The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-02
OBITUARY.
Zerah CoIburp.


This distinguished engineer, whose death by sui
eide supposed, took place near Boston on Satur-
day, bern in Saratoga, N. Y, in 1892, aud was
named after his uncle, the celebrated mathemati-
cisn. His father died soon after. and his mother,
very poor and inhrm, removed TO New Hampshire,
where, during his boyhood, young Colburn earned
his living a farm. He had a very limited
opportunities for acquiring an education. Being in
spired with desire 10 something of the world,
he left his country home, and commenced his pro-
fessional ON the Concord Railroad. In very
short time he mastered all the nTicaces OF the loco
motive, tabuated the dimensions and proportions OF
those under his observation, and published small
but excellent and still useful treatise on the
subject. He subsequently received employment
in Souther's locomotive works, in Boston,
OF which he became superintendent, after which he
spent a few months at Tredegar Works, in Richmond
va, and went finally to New York, where he re-
NAMED until 1858. His more important professional
work at this time was his superintendent, for q
year or more, OF the New Jersey Locomotive Works.
at Paterson, during which engagement he made
some improvements still standard, in the machinery
OF freight engines.
Mr.. Colburn early turned his attention to the lite
rature of engineering which he soon found to be
his true vocation, and in which he achieved the
greatest success. In 1854 he started in New York
the Railroad AdrocGte, which he afterwards disposed
Of although he continued to write for it. After de-
voting some time to the manufacture OF tires at
Falls Village, he made visit to the machine and
iron works of Europe, and on his return TO New
York again became connected with the Advocate,
which was then enlarged aud styled the american
En1ineeT. In 1858 MIR. Coburn was commissioned
by leading railroad presidents to visit Europe, to
report on the railway system and machinery abroad.
His thorough and entirely new analysis Of the cost
and economy OF British railways was the foundation
OF many Of the most important reforms that have
since been made. While in England he commenced
writing for the Engineer, and became its editor.
After several years hard work in England, Mr.. Col
burn resolved to start another engineering paper in
America. He selected Philadelphia, the principal
seat of engineering in this country, the birth
place OF his own Engineer. The enterprise did not
succeed, however He since that time resided in
England until about fortnight since, when he once
more returned to this country
The saddest part OF Mr. Coburne's story rema ms
10 be told Overwork was at least powerful agency
in his early fall and this, together with his natural
Taxation, as well as in work, drove him, within
few months, into partial insanity. He avoidd all
his old friends strayed away to country town
in Massachusetts, and there died by his own hand.
Zerah Coburn was a man whom the profession
could i'll afford to lose. His thoroughly practical
education in the workshop, his extended observa-
ton OF engineering works, his intimate acquaintance
with professional literature his remarkable quick
OF comprehension his more remarkable me-
mory and his mechanical talent and inborn engi-
neering ideas, combined to give him distinction
that no engineer in the world will deny him-the
best general writer in his profession.