The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-10
Letter from Syracuse.
SYRACUSE. n. Y. February 3.

Mr.. Edtt0r 1T is easy enough to write to
you from Barre or Mortified, for you are
always interested to know what your neigh
bors are DOING but Syracuse is something OF
stranger, and she must knock at your door
timidly and talk of something outside OF
her family affairs to get your attention. So
mindful of the odds and disadvantages
against me, i once more cautiously come
before your audience.
| have written you about our canals and
salt manufactures, and now what next
Well, we have very convenient railroad IA
cilities, and during the war between the
New York Central and West Shore, two
rival roads between New York and Buffalo,
we were in a location to enjoy the cheap
rates. One cent mile, on either road, any
where on the line, was cheap enough. But
alas! the weak must Succumb to the strong.
and so the West Shore has become bank
rupt and is now in the hands of the Central.
Competition has ceased and we pay two
cents mile, the Central being limited by
statute to that rate.
The Rev. Dr. George B. Spalding, native
OF Montpelier and until recently pastor at
Manchester, N. H., has been settled over
our First Presbyterian church. This is the
strongest church here, and DR.. Spalding is
doing good work as its pastor
Syracuse is just on the verge of its annual
charter election. The revised charter makes
several changes, and this is our first cleo
ton under it, We have republican ma
jority of about two thousand; and yet, alas!
we have had democratic mayor for four or
five years. The water question is the most
exciting topic now. The city has been fur
nished water for years by private corpora
ton, and now there are three questions be-
fore us: Shall the old company continue to
furnish the water? Shall new company
be let in to compete with it Shall the city
own its own water-works, and bond itself
two or three million dollars to bring it about?
Our new Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation building has just been dedicated.
Previous to this the association had rented
its rooms, but now it owns an elegant brick
building 1t will rent the ground floor for
stores, the second floor is elegantly fitted up
for its own use, while the three floors above
will be used for art and musical studios and
offices.
Another new building, opened about
Christmas, is the new orphan asylum. This
institution has been running for great
many years and has accomplished much
good. There are now over one hundred or
phan boys and girls in it being trained for
lives of usefulness. a school is connected
with the asylum and is under the control of
the city board of education. This building
is also of brick. The foundation is large, so
that they get much room without going
high. 1t is warmed by steam and has all
the modern conveniences of a first-class
dwelling. While many child there doubt
housed, fed, clothed, cared for, trained and
educated than thousands of parents are do
ing for their children.
In our suburbs is the state idiot ASYLUM
This institution, by its peculiar training and
teaching, is accomplishing wonderful results
for the weak-minded.
Eight or nine miles south of us is the Onon-
daga Indian reservation. Here still live
about five hundred of the Onondagas. ="
This state was once the home of many In
dian tribes, and these little Indian reserva-
tons are set apart by law all over the state.
What would probably surprise Yer
monter would be to see so many lager beer
breweres as we have here. The brewers
carry on their work as openly and zealously
as any miller; and you would doubtless
think that the saloons had wager with the
brewers to get the beer drank as fast as it is
made.
Syracuse has a fair quota of Vermonters
but most of them come from this side of the
Green Mountains. CHAs. b. GooDRICH