From the Cortland Democrat of Cortland, NY
Friday, December 9, 1870

DeRuyter Correspondence

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DeRuyter, Madison Co., Nov. 28

   Mr. Editor: Week after week has passed by and still no news from DeRuyter. Believe me this is not owing to our having no news to give, but owing to our not having time communicate.

   The railroad is progressing rapidly. The track is laid within three miles of the village, and already we can see the smoke arising from the engine designating the proximity of the "iron horse" to the village. The men are concentrated in the cuts immediately before the track, in order to make room for it; so that in two weeks we hope to see the fulfillment of the promise made by D.C. Littlejohn, of having the cars here by the 1st of January.

   The telegraph poles are driven through the village and I am informed the Company have rented a part of I.N. Smith¹s dwelling house for a Telegraph Office. Thus you see we are no longer people out of the world, but a people holding an intercourse with the other world by means of telegraphic operation and railroad communication.

   You will not, I hope, think it inopportune to let our memory wander back to election and its results. You undoubtedly have seen that we had a great democratic gain in DeRuyter, over that of previous elections but you will be astonished when I tell you that it was not owing to the railroad men, as the R.R. authorities threatened any man who voted for John T. Hoffman with the (to them) awful doom of discharge from work.

   So that I hope when republications (especially DeRuyter ones), charge the Democratic party with fraud in New York City, they will think of their own home fraud and then blush with shame of their own party.

   Thanksgiving eve was celebrated by having a dance in the Town Hall, refreshments at the Taber House. Business is at present lively and active in the village, owing to most of the railroad men being boarded there now.

   M.R. Merchant has returned from New York with a new supply of goods, James Bolger has renewed his stock of intoxicating fluids, and any person desirous of getting anything in that line will find it pure for medical and other purposes "down to Bolgers". John Frazer, formerly a foreman on the railroad, is now opening a billiard and lager beer saloon between J. McCulloch's grocery, and Jerome Neal's saloon. We have no doubt John will be successful in his new business. Feramory