[Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals by Samuel F. B. Morse]@TWC D-Link book
Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals

CHAPTER XXX
12/33

...

Love to all.

Specially remember me in your prayers that I may have wisdom from above to act wisely and justly and calmly in this sore trial.
While thus some of those on whom he had relied failed him at a critical moment, new helpers were at hand to assist him in carrying on the work.
On December 27, he writes to the Secretary of the Treasury: "I have the honor to report that I have dismissed Professor James C.Fisher, one of my assistants, whose salary was $1500 per annum....

My present labors require the services of an efficient mechanical assistant whom I believe I have found in Mr.Ezra Cornell, and whom I present for the approval of the Honorable Secretary, with a compensation at the rate of, $1000 per annum from December 27, 1843." Cornell proved himself, indeed, an efficient assistant, and much of the success of the enterprise, from that time forward, was due to his energy, quick-wittedness, and faithfulness.
Mr.Prime, in his biography of Morse, thus describes a dramatic episode of those trying days:-- "When the pipe had been laid as far as the Relay House, Professor Morse came to Mr.Cornell and expressed a desire to have the work arrested until he could try further experiments, but he was very anxious that nothing should be said or done to give to the public the impression that the enterprise had failed.

Mr.Cornell said he could easily manage it, and, stepping up to the machine, which was drawn by a team of eight mules, he cried out: 'Hurrah, boys! we must lay another length of pipe before we quit.' The teamsters cracked their whips over the mules and they started on a lively pace.


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