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Description
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Box /
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Folder
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, patent rights, stock subscriptions.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
January 10, 1846. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:
"At 12 o'clock on Monday and the same on Tuesday at 10 o'clock…you will strike the letter F *--* *--* in the same way from Fort Lee to Philadelphia and also to N York."
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PLACES:
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Kendall, Amos;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Morse, Samuel F.B.;
Wood, O. S.;
Mooers, Henry.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, personal conflict, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions in Ithaca.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
February 8, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell admonishing him for revealing elements of slothful behavior.
February 9, 1846. Ezra Cornell to the Editor of the Herald concerning disputed invention of the telegraph.
February 22, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell calculating in real dollars the lifetime costs of drinking alcohol and using tobacco:
"I am very glad that the temperance reform has reached Fall Creek."
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PLACES:
New York City;
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Eddy, James;
Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
Wood, O.S.;
Atwell, Winthrop;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Faxton, Theodore.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca subscribers;
"Cornelia";
temperance movement in Ithaca;
letters to Alonzo with advice and counsel on education and responsible living.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
March 1, 1846. Description of telegraph lines and bridges.
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PLACES:
New York City;
Ithaca;
Boston.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Atwell, Winthrop;
Eddy, James;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Carter, Samuel P.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Livingston, Charles.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca stock subscriptions.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
March 30, 1846. E.B. Cornell from Ithaca:
"We are now enjoying the Blessings and comforts of revivle of religion in Ithaca - the reverend Mr. John Moffett is here Delivering a Course of lectures on American Literature & pouring forth his Eloquent Irish Soul in the Pulpit every other Evening the Cthouse was cramed full to overflowing yesterday."
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PLACES:
Boston;
New York City;
Utica;
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Faxton, Theodore;
Cornell, Franklin C.;
Wood, O.S.;
Eddy, James;
Park, J.D.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Smith, F.O.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
April 29, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I left the city of NY last eve With the floating Palace Hendrick Hudson. I brought up with me half a dozen flowering trees. I think you had better set them in your nice little dooryard."
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PLACES:
Boston;
New York City;
Albany;
Utica.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Carter, Samuel P.;
Wood, O.S.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Cornell, Mary Ann.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
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PLACES:
New York City;
Utica.
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PEOPLE:
Faxton, Theodore;
Cornell, E.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies;
Beebe importunes Ezra Cornell for money.
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Faxton, Theodore;
Eddy, James;
Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
Cornell, E.S.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, finances, establishment of new lines.
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PLACES:
Albany;
Boston;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Faxton, Theodore.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
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PLACES:
New York City;
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.;
Ithaca;
Aurora, N.Y.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, E.B.;
Kendall, Amos;
Cornell, E.B.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Eddy, James.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
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PLACES:
New York City;
Albany.
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PEOPLE:
Eddy, James;
Wood, O.S.;
Cornell, E.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
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PLACES:
New York City;
Poughkeepsie.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Cornell, E.B.;
Livingston and Wells.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
August 3, 1846. F.A. Brown to Ezra Cornell:
"I regret to hear Smith is not more successful than he is on the Boston line. Poor fellow, I am sorry for him, those loafers on the Philadelphia line will now be able to exult over his adversity."
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PLACES:
New York City;
Ithaca;
Buffalo.
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PEOPLE:
King, George W.;
Wood, O.S.;
Bristol, John S.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Faxton, Theodore.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions, E.B. Cornell seeks employment, contention with Faxton about the Albany line.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
August 31, 1846. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell:
"I am sorry to learn from various sources of your having frequently made me the subject of much unfavorable conjecture and remark with men in my employ, as well as with others, in connexion with a female with whome you boarded in New York. Now I ask no man to become the keper of my morals or character…"
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Faxton, Theodore;
Eddy, James;
Wood, Benjamin;
Cornell, E.B.;
Brown, F.A.;
Wood, Phebe;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Smith, F.O.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, proposed line between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, price per transmission.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
October 7, 1846. Incidence of vandalism of the New York line.
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Eddy, James;
Bullock, A.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, proposals for establishment of new lines, finances.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
October 15, 1846. Telegraph stock, shares, dividends.
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
Hudson, N.Y.
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PEOPLE:
Brown, F.A.;
Kendall, Amos;
Bullock, A.B.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Eddy, James.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, complication of communication among stations in New York State.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
October 20, 1846. Negotiation of stock transfers (Ithaca Telegraph Company).
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PLACES:
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Brown, F.A.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Eddy, James;
Smith, F.O.J.;
O'Reilly, Henry;
Wood, Phebe;
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: magnetic clocks, patent application, articles of agreement.
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PLACES:
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Detroit to Milwaukee).
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HIGHLIGHTS:
November 9, 1846. Instructions to employee Curtis from Ezra Cornell on operation of telegraph wires:
"Order must be obeyed right or wrong. It is the only way to preserve harmony in the working of the line."
November 19, 1846. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I have had quite a notion lately of learning to write on the telegraph and should like your advice on the subject…for if there is anything to be made by it I should like to have my share."
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Eddy, James;
Speed, J.J.;
Kendall, Amos;
Faxton, Theodore;
Cornell, D.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Toronto, Binghamton).
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 6, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"To be frank with you I have my doubts whether it would be for your interest to engage in the telegraph business even were you qualified to do it properly, but you are not thus qualifide…"
December 15, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I was quite surprised to see that you wrote so well on the telegraph with the little chance you have had to learn. I have no objection to your learning to thus write if you will not let it attract your attention from your studdies."
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City;
Auburn, N.Y.
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PEOPLE:
Eddy, James;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Bullock, A.B.;
Goell, A.C.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Elmira, Corning, Bath), Magnetic Telegraph Company personnel problems.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 20, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"…I should prefer that you would choose a rural occupation, and become an intelligent scientific farmer. The time is not distant when such farmers will be more respected and they will be more useful than Kings or Princes."
n.d. Faxton to his operators concerning quality of transmissions:
"On the 9th of September last the line of Telegraph was put in operation from New York to Buffalo, working through 8 offices…Its operation appeared to be very perfect…"
January 9, 1847. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:
"Since I wrote you in reference to the side lines in New York, I have been requested by Prof. Morse not to make the arrangements proposed, including the renewal of your contract upon the Binghamton route."
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
Albany;
Chicago;
Auburn.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Allen, Oliver E.;
Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
Cornell, E.S.;
Kendall, Amos;
Wood, Phebe;
Wood, O.S.;
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: establishment of new lines (plans for Toronto to Quebec, Quebec to Halifax, Toronto to Buffalo, Toronto to Detroit), patent rights, instruments, finances, magnets, Speed and Tillotson corresponding about telegraph to compete with Morse's;
Michigan's potential as an agricultural state;
family news from Michigan.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
February 17, 1847. Theodore Faxton to Ezra Cornell:
"I recommended Mr. Cornel for that place as a suitable and competent man, he was employed on the strength of that recomendation…I had recommended a man who was entirely unfit for the business and has spent more of his time for the 3 months in his own business than in that of the company… I felt not "elated" but ashamed and confounded at my own want of judgement in recommending a man who could so soon place me in a wrong position before the Board."
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PLACES:
Michigan;
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Kendall, Amos;
Speed, J.J.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Wood, O.S.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wood, Phebe;
Faxton, Theodore.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: notices of new lines in operation (Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, first of Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi), management of lines, attempts to sell stock in Chicago, patent rights, establishment of new lines (Milwaukee and Detroit).
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HIGHLIGHTS:
February 20, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:
"The exisiting lines are doing a first rate business…the Ithaca & Elmira & Auburn line is doing much more business than was expected would be furnished by those places, and will be a paying line."
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PEOPLE:
O'Reilly, Henry;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Brown, F.A.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: conflicts, subscription sales in Milwaukee and Detroit, establishment of new lines, finances, patent rights.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
March 8, 1847. Proposal of new venture from John Norton to Ezra Cornell, involving communication with Nova Scotia by visual telegraph (Eastern telegraph project).
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Norton, John W.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales in Michigan, Chicago and Wisconsin, establishment of new lines, rates, routes;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company;
visual telegraph.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
March 31, 1847. C.F. Johnson to Ezra Cornell, discussing Eastern telegraph project and use of visual telegraph signals over long distances.
April 10, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"…have a book in reach for every leisure moment."
April 17, 1847. Telegraph messages to and from Ezra Cornell.
April 19, 1847. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing family news and possible employment when telegraph is constructed in Michigan.
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PLACES:
Ithaca;
New York City.
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PEOPLE:
Tillotson, D.T.;
Speed, J.J.;
Norton, John W.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Johnson, C.F.;
Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Wood, M.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales, O'Reilly contract dispute, patent rights, lines (Troy & Montreal);
visual telegraph.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
April 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"…we were out last evening on an experiment, Merrit 12 miles west of Boston on a (hill) and I was 10 miles East of Boston on another, and the result was OK notwithstanding the clouds were thick enough to obscure the full moon, and terra firma was thinly veiled with fog. I have a fine lot of telescopes. I have one with which I can see the Mountains in the Moon…"
May 2, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing telegraph business and proposing idea of telegraph lines outside of this country, in Cuba, Jamaica, and other islands.
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PLACES:
Boston.
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PEOPLE:
Brown, F.A.;
Johnson, C.F.;
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Wood, O.S.;
Wood, M.L.;
Smith, F.O.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: instruments, O'Reilly contract dispute, new lines (Troy & Canada Junction);
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company;
visual telegraph: exploration of coast of Maine for sites.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
May 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:
"We find people who on the start laughed at the folly (as they called it) of building telegraphs saying they would find nothing to do, who now furnish daily business for the line, and clamour the loudest if the line is out of order for a few hours so that they cannot be served at the moment."
Regarding the telegraph in Canada:
"See the difference, the Canadians are quarreling for the stock of a line that will never have half the business that the Erie & Michigan line will, while on the later it is dificult to get the necessary stock subscribed to build it."
Telegraph lines (New York, Albany & Buffalo; New York & Boston), new lines (Erie & Michigan), finances.
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PLACES:
Maine;
Montreal.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, E.B.;
Speed, J.J.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Wood, O.S.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Kendall, Amos
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: visual telegraph: obstacles to the visual telegraph in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
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PLACES:
Maine;
Halifax.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Dunham, J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Park, J.D.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: line extended from Boston to Portland, proposed line (Quebec & Halifax - Cornell contracted for first section), O'Reilly contract dispute;
observations in Maine for visual telegraph.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
June 21, 1847. British North American Electric Telegraph Association to Ezra Cornell thanking him for assisting in instruction of operators and offering him the contract for crossing the St. Lawrence.
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PLACES:
Maine;
Blue Hill, Me.;
Grand Manan Island.
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PEOPLE:
Tillotson, D.T.;
Dunham, J.;
Speed, J.J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Thatcher, J.D.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: distribution of lines to Smith and Kendall;
meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia.
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PLACES:
Maine.
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PEOPLE:
Brown, F.A.;
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence;
meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia.
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PLACES:
Maine.
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June 27, 1847 - July 7, 1847
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: subscriptions for western lines;
meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
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PLACES:
Maine;
Michigan;
Milwaukee;
Montreal.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Brown, F.A.;
Wood, M.B.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wood, O.S.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Cornell, Betsy Ann;
Park, J.D.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, establishment of new lines;
Montreal Telegraph Company;
British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
July 8, 1847. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell from Montreal:
"I do not regret getting away from here as there is a fearful contagion raging here among the emigrants and many of the citizens now have the Typhus Fever. Should you conclude to come here keep upon the upper deck as much as possible and not visit the emigrants den of filth. I have been but once to visit the sheds and shall not go again very soon. Between 30 & 40 die daily at the sheds between the lines & canal."
July 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I have this morning returned from Vermont having made a tour through the entire length of Vermont between the Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, soliciting subscriptions of stock for the Troy and Canada Junction Telegraph and have met with as much success as I could hope for. I have had a publick meeting and adressed the people on the subject in 9 different villages, and I feel assured that I have converted the unbelieving to the true Magnetic faith."
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PLACES:
Ontario;
Quebec;
Milwaukee;
Michigan;
Vermont;
Chicago.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Brown, F.A.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wood, M.B.;
Speed, J.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, rights of way and permissions, Canadian lines.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
July 25, 1847. Account of a trip from Ithaca to Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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PLACES:
Michigan;
Kingston, Ontario;
Montreal;
Chicago;
Quebec.
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PEOPLE:
McRea, W.C.;
Speed, J.J.;
Wood, O.S.;
Thatcher, J.D.;
Wood, M.L.;
Smith, F.O.J.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights.
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PLACES:
Milwaukee.
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PEOPLE:
Tillotson, D.T.;
Selden, Samuel L.;
Speed, J.J.;
Rice, H.F.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines;
Montreal Telegraph Company.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Wood, O.S.;
O'Reilly, Henry.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
August 27, 1847. Circulars by H.B. Ely denying Ezra Cornell's right to erect telegraph lines on the Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee line:
"My attention has been called to the movements of Mssrs. Speed, Cornell, and others connected with them…And in order to correct any misapprehension or erroneous impression in the minds of the public…Mr. O'Reilly and his associates have made no arrangement with Mssrs. Speed, Cornell and company in relation to the line.
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PLACES:
Milwaukee;
Albany.
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PEOPLE:
Smith, F.O.J.;
O'Reilly, Henry;
Collins, William R.;
Wood, M.L.;
Ely, H.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular, patents;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company printed address to subscribers;
Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi Telegraph Range.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
September 8, 1847. M.L. Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"The bold assertion that O'Reilly has the exclusive right to put in opperation Morse's Telegraph upon this line has taken the subscribers rather aback and created much distrust and anxiety for the safety of their investment."
September 11, 1847. Byron Kilbourn to Ezra Cornell and J.J. Speed:
"I have been notified that you have not the exclusive rights to erect a line of the Telegraph from Buffalo to Detroit…"
Printed appeal from citizens of the western states:
"That the Magnetic Telegraph, being the only known agent that annihilates space in transmitting intelligence, should be established between the commercial emporium of the nation and the commercial centre on the Pacific."
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PLACES:
Montreal;
Milwaukee;
Albany;
Columbus;
Detroit;
Vermont;
Quebec;
Ithaca.
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PEOPLE:
Tillotson, D.T.;
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Wood, M.B.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Kilbourn, Byron.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
September 13, 1847. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:
"Yours is received with its enclosures. The outrageous conduct of O'Reilly and his associates is to me inexplicable, on any other construction than determined and persevering fraud. I am not prepared to make the arrangement you propose. By my arrangement with Mr. Smith he is bound to make me good in this controversy with O'Reilly. It became by that agreement his affair & not mine, and I cannot see why I should put money due out of my hands…"
September 19, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell with advice, instruction, and entreaties concerning the latter's study habits.
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PLACES:
Quebec;
Montreal;
Chicago.
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PEOPLE:
Wood, M.L.;
Speed, J.J.;
Smith, F.O.J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines;
Troy Turnpike and Rail Road Company permission.
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PLACES:
Chicago;
Detroit.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, E.B.;
Park, J.D.;
Speed, J.J.;
McRea, M.C.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, Troy & Canada Junction line;
Montreal Telegraph Company.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
October 8, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:
"For Hevens sake push on that work. Off with your coat and at it, let us have action as well as talk. The line must be at work from Buffalo to Milwaukee before the 1st of Jan next."
October 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"Your account of the Fair represents a meager affair. I am sorry there is no more spirit in the Farmers of Tompkins. I shall have to go at farming again and steer them up.
"I understand that Mr. Eddy wants you to go into the Telegraph business for him. I am surprised at this, at any rate I trust you don't entertain this small potatoe Telegraph Operation of his for a moment. When I wish you to go into the Telegraph business I can put you in some respectable position in the business, but I want you to attend to your studdies and qualify yourself for some respectable position in Society."
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PLACES:
Montreal;
Troy, N.Y.;
Middlebury, Vt.;
Burlington, Vt.
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PEOPLE:
McRea, W.C.;
Speed, J.J.;
Wood, M.L.;
Wood, M.B.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines;
British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
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PLACES:
Milwaukee;
Detroit.
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PEOPLE:
Bristol, John S.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Speed, J.J.;
Johnson, C.F.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines;
British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
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PLACES:
Detroit;
Montreal.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Wood, M.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Detroit, Chicago & Milwaukee line, Troy & Canada Junction line), materials and supplies, Irish workers;
negotiations with British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
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PLACES:
Vermont.
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PEOPLE:
Livingston, Charles;
Wells, Henry;
Speed, J.J.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Whitney, H.H.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Cornell, Alonzo B.;
Wood, M.L.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line), instruments, materials and supplies;
sickness in Michigan.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
October 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson, concerning western lines:
"I am using all my wits - my industry and my friends, to get the material and get it forwarded to you, and I hope you will use corrisponding exertion to collect the subscriptions and forward the work there."
O'Reilly conflict.
October 30, 1847. Formal letter of protest concerning Ezra Cornell's work on Canadian lines;.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wood, Phebe.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line, Canadian lines), materials and supplies;
conflict in Quebec with British North American Electric Telegraph Association;
Johnson's telegraph invention.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
November 5, 1847. Zook and Barnes to Ezra Cornell concerning House's Printing Telegraph.
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PLACES:
Canada.
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PEOPLE:
Wood, M.L.;
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Johnson, C.F.;
Tillotson, D.T.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line, Troy & Canada Junction line), objections to lines passing people's properties, O'Reilly conflict.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
November 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on delays in receiving materials:
"We are flat on our asses for want of some glasses…"
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Tillotson, D.T.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line), materials and supplies, Canadian lines;
Montreal Telegraph Company;
Ezra Cornell's ill health.
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PLACES:
Vermont.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, E.B.;
Bristol, John S.;
Speed, J.J.;
Wood, M.L.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: Canadian lines, construction of lines (western lines), materials and supplies;
Ezra Cornell's ill health;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Griffin, David;
Wood, M.B.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Bristol, John S.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wood, Otis E.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines and line through Vermont), O'Reilly conflict, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 4, 1847. J.J. Speed concerning his wounded knee:
"My knee is still sore, and the doctor says I must keep quiet. Yesterday he put on some serpents or as he called them leeches, and they sucked out a great deal of blood - today it is a little better."
December 5, 1847. J. Haviland to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:
"On Monday last this city was put in communication with Ypsilanti & the line works well. It seems to be completely insulated & a battery of 10 cups is sufficient & perhaps will answer for ten miles further to Ann Arbor."
Rates, materials and supplies, O'Reilly's line, Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
December 6. 1847. G.W. Benedict to Ezra Cornell with rate proposal for Troy & Canada Junction and Montreal & Troy Telegraph Companies.
December 6, 1847. J.J. Speed:
"I had a letter from Cornell today, dated at N. York the 25th. He has been sick, since the first of Nov…I learn from my wife that Cornell's wife had a baby about those days, and he must have been anxious to get home."
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Benedict, G.W.;
Cutter, Isaac H.;
Haviland, J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Brown, F.A.;
Faxton, Theodore.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, Canadian lines), materials and supplies, stock subscriptions (problems in collection).
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 9, 1847. H. Wells & Company to Ezra Cornell concerning Ezra Cornell's finances:
"Your ill health has certainly got you in a fog about your money matters & if you will come down here we will talk the matter over…"
December 10, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"What are your notions respecting N.Y. and Erie line? When, and where, can we get enough subscribed to build it?"
December 11, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell concerning competition from O'Reilly's line.
December 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, quoting letter to Speed from Smith:
"Our object before was to annihilate House - we did it - we will now try what is left of O'Reilly down the Ohio - North and West. I leave him to your tender mercies - But the day of compromise has gone by - do or die is the motto for us now."
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PEOPLE:
Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
Speed, J.J.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Wells, Henry;
Wood, M.B.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Jackson, Tower;
Parker, Jason.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, delays and shortage of wires), finances, materials and supplies.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 15, 1847. L. Morrell to Ezra Cornell discussing feed for livestock.
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PLACES:
Detroit;
Chicago.
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PEOPLE:
Speed, J.J.;
Faxton, Theodore;
Bristol, John S.;
Morrell, L.;
Wood, M.B.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Cornell, E.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions.
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PLACES:
Buffalo;
New York;
Quebec;
Chicago;
Vermont;
Detroit;
Montreal.
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PEOPLE:
Cornell, E.B.;
Speed, J.J.;
Wells, Henry;
Cutter, Isaac H.;
Tillotson, D.T.;
Haviland, J.;
Wood, O.S.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, stock subscriptions, disputes over western lines;
Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 23, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Chicago:
"You speak of trying to get wire from Buffalo to Cleveland. Had we better not finish this end? I have repeatenly written you that it is utterly impossible to collect our subscriptions until we get the line down…"
December 24, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Erie:
"…there is no probability of getting any more wire shipped to Detroit this winter as all the harbours are closed up tight along the lake, the sleighing is good now from Buffalo to this place and the wire might be carted cheap…"
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PLACES:
Milwaukee;
Chicago;
Buffalo;
Erie, Penn.;
Detroit;
Vermont;
Troy, N.Y.;
Michigan.
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PEOPLE:
Tillotson, D.T.;
Speed, J.J.;
Cornell, E.B.;
Haviland, J.;
Morse, Samuel F.B.;
Dunham, J.;
Wood, Benjamin;
Wood, M.B.
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TOPICS:
Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, office operations.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
December 28, 1847. B.B. French, President of the Magnetic Telegraph Company to Ezra Cornell regarding shares issued as dividend payments and current operations of eastern lines.
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PLACES:
Troy;
New York City;
Michigan;
Chicago;
Vermont.
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PEOPLE:
French, B.B.;
Haviland, J.;
Speed, J.J.
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