New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-13
EZRA CORNELL AND uIs UN1FER-
gETX.

rrn~.l vi
mn1e AID for many winters taught district schools lie
ho3 strongly marked character, and lived TO be 81 years
Of age having reared a faaily Of II chlrcn, Of whom
Fz,a was the eldest WHOM he was u years DID, tho /
family settled on small farm in the town Of De Ruyier
Madison Co., n X, and established small pottery. At
J6 be and Younger brother wishing to attend school dur
the Winter could obtain the consent Of their father ohy
on condition that tAcy sAold agree to clear four acres OF
heavy tubeIed land BY plantngme in the Spring Ihey
accented the terms and whackd away at the tough becches
and NAMES with she enthusiasm which they had given to
their books at tie common school, where Ezra acquired
his only scholastic education BY the 10th Of May the fur
acres were ready for planting.
About this time an accident developed that remarkable
mechanical talent which the foundation OF his ioT-
tunes His father hired man to put up small pottery
shop Ezra worked with the carpenter and jono s'oio
his trade completely and the next year cut from inc
woods with his hands, planned unadei, and buii''
suoat twos;ory rame-house tor his father
IN 1876 being then 10 years old, he commenced he lot
himself working two years IS carpenter and JOINER IN
Syracuse and Homer in this State. In 1873, he went to
ithaca village in Tompkins County, which remained his
pernaoent residence. Here he commenced work in the
naebueshop of cotton factory at the rate Of g per
month and board for one year. Such was his fidelity and
proficiency that at the cad Of six months his wages were
raised to sl2 As Illustration Of his steady habits and
industry it may be mentioned that at the expiration OF
his year though trce hours then legal days WORK,
he had gained a whole month by working overtime. He
wss advanced in position until in 1880 he was pat IN
eharr, of the plaster and Touring mills of j. S Beebe,
where he remained steadily employed for ten consecutive
years.
Ia 1881 he married and went TO housekeeping immcdi-
stey, according to the fashion of those days Having
married lads not belonging to the Quakers he was ae-
eordins to their laws expelled from that society Beebo
having hed in 1910, Mr. Cornell was thrown ont OF en-
ploUnent His mental activity did not long permit him to
remain idle and he purchased the night for patent
blow for Maine and Georgia, and travelled in those states
10 sell it, lie thus became acquainted with Francis o. d.
Smith editor Of TIE Name Farmer and menberof Con-
mss Smith had become interested in and owned one
urh Of Prof Morses patent in the magnetic telegraph,
md Congress had appropriated $4,000 to bullng an ex
perlnent line between Washington and Baltimore Prof
Morse idea was then to the four wires in lead
pdpe fve-eghhs Of an inch in diameter and bury 1t in
trench two feet below the surface Of the ground Smith
had taken contract to lay the pipe, al the rate OF 500
per mile. After making his estimate he found that he
would lose money by such contract Mr. Cornell found
Smith absorbed in anxiety. His visitor at once solved the
difficulty He struck of hasty drawing OF sort OF
pow 70 dig the TRENCH lay the pipe and close up the
earth at the speed of ordinary powing The drausht
was taken 70 q machine-shoP, and the novel con-
trfyance of Mr. Cornell completed by him.
II was in its general form, like common pillow,
with a revolving drum fastened about midway on the
beam on which the lead pipe coied from which il
passed through the beam, down inside and behind the
thin sharp coulter which cut harrow farow, into which
the pipe laid and the sod closed up quickly as the
plow passed along Smith, Morse, Cornell AID an Irish
man went out from Portland to farm few miles distant
70 try the new machine The motive power pair of
oxen which the laboTer htchcd 10 the ppcayer and IN
dertook TO DIVE. The team refused 20 draw. Pat
pounded them, and was openly profane; Smith s~oTe
mentally, while the inventor stood calm and confident at
the handles waiting the whm Of the oxen. Prof Morse
looked on in phosophic mood, and regarded the whole
thing as scientific experiment At last, the stubborn
moved and went with rush. In short they ran ut
fe top Of their speed abon 70 rods With the tall gault
Hsuc OF Corne cost Als streaming ia The wind and
bis long legs performing the most extraordinary feats fol-
lowing after and holding the Pipe-layer 70 ngd
performance Of its duty Notwithstanding the speed the
utility of the machine demoastrted-the pipe was
evenly and safely laid II taken TO Baltimore, and
with it, drawn by team of eight mules, aud under the
direction Of Cornell ten miles Of the first telegraph were
thus successfully laid at cost Of $40 instead Of 800 per
mile. But defect discovered which for time
brought the telegraph enterprise TO dead halt. When
Mr. c. was on his way 70 Baltimore he stopped in New
York at the works where Prof Morse having the /
wires encased in the lead pipes under the direction Of DR.
Fisher With his quick eye, Cornell detected that the
process OF manufacturing the pipe did not render 1t per-
geey tight by Of ar-cells lea in the lead He 1
asked Prof Morse if perfect insulation required and
he answered yes. He then told him that the lead pipe
wouidnot this result Prof Morse thought other
vise but the sequel proved that the novice knew
than the sayan. no than mile had been laid !
through wet valley just out of Baltimore when Cornell
convinced the electrician that the insulation not per-
Beet The gayanometer was applied TO the wires and the
indication told plainly what he had predicted the pipe
had admitted water, and the insulation destroyed. |
When this discovery afterward made by Prof. |
Morse, the pipe had been laid just to the Relay |
House a name since familiar in the progress of |
me late Rebellion. Prof Morse came down on the |
aain to beg Cornell to have the pipe-laying Sus-
pended for few DAYS attrbuDg the delay TO unforeseen
obstacles Cornell puIposely the pOw under rock,
and let the eight mules break it if by accident Prof
Morse Dr. Fisher Smith. Vail and Gale, who all en-
gagged the work. held scientific council to which
Cornell was not of cosse admitted. They came TO the
conclusion that the wires which wound with cotton
thread and then saturated with gum Sheac, could not be
drawn of the lespe and the copper wires could only
be saved by melting of the lead. The practical |
mind again proved that they wrong Cornell showed
By experiment that the wires could be pulled the tube
and three of them put back after being wound with
other thickness Of cotton yarn, and taking second coat
Of gum shelac which the said would per-
sect insulation. To do this Prof Morse said the pipes
must be carried to NewYork, where
ehinery for winding the wires The expense
would be large, and there renamed only $1,000 of the
go 900 appropriated by Congress The inventive genius
Of Cornell again came 10 the lie submitted 10 |
Prof Morse the draft Of simple machine for winding the
wires The drawing was takon to the works Of Ross
winans, and machine made. Prof Gale and Dr.. Fisher