New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-13
city in starving attempt to enlist capital in their pro-


nell in those dlvs slept on tho chairs in the ohce' ara
lived on tbcsma ptance Of Two shags day. The IT '
oven turned a cold shoulder on hin. liz went to MI
Bennett of Tie H.rall and besorsht him as personal
fyor TO lv something 90 call tAe attention "a the public
10 his exhibition and unfold the benefits 10 be derived
from distant tclcgraphic CONNECTIONS The Editor q TIE
Herald refused any assistance, and gave as reson that
he would thus be WORKING against his own interests. lie
said lac had established special lines Of expresses which
enabled him TO keep ahead Of his competitors, while the
telegraph must be enjoyed in common with others Prop
eryoners refused have Cornell attach his wives Their
buildings for fear fro in tdundcrtofa or during the
MASSAGE of tho electric current lie cited them the expert
mont with NJ FIauins kite, to show them that their
perl was essened rs nu,h as Dr. ghtang-fods lie went
for certificate Of safety Pfooi Ianwck, vhoatds
refused it on the ground that the danger wa, enhanced
Beipc convinced Of his oor he gave the certificate and
charged young Cornell IS for the slip Of p'p'r But the
discouragng Winter Of 1911 passed away, and IN the
Spring tela graphic enterprise began to dawn.
In 1876 company was organised and telegraph limo
built between New York anl Blliimore and Cornell SUI
perutended the construction Of the section fom the for
lner city TO Phai phja liz received ,0)O year for
his services and demonstrated his faith In the financial
success of the scheme by subscribing for 500 OF ae stock
which he paid out OF his salary Before tho close OF that
year. another telegraph company was organized through
the enterprise and sagacty Of Paxton, Baiicrheld 81
Greenman Of Utica, n. " and Livingston & Wells,
the founders of the present American Express Com
panv This was called the New-YoFk aad Blnllo Line,
and Cornell took the contract to build il from Albany TO
New-York On this Job in spite of Illness in the
Summer of 1916 he cleared 5000, which was his hFst
success in business In 1871 he organized the company
aud built the line between Troy and Montreal IN wAch
operation he made $4,000 and invested it in the Erie and
Michigan Line, running from Baallo TO Milwaukee, The
excitement in telegraph speculation soon reached ell
max. The grantees Of Morse, Gale & Vail, who owned
treeouhs of the patent and the grantees Oh smith, VINO
owned the remaining OnciOurth, care into violent COM
petition in the Western states, owing to mundersand
ing as to tho division of this territory among the patos
interested in theplent Asarosult Of this state OF things
it was seven long years before Mr. Corne realized any
turn from his investments. In fic:, he was in debt
$4,000 and his creditors would probably have sacrificed
him by summary process collect their claims, had they
known tho real condition Of his affairs.
But largely through the efforts and .diplomacyof Mr.
Cornell these rval interests united and these CON-
petng lines consolidated in 1855, under the name Of the
present Western Union Lae in which he is one Of the
largest Shareholders
As an illustration Of the growth of this enterprise, it is
stated that the net earnings Of this Line for the year 1885,
were $S7l6; for 1884, $!n2lj for 1865 $l,i))O0) In
the mean time great part Of these surplus earnings after
paying dividends have been devoted to buying up and
building smaller and lateral telegraph lines hr. Cornell
who so early demonstrated his faith in this great enter
prise and who to,i and suffered for its development,
has realized from it fortune.
Mr. Cornell has always taken lively interest in Agri-
culture and in 1862 elected President Of the State
Agricultural Society and his annual address is one Of the
valuable and practical recorded in its printed trans
actions In 1862 the Society selected him delegate TO
the Royal Agricultural Exhibition in London which he
attended and made himself thoroughly conyersant with
the farming methods of England His report the cole
brated Rohamstead Farm shows his clos, observation
and the practical bent Of his inquiring mind.
His rst entry into politics, IN the Fail Of 1861 when
be was nominated and elected TO tho Assembly from
Tolnpkns County by the Union party, AID reelected in
1862. In the Fall of 1862 he elected TO the state
Senate and in 1865 reelected 70 tho Office which he
now fills til very Haitering testimony to his local
popularity that he has been nominated % these different
positions by accllnaon, and without his request know
cogo or presence.
Bat the fact that Mr.. Cornell has made fortune and
been elected to Office is not what most distinguishes him
from hundreds Of other SUD The useof his
wealth is his browning glory and entities him to the last,
ing gratitude OF his countymen.
In 1853, he Appropriated 100000 to establishing free
library in Ithaca, his home His original idea to
erect building costing $1,000 and to put in $4,000 in
TO be permanently valuable, be sclf-sustaning So
he built c1ifce of brick which lOi feet long by Ga
wide, three stories high with basement. On the FIRST
floor are National Bank, PostOfco, Savings Bank and
Anoy, the rental of which is $500 sufficient to
pay repairs and other expenses Of keeping up the Library
building On the second floor lecture hail. seating
1000 person library with capacity for $1,000 volumes,
and two rea1ngrooms for gentlemen, tho other for
ladies. The third floor is devoted to departments FOR
agricultural and historical societies. cabinets and museums
This building is complete, and the alcoves in the
library arc made Of native wood simply oiled TO
show the grain. Part Of tho books in and tho
permanent fund for their annual increase is $4,000.
But Mr.. Cornell has made his household word
by his recent splendid donation OF 100000 to establish
University at Ithaca upon certain conditions which have
been accepted by State lie has so given his homo
farm of 800 acres valued at 100000 for tho grounds
which his educational palaces TO be erected. He has
already purchased tho Jewet archaeological Cabinet of
Albany FOR $4,000, which will so into Of tho
Tho different buildings will be erected short
distance north cast Of the village elevation 400 feet
above Cayuga Lake The agricultural department the
act Of Incorporation requires, will be opened in
July 1867. The annual income for building pur-
poses is $4,000, and the policy will be not
TO impair the capital The State has appropriated for the
support Of tho Cornell University the income to be derived
from tho Land Grant Fund permanently invested fer that
purpose The number Of acrcs appropriated by tho Fed
era Government to State 10 DO devoted to the cause
Of education, in which agriculture should be prominent
feature is 100000 This land scrip is worth in the
market only 60 cents per acre. and would therefore pro-
duce, if sold now, only the Of $595,OO0, but Mr.
Cornell has begun to buy in and locate this scrip, and
hopes, by thus increasing its value 10 for the sup
port and endowment of this institution the princey in
vestment of 81 100000