone
1878-80
William D. Brennan .
Republican
AJalone
1880. .
Samuel A. Beman
Republican
Malone
1881-84
William T. O'Neil.
Republican
Waverly
1885-87.
Floyd J. Hadley.
Republican
Westville
1888-90.
William C. Stevens.
Republican
Malone
1891-93
Allen S. Matthews
Republican
Fort Covington
1894-98
Thomas A. Sears
Republican
Bombay
1899-1902.
Halbert D. Stevens
Republican
Malone
1903-06
Charles R. Matthews
Republican
Bombay
1907-08
Harry H. Hawley
Republican
Malone
1909-14
Alexander Macdonald
Republican
Waverly
1915-17.
Warren T. Thayer.
Republican.
Chateaugay
1849-50
William A. Wheeler.
Whig.
Malone
1851-52
Darius W. Lawrence
Democratic.
Moira
Luther Bradish was Speaker of the Assembly in 1838, the only Franklin county man who ever held the office. Indeed, this county has
126
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
never even had a candidate for the Speakership with the exceptions of Mr. Bradish, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. O'Neil and Mr. Macdonald.
Surrogates
Surrogates were appointive by the Governor and Council, or by the Governor and Senate, until 1847, when the duties of the office in Franklin county were devolved upon the county judge.
Year of
appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1808
Joshua Nichols.
Republican .
Malone
1814.
Albon Man.
Federalist
Constable
1816.
Ebenezer Brownson
Republican
Malone
1823
James B. Spencer.
Republican
Fort Covington
1837
Sidney Lawrence
Democratic.
Moira
1843
Martin L. Parlin.
Democratic.
Malone
County Judges
Courts of common pleas preceded the county court, which was created in 1847. The first judges of the court of common pleas and the county judges have been :
Year of
appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1809
Ebenezer Brownson.
Republican .
Malone
1814
George L. Harison
Federalist .
Malone
1815.
Joshua Nichols
Republican
Malone
1816.
Albon Man.
Federalist
Constable
1820
Hiram Horton .
Federalist .
Malone
1823
Ebenezer Brownson
Republican
Malone
1825.
Benjamin Clark
Republican
Malone
1829
William Hogan.
Republican
Hogansburgh
1837
Roswell Bates.
Democratic.
Fort Covington
1843
Henry B. Smith.
Democratic.
Chateaugay
1847
Joseph R. Flanders
Democratic.
Malone
1851
John Hutton.
Democratic.
Malone
1855.
George S. Adams.
Knownothing
Malone
1859-63
Henry A. Paddock
Republican
Fort Covington
1867-71
Albert Hobbs
Republican
Malone
1877-83.
IIorace A. Taylor.
Republican
Malone
1889-95-1901 ..
Samuel A. Beman
Republican
Malone
1907-13.
Frederick G. Paddock.
Republican
Malone
District Attorneys
It was not until 1818 that each county had a district attorney, and not until 1847 was the office made elective. Before that district attor- neys were appointive by the courts.
Year of appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1S18.
Asa Hascall ..
Federalist .
Malone
1841
Joseph H. Jackson
Whig
Malone
1843
Asa Hascall ..
Whig
Malone
1847
William A. Wheeler
Whig.
Malone
1850
Ashbel B. Parmelee
Whig.
Malone
1853.
Henry A. Paddock
Democratic
Fort Covington
1856
Walter H. Payne
Democratic.
Fort Covington
1859
Albon Man.
Republican
Malone
1862-65
Horace A. Taylor.
Republican
Malone
1868-74.
Samuel A. Beman
Republican
Malone
1877-80.
John P. Badger.
Republican
Malone
1883-89
Henry G. Kilburn.
Republican
Malone
1892-95.
Frederick G. Paddock.
Republican
Malone
1898-1904
Gordon H. Main. ..
Republican
Malone
1907-13.
John W. Genaway.
Republican
Malone
1916.
Ellsworth C. Lawrence
Republican
Malone
127
FRANKLIN COUNTY POLITICALLY
County Clerks
County clerks were appointive by the Governor and Couneil until 1822, when they were made elective by the people.
Year of appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1808.
James S. Allen .
Republican .
Chateaugay (Burke)
1809
Gates Hoit .
Republican
Chateaugay
1811
Asa Wheeler
Republican
Malone
1813
Gates Hoit
Republican
Chateaugay
1815.
Asa Wheeler .
Republican
Malone
1821
Ebenezer Brownson
Republican
Malone
1822
Asa Wheeler .
Republican
Malone
1825
George B. R. Gove.
Clintonian
Fort Covington
1828
Abel Willson ..
Federalist
Malone
1831.
Samuel S. Clark
Democratie.
Malone
1834-40
Uriah D. Meeker.
Whig
Fort Covington
1843.
Lauriston Amsden.
Democratie.
Malone
1846.
Henry S. Brewster.
Democratic.
Malone
1849
Samuel C. F. Thorndike
Whig
Malone
1852.
Francis D. Flanders
Democratic.
Malone
1855-58
Edgar S. Whitney
Knownothing
Fort Covington
1861.
Uriah D. Meeker*
Republican
Malone
1861-64
Claudius Hutchins.
Republican
Dickinson
1867-70.
William W. Paddock
Republican
Constable
1873-76.
Almerin W. Merrick.
Republican
Fort Covington
1879-82.
George W. Dustin.
Republican
Dickinson
1885-88
N. Monroe Marshall.
Republican
Bellmont
1891-94
Frank S. Channell.
Republican
Malone
1897-1900
William H. Flack.
Republican
Waverly
1903-06.
Harvey J. Dudley .
Republican
Constable
1909-12
Harry H. Hawley
Republican.
Malone
1915.
F. Roy Kirk
Republican
Malone
* Appointed vice Whitney, deceased.
Sheriffs
Sheriffs were appointive by the Governor and Council until 1822, since when they have been elective. The office was formerly so influen- tial and powerful that it was felt that an incumbent of it could force his re-election indefinitely if he were permitted to hold consecutive terms, and therefore a sheriff has always been ineligible for re-election.
Year of appointment or election
Name
Polities
Residence
1808.
John Wood .
Republican
Malone
1812
Lemuel Chapman
Republican
Malone
1814.
Zerubabel Curtis
Federalist
Malone
1815.
James Campbell
Republican
Fort Covington
1818
John Wood
Clintonian
Malone
1822.
John Mitchell
Republican
Chateaugay (Burke)
1823
John Mitchell .
Republican
Chateaugay (Burke)
1825
Reeve Peck
Clintonian
Malone
1828.
John Backus.
Federalist
Constable
1830.
Oren Lawrence.
Democratic.
Moira
1833.
Aaron Beman
Whig.
Malone
1836.
Guy Meigs
Democratic.
Malone
1839.
William Andrus .
Whig
Malone
1842.
Loyal C. Lathrop.
Democratic
Malone
1845
Benjamin W. Clark
Democratic.
Malone
1848
Rufus R. Stephens.
Whig
Hogansburgh
1851.
James C. Drake.
Democratic
Bangor
1854.
James C. Sawyer
Democratic.
Fort Covington
1857
George H. Stevens
Democratic
Bangor
1860.
Daniel F. Soper
Republican
Chateaugay
1863
George G. Gurley.
Republican
Chateaugay
1866.
Robert A. Delong.
Republican
Malone
1869
William H. Hyde.
Republican
Bangor
1872
Robert A. Delong.
Republican
Malone
1875.
James A. Stockwell
Republican
Westville
1878.
Lyman J. Folsom ..
Republican
Malone
128
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Sheriffs - Continued
Year of appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1881.
James A. Stockwell.
Republican
Malone
1884.
Lyman J. Folsom.
Republican .
Malone
1887.
George W. Sunderland*
Democratic.
Malone
1887.
George W. Dustin
Republican
Moira
1890
Fred P. Wilson.
Republican
Bangor
1893
Edward F. Rowley
Republican .
Westville
1896.
Edgar A. Whitney
Republican
Moira
1899
Ernest A. Douglass
Republican
Chateaugay
1902
Frank S. Steenberge.
Republican
Bangor
1905.
George S. Henry .
Republican
Fort Covington
1908.
Frank S. Steenberge.
Republican .
Bangor
1911
Alfred A. Edwards.
Republican
Malone
1914
Frank S. Steenberge.
Republican
Bangor
1917
Alfred A. Edwards
Republican
Malone
* Appointed in place of Folsom, deceased
County Treasurers
County treasurers were appointive by boards of supervisors until 1847, when they were made elective by the people. The record shows that under the first practice incumbents usually enjoyed long terms of service.
Year of
appointment or election
Name
Politics
Residence
1808.
Nathan Wood.
Federalist.
Malone
1810.
Hiram Horton, Sr
Federalist .
Malone
1821.
Jacob Wead ..
Federalist.
Malone
1837
Samuel Clark Wead.
Whig.
Malone
1843
Samuel S. Clark.
Democratic
Malone
1848
Samuel Clark Wead.
Whig.
Malone
1851
William Wallace King
Democratic.
Malone
1854
S. M. Weed.
Democratic
Malone
1857.
B. S. W. Clark.
Democratic
Malone
1860-63.
William G. Dickinson
Republican
Malone
1866-72.
William D. Brennan .
Republican.
Nalone
1875-78.
Daniel H. Stanton.
Republican
Malone
1881-84
Frederick D. Kilburn.
Republican.
Malone
1887-90.
Fred O'Neil ..
Republican
Duane
1893-96
Edwin R. Tower
Republican
Brandon
1897-1900.
Thomas Adams.
Republican
Malone
1903-06.
Orren S. Lawrence.
Republican
Malone
1909.
Frank L. Carpenter
Republican.
Bellmont
1910-13.
Berton L. Reynolds*
Republican
Brandon
1916
James A. Latour .
Republican
Harrietstown
* Appointed vice Carpenter, deceased, and afterward elected.
CHAPTER IV
ALTAMONT
Altamont was formed from Waverly in 1890, and comprises three townships, or 76,168 assessed acres. In 1913 a strip one mile wide by five miles long was added from St. Lawrence county in furtherance of a highway policy for the construction of a road designed to give Tupper Lake an outlet to eastern and central New York points, but which St. Lawrence was unwilling to aid in building. The strip in question has no inhabitants.
The population of Altamont in 1892, at the first enumeration follow- ing its erection as a town, was 1,051, which increased in eight years to 3,045, and in the next ensuing five years to 4,843; but, owing to the closing of some of the manufacturing plants and to curtailment of operations by others, it decreased to 4,691 in 1910 and further to 4,480 in 1915, of whom 703 were aliens. The aliens are becoming fewer, how- ever, as over 200 of them filed applications for naturalization during the summer of 1917. The population is now increasing, and it is expected that within a short time the losses above noted will be fully recovered.
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