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1866 ARTILLERY SHELL INVENTOR'S LETTER TO EZRA CORNELL -- FOUNDER OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY
Ezra Cornell (1807–1874) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and a founder of Cornell University. This is quite an interesting old 2-page letter of solicitation dated 1866, which is written in ink on lined-white paper 7 ˝ x 11” by an IMPOVERISHED MACHINIST named Conrad Milton of Albany, New York. Milton has INVENTED A SUPERIOR PERCUSSION ARTILLERY SHELL (unfortunately—he is just a bit too late for the Civil War) and HOPES TO SELL IT TO THE GOVERNMENT. He needs $550 for patterns, casting, caps & charging and optimistically writes to Ezra Cornell as a SELF-MADE “MONIED MAN who will advance me sufficient funds to get the shell introduced, taking a one-half interest.”
The letter goes into interesting detail concerning inferior shells used in the bombardment of Charleston, SC as well as some of the challenges & details of making munitions during the Civil War years. Milton wishes to keep a one-half interest in his invention as “I feel as though my labor and brains though a humble mechanic, are worth as much as the man who counts his money by the thousands.” He hopes that Cornell might “give me the chance of raising myself like yourself.”
A full transcription of the letter follows:
“Albany, November 13, (18)66
Dear Sir
You will please excuse my seeming rudeness in addressing an entire stranger upon a topic of so little interest to the outside world, but as you are of a class, of which the world contain but very few one “SELF MADE MEN” and have toiled in the ranks of the working man. I take the liberty of addressing you hoping you will seriously consider my project, and if possible assist me if consistent with your interests. Also, as your experience is large, I should like a word of advice in addition to your cooperation.
MY PET (for so I call it) is a PERCUSSION SHELL the use of which Government stood very much in need of during the late war, having NONE THAT WOULD DO EXECUTION EVERY TIME. In fact I am credibly informed Government paid a large sum of money for THOSE USED IN SHELLING CHARLESTON and that but about one in ten done any execution. I have forgotten the name of the inventor but they were pronounced a failure by those who used them. Government still wants and will pay liberally for a shell that will explode every time. Now I will claim this for mine under all circumstances. I assert that my shell is bound to explode the instant it stops, whether thrown against an object or over inside any fortification or works. I have experimented more of less for the past year and have surmounted every difficulty. The most intricate part being to get the proper balance in order to have the shell alight on the end when thrown over into the enemies’ fort, the elevation required and the amount the shell would have to turn in descending. Repeated trials have satisfied me that I have got the shell. It is an easy matter to construct a shell that will explode when thrown against an object, but to throw one over into an enemies’ fort. Government has not as yet got a shell that will explode more than one shell in ten.
Having thoroughly tested my own I wish to bring it to the notice of a committee who try those shells. I want to get about twenty-five or thirty made and charged for a twenty-four pounder. The patterns and casting will cost about $500, the cap and charging say $50 more. Being a machinist I can put them together and charge them. Now there is one serious drawback, that is money. I am a poor man and $550 is more than I can reasonably expect to save, after supporting my own large family, for some time. I want to engage the interest of some monied man who will advance me sufficient funds to get the shell introduced, taking a one-half interest and if possible take the thing and put it through right off. I am confident, there is no such word as fail, and I feel as though my labor and brains though a humble mechanic, are worth as much as the man who counts his money by the thousands.
Now I do hope sir you will give me the chance of raising myself like yourself and loan me the money. As to references, I have none further than those with whom I work and are like myself poor but honest. I have spent about $150 perfecting my shell and that is all I am able to do. If you are not willing to help me please give me a little advice in the matter and if possible some time I will return the favor.
Yours respectfully,
Conrad Milton, Albany, NY
[To] E. Cornell, Ithaca, Tompkins Co., NY”
Letter is also docketed by Cornell in the upper right corner of the reverse side: “C. Milton 13 Nov 66.”
Ezra Cornell (1807 – 1874) was an American businessman and was a founder of Cornell University. Ezra made his fortune in the telegraph business as an associate of Samuel Morse, having gained his trust by constructing and stringing the telegraph poles between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, as the first ever telegraph line of substance in the U.S. After joining with Morse, Cornell supervised the erection of many telegraph lines, earning a substantial fortune as a founder of the Western Union company. Cornell retired from Western Union and turned his attention to philanthropy. He endowed the Cornell Library, with Andrew Dickson White helped secure found Cornell University as New York's land grant university in 1865.
Scan shows front and reverse of the letter
Price= $125.00
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