Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-01-13

( ly stocks and bonds In payment, he haZ-
arded his whole fortune in the enterprise
In its early completion and profitable work
ing, he saw every dollar of his investment
quadrupled, and every acre of land in the
Lehigh Valley enhanced in value.
The Lehigh Valley railroad was finished
and delivered to the company ON the Oath
of September, 1855, and was put immedi-
ately in operation. It's coal frieghts, which
i'll 1857 amounted to 500 600 tons, in the
year 1866 exceeded 1000, 900 tons, 635. 900
of which were delivered along its route
which the railroad itself had called into ex-
istence. The addition which it 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 Philadelphia as
well; as New York, Mr. Packer suggested
the extension of a line of railroad into the
valley of the SusqueNanna, and up that val
ley 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 af-
ford direct route by connection with the
Catawissa 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.
On his return from Europe in 1865, Mr..
Packer announced his intention to found
in Lehigh Valley an educational institution
which should supply to its young men the
means of obtaining that knowledge of
which he had in his early life felt such q
profound need. The branches of educa-
ton to which it was Mr.. Packers design
that the institution should be especially de-
voted were civil, mechanical, and mining
engineering general and analytical chem
istry mineralogy and metallurgy analy-
sis of soils and agriculture architecture
and construction all branches of knowl-
edge of inexceptional value in the Lehigh
Valley. In carrying into effect his pur-
purpose, Mr.. Packer gave woodland park,
sixty acres in extent, situated ON the bor-
deIs Of South Bethlehem, and $500, 600 in
money.
This institution, known as the Lehigh
University, was formally opened Septem-
ber l, 1866, and its success has realized the
intelligent and benefcent purpose of its
founder. By its charter it is made a self
sustaining institution (; intended to reach
both rich and poor with its advantages !; its
free scholarships being offered as prizes to
be competed for by all the students No
sectarian bigotry limits its benefcent in
tiuence to asingle religious denomination,
but those of every creed find welcome to
its halls.
On the 23d of November, 1865, at din
ner given to Mr.. Packer at Bethlehem as a
public acknowledgment of his princely gift,
at which many of the most eminent men of
the State were present. Col. John W. For
ney paid the following eloquent tribute to
the guest of the day Here is character
and 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 in the darkest
hour of disaster and misfortune. We pick
out Asa Packer as the miner picks out
piece of coal to show the value of the pre-
cious deposit from which it is taken we
pick him out to show what can be won by
personal honesty, industry, and kindness
to men by courage in the midst of bad
luck by confidence in the midst of gloomy
prophecy; by modesty in prosperity, and
by princely generosity when fortune comes
with both hands full to realize just ambi-
ton" Among his immediate friends and
associates Mr.. W. Il. Gatzmer, the presi-
dent of the Camden and Amboy railroad,
bore high testimony to the energy and abil-
ity with which Mr.. Packer had carried out
his great mining and railroad enterprises,
and acknowledged that although Pennsyl-
vania is only his adopted State, few of her
sons have done more to develop her miner
al resources.
Mr. Packer enjoys to the fullest extent
the confidence of the community in which
he lives This it has shown by electing hfm
to public office whenever he could be in
duced to accept it. He served his neigh
bors several years in the General Assembly
of the State his services there ending with
the year 1843. He was then elected Judge
of the county court, which position he held
for five years, and hence he is familiarly
known as Judge Packer. More recently he
has represented his district for two consec-
utive terms in the Congress of the United
States, and his friends insisted on present
lug his name to the late National Conven-
ton of the Democratic party as a candidate
for the first Office in the gift of the Ameri-
can people.
| Mr. Packers whole career exemplifes the