, 1884-09-06
CORNELL'S WEALTH.
How the Ex-Governor of New York
Amassed HIS Fortune.
Years of Struggle and DiaappoInt-
ment Before the Golden Goal
Was Reached-OId Ezra's
Telegraph Poles.


New York Journal
IL has often been questioned whether ex-
Governor Cornell, when walking down the
marble steps of his palatial mansion at
GIG Fifth avenue, recalls the days when his
father toiled early and late in the forests OF
the Mohawk valley, chopping telegraph
POLES for what is now known as the great
Western Union. Does he think Of his own
early struggles as a telegraph operator in an
obscure country villagei Does he feel when
he spends $500 for a Christmas-tide bauble
that that sum at one time represented his
yearly incumei Does the ex-governor, so
immaculate in his dress, so elegant in his
manners, recall those days when one suit =
year was a luxury seldom accorded hint
And when dining at his favorite club or in
company with those whose names nave be-
come famous wherever the English language
is spoken, does he fail to remember the
ragged little urchin who roamed the streets
Of Ithaca forty years agol
The history OF his present vast wealth and
the years Of struggle and disappointment be-
fore the golden goal was reached arc pecul-
iarly interesting. To-day, in tventy-four
hours, ho can command nearly $40, 900, 900.
Forty years ago it would ave been tall
scrnping for him to have gathered 25 cents
that he would dare call his own. 1t is even
common gossip I'm his native village that
when the ex-governor was quite n lad his
parents were at the time almost pennilcss
His father was seldom at home. His friends
considered him a mild edition of a crank. In
these days he would come under the cate
CORY Of IA genius.
IN a certain sense, old Ezra Cornell was
even then a genius, il "A total forgetfulness Of
all the ties and customs OF life could have
given him that title. He had a few acres OF
land and a tumhle-down old shanty for a
house, He made a bare subsistence from tho
soil, and his wife's labor at the washtub eked
out sufficient clothing for her children. and
now and then a cheap calico for a company"
dress for herself.
Old Ezra occasionally received II New
York paper, and in the long winter evenings
he would pore over it with the avidity that
the fashionable young lady to-day does over
the latest novel. Even the advertisements
were a source Of much joy and comfort to
him Any change from the dreary monot-
ony Of his everyday life was a godsend to
him. At that time Professor Morse, the
Nestor Of the American telegraph, had about
completed his first experiments, but was
puzzled whether the telegraph wires should
be erected on poles or sunk uuder ground.
This subject was long and even bitterly dis
cussed by the projectors of the infant West
eIn Union, and the question agitated Pro-
ltesoT AlpIst anu lis lTlenuS lOr wears. IlO
reports Of the differences over the subject
were published in This Courier and Enquirer,
then the leading paper of this city, a copy Of
which found its way into old Ezra's hands.
That little paragraph ultimately proved to
be the first step in the present colossal for
tune controlled by his son, Alonzo B. Old Ezra.
without Instructions from Professor Morse,
and without the fnintest encouragement that
his course was correct, immedialy absented
himself from his wretched home. He was
lost to his family for months, but when he re-
turned 1t was with the information that he
had out zone hundred cords of poles for them
telegraph %fellors, and 1 mean to sell 'em to
'em, too" He was the laughing stock of the
neighborhood. His friends were really con-
cerned for him, and his wife was not alto
gethor sure but that her husband had been
on a foolhardy mission. Ezra, however, was
confident that telegraph wires would be
strung ON poles, and no amount Of
argument or persuasion could deter
him from n second visit to the wilder
ness, from which he returned in a couple Of
months, remarling that he had cut more
poles for them telegraph ~fellerE." He then
made bold enough to address Professor
Morse. He stated that he was In a position
to supply his company with telegraph poles,
and could supply him with q wilderness II
necessary. Professor Morse replied that he
wanted the poles very much, but that neither
he nor his company were I'm a position to
pay for them; but II Mr.. Cornell wished 10
deliver them they would be paid for in
stock OF the company. Old Ezra after much
consideration, consented TO the bargain, and
for several years kept them supplied, al
ways receiving in return a pile of Western
Union chromos. His neighbors continued Ia
think him ON the verge OF idiocy, and hf
family were in as desperate straits as over.
It is u legend of Ithaca that SO infatuated
had old Ezra become with his telegraph-pole
cutting that at one time his garnet and SPARE
room were strewn with the original stock Of
the Western Union, not worth the payer II
was printed on, and it is stated as a positive
fact by the ex-governor's friends that his
mother became so disguised by her husbands
course that she very frequently used the
shares of the company to kindle her fire with.
All this, however, was changed in a few
days. When the war broke out the
demand for Increased telegraph facili-
ties brought the Western Union up
with a rush. Its stock Increased 70
All enormous extent, and old Ezra
began to scour his garnet for the
reams of it which he had accepted for his
poles. He gathered them up, and packing
them in an old leather trunk came to the
city He soon learned that with each day he
became 100000 richer. The dear Old gem
tleman could hardly appreciate his vast pos
sessions. His family hat had suffered so
long did, and Alonzo and his mother were
quickly installed in n beautiful home, with
every luxury that the Monte Cristo wealth of
his father could provide. He Is now the
sole possessor Of his fathers estate. In poll
tics he is termed the 'sphynx, but to his
fellow member Of the Union League club he
is a genial and agreeable gentleman. though
by no means enthusiastic in his friendships
or social relations.