New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-05


fortune was made. He also CONSTRUCTED snort
railway, where, by means OF an endless cnaln,
empty and loaded cars we're moved on Two 5IaS ~
placed one above the other. In 1924 or $50 DIT.
CoODer made tOrpedo-bOat for the Oreeks, VINO
were then struggling against the lnrKs IN causS
which had enlisted the services OF LoTd Byron ahu
many sympathizers with liberty in all parts o, inc
world. A ship had been fitted ont III NeW-1ofA 10
aid the Greeks, but the tOrpedo-boat was not com
pieted when it sailed, and shortly a'tcrwar1 u was
burned in the glue factory. When at work as an
apprentice in the cOachmakIng business, Mr. Cooper
constructed at night model to show now power
could be obtained Tor watGr-wheel RON nm iH =,
natural current of the tide Inc mOdel Is SUN III
the garnet OF his house.. A..
development of the telegraph system. Nearly tnfly
wears ago he was president of the Ncw-fork, New
foundland and London Telegraph Company. lie had
profound faith IN success OF the ocean caDle en-
terprise and rsked the small part of his fortune IN
fIrthering the scheme. lie had also been president
of the American Telegraph Company ana OF 'he
North American Telegraph Association, whcn at
thirds OF ali the lines In the United States. lie
took part in the first expedition 10 lay a capIe
across the Cult of St. Lawrence, an under
taken which failed at the time, put Iecae r; ns
of experiments and disappontnehts altenu luz :
the LAYING of the cable Mr.. Cooper :, was
an earnest coworker with Cyrus W: f1eid, MOSES
TAYLOR, Marshall q. Roberts and WILSON u hunt
FOUNDING COOPER UNION
The inspiration of the Cooper Union dates back to
1928. Mr. Cooper was then an Assistant Alderman
of the city and represented that part OF 1t which
extends Oh the east side from Eghth-st. to Kings
Bridge. on the Harlem River. In the
board he met gentleman lately
returned from France, who told MIN
how hundreds of young men went to Paris to attend
the Polytechnic School, and underwent great hard
ships that they might receive the benefits OF tho
lectures and instruction afforded by that institu-
ton. Mr. Cooper recalled his own early desire for
such instruction, and resolved that when he had
sufficient means he would build such school.
twenty-five years ago. IN Efh.n1s. Juss ra aCS
into Third and Fourth ayes, the foundation stone
of the Cooper Union was laid A scroll was burned
with he cornerstone. which bore the ihscrlptioh'
The great object that / desire 10 accomplish by the
erection OF this institution IA 10 open the avenues Vi
scientific knowledge to the youth OF our city anu ooun
FRY and So unfold the volume of Nature that tho young
may see the beauties Of creation, enjoy ils dressings anu
earn love Author from whom cometh every eoou
and perfect gift.
The school was to be forever devoted to the union
of Science and AIT in its Application To the useful
purposes of life" Five years passed before the
building was finished. 1t Is brownstone ana IRON
structure thoroughly tre-prooi, OF massive
Roman architecture an Irregular quadrangle
in shape, having dimensions on It's Tour
sides of 90 49, l65 and 1915 feet Its original cost
exclusive of the site, which had been purchased
about twenty-five years before for tins very plr-
pose was S96I,O00. In 1860 Mr. Cooper gave
deed of trust OF The. property to board OF truS1
III.
+. Tiemann Edward Cooper, Wilson g; Hunt, John
f. Parsons and Abram > Hewitt. In the same wear
S100DG gwen to meet the Immediate wants OF
the institution and $4,000 for the establishments
of museum. Other gifts made total oil
500 900.
plying the want which II was intended 10 meet a
recent annual report of the cnrator gave ample
evidence Every department was full To over
flowing. More than 5000 pupils mad entered the
various classes Between 400 ana oOO aPphca.
Ia
of those who already held places IN the classee
Tho instruction aud lectures which these
pupils enjoyed were gwen To them absolutely
without charge. The expenses OF TIE various ne
partments amounted 10 $50, 7G9. AL OF which was
derived from the rent OF stores and Offices occupy
ing three stores OF The building. IRON the rents OF
the Larger and smaller hollis Tor public meetings.
and from an endowment fund OF NloO,OOO, chiefly
designed tor the support OF the reading room ana
the increase OF tho library. -,
first and most largely attended IS tne
evening school OF art and science; IL
was found early IN the history OF the HhiOn
that very lew of those who applied for adml,so on
were prepared with the preliminary kno"lrdB"
necessary 10 the study of any of the apped sciences
and practical arts. Accordingly some pups are
admitted TO certain couTse oil fudihcntai lh'Iuc-
iou III The Ia wer grades of those arts when become
very useful in the workshop-such, for instance as
drawing and designing without elementary gcoine-
try. The course of instruction is divided into two
dcparimcnis In the frs taught alge-
bra: plane. solid. descriptive and analytic
retical and practical mechanics; natural phllosO-
phv elementary, organic and analytic chemistry.
In the Art Department are taught drawing IA all Its
branches-archtectural, incchahlS4l; Irer'nand
drawing. ana drawing from cast ana ne; paihting'
in clay Ia these TWO departments there
ar. employed twenty Instructors Tor TX nlRhtS OF
the week. During the term 2,s39 applicants were
admitted 20 the CLASSES.
certificates OF proficiency are given after salts
fac.Orv examination. After hye years study
dIploma is awarded. This department Is open TO
Is far IN excess of that of young women.
The primary aim of the school OF Art Ter
Women ~ TO place WITHIN me reach Oh PuPiiS
Draci!cal and rtinuucrative employment. But II
natural ability 10 succeed in high art rs shown the
person Is recommended To the Academy of Design.
his school Is divided into Tour depaI mchs a. ioI-
lows: Drawing linear cast and life; Painting,
ID its application TO photographs ana
wood and porcelain ornamentation, and engraving
The school of Teegraphy admitted sixty
pupils last year. though about SIXTY
others passed the examination, but
could not be admitted for want OF room. The West
teacher who trans the students IN the company's
methods aud many OF the graduates have been en-
pioyrd on the company's lines. department. OF
the Union devoted to English literature has been
very succe ssiul. IN OratOry and debating class,
under the supervision OF an INSTRUCTOR mas heen III
existence since the Dcglnning OF aG evening
are also given in literature rhetoric and elOcuuon
by the curator, Dr. Zacho5.
Tie reading-rOom ana library Oh thc Cnlpn H"No
for years been taxed to thclr lulI ca
paclty. The average daily attendance
during part OF the winter season has
been no less than lib Tho readers chiefly
devote themselves 10 the newspapers ana peflOGl-
cali If which there are of foreign aud domestic
pub icatOns 3 on Tile. From 800 to 600 books
are drawn out daily for consultation and reading ~
the rooms During the year Gil ,GsS persons visited
the reading Room, of whom 1919 were women.
This gives a daily average Of 2.l5l. The number
Of books called for was 2l2,730 and OF magazines
2IOl3 The library numbers 1920 volumes.
Another feature of the institution, and very
popular one is the system of FREQ Lectures for the
pcople They were more than ordinarily successful
durlng the past year. The great hall of the Union
was well flied during the course, the attendance
varying from 800 to $500 People.
Two wears ago Mr. Cooper resolved to
large the accommodations at the Uuion for
tine art schools. lie therefore added TO the build
ing an additional story, which mas served the
purpose of accommodating several additional
classes. In January. 1850. the " Inventors
Institute was opened IN u small room on the second
door of the building This 10 private enterprise,
IN which Mr. Cooper was much Interested, although