Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-25
Cyrus W. Field Centenary.
Let The Bee Tell You.


Tooth anniversary of the birth OF
Cyrus w. Field, merchant, capital
list, and protector Of the cable which
''moored the New World alongside
the Old" Historical, commercial
and other organizations on both
sides Of the Atlantic are preparing
for an appropriate observance of the
centenary. More especially will the
anniversary be observed in New
York 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 who achieved wide fame in
their particular lines Of endeavor,
The others were Justice Stephen J,
Field of the supreme court Of the
United States. David Dudley 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
clergyman.
At the age Of Is, equipped With a
common school education, Cyrus w.
Field came to New York and started
his career as clerk In the store of
Alexander T. Stewart. In 1888 he
became a salesman for his brother,
who had paper mill in Massachu-
sets, and two years later he enter
ed business as paper manufacturer
on his own account. Within year
his firm failed and he set about to
pay the debts and reinstate himself
In business In these endeavors he
was so successful that within it'll.
more than 10 years he had wiped
out all of his Indebtedness and had
enough left over to retire from ac-
tive business with what was con-
sidered at that time an ample for
tune.
About the year 1854 Mr. Field
was solicited to invest capital in a
project for the establishment of sub
marine connection between New
foundland and the North American
continent. 1t was while investigat-
ing this matter that he conceived
the project for a Geographic cable
under the Atlantic to connect Amer
lea with Europe.
With Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor
and other noted capitalists Of that
day MIR. Field organized and charter
ed the New York, Newfoundland
and London Telegraph company
For 3 years ,he devoted his entire
time to the project, making many
trips to Europe, obtaining the nee
essary concessions, soliciting addi-
tional capital. and experimenting
the manufacture of the cable.
In 1858 Mr.. Field and his asso-
ciates saw the reward of their
courage and faith. In August of
that year the first cable was COM
pleted from Trinity Bay, Newfound-
land. to Valencia, Ireland. This Ca
BILE, laid after four failures, was
$500 miles long, weighed a ton to
the mile and the cost of the project
was 1884, 500. The line was open
ed with an exchange of greetings be-
tween Queen Victoria. and President
Buchanan. For six weeks messages
were sent between America and Eu-
rope. but they were of an expert
mental nature, and the cable was
never opened to the public. At the
ed with an exchange of greetings be-
down utterly.
Seven years passed before the
work was resumed and the famous
Great Eastern made it's memorable
VOYAGE. The cable laid that time
parted after a single trial. and then
another year elapsed. The broken
ends were picked UP and spiiced and
from that day to this cable commu-
nication under the Atlantic has not
ceased. There are now nearly
score of cables between America and
Europe, and many more under other
coca ns-more than 100000 miles OF
ocean cable in all.
In recognition of his eminent serv-
ices the congress of the United
States voted MIR. Field a. gold medal
and the thanks of the nation. Great
britain, France and other nations
likewise bestowed honors upon him.
Great universities conferred honor
airy degrees upon him and he was
elected to fellowship in the most
prominent learned societies OF
America and Europe.