The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-11-26
SUNDAY Marks
CENTENARY Of
CYRUS v. FIELD

November 80. will be the Tooth an
niversary OF the birth OF Cyrus w
Field. merchant, capitalist and pro
jector OF the cable which "moorcd
the New World alongside the Old
Historical, commercial and other or
Plantations on both sides OF the At
llantic are preparing for an appro-
pirate observation OF the anniver-
sary. More especially will the ami
lyersary be observed in this city,
where Mr.. Field lived and labored
during the greater part OF his life,
and at Stockbridge, Mass. the place
OF his birth.
Cyrus w. Field was one OF four
brothers wha achieved wide fame in
their particular lines OF eadeavor.
| The others were Justice stephen j.
Field of the Supreme Court of the
United States: David Dldlcy Field.
member OF Congress and one OF the
greatest law authorities OF his time,
and Henry Martyr Field, who was
famous both as an author and cler-
gyman.
At the age of Is, equipped with
a common school education, Cyrus
w. Field came to New York and
started his career as a clerk in the
store of Alexander T. Stewart. In
1888 he became a salesman for his
brother. who had a paper mill in
Massachusetts,, and two years later
he entered business as q paper man |
ufacturer on his own account. With |!
in a year his firm failed and he set /
about TO pay the debts and relnstate |
himself in business. In these en- /
deayors he was so successful TINT
within little more than ten years he /
had wiped cut all of ais indebted
ness and had enough left over to
retire from active business with
what was considered at that time an
ample fortune.
About the year 1854 Mr.. Field
was solicited to invest capital in a
project for the establishment of sub
marine connection between New
'oundland and the North American
1t was while investigat-
ng this matter that he conceived
he project for a telegraphic cable
lnder the Atlantic to connect Amer
ca with Europe.
With Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor
md other noted capitalists OF that
lay Mr.. Field organized and char
cred the New York. Newfoundland
London Telegraph company. For
hirteen years he devoted his entire
me to the project. making many
'ips to Eprope, obtaining the nec-
ssary concessions, soliciting addi-
onal capital. and experimenting
,e manufacture Of the cable.
In 1858 Mr.. Field and his associ- A
les saw the reward Of their cour- n
&c and faith. In August Of that
sar the first cable was completed
ON Trinity Bay. Newfoundland, to c
alencia. Ireland. This cable, laid :
ter four failures. was $500 miles
ng. weighed ton to the mile and
10 cost Of the project was 1884,
10. The line was opened with an
,change Of greetings between
aeen Victoria and President Buch- s
ian. For six weeks messages were
mt between America and Europe,
! tthey were of an experimental ma
re, and the cable was never opened
the public. At the end of six
eeks the cable broke down utterly.
Seven years passed before theI
)rk was resumed and the famous
eat Eastern made its memorable
yage. The cable laid that time
rted after single trial and then
other year elapsed. The broken
DIS were picked up and spliced and
I'm that day to this cable com
inication under the Atlantic has
t ceased. There are now nearly
score of cables between America
d Europe, and many more under
ler oceans-more than 100000
les OF ocean cable in all.
In recognition of his eminent ser
'es the Congress of the United
ites voted Mr.. Field gold medal
d the thanks of the nation. Great
itain and other nations likewise
slowed honors upon him. Great r
iyersities conferred honorary de-
ees upon him and he was elected
Fellowship in the most prominent