The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-22
PURNACEVILLE ROCK ON VIEW
PROF. LEE brings down 4 JAR
FTL FROM THE CANAL BANKS.
He Describes II ~ LOam-Farmers Using
II ~ Fertilizer. but IT'S Also In De-
mand Up There ~ an Exhibit or the
Effect Of Odeiiism Upon soft stun.

nand Up There ~ an Exhibit or the
Eject Of Odeiiism Upon soft stun.
There was a practical demonstration,
yesterday. at the Democratic State head
quarters which went to show that when
Attorney General Cunneen asserted that
Sls,6iS had been improperly paid by the
Canal Board to the Furnaceville Iron Com
pany, on u claim made for rock excavation
when only mud had been dug, he was speak
ing by the book.
Duncan Campbell Lee, the former pro-
fessor in Cornell University, who was
permanent chairman OF the last Demo-
cratic State convention, brought to Demo-
cratic State headquarters jar containing
some Of the so-called rock" taken from
the banks Of the Erie Canal near Albion
Orleans county, the centre of the stretch
where the excavations were made. Prof.
Lee exhibited the contents OF the jar last
night in the State headquarters. 1t did
not require scientific testimony to enable
the beholders to realize that the dirt was
absolutely free OF any rocky or stony sub
stance.
Prof. Lee explained that the sample
which he exhibited was dug by himself
in the presence OF witnesses who live in the
locality and knew the material to be part
OF that excavated by the Furnacevile COM
pany. The banks of the canal near Albion
are covered with this excavated material
for considerable distance. Since the
present controversy, the professor said,
MANY neighboring residents have secured
samples and are preserving them as cam
pagn souvenirs. believing they are destined
to be OF historic value some day. The
professor added that the material was
simply fine loan upon which grass IL now
growing and garden produce has been
raised.
Everybody in Orleans county knows it,
too, said Prof Lee An action was re-
Gently brought in this county for damages
from the State for alleged injury done to
land on which the excavated material
had been distributed 1t was held in this
case that no damages could be recovered a
the land had been rendered more produc-
tive than ever before by the excavations.
Now everybody knows that grass or
| garden produce will not grow on ro"k or
! hard pan. When was speaking in Albion
last week a farmer came to me after the
meeting and told me he had secured several
| loads OF this loan for his potato field and
, that the potatoes OF this field took the prize
! at the county fair.
THE moment ACKNOWLEDGEMENT unneen
learned that the Furnacevie company
| had charged for excavating rock at this
section Of the canal he knew there was some
thing wrong He had gone to school at
! Albion and as boy he used to go in swim
ming of the banks Of the canal. He knew
every inch Of the ground and he knew there
was no rock or hard pan there. Then he
began his investigation and secured abso-
| lutte proofs OF what he knew must be the
fact
Il see that candidate Higgins is now re-
peating the statement that ex-Ctov. Black
and other Republican orators have uttered
In their speeches that the excavated ma
terial was really hard pan. Well, here it is.
You can zee for yourself whether it is or
| not
Prof Lee picked up handful of the dirt.
| rubbed it between his hands and showed
that 1t did not coptsin any hard substances
wise to personally test the material. The
| demonstration was 30 successful that Prof.
| Leo decided to present the jar and it's con-
| tents to the Dem ocratic State committee.
This label has been placed on the jar
DIRT
! EIcavated by f'i;oc'Nille Iron Company
| Erie Canal at Vi. ..r. OrIean, County.
| BY those eminent Republican C;eoogiSts.
| Benjamin r.. Odcll, IT.
| frank Wayland Higgins,
! Elihu Root and
! Frank 8. Black.
This ''%PRRIos f r' 5 H;gssas procured fF by
| Ithaca
| and presented 10 the Democratic state
Committee.