Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-04-26

and at which subsequently he was the
first TO roll wrought iron beams for fire
proof buildings. These mills have
grown to be very extensive, including
mines, blast furnaces and water power,
and are now carried on by Mr.. Cooper ;
family. While in Baltimore he built
after his own designs the first locomo-
tive engine ever constructed on this
continent and it was used successfully
on the Baltimore and Ohio road. He
took great interest in the extension of
the electric telegraph, in which he in
vested n large capital.
He served in both branches of the
New York common council, and was n
prominent advocate of the construction
Of the Croton aqueduct. HIS great ob-
iect was to educate and elevate the in
dustrial classes of the community. He
early became a trustee of the public
school society, and at the time of its be-
coming merged in the board of educa-
ton, was its president. He subsequent
lv became school commissioner, but
feeling that no common school system
could supplya chronological education,
he determined to establish in his native
city an institution in which the working
classes cou secure that instruction
which he, when young and ambitious,
sought in vain, In furtLerance of this
object the Union for the Advancement
of Science and art, commonly called
the Copper Institute, :" was erected in
New York, at the junction OF Third and
Fourth avenues, between Seventh and
Eighth streets, covering the entire
block, at a cost of over $1,000 to
which Mr.. Cooper has since added an
endowment of $l50,000 in cash. This
building is devoted by deed
of trust, with all its rents, issues and
profits, to the instruction and edu-
cation of the working classes of the
city of New York. The plan includes
regular courses, of instruction at night
free to all who choose to attend, on So
cial and political science, on the APP
plication of science to the useful
occupations of life, and on such other
branches of knowledge as will tend to
improve and elevate the working
classes. II includes also q school of
design for females, now attended by
200 pupils, free reading room and
library, resorted to by about |, 800 read
ers, galleries of art, collections of
models of inventions, and polytechnic
school. The evening schools are at
tended by 1000 pupils, mostly young
mechanics, who study mining metalur-
gy, engineering, nalytical and synlhet-
ic chemistry, architectural drawing
and practical building. There are also
for women, school of telegraphy,
which in four years has sent out 800
operators, school of wood engraving,
and school of photography, all of
which are free and well attended.
These schools employ upward of thirty
instructors.
Mr.. Cooper never took an active
part in politics, but nevertheless be-
came the greenback candidate for the
presidency in 1876. Notwithstanding
his great age, he retained his mental
and physical faculties until nearly the
close of his life, and on the 18th of last
February, his 92d birthday, received
an ovation at Cooper institute, and
maye Il brief speech. Daring his life
he accumulated great wealth, which
was devoted to ameliOrating the con-
ditiOn of his fellow men.