New-York tribune., 1873-05-15
THE CHARGES AGAINST EZRA CORNELL.

MR.. CORNELL DEMANDS AN INVESTIGATION.
ITHACA May 1.-THE following letter has been
sent to Gov. Dix by the Hon. Ezra Cornell:
ITHACA, May IA, 1873.
To His Ereelency JOHN A. DIX, Gorernor Of New York.
DEAR SIR notice in the York papers OF yester-
day the reference to discusson in the Assembly
bill entitled, IAN act to facilitate settlement between
the State OF NewYork and Ezra Cornell in reference to
the sale and location OF the College Land Scrip in
which Mr. Mcclure OF Schuyler County charges with
derauding the United States the State Of NewYork.
the Colleges Of NewYork; and First: That the act Of
Congress bad been violated in the investment OF the
moneys derived from these lands; Second: That
Ezra Cornell had used, and was using,
his position as the agent OF the State in
regard to these lands for the purpose OF private pecu
tOns and worse and Third: That he had presented
statement Of his accounts for several years" All Of
these charges pronounce false, wholly false in every
particular and respectfully but earnestly ask that the
Governor will appoint commission or gentlemen In
whom the State will have entire confidence, to invest
gate these charges and all other matters connected with
the College Lands Scrip my management Of the lands, and
the Cornell University in the most rigid manner, and
port the truth found to your Excelency and TO the
people Of the State. Yours respectfully,
EZRA CoRSE IL.
Mr.. CORNELL ACTUALLY LOSER.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: AS a personal friend of the founder of
the Cornell University, allow the privilege of stating
such facts know in regard 10 the lands which were
given by Congress through the Legislature Of this State
toward founding the University When the Legislature
had under discussion what should be with them
whether they should 20 to Colleges then in
e1istence-Mr. Cornell was member OF the Senate. II
was opinion of many Of the members OF the Senate
and Assembly that, from experience 1t was better TO
give the whole, some 100000 acres, TO one institution.
When Mr.. Cornell learned this fact be said Gentle
- cha fHav vnn1a ehal 10
one institution viii give s5OOOO cash to the same Col
lege" 1t was then proposed that there should be
University In honor OF the donor it should
be called "The Cornell University" When this was de-
cided on, Mr. Cornell said IL you desire TO have new
Institution, and purpose calling II The Cornell Uni
versty and will locate 1t at Ithaca will give you 200
TO 800 acres OF land TO build TO cultivate &C." All OF
this wasagreed to- and the University chartered Mr.
Cornell then proposed TO buy the scrip for the land OF
the State at the market price, TO select and locate
the same. and after this DONE To turn the
profits the sales into the State treasury as an add
tion TO his already nunifcent GIFT. This proposition
was agreed to- and MI Cornell then employed persons
10 examine the Public Lands which were In market
and to locate the scrip BY this he en-.
abled TO secure land in Kansas, Michigan, Mime
sota and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin he located from
100000 10000 Of valuable timber land. most
OF IL pine. To locate and hold these lands he
has had TO expend from his fortune over 100000
To sales and get funds for the OF the Unver
sity while erecting buildings and buying library ana a
paratus, he procured charter for land company to
which proposed sell 10000 OF the pine land
fairly from the tract Of 10000 acres for S
acre This enterprise mp this time has not been
summated. Mr.. John McGraw Of Ithaca and Mr.. Henry
W. Sage of Brooklyn have bought about 10000 acres
aud q gentleman residing IN Buffalo has bousht ABOUT
5000 Of these pine lands for numbering PURPOSES
a. 50 per Instead VI Mr.. Cornell having
~ himself be 10 to-day at least s60090
OF pocket by meddng with these lands II he had
allowed the scrip 70 10 into TIE market at the time.
would have realized possibly $4,000 BY his wisdom,
and attention n locating and holding these lands
he hopes 10 realize for the University t2000.0o
There bill before the Legislature asking certain
privileges which will enable him 10 settle with the state
the basis OF fair and just dealing and In accordance
with his agreement I have been told that the Con
troller doubts his ~ the profits 10 MI Cor
nell's account additional endowment, but THINKS
that the money should the University as the legi
mate result Of the sales, leaving Mr.. COrneWs many
years Of labor and his large expenditures 10 Dring
about the result, uumentioued ana unhonored.
NeH York, May Is, 1873, THOMAS N. HOOKER.