New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-27
OBITUARY..
HORACE II. Day.

BosToN, Aug. 26.-Horace II. Day, who was
once widely known as manufactures and promoter Of
speculative enterprises, died at Manchester, n. H. on
Friday night, at the age OF sixty-seyen'
Horace II. Day was identified with the India
rubber trade from its inception. He WAS the lcensce
under the Goodyear patent, which was granted about
1912 and expired in $50 He was the exclusive hcensee
under the Goodyear patent for the manufacture oil
shirred goods which used principally in the shoe
trade and yielded him immense profit. The shirred
goods were subsequently found TO be objection
able in that, not being porous, they injured tho
feet and particularly the ankles of the wearers William
Judson the attorney OF Charles Goodyear who was the
owner of the patent brought suits In different parts OF
the country the name of Charles Goodyear against
Horace H. Day for infringement OF the woven goods
right of the patent and Mr. Day instituted cross suits,
which led 10 extensive litigation all over the country
Both sides employed the abcst counsel at the bar The
most celebrated all the suits tried at Trenton Mr.
Goodyear beng represented by Daniel Webster. James
T. Brady f. NJ. Dickerson, aud Mr. Judson Mr. Day was
represented by Rufus Choate. Daniel Webster was paid
fee OF $1,000 by Mr.. JudsOn aud hc lett bis seat IA
the United states Senate 20 try the case He j. said 10
have ny all night with James T. Brady IN the prepar-
alton Of the case, and his argument on the IoIOWng
day was regarded OF the beet In his eminent ca
reeT, aud he won the case: -,
surrendered his license and Transferred MS factory ana
machinery at Hew-Brnnswick TO william Juason: anu
agreed TO retire from the business Tor Tue SUN 0i OO
900 and counsel fees, amounting To SZlOOO addloha,
which paid to him. Inis was III lSbS
Among many enterprises III which Mr. Day was en-
gagged the most remarkable perhnps was the scheme TO
utilize the water power OF Niagara Falls. As eay as
1856 the subject was under discussion by him IN
pamphlets aud newspapers, and about that ume the
with MIR Day as vice-presden treasurer and leading
director. In little while he became the sole owner
the hands OF Walter Bryant and he aud his estate ex-
pended IN the canal aud other improvements over
5000 600. The canal begins about half mile above
tho falls and terminates OneOnTth OF nile below them
In width II is 100 feet. IL has depth Of ten feet
yhpIa ugfb and
the greatest depth Of excavations necessary at
| point in constructing IT, when hr, Day bought the
had all been consumed IN the enterprise. Mr. Day COM
peted It, bought Grass Island Tor harbOr and before
he stopped work had expended 100000. Being In need
money, he borrowed IT, aud gave mortgage on TINS
| gagged il for $4,000 then for $4,000 and again for
5000. Taxes reached the amount OF $4,000
amounted 10 $GOl5l 81 and the property sold at
auction the highest bidder. One Of the mortgages fell
due, some time before the sale, and Mr. Day offered
- 600 for an extension Of time until August. This
being refused he made effort to induce the English
mantfactores there. This also failed. The property
brought at auction $1,000, the purchasers assuming
inc encumbrances Two years ago. IL Is said, Mr. Day
sold the hundred and hieth part OF the Tor
81 600 being basis Of -. 0OOOO for the whole.
large leather firm were the purchasers and II was said
the time that company was to De organized Tor the
utilization OF power but what II 10 be put
was not known. The estimated force Of the water Is
| 10000 horse power An English engineer has cstl-
mated the force OF the entire FANS To be l6,2OO,OOO
horse power which produced by steam would require
the expenditure 2GOOO 900 tons Of coal about
|
| the planet.
for thirty years. About the tune his mortgages
becoming he remarked TO the holder Of OF them
that ne was coming all right Through medium, lie
should be sustained. Many ago he rented three
story house IN Broadway, near Prince-st which
| was used as q sort OF headquarters for me
| DUNE On one OF the floors the editorial
| rooms of 4he Christian SDiritUdiiSk lie has been
an active man social ana political movements
and has frequently appeared IN public defender OF
tine wOrkngman. He an ardent advocate Of green
backs, and rather fond OF producing and reading
articles finance and OtAer subjects, which he claimed
had been written at the dctat0n Of spirits from the
seen world. Twice IN his life he was believed To be-
| worth $l.OOOOOO.
| His next venture was the establishment OF mammoth
| rubber enterprise in New-ersey- which fell through
| however, Mr. Day receiving $4,000 10 withdraw from
It, The specuatiOns OF his later lie unfortunate
and his large fortune was gone and he became compare
| lively poor man.
| Mr.. Day was unfortunate I'm his domestic relations
aud IyOrced from two OF his wives paying them
respectively 100000 and 10000 FOR bill OF scpara
ton.
Mr. Day was a OF resistless energy aud undauued
courage and nc always claimed 20 be born leader
men," His Office for Snumber OF years has been Dey
st. In this city, where he devoted his the Niagara
waterpOwer scheme He had not been identified viii
the rubber trade OF late years.
Personally Mr.. Day was man Of rather commanding
figure strong physique and robust health. His hair
which gray, brushed straight up from th
head. IN his intercourse with lac very dicta
tOrial and arrogant.