The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-03
How TILDEN GAVE UP HONEST PROFIT TO
HELP THE WAR


When in 1862 the government concluded
that prudent precaution against possible
war with England required that the iron
manufacturers of our country should be
able to supply us with gun barrel iron, 1t
caused them to essay its production exper-
mentally, and to supply as it was wanted
5000 tons at price that could not yield
much profit. This onerous but patriotic
duty was undertaken by an establishment
in which Nc. Tlden was then a director
and large stakeholder, and to accomplish
it they stopped other highly remuneratiYe
work, thereby sacrificing hundreds of
thousands of dollars, the price as it turned
out, being too low to cover the cost OF pro-
duction.
BUT HE SET UP NO CLAIM FOR REWARD.
But neither he nor any of his associates
have ever set up or even intimated a de-
sire 10 make any claim for indemnity, as l
learnedi in Washington last winter. Neither
has he or they asked the government to
receive the balance undelivered under the
contract, although not more than two
thirds of it mad been called for when the
war closed, at which time, owing to the
sudden fall of prices, the profits on the res
idue would have been very large; but the
government no longer needed the iron, and
its credit was stretched to the utmost to
provide for war debts Mr.. Tilden and
his friends therefore forebOre to make any
claim 10 the large amount they might
Justly have asked in this matter.
GRANT OWING HIS FIRST VICTORY TO
TILDEN.
On a previous occasion when a great
emergency arose, the government called
upon the same gentlemen for aid; it asked
them to construct large number of pom
derous wrought iron machines, each weigh
ing many tons, and known in military en-
cheering as mortar beds, and to accom-
plish the object in less than one quarter of
the time which the ordinance department
and engineers of eminence had declared
indispensable. Reposing confidence in
the patriotism OF these gentlemen, it was
explained to them that large number OF
these huge unwieldy structures mad sud,
denly been called for by General Grant,
and not one was to be found in our ar
i senals; that they were necessary to com
plete the armament of gun boats required
for the most important military campaign
10 be made in the west that winter 1862,
the advance up the Tennessee and the
Cumberland rivers, to capture Forts Hen
ry and DOnelson. and to destroy the Con
federate army there gathering, and that a
failure to supply these beds promptly
would greatly embarrass the expedition
and might defeat it altogether, by delay.
ing until the waters of these rivers fell too
low for navigation by gunhoats.
TILDEN AND HEWITT GIVING THEIR CREDIT
TO THE GOVERNMENT
Nobly did these gentlemen respond t.
to the confidence reposed in them by theil
Government. Money to carry on thi.
work could not then be advanced. But
these gentlemen opened their own purses
and summoned into Instant activity q
multitude of skilled workmen in different
shops and towns, situate in three different
states 1t will crafty you to learn that
this almost impossible task was accomplish
cd considerably within the time, anC
enabled General Grant to complete tht
armament Of the expedition. This wonder
fu! performance was only achieved through
the matchless executive skill of Abram )
Hewitt. who was one of Mr.. Tilden'
associates in the Trenton Iron Company
aud like Tilden has in many ways and a
} different times rendered great aud lovin
service u his country, but never parade
his well-doing.
SHoULDERING ANOTHER LOSS OF PROFIT
The account made out against the COY
ernnent for performing this great feat {
meet anical construction, embraced u
Concluded on next page).