The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-07-23
RATES OF ADVERTISING.


by the year ten cents. 4 .rn3 ana 80
Cards In the "DirectOry"i column,
500 per year for the first two lines
and 100 for each additional line. dtsia
was a~oided.a On the 30th of October
1851, Mr.. Packer became owner of con.
trolling portion Of the stock, and subse-
quently submitted a proposition to build
the road from Mauch Chunk to Easton,
a adistance OF forty-six miles, for a con-,
sideration to be paid in the stocks and
bonds of the company, the name of
which was now changed to the Lehigh
Valley railroad company, to suit the ex-
tent and true field Of work.
Mr.. Packers proposition was accept
ed and he commenced work in Novem.
ber, 1852. Under his personal supervis-
ion 1t was pushed with great vigor as
he received only stocks and bonds in
payment. He hazarded his whole fortune
in the enterprise. In its early compile.
tion and profitable working, he saw
every dollar of his investment quadru-
pied and every acre of land in the lie.
The Lehigh Valley railroad was fln-
ished and delivered to the company ON
the 24th of September, 1855, and was
put Immediately in operasion. Its coal
freights, which in 1867, amounted to
500, 900 tons, in the year 1866 exceeded
2,OOO,O tons, 5000 Of which were
delivered along its route from Mauch
Chunk TO Easton, to works which the
railroad itself had called into existence.
The addition which 1t brought to Asa
Packers fortune can be stated only in
millions.
Within three years after the opening
Of the railroad from Mauch Chunk to
Easton, with connections which made
railroad route from the valley to Phila.
delphia as well as New York, Mr.. Pack
er suggested the extension of line of
railroad into the valley of the Susque-
hanna, and up that valley to the great
table lands of the State of New York,
there to connect with the New York and
| Erie railroad. This would bring the
| anthracite coal region within the sys.
tenn of roads leading north and west to
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and also
afford a direct route by connection with
theCatawissa and Erie roads to the great
| West.
Asa Packer has lived to see the whole
of this stupendous conception realized.
| 1t is not possible to calculate the benefit
which it is destined to confer upon the
whole country. 4'l ,s uilf
On his return from Europe in 1855,
Mr.. Packer announced his intention to
found in Lehigh valley an educational
institution which would supply to its
young men the means of obtaining that
knowledge of which he had early in life
found such a profound need. The
branches of education to which it was
Mr.. Packers design that the institution
should be especially devoted were civil,
mechanical, and mining engineering
general analytical chemistry mineral.
j; ogy and metallurgy analysis of soils
and agriculture; architecture and con-
, struction; all branches of knowledge of
: exceptional value in the Lehigh valley.
In carrying into effect this purpose, Mr..
/ Packer gave woodland park, sixty
J acres in extent, situated on the borders
of South Bethlehem and $500,O00 ia
money. ..ru.s il l.a.a ,.HI
This institution, known as the Lehigh
University, was formally opened Sep
. tember /, 1866, and its success has real
lied the intelligent and benefcient pur-
pose of its founder. By its charter it is
r made a self sustaining institution; in.
tended to reach both richand poor with
its advantages its free scholarships be-
} ing offered as prizes to be competed for
! by all the students. No sectarin abigot-
ry limits its benefcient influence to q
, single religious denomination, but
those of every creed find welcome to
its halls.
On the 23d of November, 1865, at a
$ dinner given to Mr.. Packer at Bethle'
8 hem, as a public acknowledgment Ol
8 his princely gift, at which many Of the
4 most eminent men of the State were
{, present, Col. John w. FOrney paid the
=, following eloquent tribute to the CUES
|
! career for youth and manhood to study
Here is lesson to the one TO move on
in the path of improvement, and {
stimulant to the other never to despair
l in the darkest hour of disaster and mis-
3 fortune. We pick out Asa Packer a
d the miner picks out piece OF coal Il
y show the value of the precious deposi
. from which it was taken; we pick hin
8 out to show what can be won by person
i al honesty, industry and kindness t
a men, by courage in the midst OF bat
:. luck by confidence in the milst o
0 gloomy prophecy, by modesty in pros.
, perity, and by princely generosity
: when fortune comes with both hand'
4 full to realize just ambition" Among
! his immediate friends and associate
: Mr.. w. ii. Gatzmer, the president o
: the Camden and Amboy railroad, bor'
Q high testimony to the energy and abili
ty with which Mr.. Packer had carrie'
: out his great mining and railroad enter
u prises, and acknowledged that although
Pennsylvania is only his adopted State
i few of her sons have done more to de
velop her mineral resources.
q Mr.. Packer enjoys to the fullest ex
70 tent the confidence of the community Ii
u which he lives. This it has shown b.
II electing him to public Office wheneve
"A he could be induced to accept it. II
Is served his neighbors several years i
10 the General Assembly of the State, hi
!, services there ending In the year ls4;
d He was then elected judge of the count
= court, which position he held for fiv
J. years, and hence he Is familiarly know
= as Judge Packer. More recently he hs
u represented his district for two consecl