Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-07-19
The Southern Editorial EXcur.
sion.

The Southern Editorial Excur-
sion.
In our last we merel y mentioned the ar
rival Of the party in Binghamton, at IL M.
July 1st A committee Of citizens met us
some distance from the City and on our ar.
rival at the Depot large delegation of Cit
liens with the Mayor at their head and a
fine band Of music were in waiting, and we
disembarked and under the direction of the
Committee moved to the Hotel, battery Of.
Artillery at the Depot firing 100 rounds ON
the occasion. Arrived at the Caferty
House, Mayor Phelps formally received us
in neat welcome address, which being res
ponded to, and number of introductions of
the party to the citizens having taken place,
dinner was announced which was heartily
enjoyed by the Soutbrons. After dinner,
many prominent citizens came forward with
their private carriages, and we took ride
about the City, to see as to the truth of that
whereof "Nitro.Glycerine" Hotchkiss had
so often spoken. The first place of interest
was the Water-works. These are the pride
Of Biughamton. They we're also novelty
to us. They consist Of two magnifcently
constructed Machines. of immense power,
for hosting the water from two huge els.
terms, and forcing it through number of
miles of pipe, and capable of throwing six
or eight streams over the highest houses in
any part of the City. This apparatus is driv-
en- at very ordinary speed, generally, but
when fire occurs, by opening main, by
an unique contrivance the alarm is sounded
at the works and the machines are forced up
to their fullest capacity. This has been in
operation some Is years and the City in that
time has never failed to have full supply
Of exceedingly cool and wholesome water
After the visit to the Water works, we
were driven Immediately to the State Inebri-
ate Asylum, splendid structure, on a
neighboring hill, which commands most
beautiful view Of the City and surrounding
country. We found, DR.. Durr, the Physi-
clan in charge, polite and accommodating
gentleman, who conducted us through the
institution, and, to our great relief, never
said "wine' single time 1t is admirably
constructed and looked to us more like a
summer resort of gentlemen of means, than
an institution for the cure of drunkenness.
1t is supplied with fine library, neatly
arranged theatre, Billiard Tables, Card
rooms &C., and we'll appointed Chapel, in
which is good sized organ. There were
about 90 inmates, and in only very few
cases did they have the appearance of excess
sive bibbers. DR.. Durr informed us that
the ratio of permanent cures since its estab.
lishment was about so per cent
We we're then shown a number of hand
some residences, and among the rest that Of
the gentleman in whose carriage we rode,
Mayor Sherman D. Phelps. containing II
rooms, and just being completed at cost of
100000. 1t was indeed magnificent estab-
lishment, and so generally pronounced over
the good things set out in one of the finished
rooms. Calls were then made on Col. Wal
ton Dwight, Gen. Jones. Col. ]. S. Wells,
Col. J. Rankin, who, like Mayor Phelps, en-
tertaired the party handsomely, their excel
lent ladies doing the honors of the occasion,
save Mrs. COL Dwight, who was unwell,
but whose acquaintance number of the par
ty made in the morning, having, by special
invitation, called for that purpose.
After our return to the Hotel, but short
respite was granted US, before we were sum.
moned to Banquet, on which the wee
small hours crept before we arose, and
speeches in response to toasts were made by
Messrs. Mallette, Mcdonald, Hopkins, Col.
Dwight and Gen. Jones, of Binghamton,
Mayor Monies and Mr.. Adams, of Scranton,
and Messrs. Manning, of N. c., Hunter,
and Berkeley, of Va, and Heating of Tenn.
Binghamton was determined to exhibit the
fact that the home Of Gov. Gilbert G. Walker,
was the glorious place Maj. Hotchkiss had
so repeatedly represented it to be, and right
we'll did she do it.
Here we met Mr. Mallette, who was with
the Northern Excursion last year. and Mr..
Horace Smith, we'll known to many of our
readers as one Of the p:oprietors Of the
"Gem Churn," who had been in Bingham
ton on business, and remained over several
days to meet the party, and who added not
little in making our sojourn more pleas
ant. We also met here Mayor Monies, Of
Scranton, and Mr.. j. B. Adams, Of the
Scranton Democrat, who came over to escort
the party to that City.
We may just here mention that We saw
on exhibition new application Of power,
called Centripetal Power 1t was applied
to threshers, cornshellers, planners, circular
saws &c. &c. The power applied was one
horse, which served to do the work of an
ordinary 8 or 10 hose power. To give an
idea, after the speed Of tae saw was gotten
up, the band to the horse-pow was detach.
ed and about 80 feet of inch plank sawed
through from the mere momentum of the
saw.
On the End we left for Scranton. On ar
irving Mayor Monies received the party in