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"