New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-21

glorious open space-will remain TO less the City
ioreveri' " And do you not perceive the reason ?"
WIS The prompt return oi Dr. Hawks, " Man
makes buildings, but God makes space" thus
stamping, as II were, the slgnet OF the Almighty
On the iaboTs at Mr. II. 20 perpetuate 20 his fell
low-citlzors, for all tine to come, Heavens
boon OF tree air and open space. Mr. Ru5gles
also cut through his own property, two wide
streets, parallel with and between The Third and
Fourth-aveuues, and being allowed 10y The Corp0-
ration 70 name them, he again avoided the tempta-
ton oiIersonal feeling, and called the one Irving
place. after uradmirable fellow t)wnsmanwh0se
gentle aud geHia humor and fine literary taste and
talents have illustrated our city and nailon-the
other he nan ed, with the Just pride OF New
ENGLAND man, LexBgton-ayenue, after that bat
tie held where the first blood was shed for indie
pendence.
THE ERIE RAILROAD.
Beng now largely interested in real estate
and accustomed TO embrace n wide range IN
his views Of the causes which accelerate the
Growth and add to theprosperlty OF cities. he
was not long IN percelvlng that new Impulse
analogous III character to that impaired by the
Enc Canal, was needed 10 determine the onward
movement Of our City. He accordingly early
embraced and warmly advocated the project of
q railroad through the southern tier OF counties
10 Lake Enc. The scheme was gigantic. and
TIE PH'NICdi obstacles 10 us success nov less 81
but Mr. Ruggies Is of that temper of mind which
cannot Readily be discouraged, and he perSevered.
He subscribed largely 10 the stock OF the COM
paDy. became one of its most active Directors,
and in company with James &. King, the then
President of the road was present at the putting
of the first spade into the ground for the com
mencement on the work, and emptled on the fu-
iure track, now vexed by lncessant trains, the
first whee-banow load OF earth. of 9Th Nov.
lNf- R1lpo . thar self the pNIfnr ut
newspaper was oognizant OF the unung ei-
forts OF Mr.. Ruggles, by his pen. hts purse and
has personal eXeTtl0ns to advance the interests OF
th.S lew enterprise, and 10 arouse to 1t the at
tonlOn of all classes OF our citizens, Tor such Is
The fortunate solidarity "a good word recently IN
trCCuced into Opr common vocabulary OF all
classes under our free and equal institutions, and
in our industrious community, that every under
taking " hich benefits any one class must benefit
all. The enterprise was sustained, and although
long DELAY ed and hnally executed BIS other hands,
il should not be forgotten now, 10 The prosperous
DAYS of this magnificent and benehcent work
hardly less valuable as political bond connect.
ing US iudissolubly with the great West thanss
a broad highway along which pass both men and
the produce Of mans industry, IN countless
numbers and of unreck0ucd value, with great
speed and great econOmy--lt should not be Tor
gotten. repeat. now, when the skies are bright
and the future is certain, who, in the dark morn
ng-far-seeing and hard wOrklng-wcre the
friends Of the enterprise
ENLARGEMENT OF THE CANAL.
Still in conformity with his settled opinion,
that nothing could more surely cOudIce 20 the
prosperity Of the City than a wise application,
alike Of individual aud the public wealth and
effort. TO promote well-cOnSidered pubic I'M
provemcnts. Mr. r. acceded 70 the urgent desire
OF his friends to be a candidate for the Assembly.
He was elected, and placed at the head Of the
Committee of WAYS aud Means and In that capa-
city made the famous Report OF 1893, on the value
and future produciiveness OF the Canals, on the
niece ssity of their enlargement, and on the expe-
diency OF still further extending the system. He
was III advance Of his time, and yettme has more
than confirmed all his estimates and sanctioned
al his views; and that Report, which the timld,
the iDcredulous and the malicious stlgmatized IN
its day. according to the idiosyncraSies OF each as
rash, impractlcable and absurdly visionary Is
now the enduring record Of far sighted sagaclty,
well-stated premises and irresistible conclusions.
Nor were his efforts to bring into speedy and
vigorous action these woodworking engines
ofpublc prosperity confined to the legislative
hail, the closet or the City leaving behind
him the property which for ears he had been
anxiously and arduously moulding into shape, he
accepted the post of Canal Commissioner OF the
State, and in that more extended field, for sew
commercial fevulsion succeeding 1896 urged
forward toward cOmpetion-and with untlring
energy-thoSe great channels OF internal com
merce, which are now pouring such coplous and
ever-swelng streams of wealth into NeWl0fk,
Their common center.
IMPROVEMENTS NEAR UNI0N-PARK.
But while thus IN the public service, his own
private interests severely suffered. Yet, with
temptation constantly besettlng hlm to let out
pIecemeal and for mere suburban pursuits and for
inferior buildings the large real estate he pos
sessed around Union.square and Gramercy-park,
ipcnmbered a. IL was by heavy debt, he adhered
10 his original purpose, far as be could effect
il. To render that one Of the most desirable and
beautiful parts of the City. lie coveted the feel
ING of that statesman OF old who was able TO say
that he had found his city OF wood and left 1t of
marble. He would not relinqulsh his gem
erous but selfsacrlhclng plan. He persevered,
and for the public ne trlumphed-and the bne
squares and noble streets of the neighbcrhood
we have referred 10 remain and viii remain,
while he, the early, liberal and far-seelng pro-
iector of the whole, whose lifelong iabors had
Virtually called II into being-borne down at last
Inv the crushing and fatally accumulatlng bar
dens Of mis- twenty years ggle-but cheer
fully surrendering, without STINT or limit, and to
the last dollar, in payment OF his obligations, the
estate SO Justly earned, has lost all, save that
which leaves HIM flcn lndteO, tne respect, con-
fdence and affection OF his friends, the reSolute
and selfsustaining spirit which in the end is
sure to conquer misfortune, and the Just pride
that for the city of his residence for his country
and for the future he has not abored nor suffered
III vain.
fear NAV have seemed to encroach on your
time and attention in giving so much extent and
nromipepce to the acts OF single individual.
Bpt he is my friend. Fortune has dealt hardly
with him, and as know his worth and the sacrl-
fees he has made for our City, could not resist
this opportunity, which review OF the growth
of this City so naturally presents, of bearing my
testimony to the name services and character OF
Samuel B. RugglesNas public benefactor.
MIsFoRTUNEs-THE EMBARGO.
Thus far have only spoken OF successful
changes But amid muchProsPerity we have mol
been exempt from serious and sweeping calami-
disadvantages. non-lntercourse, war, yellow
fever cholera. destructive hres-each m It's turn
aocb soon efacpd almost from