New-York tribune., 1909-03-26
ELECT G B. CORTELYOU
NEW G4S PRESIDENT.
Former Secretary Of Treasury Head
of Consolidated Com pany.

George b Cortelyou. who retired from the office
of Secretary Of the Treasury at the close OF the
Roosevelt administration, early this month. was
elected president of the Consolidated Gas Company.
of New York yesterday, and was also elected a
director. in place of DR.. Arthur H. Elliott who
resigned. Mr.. Cortelyou only few days ago for
nally agreed accept the presidency. although it
has been an open secret for several weeks that the
Office had offered TO him and that in all pro-
liability he would accept II.
MI Cortelyou who has retired from public life,
is at present in Washington. making arrangements
for bringing his family to this city, where he Will
take up his permanent residence He will be in
New York within a few days. and will at once
enter upon the active duties Of the presidency,
making his headquarters at the company's general
office in Irving Place It is his purpose in the
first few weeks 10 visit all of the plants Of the
company. and in time make himself thoroughly
familiar with the technical side Of the gas industry
The presidency of the Consolidated Gas Company
has been vacant since the latter part Of 1904 when
Harrison E Gawtry retired from the office and was
made chairman of the board. post which he still
holds Mr.. Cortelyou has within the last year or so
declined offers of the presidency Of the knicker-
booker Trust Company and of other important
financial institutions in this city.
George B. Cortelyous rise from law reporter to
president of the Consolidated Gas Company has
been rapid one. In the last ten years he has
held some half dozen responsible positions under
the government.
MI. OOltelyOu was DOTr IN tiilS CITY III 4S'-' q
descendant Of old Dutch stock. He was educated
in the Manual School, at Westfeld, Mass, and IN
Georgetown University.
Returning to this city in 1888 he became law
reporter The next year he became private sec
retary to the Appraiser of the Port The year after
he went into partnership with James E. Munson
originator of the Munson system of stenosraphy'
and took up law reporting again. Then, after a
year with Munson he became teacher. and served
as principal Of several preparatory schools
II was in 1889 that he finally entered the pubic
service as private secretary Of the postof1ce IN
spector in charge Of New York City. Two years
later he became secretary 10 the Surveyor OF IN"
Port but four months afterward he resigned 10
become private secretary TO Estes O. Rathoone'
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Mr. CorteI-
you remained in the Postoflce Department till lsS
acting as chief clerk for a time, and even serving
for while as Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral.
Mr Cleveland then made him stenographer ana
executive clerk to the President. In 1898 Mr.. Nc
Kinley made him assistant private secretary and
in 1900 full private secretary. Nr. Roosevelt on
assuming the Presidency. reappointed him.
On February g. 1903. President Roosevelt ap-
pointed Mr. Corteyou the first Secretary or the
new Department OF Commerce and Labor This
place he held until June 1904. when he became
chairman Of the Republican National Committee
He was Postmaster General from March 4. 1895. to
March l. 1907, when he was made Secretary OF the
Treasury.
Mr.. Cortelyou married the daughter OF President
H!nds of the Hampstead Institute. His home Is IN
Hampstead. Long Island.