Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-19
An Eccentric Individual.

A dispatch to the Evening Post contains an
interesting account of = most eccentric per-
son who died in Washington On Tuesday.
This WAS Norris Peters. widely known as the
Government photo photographer, who was
one Of the most mysterious characters of the
national capital. He was the companion of
some Of the most prominent members in
both branches of Congress, and was known
to them as one of the most genial. kindly
and generous of men. Yet one of them
said today II could not tell you whether
he was worth one million dollars or one dol.
lar" Norris Peters came here from Penn
sylvania. He WAS an examiner in the Patent
Office for some years. He developed taste
for photo lithography, resigned his position
in the government service, established a
plant which is said to be without an equal
in any country worth at least 500, 900,
and by workmanship which no other compel
itor has been able to equal, secured and re-
timed for almost q generation, the contracts
for illustrations and other reproductions for
the patent Office. the coast survey, the gov
eminent printing Office and for most of the
costly illustrated work of the government.
Rivals sometimes spoke of .lobby influence"
but when the contract day came it nearly
always happened that Norris Peters was the
lowest bidder. Sometimes his bids were
90 low that his competitors insisted that the
work could not be done for the money, but
it was done and well done. Once or twice
other parties underbid him, and the contract
was awarded to firms in distant cities. but in
at least one of these instarc es, the govern
ment released itself in some way from
the contract on the ground that the work was
not well done, and requested Mr.. Peters to
assume his old place. He had a practical
monopoly of the Government work of this
kind, and this monopoly was secured by low
price and merit. Men in his profession who
have endeavored to fathOm the mysteries of
IF his success insisted that he had some
secret process by which he was able to do
40 excellent work at so low prices. Certain
| it is that his establishment was closed to all
corners. Very few persons were ever in
vited within the walls of the large building.
| There were many peculiar traits about
this strange man. For some of the most
distinguished men in Congress he seemed to
possess peculiar attraction. lie gave sew
eral times each winter great dinners, pre-
pared As to the minutest details, under his
personal direction. He WAS almost the sue
cessor of Sam Ward. His invitations were
never declined. Roscoe Conkling was his
friend. Senators Kennx and Blackburn and
Secretary Window were also. One of his
most intimate acquaintances, man of ill.,
nuehce in public life, said recently that in
all of his intercourse with him, he never
heard him refer to his private business, or
ask favor of any sort He was bachelor
and lived alone. He is supposed to have
been worth about one million dollars. He
was = man of great but unostenatious
charity. The poor colored people Of his
acquaintance will greatly miss him, He was
as secretive as he was eccentric. Two years
ago or more one of his friends died in apart
ments adjacent to his own. Mr.. Peters de-
frayed the expenses of the funeral, and i'm
mediately afterwards sought the landlord,
made himself responsible for the rent of the
apartment indefinitely. locked it and placed
servant in charge with instructions to only
open the rooms when it was necessary that
they should be aired. These apartments
have never been opened since. When ques-
| toned about this the only answer given was
that he did not care to have the home of his
| old friend invaded.