New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
OBITUARY.
CHARLEMAGNE TOWER.

Philadelphia, July ga private dispatch from
Watcrvllle n Y, announces the death, at his sum-
residence there, OF Charlemagne Tower, OF THIS
city. His age eightyone and his death was due
paralysis He leaves four daughters and son, ana
an enormous fortune Mr.. Tower born In Oneida
County. n Y. He graduated from Harvard University
In 1890 He studied law In New-YOrk city, where he
practlsed his profession for some time. some legal
question that arose in connection with his practice
took him to Pennsylvania In 1916 for the cxamina-
ton OF the title to large bodies of mineral land,
lying chiefly IN the County Of Schuylkll.
Mr. Tower was the leading counsel in the famous
trial that arose OF questions relating to the Mum
and Williams estate in Schuykill County, comprs
ing large body of coal lands the litigation I'm regard
to which he carried along for moro than twenty-five
years. He mastered IL, and perfected inc
title to these lands, which now belong TO tho
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company
lie became the of large bodies Of coal lands MINI
self, and director In several corporations MT
Tower was actively interested IN the construction ana
management OF the Northern Pacific Railroad ana .
member Of It's board OF directors for several years
The greatest and most successful undertaking
perhaps of his long business HIS develop
ment OF the iron resources Of Minnesota. now wei
known to the world as the Vermillion range IL was
about fifteen years ago that Mr. Tower learned OF the
existence Of iron deposits near Vemilon LAKE.
body Of water ninety miles northwest Of Duluth
without paths, and exploration matter of great dili
Guilty. It took an Indian runner four days to make
the tourney from Duluth the lake. and Mr.. Towers
son, who made the trip to examine the lana, was
six days and half in travelling from one point TO
the other An expert was, however, sent out by MT
Tower in 1875 to make thorough examination, and
the report was so favorable that he determined TO
buy some land and build railroad TO bring the ore
TO market. lie finally purchased about 10000 acres
OF mineral land near the lake. Years were required
10 get things into shape, and 1t not until 1888
that Mr. Tower had things in readiness for the con-
strucnon Of the railroad to Two Harbois whence ore
was to be shipped to Duluth The mines were opened
and force Of men set at work digging ore. Mean
while the railroad being built. All through the
winter of 1s53.s4 force OF 800 men was laboring
in the Minnesota woods telling trees, grading aud
laying tics. The expense enormous, but Mr..
Tower was equal TO the demands upon his resources
Hundreds and thous Of dollars expended and
not cent was coming In. Through the spring Of
1884 the work was pressed with vigor and la,e in
July the road was completed. On July 81, 1854, the
fist train-load of passed from Vermilllon Lake
10 Lake superior, whence It shipped on Darges 10
cleveland Before the close of the year $4,000 tons
of ore had been shipped from the mines, and Dy 1881
the annual output had been increased to 100000 IONS.
on July ). 1857. Mr. Tower disposed or his large
interests I'm the VermOn range 10 syndicate Whlch
proposed to extend the railroad and develop inc
mineral resources OF the Gs'fle9 70 o Cne On
that day in this CITY, Mr.. Tower handed over 10 tho
vndicate tho stock and bonds OF the Duluth and Iron
Range Railroad and the title deeds TO some ZVoVo
acres of land and received I'm return certified checks
ON banks and financial institutions TO the amount Oh
over &c 900 900. The syndicate TO which Mr., rover
disnoSed OF his property was composed or Oenerd
Porter of the Pullman Palace Car Company; j. e.
Morse OF the Union Steel Company OF Engage
Marshall Field. Of Chicago d. o. Mis- OF New aOTA
]. d. Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Company and
number OF others.