The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-23

highly satisfactory 10 the country. Mr. orton's re-
uremen tho position no held under the govern
ment was because OF tempting offer made TO him
OF Presidency OF tho United states Telegraph Com
pany AT salary OF $4,000 year. three times as
II rch he had been receiving az Commissioners oil
Internal Revenue. Besides that there was an atrac-
tion tor Mr. orion "a the offer, II held out the
prospect tor high achievement in line Of business
congenial to his native tastes.
PRESIDENT OF the UNITED STATES TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
.sHe saw, however," said DR.. Green, s'whcn n. took
charge oil the United States Telegraph Company that
radical change was demanded IN its policy and man
agemenI He saw that bankruptcy and RUIN were IN
evitabe II they went declaring dividends on
watered stock and keeping up a ruinous competition
s Sh un %0is was well
thcn. Tho United States was composed 81 OF
an amnramaI,on o. the Independent an In, inc
between the United States and the Western Union
for tue control OF the West AT this timo there
were six telegraph companies in the country ana they
entered into what called the SIX party contract
In which It was agreed that no one OF tne
81 noua put when w wires ss o Consolidation o.
Cured Of the United States with the Western
Union tho other companies complained that me con-
tract was bong violated. the Western Union thcu
bega to use the territory of tho United staos Com
pany IL perceived alter Mr. orion TOOK
tended consolidation, AMI by his untirng energy eacn
OF The Independent companies hnaily submitted ana
Western Union triumphed over all and to-day mas
the sraphic business OF the country In lis hands
JOINED THE WESTERN UNION
Mr.. Ortons management Of the uniisu 2sates ae,G-
graph Company gave great concern 10 MI. Jcphtha H.
Wado President OF tho Western Union, aug ne pro-
posed union between the two companies THIS was
elected April /, 1866, when Mr., orton was CHOSEN
Vice President OF the Western Union. Prior
to THIS, according 70 Mr.. James u. Reid, tho
Secretary OF the Gold and Stock Exchange
Telegraph Company, Mr.. Wade became aware OF tho
fresh ysor which nd been brought INTO the manage
ment OF the United States Company, ana ina! ~
with Mr. orion. Revolving this matter In
his mind Mr. Reid says he approached
by u.,cring the prediction, .Mr orion, in years
you win Dc president OF the Western Union
hold out 10 man only three months in tho SERVICE,
SAID Mr.. Orion. "Mr. Orton," continued Mr.. Reid
ho thought IS som S, n Willy Ias mo- Hs
is broken in health. He is anxious for suitable
successor The Uuited states Company IS annoying
him and he Is compelled to notice u. You and ho
will meet and will agree on terms OF union, chiefly
he Will in you the executive aid he needs
H ano w viz Mnss neso,,a.,ops are Closed open
the way 70 you Ior VIC succession saea
orion succeeded Mr.. Wade aud his triumphs were
many. The company swelled III size, absorbing line
alter line ill 1874 when it copsummated the lease Of
VARIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HIS LIFE
In December, 1867, he established a periodical
known the Journal Of the Telegraph, on authority
III all tecgraphic matters. In 1891 Mr orion was
married TO Miss Agnes Gillespie, Of Geneva, VINO
survives HIM, and by whom he had eight children-
four sons and four daughters Mr. Orion insured his
life heavily for The benefit OF his children, having had
Insurance. in ono company aione-thc Northwestern
Mutual Lfc-of $50 600 total insurance OF about
10000 His property is variously estimated ~ from
500 600 20 In addition 70 overseeing ana
president OF the International ocean lee,
graph Company lihe CUBAN Incl tho God aad
Stock Telegraph Company, the Atlantic and Pacific
and the southern ana Atlantic Telegraph companies.
Mr.. 0rton was also prominent member Of the Union
League Club tho Board OF Trade aud the Chamber OF
Commerce. besides holding Official positions In sew
era companies. The consolidation Of the Atiihtic
and Pacific Telegraph Company WIN .ae western as..
and, in faci, though he has been taken away IN the
prime OF his powers, he might be SAID 10 nave accom-
APPEARANCE AxD HABITS.
Mr. orion stood l,itla over SIX feet IN height ana
wo ,ghcd about one hu ndred eighty-fvc pounds.
He had an erect, athletic appearance, well poised
head, dark brown, penetrating, lusirous pair OF
eyes. black hair and whiskcrs, considerably ung geo
with gray, and a quick, decisive manner, that be-
spoke tho energy rcstcssncss Of his disposition.
When he 1rst became president Of the Western
years he accumulated flesh. He was not fond
OF public amusements and his greatest enjoy
beloved by hts family and III return he held
for them tue strongest affection HE told me ono
day lew years ago." said Trend OF bis Yesterday
lnat he meditated buying horse and enjoying him.
self wth r,dc through tho Central Purk Of an nj
ternoon," but laughed at him and said, "Now what
business do you want with horsef You would
forget you wore his back after you had mounted
hum, because your mind would be running upon
him ia 10 the Harlem River before you knew where
you werc.n advised him whom heshad any leisure
time hts hands, aud did not care 20 go to Tho
II would distract his attention from tho eternal
thoughts OF business and he could break up The game
when he liked, as he played alone. ''Ah' no re-
pied, that's too low~ for 1t would mover
work with such restless spirit as mine"
Mr.. Green, Jr., said ale would 60 away from this
Office after Inc labors OF tue Jay and carry home q
bag OF papers win him aud work along ut them TIL
midnight. Then bc would be down 10 the oiiice at
hall-past nine in the morning and 90 on working TIL
SIX O'Clock the evening. Even wncn away on va
cation the summer he seldom took any rest
having business constantly on his MUD, that tue
swu wag inst e the rcAbbaru. There was
detail oil tho estern Union business vast as II
Is that he was not familiar with He was not content
with looking after the financial aIlirs OF The CON-
pany but addressed himself to tho whole miautin ot
lis operations He watched with great zeal aud
the company, and, from tho time he became presi-
dent, the business grew lcnioId o. course II grow
by It's In hereut Importance, but still II needed
master spirit such as his was TO direct u
THE GREAT GROWTH OF rnE COMPANY.
"Here is an EVIDENCE Of lis growth When no became
president, In 1897, tho company owned SO vi miles
OF wire; IN 1877 lpey owned 1923, and now they
are in possession oil over zoe, QUO miles They had
then 1850 Offices; they have now over 5000
s. $40. 2s2. while this year tnoy arc close on TO
80, 600 COO Tue receipts then we're 50, $685. when
the average cost OF transmission per message
was 63 cents the receipt last year we've S9Sl2,352
ana the cost OF transmission per MESSAGE only -
cents The expenses vi operating wcrc thou So ga 0u5
the expenses last year werc $G.o72, IA. The
profits then s2.624 80; the profits last
year were ssiaoi2 o 10 show the ,aA,y
the telegraph business Is necessary to secure cheap
rates Tor the puoIic, In 1868, wncn there was no
rivalry, the company reduced Its tolls
Is cents, IN 1870 l3.s cents whereas IN 1872,
when competition ragged, they were reduced only 3.3
and Ia 1885, wnen Jay Gould put iortn hrs
greatest efforts Ia the opposition, 81 cents
A CHARACTERISTIC Incident.
Mr. Reid relates one incident ABOUT Mr. Orion which
better than any description oil the man conveys an
IDEA oil nis tremendous ana resistcss energy. Mr.
REID ys:--"s,anding one day IN tho presence OF
rood lady whose molnerly observation detected tho
drag oil labor In his eye she demonstrated with him
against his excessive devotion TO business"
"weil,' replied MI Orion, "wnat am TO dor
When you nre OF a cannon ball you know IL mas
TO 60"
Mr Reid gives Mr. orion credit for defeating wholly
the scheme TO pace the telegraph lines undor the
control Of tho government lie says that year alter
year ~ Was attempted 10 take IRON private enter
prise the result OF its finest achievements
place IN the harness OF partisans and politics
by adding II TO tho national civil service. These
Mr. orion, ny tho masterly presentation
OF the statistics OF the telegraph under ntal
control as colatcd from the archives Of Europe aud
by the earnest representation OF tho hostility Of intel
iaent American society 10 tho severance OF the tele
graph from the private industries OF tho nation, ener.
getically aud successfully resistcd.o
MEMORY or DECEASED.
A special meeting OF tho iuli Board OF Directors
~. thc ON n