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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1903)
18 HENRY. W. lrk. Mr. Corbett overcame his lnflrml. ties and buttled about the house as a man crown 20 or' 10 years younser. In or der to armire Mrs. Corbett that he -was well and vigorous, and In order to take her place la the direction of household a train. .Mr. Corbrtt'K Drirrnilanti. Mr. Corbett left as his only descendants three grandsons Harry Ladd Corbett, axed 21 years, Elliot R. Corbett. 18 years, and Hamilton F. Corbett, 13 years. They are sons of the late Henry J. Corbett and Mrs. Helen Ladd Corbett. Henry J. Cor bett was a son of H. W. Corbett. and his wife, Mrs. Helen .Ladd Corbett, is a daughter of the late "W. S. Ladd. W. E. Robertson, of this city, la a nephew of H. W. Corbett. Mr. Robert son's mother was a sister of Mr. Corbett. Mr Corbett had another sister, the wife of the late Henry Falling. Three daugh ters of Mr. and Mrs. Falling- survive: Miss Henrietta E. Falling, Mary- F. Falling, and -Mrs. ii. .-. uaoeii, an oz wnom arc now In New York. W. 11, Corbett. president of the "Willam ette Iron Works, of this city, is a son of a second cousin of H. V. Corbett.- Mrs. Philip C. Schuyler, of thle city, is a cous in of II. W. Corbett ain. connETi's career. Record of Industry, Integrity and a Ability. Henry "Wlnslow Corbett was bom at "Wrstborough. Mass.. February IS, 1S27, and was the youngest son of a family of eight, tix of whom reached maturity. His parents were Elijah and Mellnda (For bush) Corbett. His ancestors, who settled in Massachusetts In the l'th century, were Normans, and traced their descent from Roger Corbett. who- was a military leader under William I. and in the conquest of England gained distinction and lands for tho part he bore in the trouble. William, the eldest son of Roger, was seated at Wattesborough, while his sec ond son. Sir Robert Corbett, had for hla inheritance the castle and estate of Caua with a large part of his father's domain. The tatter's hon. aUo named Robert, ac companied Richard I .to the siege of 'Acre, bearing on his coat-of-arms two ravens, which have since been the crest of his descendants. As will be seen from the foregoing, Mr. Corbett was descended from a very ancient and honorable family. 11 any achieved distinction in politics, the church and in the learned professions, while one of tho descendants on the ma ternal side was a member of Parliament a few years ago. The Corbetts in America are lineal de scendants of this ancient and honorable family, as their family record at Mendon, Alass., clearly indicates. Mr. Corbett's father was a mechanic end cxtabllfhcd at Westborough the first edge-tool manufactory in that part of Massachusetts. He subsequently removed to Washington County. New York, where 1 continued his manufacturing business until forced to abandon, it on account of failing health. He then settled In Cam bridge in the same county and engaged in the hotel business nnd farming untllhls death in 1S13. He was a man of progres sive ideas and possessed much mechanical Ingenuity. Both of Henry W. Corbett's parents were" consistent Christians, and exerted a most wholesome Influence upon the lives and characters of their chil dren. Mr- Corbett's boyhood was passed ln "Washington County, New York, whet, until he reached the age of 1J years, he received an ordinary common -school edu cation. At that age he began his busi ness career in a store at Cambridge, re maining two years as clerk and a part of the same time attending Cambridge Academy. He then went home, and. af ter a short term at school, secured a clerkship at Salem, the county seat. Af ter a year there he went to N.ew York City and secured a clerkship In the dry poods store of Williams, Bradford Co.. serving there seven years. During this period he firmly established htmself In the' confidence of his employers, so that in October. ISM. they furnished him the ncccssiry capital to ship a general line of merchandise to Portland. Or., by way of Cape Horn on the bark Francis and Louise. He arrived in Portland March 4. C3 years ago (Id). At that time Portland contained about 400 Inhabitants and five small stores. Front street was a stump field, and back of First street stood the virgin forest. He rented a frame build ing, not quite completed, on the corner of Fourth and Oak streets, at the rate of 3125 per month. Storing his goods to the second floor of this building before It was completed, he began business. His customers were obliged to ascend a flight of stairs. "At night." said Mr. Corbett once to a writer. "I slept in the store, and when I was ready to go to bed I pulled the stairs up after me." With a real and earnestness which ever characterised him. he applied himself to business, and within 14 months disposed of the entire stock of goods, toe net CORBETT, BANKER AND profits from the venture amounting to i uic iiauusuuic cum vi j,yj, wun wmcn he returned to New York. Before-re turn ing East, however, he became associated with Robert and FInley McLaren, who arranged to continue the business in Port land. Mr. Corbett remained in New York one year, and during this time continued to ship goods to hla partner in Portland. He then determined to make Portland his home, and some months after his return dissolved with his partners and estab lished a business in his own name. He did a general merchandise business until 1S60, when he changed to a wholesale hard ware business. He became associated with Henry Falling in 1S7L establishing the Arm of Corbett, Falling & Co., which has since occupied so prominent a place among the mercantile houses in the Northwest. As soon as Mr. Corbett had trained a good financial start he began to take a prominent part in those enterprises which he saw were needed to develop the re- sources of the country. He first became ' Interested in steamboating and the Im provement of transportation facilities on the rivers. He was among the first to advocate the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and when in the Senate labored zealously for the project, though he had no personal interest to subserve in so doing. After the failure of Jay Cooke to carry the undertaking through, he helped in the, reorganization of the com pany by taking a pecuniary interest In the enterprise and was one of its most active promoters thereafter until its com pletion. In the "Winter of 1S65-6 Mr. Cor bett secured the Government contract to carry tho mails between San Francisco and Oregon. The line was some 640 miles In length, and he stocked it with four- horse stages and successfully continued the business until his election to the United States Senate. Then, believing his relation to the business incompatible with his duties as a public servant, he relin quished hla contract. In 1K9, with Henry Falling, Mr. Cor bett purchased a controlling Interest in the First National Bank of Portland, which had been established in 1663. At that time the bank's business was very limited, its deposits amounting to about 140,000. Under the management of Messrs. Corbett and Failing the bank steadily grew unUl at the present time it is at the head of financial Institutions of the Northwest. Henry Failing was president from the time they took control until his death four years ago. and Mr. Corbett was vice- president after his retirement from -the ' Senate. Since Mr. Falling's death Mr. 1 Corbett has been president. Since its or ganization he has also been president of the Security Savings & Trust Company. In numerous other business, public. cnurcn ana cnantabio enterprises Mr. Corbett held a prominent position. Jle , was a director of the Oregon m Hallway & ' Navigation Company, always casting his I Influence in behalf of liberal management j dressed himself with all the force and and to secure the lowest rates of trans- j power of which"" he was capable. His argu porta tlon .possible with good and quick ments on the resumption of specie pay scrvlce. 1 ment. funding of the National debt at a He was largely Instrumental In the orlg-1 lower rate of interest for a longer time, lnal Board of Trade, and for several years ' and his determined opposition to all plans was its president, and was active in the j that savored in the least of bad faith or Chamber of Commerce. In all the lm- i repudiation have proven his Judgment cor portant measures of these bodies Mr. Cor-1 rect In every particular, not only ac- bett was foremost in counsel and hearty co-operation. Mr. Corbett was chairman I of tho Committed of One Hundred, which 1 took a prominent part in municipal affairs during the hard times of 1S33-95. In politics Mr. Corbett was originally .a Whig and a devoted follower of Henry Clay. But upon the formation of the Republican party in Oregon he at once became one of Its leaders, in which post- I a ,eader- ' lhcltJ" ot ani be tlon he remained until the day of his , an ornament. For hU ability as a busl death. As chairman of the first state n"s man he Tras highly distinguished. In central mmmlttw. ha did valiant nri-i bis character as a citizen fce was esteemed In securlnc the ascendancy of this nartv ', in Oregon, and at the convention held In 1SG0, he and Leander Holmes were elected ; delegates to the Chicago convention which ; nominated Abraham Lincoln tor the Presidency. They were unable to reach ' the convention in time, therefore Horace Oregon who deserved more from the peo Greeley represented Oregon by proxies pie than Mr. Corbett. In hla business from Mr. Corbett and Mr. Holmes. The and public relations he moved "on a high tiro votes Mr. Greley was thus enabled , plane. Mr. Corbett probably contributed to cast for Lincoln, backed by his own ', more to the growth and prosperity of powerful Influence, had a most potent j Portland than has any other man. His effect, if it did not really determine the ' energy Tms assured the success of the result in favor of the then comparatively ' little known statesman who was destined to rank on an equality with Washington. Mr. Corbett early foresaw that war be tween the North and the South was lru editable, and with the first intimation of 1 Mr. Corbett ever since I was a young the approaching struggle he became an boy. and have had continuous, business uncompromising Union man. As soon as relations with him since that time. While the South decided to secede he realized ) he amassed great wealth, he was a most the. danger of delay, and Just after Mr. . generous -distributor of his riches, and Lincoln's Inauguration he boldly said to was a benefactor ot practically all the Horace Greeley in New York City: "It charitable Institutions of his adopted state, is my conviction that the war should be ' His place in Oregon will be exceptionally prosecuted with the utmost vigor to co- ! difficult to fliL erce the states that have placed them- selves in open hostility to the Govern-, A. L. Moblcr Senator Corbett was a ment." It will be remembered that at king in the commercial and banking this time Horace Greeley's Idea was "to world of Oregon. He was a most excel let our erring sister depart In peace." lent citizen, generous and patriotic His l pon Mr. corbett's return to Oregon he i made every effort to induce all loyal men to combine against the heresy ot seces sion, and as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee strongly urged the union of the Republicans and Douglas or war Democrats. In a great measure he was successful, and at a union con vention held la Eugene City, April 9, THE MORNING J 1S62, he was strongly solicited to become the candidate for Governor, but, having no personal ambition In that direction, be declined -the honor. A. C Glbbs was se lected. Bo well did he manage the cam paign that followed that Mr. Glbbs was elected by a majority of 5000 votes, where as the usual Democratic majority had been 2500. During the entire war period Mr. Corbett continued taking a most active and in fluential part in maintaining the ascend ancy of his party, believing that the maintenance of Its principles and purposes was essential to preservation of the Union. He naa never sought or had any desire or official position, but in IKS some of the Republican members of the Legislature who recognized his unielfl'h labors In behalf of the organization of the party urged him to accept their support for United States Senator. He consented, but under the provision that his name would not be brought forward unless they were unable to agree upon any of the candi dates who had already entered the field. He would not be a party to creation of discord. After several unsuccessful bal lots, when it seemed impossible to se cure a harmonious action on any candi date, a majority of the Republican mem. bers signed an agreement to support Mr. Corbett and asked permission to present his name. Thereupon he went to Salem, but, learning that some of the candidates were dissatisfied, he notified his friends he would not enter the race unless perfect harmony could bo secured. However, on his return to Portland he was notified of his election as successor to Hon. J. W. TNesmlth. Wlth his wonted earnestness he entered upon the duties of his office In March, 1S67. At that period the many financial heresies -following the conclusion of the war, to- getner wun the vexatious questions which j and San Francisco had been discontinued, arose from restoring the South to the . but through his efforts was speedily re Union, confronted the Nation. On the J stored. Among other local measures floor of the Senate Mr. Corbett had to ; which received his attention were the re contend with some of the most expert i moval of obstructions to navigation in the enced Legislators, some of whom are still 1 Willamette River, the erection of Hght consplcuous In National affairs. He was i houses alone the coast and the lomttnn unfamiliar with Senatorial laws and the I usages of deliberative bodies In general. ! but with practical common sense and fidelity he applied himself to his Senatorial 1 labors, and by his vqtes and speeches J made a record which in the light of subse- quent events fully demonstrated the wis- i dom of his course. His sound practical I Knowledge of financial affairs permitted ; him to understand clearly and expose I financial heresies, and to this Important : branch of National legislation be ad' TRIBUTES TO THE RARE WORTH Ex-Governor L. F. G rover, I knew Mr. Corbett since his arrival In Oregon, 2 years ago. Among men he was always for his social and religious relations. I cannot speak too highly of his Integrity as a man and a citizen in our public af fairs. Mayor Williams No man ever lived in Lewis and Clark Exposition. Mr. Corbett was universally beloved and respected by the people of Oregon. Ex-Senator Joseph Simon I have known death is an irreparable loss to the city nnd state, and his wise- counsel will be greatly missed by ell of us." J. F. O'Shea We have lost one of our best citizens, and the loss is not alone -of Portland, but of all Oregon, and all the Pacific Northwest. His death Is a very serious misfortune to the community. He OREGOMA.N. WEDNESDAY. PHILANTHROPIST, ANSWERS THE LAST cording to the logic of morals, but on the ground of expediency as well. Mr. Corbett's maiden speech on . Na tional finances was delivered December 13, 1S67, In support of his bill to substi tute gold notes, for legal tender notes and to facilitate the resumption of specie payments. He strongly condemned the continuance of a system of Irredeemable paper money, and argued that the pro ductive Industry and commerce of the country were crippled by the artificial, delusive and fickle valuation which such a system occasioned. He declared that well, regulated business basis could not be reached until a return was made as soon and as prudently as possible to a specie basis. He proposed to reach this result by gradual substitution of .gold notes for the .then existing legal tenders. Mr. Corbett delivered an able speech on the funding bill February 1L 1K9, saying he would offer an amendment to the bill making the bonds in question redeemable in coin after 20 years Instead of ten, and turned bis attention to the statement of Senator Sherman, of Ohio, who said that for onehe would vote to pay off the 2&.year bonds In legal" tender, "providing the hold ers do not see fit to exchange their secur ities for bonds bearing 1 per .cent less" in terest than those now held by them." In his many speeches in behalf of sustaining the National credit, Mr. Corbett displayed unusual powers of statement ,and of close logical argument, and history has already proved the soundness -and wisdom of the views, they contain. Most of the great financial Ideas he advocated have been adopted. "While Mr. Corbett devoted much time to National questions, be was by no means unmindful Of the needs of the state he represented. When, he took his seat the ocean mall service between Portland of fog whistles and buoys to mark the channels of the navurable streams: an additional customs district with port of entry and bonded warehousewas ea tab- Ushed; large addition .was made to the appropriation to survey the public lands in Oregon; the headquarters of the military department of the Columbia were rerrioved from Washington Territory to Oregon, and an "appropriation was secured to erect the Postofflce building at Portland. The opening up of new lines of communication and securing greater facilities in the use of old ones . received all the advantages which his Influence and commercial ex perience commanded. Mr. Corbett was tendered an ovation near the close of his Senatorial term by his fellow citizens in Portland, and in the address of welcome his political career was reviewed as follows by the speaker of was a good man In every way kind, gen erous, obliging, patriotic , P. L. Willis (Mr. Corbett's generosity, energy and public spirit have done much for Portland. His death Is a loss which will be universally felt by the community. George Taylor Mr. Corbett's death has brought sorrow to the entire community. Not only Portland but all Oregon and all the Northwest grieve, A. Hv Devers Mr. Corbett was foremost of our progressive citizens. The Lewis and Clark Fair loses Its ablest and most energetic promoter. Portland loses a man it can ill afford to lose. L N. Flelschner He" was Portland's grandest old man. He was so much a part ot the activity of the city and state that we can hardly recognize that he is gone. Just at this time, when Portland is in competition for the metropolitan supremacy of the Northwest, we need bis energy and progresslveness. Paul Wesslnger He was a man of large heart as well as of large affairs. He al ways accomplished what he undertook to do. His death is a bereavement, not alone to his family, but to his city and his state. y Dan McAllen We all have the same road in the end, but when we see a great man go we are shocked. Mr. Corbett was proud of Portland, proud ot Oregon and proud ot the coming Lewis and Clark Exposition. He worked for the public In terest Incessantly. Samuel Connell Although I was not very Intimately acquainted with, Mr Cor bett, I always regarded him as my friend, and I feel the loss very much. I looked upon him as having- the greatest public spirit of any man in the city. The work APRIL 1, 1903. yourself to Judge correctly of the senti ment prevailing throughout the state, we congratulate -you upon having so pru dently and effectually served the publlo that there are few. It any, whether mem bers of the party that elected you or of the opposition, who express dissatisfaction with your course. The Republicans say you have been true to the principles of the party and faithful to the pledges im plied In receiving the office at their hands. The Democrats admit that you have been no ungenerous opponent, while both agree that your conduct on all occasions has been governed by considerations affecting the welfare of our common country and not by those of party expediency or per sonal advantage. Such indorsement and approbation by an Intelligent people Is high praise in these times of corruption in high places. Yes. in these times when it is most effective that wealth and social position and commercial enterprise and local power and. official patronage will Join In any unholy alliance and adopt any means, howsoever corrupt, that may ap pear necessary to bribe the weak and bruise the strong into lending their aid and countenance to the schemes of am bitious and selfish men for personal ag grandizement and private plunder." It was during Mr. Corbett's public life that Alaska was purchased, "vyilllaia H. Seward and Schuyler Colfax were sent to the Northwest on the matter of the new acquisition. Old residents of Portland will remember the reception tendered these gentlemen at the old Philharmonic Hall in this city. Mr. Corbett was chairman of the reception committee and Introduced Secretary Seward and Mr. Colfax. Mr. Corbett's term as Senator eTplred March 4. 1873, and for more than a quarter of a century subsequently his at tention was devoted entirely to business. He declined absolutely to have anything to do with politics, though often "besought to enter again therein. In 1SS3. when the Oregon Legislature adjourned without electing a Senator he was Invited to be a candidate for the office by a majority of the Republican members, but he declined, insisting that his many and diverse busi ness Interests demanded and absorbed hla entire attention. He remained out of politics until 1S9S. when he concluded that the time had come once .more to take an active interest in public affairs, that It was In the Une of his duty to help maintain Oregon In the sound-money column. He was a candidate for United States Senator before the Legislature of 1S9S. but when he saw that there" was an effort on the part of some of the members to op pose his election, he retired from the race in the interest of harmony, and Senator Simon was given the office. It should be also related that in 1S37, the . Legislature having failed to organize. Governor Lord appointed Mr. Corbett to" the United States Senate, but that body refused to seat him on the ground .that OF MR CORBETT for the 1305 Exposition, of which he has been the moving force, must go on. and I mourn that he was not spared to work with us. ; H. W. Scott Our loss is great. It will be felt by all classes ot our business and other Interests in this city and state. W. D. Wheelwright I have never met a man who showed such courage and en- ! ergy ih spite ot physical weakness and in creasing years. With him to intend was to do, and to plan was to carry out. He ! was a benevolent man. given to good I deeds, and bad the fullest sense of the responsibilities of wealth. It is no dis paragement to any that are left behind to say that Portland has lost in Mr. Cor- I bett its most public-spirited citizen. W. D. Fenton Mr. Corbett was a great figure in the business life of the North west. His death brings to every citizen a feeling of personal bereavement, for his life was very closely Identified with the social, political and financial life of the state. A man of great vigor of intellect, strong personality, iron" will and deter- -mined purpose, he leaves a vacancy in great affairs that will" not soon be filled. Dr. E. P. Hill MrTcorbett was .a lib- eral man. a remarkably liberal man. I have never known a more generous. Up to the very last he took Interest in the I work ot the church. Only last week he was re-elected president of the board of i trustees. If I were asked to name what ; work of charity he has not aided, I could name not one. I never took a charitable or church enterprise to him but he re sponded he would do his share. F. M. Warren He was the greatest man in Portland, the most enterprising, ener getic, progressive, and the best. I really don't know of anybody who can take his place. A7P COGBETT LeavAfC the Oregon Legislature had had an oppor tunity to organize, but had failed to do so. and that, therefore. Governor Lord had no appointing power. Thereupon Mr. Corbett was again a candidate in 1901, but failed of election, though he was sup ported throughout the session by a ma jority of the Republican members of the Legislature. MIL CORBETT'S FAMILY. . Twice 31arrieil Leaves No Surviving: Children. Mr. Corbett was married first in Febru ary. 1S33. to Miss Caroline E. Jagger.- of Albany. N. Y. This lady died some years later, leaving two sons. the. younger of whom, Hamilton F. Corbett, was carried off by sudden illness in 1SSI. The elder son. Henry J. Corbett. died in ISM. Mr. Corbett was married a second time in 1S6T to Miss Emma L. Ruggles, of Wor cester, Mass.. a lady of rare worth of character and strong mental Inclinations, whose grace and social accomplishments and whose prominent part In charitable affairs of this city has drawn to her a wide circle of friends who universally esteem her most highly. The Immediate connections surviving Mr. Corbett are: Mrs. Corbett, Mrs. Helen Ladd Corbett (widow of Henry J. Corbett) arid his three grandsons (all the children of Henry J and Helen Ladd Corbett), who are. respectively, Barry Ladd Cor bett. aged 22, now at Harvard College, class of 1902r Elliott Ruggles Corbett, aged 18, and Hamilton Forbush Corbett, aged 12. The latter two youths are now attending the, Portland Academy, to which Institution Mr. Corbett was so generous a benefactor. These three boys are the ultimate heirs of Mr. Corbett's great for tune, which Is conservatively estimated at over S3.000.000. , VAST EXTENT OF HIS ACTIVITIES. Mr. Corbett Associated With Many Dailneo Enterprise. Mr. Corbett's interests for many years past were manifold. He was president of the First National Bank. President of the Security Savings & Trust Company, . a director of the Oregon Railroad & Navi gation Company, president of the. Port- land Hotel Company, of which splendid j enterprise he was one of the chief found- I ers. He was president of the Rivcrview Cemetery Company, was chairman and active promoter of the great uommlttee In charge ot the work which has given Portland the finest water works system of anv city of its size In the Union. He was a director of the City & Suburban Railway Company, a director of the Co lumbia River & Northern Railway Com pany, a director of the Portland Gas Company, president of the board of trus tees of the' First Presbyterian Church, president ,of the Lewis and Clark Fair, an officer of the Trinidad Asphalt Company and a director or otherwise interested In several smaller banking and other institu tions scattered through the Northwest. As further showing the variety and scope of Mr. Corbett's interests, the fol lowing is a list ot some of Mr. Corbett's Important property .holdings In this city: The Worcester block. Neustader building; Hamilton bulldlpg. Cambridge building. Multnomah block, bt the corner of Fifth and Morrison; the splendid block occu pied by his own house. Just south of the Postofflce, the property covered with wooden structures at Fifth and Alder, and a great number of dwellings and vacant lots scattered throughout the city. MU. CORBETT AND THE 05 FAIR. Chief Promoter and Directing Spirit of the Great Enterprlne. The Lewis and Clark Centennial Expo sition was tne last great creation of Mr. Corbett and was in many respects his favorite enterprise. His heart and soul were in it. and he gave to the manage- j ment n f Its affairs nra tlm. .--t .... ' ... -. . .. ...... v . ... i- auu audi tion than to his own private business. It was bis purpose to make the success of the Exposition the roundlng-out of hla long business career, and he would have succeeded It his life bad been spared. Mr. Corbett is Justly entitled to the honor of being the father of the Expo sition. Without his help and Influence the local company could never have been financed, nor would, the state have been so generous in its treatment of the un dertaking. "When the Exposition of 1903 was first formally proposed by the Ore gon Historical Society in December. 1S0O. all turned to Mr. Corbett as the one per son who was qualified to take the leader ship and organize the company on a sound basis. The first suggestion of cost was modest enough and entirely within bounds, but the figures, in the hands of enthusiasts, mounted rapidly, and there was considerable talk that Portland could outdo Buffalo, and that it could, with some assistance from the surrounding country, organize and give vital force to a SUMMONS corporation of several millions of dollars capital Upon all such wild speculation Mr. Corbett. reDresentlnc the unanimous sentiment of conservative Portland, placed the stamp of disapproval. He pointed out the danger of Inflation, and made it clear that any serious overtaxing of the city's strength would react upon It- Mr. Corbett was won over to the proposed Exposition when he was convinced that the people would keep within their means in financ ing the company, or,,as he expressed. It. "cut their cloth according to the meas ure." From the moment that Mr. Corbett gave his approval to the Exposition he seemed to think that he had entered upon a great public duty and was found to discharge his task, to the smallest detail. Immedi ately after the filing ot the articles of- In corporation in October, 1901. he set about devising means to place the capital stock.. This necessitated the formation of a pro visional executive committee, which met at nlghta at 545 Washington street- In all the work that was done In November and December, 1901, Mr. Corbett participated with as much vim as any of his younger associates. No night was too cold for him to attend the meetings, and more than once he came to the sessions of the execu tive committee after having previously taken cold In the cheerless meeting hall. No step was taken without his advice and concurrence; no committee was appointed whose personnel he did not carefully con sider: no detail of organization, however unimportant, escaped his attention. The volume of work of which he was capable and the energy which he put Into its exe cution were among the many pleasant fea tures of those organization meetings. Mr. Corbett gave the Exposition com pany its being by writing his name for 330.000 ot the stock, or one-tenth ot the total capitalization at that time. He gave the company his money and his support, not for the good he or his Interests would derive from the Exposition, but for the good of the whole Northwest. .Whether he should ever get back any part of his sub scription was a thought that perhaps never entered his head. The upbuilding of the country was his main and only considera tion. He looked not at 1903 alone, but beyond the Exposition to- the passing of the day when the staff-covered buildings should have been leveled to the ground. He had hoped that out of the large amount of money that would be expended some building might be left that would be an enduring monument to the spirit and en terprise of this generation. With this ob ject in view, and believing in the greatest good for the greatest number, he main tained that the advantages of the City Park as a site for the Fair outweighed Its disadvantages, and yielded only when he found that the sentiment of the executive committee was almost unanimously against his view. The permanent build ing, which has become the Memorial build ing under the act passed by the last Leg islature, was his idea, and so was the monument to Lewis and Clark In the City Park, the cornerstone of which President Roosevelt will lay May 2L In the management of the business of the Exposition Mr. Corbett's methods were the same as those which characterized his conduct ot his private affairs. His rules were efficiency and economy. "Spend no money unnecessarily." he would say. "Re member, the stockholders have put up this money." Every letter he received was promptly and courteously answered. The man who applied to him personally at the bank for the position of gatekeeper or timekeeper at the Exposition places that have not yet been created was treated as kindly as If he had come to open an ac count at the bank. Interest at 4 per ceni was allowed on the company's funds at the First National Bank, by Mr. Corbett's direction. "We do not pay Interest on deposits." he said, "but the Exposition Is an exception. I want to provide a fund that will help stand off the expenses." As an Exposition president and execu tive officer Mr. Corbett takes rank with Lyman J. Gage, now Secretary of the Treasury, who was the first president of the Chicago World's Fair, for financial ability, and above Mr. Gage for staying qualities. Mr. Gage headed the Chicago Exposition at its start. Just as "Mr. Corbett headed our Exposition at its start. Mr. Gage served a year and then surrendered his office because his private affairs de manded his time, leaving a carefully pre pared plan for his successors to follow. Mr. Corbett prepared his own plans, worked them out with tact and -Judgment gave the Exposition precedence over his private affairs, and surrendered only to death. If Mr. Corbett had been in charge at Chicago, his constructive ability and close scrutiny of the outgo would have returned perhaps 50 per cent to the stock holders Instead of only 10 per cent. Tha waste that grew out of Ill-considered plans and other causes at Chicago would not have been possible under a Corbett. As Mr. Corbett Is compared to bis contempo raries in exposition management, the fact will redound to his glory and the credit of Oregon, that while Portland will have me smallest, oi me international Expost 1 use"