New-York tribune., 1873-12-22

be preserved as a blessing for us-the Evangelical
church Of the entire globe.
THE CORNELL INVESTIGATION.
SATURDAYS SEssIoS-FURTHER TESTIMONY OF TREsI-
DENT WHITE AND Mr. CORNEIL-ExAMINATIoN
OF MEssRs SAGE AND M'GRaw-INsPECrIoN or
THE COLLEGE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
lfR0M THE sPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
ITHACA, N. Y, Dec. 2O.-The Cornell IN
vestgaon Commission continued to take testimony TO-
day in the Library Building. Col j. d. Van Buren pre-
sided, and the only member OF the Commission
present President White supplemented his testimony
OF yesterday by stating that Mr SAGE pledged his GIT to
the University long ago october, 1865 more than
two years before Mr. CornePs first contract, and also
that the gift OF Mr.. McGraw made before the con-
tracts were thought OF. Mr Francis NJ Finch stated
that he had been trustee OF Cornell University since
its organization had been familiar with every act of Mr.
Cornell relating TO the institution, aud that 1t his
firm belief that there had been transaction on lis
part with to his individual interest. Mr. Finch
testified to the desrablty OF sale Of land at the time
that Mr. McGraw offered 81 per acre for 100000 acres.
and with the other trustees insisted that the neces-
sites OF the university that time would make the re-
cepts from such sale worth more to the university
than four times the amount 20 hence Then, too,
the taxes and expenses incident upon holding the land
death, would greatly cripple the university. Mr. Finch
that Of Mr. Cornell although with
out special instructions from him at the time, he de-
manded Of Mr. william A. Woodward all the certificates
OF location patents and other papers in his posses
sion belonging Mr.. Cornell. The counsel Of Mr. Wood
ward delivered the certificates and promised 10 render
I'D the patents upon the of the Controller OF the
State.
Mr. Cornell then entered the following. testimony in
writing:
In my testimony taken in NewYork respecting the
supposed dscre paDcy in reports to the Controller
and the facts in relation 10 the payment or taxes on
the College land stated that the Controller was not
msed by report and that he understood the report
and Cancelled by payment. and not TO represent the
amount money which had been paid Tor that purpose
As proof of his understanding In the premises refer
to the following extract from the report OF Controller
Allen TO the Legislature in ls7o 900
or a 1,, Sy WI have been paid b. Mr. Cornell . appears BY
bis report 45l69 eS
Leaving dre FOR ta,e. nrr to 1859 90
The taIe. upon the and. and Counties Nnnesot
are rot 1rsGea a. or or more occasions, and
bat the payments BY Mr. cOrn. have been either in the edemp
am now also POSSESSION of my books that
against the lands Tor the liquidation OF
,Ss S se sP 80 tahfi f as SSn Bank d. on SewYos
& for " i @ T. woGss1 SsRssa dPsn On for
,sI II JsgeHfp p W A. woodward drait on W. T. Te ''V'
graph COMPANY for oVoO
900
Thsreport to the Controller dated Sept 80 1869,
only days after the second Draft was sent To Wood
ward and three weeks last draft aud
az / time when | could know the amount that IL
would require quidate these taxes though the GER
had been purchased In gross and the agreement
made to liquidate the Chippewa County taxes; hence
my Justification in reporting that they had been paid
There therefore, error or mistake In my report
and msstatement OF my actual payments, ana the
Controller perfectly understood as did that III report
ing the amount OF taxes paid was not claiming that
had disbursed an equal amount OF money To effect the
payment and claim upon the State or The fund was
made by for one dime beyond What had actu-
ally paid.
Mr.. John McGraw was then examined and in answer
10 question OF Col Van Buren said that he was party
to two contracts with Mr. Cornell for land one OF which
involving $1,000 acres, III. W. Sage was also inter
ested n and which substituted for two larger con
tracts the other for 5O0 made by Messrs
Sage Dwight and himself with Mr. Cornell.
Question WAS Mr. Cornell in any way interested in
the profits that might out Of this and Answer.
Not at ALL any OF his family or OF the Pro-
essors OF the University. And wish to add that have
never been able to find any who would give as much
as we gave for the land although have tried among
the largest lumber dealers in every directiOn.'
Mr.. Finch asked the witness what Mr.. Woodwards re-
lations had been with him. A. :" he entered into q
contract to locate 100000 acres for me after
he had located the of the University he located
about cost including expenses and com
mission Of 55 per acre. sold these lands ID 1871 atN
per acre without any down payment"
Mr.. Cornell asked "At the time OF your contract
with me at 81 per acre did you have offers OF similar
land at lower fgurep A.. 81 think had an ofer OF
land in Wisconsin at 81 25 per acre"
Henry W. Sage being sworn, reiterated In the most
emphatic terms the statement Of Mr. Graw that Mr. Cor
nell was IN 10 way interested in the purchases OF land
before referred to.
Good Benedict a fruit farmer then added his testi-
mony on the important influence OF the agrIcuuIx IN
structon Of the University upon the farmers OF tne
neighborhood who attend lectures ana are present
No more witnesses were present and 1t was announced
that carriages In waiting to take all VINO were
sisted Of Col Van Buren, Henry W. Sage. John McGraw,
Ezra Cornell. President White aud several Professors
The company proceeded to make an inspection Of all the
buildings and the grounds belonging 10 he INSTITUTION
visiting every recitation and leeturer0om he apofao-
ries machine shop pressroom. library and reading
room. also the Museums Of Agriculture botany Ie0o
Ky, Technology Zoology and Physiology and OF Fine
Arts Special interest was manifested in the geological
collections and the drawings OF specimens unuer tne III
rection OF Prof. HART; In the concno;USo amnI,n,
In the valuable collections OF models vi ns
chanca principles applied to ~, %
under Prof. Morris was highly commended both for Its
completeness and for the purpose m has IN VIEW ~ ae
try printer The improvements OF the past sI months
are manifest: Grading for rns
present appearance of compleeness the outer Walls
being finished and the made work well under way; toe
new chapel Of architecture similar to that OF the sage
College, also the gt lof Mr.. Sage win DO ready Tor
oocnpsny In few months, Will seat ev persons sha M
will be q valuable addition to tho Unlverslty anu tue
last acquisition to be noticed tho new barn the g OF
MI Cornell consisting Of three noors, ,.. a ae n ie
water wind power and every facility needed for carry
Ink out the experiment OF high Iarnns, re ,n n ~ %
ton Of the Uniyersty property Mr. Cornell conducted
the party fret his barns, where he exnipea stoe
fhsn to the mssnioeat na dwsinS no erecting
Safl flsfa Mad