New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-25

L
| that discovery has been put into practice
| There is the best Of reasons why the Console
dated Gas Company Of New York should guard
! its fires. because one Of the most important
| features Of gas service is its CONSTANCE With
out steady production gas would be a hollow
| mockery
! Think how maddening ii would be IL hot water
We're needed in the dead of the night and no
gas responded 10 the opening of the burner in
the kitchen range
| Suppose that it was a matter OF life and death
| To get hot water. and then the force lent %
the companys order to keep the fires burning
under the source Of production.
What applies 10 fires applies even more for
c'bly To the men and their Mutual Aid Society,
/ formed over eighteen years ago and f0stered b.
/ the company. 20 proyid" death benefits for the
benchciaries Of deceased members. has grown
| completely out Of the bounds first set for IL,
/ In 1907 the employees found that surplus was
! accumulating and that balance Of $l&OOO was
| standing 10 the credit Of the society. which Al
| ready had paid out over $4,000 in benefits in
| eleven years
| Then friendly aid fund was suggested. to
| furnish free medical attendance 70 members.
when required. to supply free medicines and %
| pay benefits Of 50 week for limited period
The details % this plan were laid before ths
president with the result that the company con-
tri'utrd - cents Tor every dollar paid into ths
iund by employees ana also engaged medical
examiners at its own expense 70 supery-is.. m,
work
During the life Of this fund 81: ff;o has baen
S'>.d To members. either in the shape Of fire,
| medical ATTENDANCE or in sf.f, laoa0,s
Just AS the fire Is guarded with adya,t,r.. =,
-r ''i"i'hN $50 = IN" health OF its eIuu,o y,.-
~. '..' .'I""r could not produce ana distribut.
T"- Tor n" York. 10 requires the work az ~.
men {" direct us energies ana tho corrLtn,,3a-
-. 80 I'.u ana 'TISht FIR" is altogether mnrs
|I' '-... Z '"uS tt'n cold hearth ANA half sick
Thus two items OF sentimental character mp,
a''"l 10 D" founded on tine rock OF sound bust
G"~ production from rs earliest d,v has ,,-
ltd'l'd deep thinking and efficl Q workers Tn,
bravery Of Samuel Lrg.-tt first .-s, iout ~ ~.
New York Gas C1rnranv in ia -r. t ~ W "
dIc" Of his day against things invisible o-4
installing gas lights i'm hi. harss 49,, ~, ,,-l
sur IN 1873 might not seem So rernar,abI. II,
lhls day OF h1rselcSs and wireless irty.ufi.r.
but when n did il the sight attracted a curious
not burn anything visible ~
From Mr. Loseett's time until to-day the mon
VINO nay h1d charge of tho gas lighting OF New
loIA 'lty nave been citizens OF substance men
Of significance in the life of the community
IHt !nSumbent Of the presidency OF the CON
& .oi'utt"i Gas Company OF New York Is C;.,rc.
, Hru'" C"rtclSou. whose earlier history il in
scIihei III the remarkable story OF his ris. Il,
inc vanguard ia political Importance
Mr 'ort"lyou was born in New York civ for
w. ven years ago. His education was acquired
| ~ htrd work and many personal sacrifices AS
child V''' ''ss9 "'i'H a
IL took up teaching at first. and then studied
! Sten'sraphy taking the competitive ChT Ser
government " '"'
Hi first position was in the custom Uars,
III \ W YORK, under the Treasury Department Il
post winch ne gained without political Influence
merit.
Subsequently he was transferred To the POST
ONE department here ana later was moved to
Wa hinEton as private secretary to the F,urth
Assistant Postmaster general. President Cleye
land, who was then in office was attracted d,
the Vouug man aD.I rro,,oto', - ~ ."
or executive clerk at the White House
W men Mr.. Mckinley succeeded To the reins %
government Mr. CorteIyou was not only retained
but was elevated TO the office of assistant sec
rotary TO the President. When Secretary Porter
died Mr. Corteyou was promoted 10 secretary to
me ILtSiueht, position approaching in dignity
He was rcappointed by Mr. Roosevelt. and was
made the first Secretary of Commerce and La
Dor when Congress created that department. As
head of the new department il was the duty az
Mr. Cortelyou TO organize it and make ii effec-
tive complicated and onerous task which he
successfully performed
After MIR. Roosevelt had been nominated 10
carry the standard of his party the choice for
campaign manager was Mr.. Corteyou He was
named chairman of the Republican National
Committee. and the triumphant manner in which
the campaign was carried on TO victory is now a
matter of history.
In appreciation of his services Mr. Roosevelt
named Mr.. Cortelyou Postmaster General in his
Cabinet. Thus in single decade Mr. COrtelyOu
became head of the department which he entered
as a clerk. Two years later he was moved up to
become head OF the Treasury Department sery-
ing through the panic OF 1907 in a way that COM
mended itself to the financial and business in
teTests of the country.
He then retired from public life and entered
private business. being elected head of the Con-
solidated Gas Company, post in business life
quite equal in Importance to the one he reIin-
pushed in politics.
Despite the difficulties encountered by Mr. Cor