Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-05-03
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

In the death of President Orton ths
Western Union Telegraph company lost
one of those men of affairs whose force
and foresight create success. He found
the company harassed with riNaIries and
made it in thirteen years the controlling
telegraph of the country.
! WILLIAM ORION,
Left home in Cuba, n. Y, at 16, to make
his fortune, was a printer first, taught
school and educated himself at a normal
school, was in the book business with
Miller, Orton and Milhgan, and Secretary
Chase made him Collector of Internal
Revenue, where his ability in securing q
reversal of decree from Judge Nelson in
suit for revenue on express company stock,
convinced Mr.. Lowrey, the lawyer for
the United States telegraph company, that
Mr. 0rton was the man for its president.
The choice was fortunate for the company.
He consolidated it with the Western Union
under the name of latter, and at his death, it
had absorbed 200 smaller companies, and
by its union with the Atlantic aud Pacific
and the lease of the Central Pacific lines
made last winter, it held control of the
telegraph in the country si
HIS LIFE AND DEATH.
Though very large and corpulent in per-
son, and high liver, Mr.. Orton imposed
an amount of work on himself too much
for brain and nerves to carry. He had
been warned of oVerwork, and was to sail
for holiday in England in June. But it
was too late, he complained lately of great
fatigue, and need of rest. Easter Sunday
he went to church with his wife and large
family, and at night was seized with apo
plexy. which was soon fatal. He carried
the immense business of which he was
president always, saying, it was easier to
| do the work than to train other men to it;
a scathing comment on the inefficient,
halfway sort of men of whom public Of
fees are full, who learn routine and draw
salary with distinguished promptness, but
have neither head nor hand outside of
their narrow limits. Invaluable chiefs
like Mr. Orton must not only make schemes
but carry them cut in detail, for want of
men who can think beyond the toes Of
! their boots.
| IN PERSON,
Mr.. OrtOn was large and portly, with black |
hair streaked with gray, and strong face,
the feature of which was the intensely |
black eye, large, bright and piercing. He
was pleasant of approach, easily accessible, |
and warmly liked by his subordinates who |
have many stories of his kind interest to tell |
THE THIRD AVENUE SAVINGS BANK.
For ways that are dark, this institution |
can give lessons to all others of lesser bold
ness, who wish to set up a heather Chinee
style Of business. The bank had given a |
mortgage for 100000 on property in
Elizabeth, n. j., on which other parties |
had second mortgages for $4O0, The
property consisting of 185 city lots was sold |
Saturday goth inst, at Sheriff's sale, and |
brought about $500 of which the costs
will take about s., 800. Lower New York |
bay offers the same security for investments |
as savings banks of this order.
THE NEW YORK POST OFFICE.
Mrs. Lambs rather labored account of
the city post office in the May Scribner,
gives an outline of the best model of civil |
service in the country. Whatever they |
may complain of in city government, New
Workers are justly satisfied with their post |
| office service. Postmaster James is at the |
head of force of 1, 200 employees, and an
office which sends out "a mails a day and /
receives Sc, which distributes mail to 90, |
| 900 boxes in its building, and sends out |
| 13. 900 weekly letters in its general deliv- |
cry, and yet, out of a million and half |
of packages, letters etc. in the last yearly |
| report not one was lost. A monument of |
efficiency and fsithfulness, than which NO |
man need wish better.
| CIVIL SERVICE IN EARNEST.
Postmaster James has done away with |
| the system of removals for political cause,
and his men are appointed and advanced
| sOlsiy for honesty and ability in the service.
The standard of character, despatch and |
correctness is high, and it would be hard |
to find better or more contented force |
than those in the city mail service. A tenn |
| Ierance society has been formed among |
| the men, and Is encouraged in every way |
| by Mr.. James.
| POSTMASTER JAMES.
After the usual type Of overfed, pompOus
| officials, it is a pleasure to come into the /
presence of this frank, clear-eyed, kindly, |
| simple hammered chief, with figure clean |
| built for strength and activity, whom the |
| end man of township board could dis |
count in the matter of airs, but who is |
| condensation of sense and energy, may |
heaven send us more like him. Repeated |
instances are named where he has, out of |
| simple Justice and honor, done what we |
rarely hear of any officer, made up the loss |
occasioned by mistakes which will occur |
even with the best employees, out of his |
own pocket. A performance so remark |
able that there is very little doubt of its |
remaining popularity of the New York |
| York post office.
| THE MARKETS.
Prices at the metropolis usually govern |
those all over the country, bat am afraid |
that the country is hardly so cheap to live |
! in at present as in New York, in all save |
rents. The prices quoted by city papers |
are given by dealers to produce an outside
| impression, still thrifty householder can
go to Washington market and buy the best
steaks for shilling a pound, and roasts
for cents, poultry dressed for shilling,
potatoes Cor $3.50 barrel and sweet pota-
toes for $2.25, with mackerel and mutton
for cents a pound, Strawberries are 80
cents box, and new peas 70 cents peck;
eggs 10 cents dozen and good butter 80
cents The best dairiss adopt the Boston
plan of sending butter to market in small
| packages as fast as made. instead OF keep
ing it in great firkins to lose favor, an idea
which dairy farmers may ponder to ad-
vantage.
THE LONG ISLAND MOVEMENT,
Is kept up with great activity and the
Island is at least one spot which shows
revival of good times in the pushing Of
railroads and influx of new comerS. All
the theatrical and political people expect
to summer at Manhatten Beach, Fire Island
or one of the south side resorts, while fam
lilies from Boston, New Bedford, Albany,
Chicago and the interior are making ar
rangements for a cheerful season on the
beautiful beeches of the north side or the
charming old-fashioned regions of East
Hampton and the eastern end. A route
from New York to Boston is laid out
through the Island, leaving it for boat at
Northport, reaching the latter city two
hours sooner than any other route, The
farms and villages about the Island are
| charming surprise to anV one who fancleS