New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05
DIR. COCHRAN RESIGNS.
POLY" WILL HAVE NEW HEAD IN
THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

AFTER THIRTY-FIvE YEARS OF SERVICE ITS PRES
1pENr GIVES Up THE CARES OF HIS OFFICE
HIS REASONS FOR RETIRING.
Or David H. Cochran. who for the last thirty
FIVE years has been the president Of the Brooklyn
Polytechnic Institute and who has been the means
Of placing that institution In the front rank Of
educational institutions has sent in his resigna-
ton the Board Of Trustees. II was received az
a meeting held on Friday night and was referred
to special committee consisting Of Justice VIII
lard Bartlett Henry Sanger Snow Benjamin T
rockingham Dr. Joseph II. Raymond William J.
Mathoson and william Augustus White. and VIII
be acted upon a. The next meeting.
Or Cochrans resignation may have been brought
about by pressure. although this is denied by his
friends. DR.. Cochran's critics assert that ne mas
tried 10 develop the Polytechnic along university
lines 10 the practical abandonment Of the prepara-
tory or academic work. Opposition to Dr. Cochran
I'm the Board was never violent. he was sup
ported by the more influential and moneyed mem
bers of the Board. but the opposition existed ana
did not diminish. Probably there was leSs oppos'-
ton 10 his ideas exists in scores OF educauoha
institutions where the presidents combat opposition
successfully and retain control
prominent lawyer. a Polytechnic graduate s'u
to 4 Tribune reporter last night:
Or Cochran had the support OF william Au-
rustus and 4 fred T. White ard their Immediate
friends and that is why he has been retained lo'
tho last dozen years lie is getting 10 be an old
man and incapable u as hard work as Formerly
There has been a growing feeling that greater
vigor was necessary In the executive head OF the
institute and Dr. Cochran has at last realized II
himself"
ON the other hand the doctors friends say that
his devotion Of $50 much Of the insiiutes energies
10 The study on electricity and latierdaY sciences
was the highest wisdom. and that his successor WI"
not change the educational lines along which we
institute has been working OF late years ,
DR. Cochran ie sevcnty-one years old. ana ne leeis
that after long If. Of usefulness ne mas ea'"eu
the right 10 retire at this time. lie succeeded 'he
late DR. John H. Raymond IN 1864 as the head o.
Poly" and to-day. ne says D. MS ie'e' %
rcsrna,ion finds the Polytechnic firmly es'ao-
lished m the estimation OF Brooklyn and OF me
world beyond f, ie prosperous the character OF IT'S
educational work was never higher, and lis prog
ress toward a future of still larger usefulness
should under wise direction be assured. rs,
In sreakiuc az his release from the place OF prtsl
den. h. GAYS. while happily, ] am IN the enJoy-
rcn, ~ Io3finued health / am approaching time
81 life when tho cares Of such place must De IN
creasingy arduous wish 70 terminate my s rd6
health limits my ahihN 10 ""rh W "'"N
w." I'm All that pertains to ne welfare Of The P p9dy
technic shall have. while i've, IN, , r,or,t ion
and the president whom it may chose 10 TAX n9
whatever Of knowledge or experience possess il"
Or Cochran was born In SprlnE ny, -, zoos he
Julv T. ls2S Thrown upon his own resources , IT.
I.rar 49, teach school at the age of fifteen years
80 l,id rasoiirccs he was not able TO complete
he "' coiIree MN 1870 Meanwhile ne served as
lecturer In enen'TFlT or, a Pai = T. and upon his
graduation assumed the chair Of natural se'.iggs
@in,i Of Frcco1ia Academy in Chautauqua County
and three years thereafter went 10 ne Sta,e ~ WA
nt. For some years previous TO his coming
10 Brooklyn Or. Cochran was president oil the 'o''
In isl h. received me degree Of Pm d from the
Regents II New ork 9iaIe anu AM III tir, bv Ham
mon Coli,gc He has been trustee OF the ialter
Institution for q number OF years.
''s Tr Cochr1r's resignation does not take effect
,,u mo end u the current school year there IS no
"T WSen n, Dr Cochran was seen last night al his
home 40 III Schcrmorhorn-si, ana asKtu u WI
VS. opposition 10 him in the Board oi trustees IT,
say cant really say that there was. but IN free
10 saw that # certain pledges haG been KEPT on on
he r9rt OF some of the trustees should not nay
resigned Il was The clear lulrs ro that
tbe-e was 10 he no debt left on H. As mite
of fact there b. debt Of about Hl|IW, "n ne
Institute and the payment OF me ihteI'S %"
surn Is n great burden. II should not DC mr.
and it would no' be- there II certain Kan y ,te Size in
ms country without an endowed college. W sham
ct through the present year without n'i'l III
our finances. but there VIII be ho'"'hE ''' o'
Has the preparatory school ben neglected o"
"Rv no means II has produced greater results
IN no.
torv and results. J might add. that cannot ps
rnatchcd 10y any other preparatory s'hool IN ~ ~
country our boys have taken more important
entrance examination prizes A. 1ac' frlh'e'o"
and Columbia than any other school ~ h,.o
What is likely 10 happen no" that you nave
resigned" 49, I'LL h~,r,,
about the clearing off ~ the debt on the institute
a .irst-claee now man will not b" found 10 take up
g. u.ors unless fhe debt is wiped out ] believe
thaf the debt Will be liquidatcd In some way. !
look upOn the institute my life work 70 some Ok
80 aard 7 ehould Doe sorry 20 II hampered
for lack Of funds. believe there VII he sft IA
/ factory solution Of the problem At my age dld
NO, feel that had the strength 70 undertake me
clearing Of of the debt Ny successor may get the
! Il r1L y