Cyrus Cornelius Pratt to Ruth Fletcher, 1886 September 12
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your favor of the 6th just came duly to hand yesterday, and I take the liberty to
do an unusual thing for me, ie, open my office and seat myself to write you on
Sunday.- business letters must lie over until business
hours.- This however is an exceptional case and as my time is fully occupied
week days for fear I would postpone writing I for once break the fixed rules of
the Office.- I trust you will pardon me for so doing.- Your letter finds us in
comfortable health, in the main, Mrs Pratt is not entirely well, and neither am
I.- she is slightly malarious, and I am simply overworked.- and all I need is
rest.- Our Children are well, The Oldest Clark Auriel, was
born at
Dallas Texas, Sept 11th 1878, hence your letter arrived on his 8th birth day.-
He is a nice bright Boy, is almost an exact picture of me at his age.- he takes
no pleasure in play with Boys of his age, but rather prefers to stay with me,
run erands &c. he doubtless inherits all the musical talent of his [mother] and me.- and his
Mother comes of a high Musical stock.- She being a full Cousin of Christine
Neilson the noted vocalist, and Mrs Pratt really possesses greater natural
talent than her Cousin.- I shall never think of educating Clark for a
Professional Musician, that profession being too precarious, and uncertain,
Clark takes to Drawing and I shall no doubt if we live educate him to follow up
the inventions I have perfected, The next child is Mary Carolena.- Named for
sister Mary and
my Wife.- Matilda Carolena
Neilson. Mary was born at Iowa City- Iowa May 29th 1880. hence is six
years old past. She is a smart child. takes after me in disposition &
tastes. hers like me, a violent. temper.- quick to get angry & quick
over it.- She somewhat resembles Aunt Wyatt, in shrewdness, and looks like her daughter Mandana, and has
considerable resemblance to Aunt Lydia. It is too soon to work out her course of
studies.
The youngest is Elmer Cornelius.- Named for Mrs Pratts Grandfather, in Sweden and
for myself.- He is almost 4 years old - was born Nov 10th 1882, at Ks.. Elmer is an exact picture of me, except he will be more of a Blond,
in complexion.- So you see I am well provided with Children, and of course I am
like all other parents.- think them all very nice children.-
We have for the past 3 1/2 years had a wonderful trying experience.- My
[Ins] Co, the "Vigilant-"
antagonized the interests of the [ ] Stock Fire
Ins Cos, and they combined to crush me.- They bought up the Papers &
officials and in 1883, got a Supreme Court decision
against the Co. which compelled the Co to stop - I got it Chartered by Special
Act of the Legislature in Ga. the very week the Courts of Ks. went against me,
& was thus enabled to protect Policy holders in all parts of the U.S.
except Ks.- I at once set about remoddeling the Laws
of Ks. so it would be possible to form such Cos- it took lots of Wire pulling, and 3 years time, but I
triumphed.- See circular herein with my Rooster on the
top rail of the fence.- The "Vigilant" is now on deck to
stay, and will soon be a powerful organization.- See Leaflet herein for [ ] &c.- also note it is fully covered
by U.S. Copyrights.- owned
by me.- In 1884 I started a Life Asso here-
it was a success, but the Stock [loss] got into the
& got a law passed requiring such
Associations to put up $100,000,- this we could not do & I transfered it
to Dalton Ga.- and am still Secy of it there, as well as of the "Vigilant Ins Co" of Dalton Ga.- My interest are in Ks. and although
I was boss in the Ga Office, yet I prefered to stay rite here and fight the
great fight for my rights- happily I triumphed. To enable me to get even with
the enemies of the People, I started this Co The "Lincoln"- Insuring property against Fire Lightning, Tornadoes,
Cyclones and Wind Storms.- See Leaflet herein, and it is making a substantial
growth and in due time will be The fire Co of Ks. and as
a consequence will crush out the Ins monopolists.-
So to-day I am Secy,, of two Live Stock Ins
Cos. One Life Asso., and one Fire Co. being in effect the champion of
the Mutual idea of Insurance.- As great as these interest are they are however
only secondary with me.- years ago I invented what is
known as the "Pratt Truss Bridge".- Later Invented the "Pratt Double Tubular
Arch Bridge".- A little later I invented the "Pratt Latice Truss Bridge".- The
"Pratt Truss Beam Bridge".- later on the "Pratt Steel
Arch Bridge." and last and greatest of all the "Pratt Suspension Bridge."- The
last was the result of the invention of the "Pratt Land
Anchor"- Designed originally to anchor Warf Boats, and by nice
accident I learned I had a fortune in the Anchor to secure Buildings against Tornadoes & Floods.-
&c. &c.- See circular herein.- of "Pratt's Steel Bands &
Expansion Land Anchor"__Later on I discovered I could use the Anchor to secure the Cables of Suspension
Bridges. and I now
can erect Suspension Bridges made
entirely of Steel, for less money than any one can buy the raw materials for an
Iron Bridge.- During the persecution brought against me in the "Vigilant" I was reduced to poverty, my little family &
myself suffering at times for the neccessaries of life.- during these trying
times these great inventions were perfected.- I now am arranging to form
Companies in various parts of the US. & Canada to manufacture all these
things, At length having learned I could interest vast capital &c.-
While still not rich yet I am on the high-way, to riches, as City after City
offers royal donations of Lands Buildings &c for such works.- One
City--Chatanooga Tenn. offers shops of Bricks worth $50,000, 5 Acres of Land 1/4
miles from [Union] Depot worth $15,000.- The Citizens offer to
form Stocks Co with $500,000, capital and insure to me 1/4 the capital stock =
$125,000, making
the donation in effect the handsome
sum of $190,000,- Topeka Ks. offers me $100,000, as a Donation &c.- I
shall form such Cos_ all over the US. Candada. & in many portions of
Europe, I shall change my plans & sell the Bands & Anchor for
Buildings by Counties & States.- and from present appearances I think I
will get a handsome fortune out of it alone.- Recently I sold New Mexico for
$4,000, in trade.- I sold Washington territory for 36 sections of wild Land, in
that [Ten,-] Counties sell at $50, for each 1000, Inhabitants.-
hence the U.S. is worth $3,000,000 - I allow Agents .50% for selling, and should
I only sell 1/3 of the territory can leave the Wife & Babies something
for a wet day.-
With all these things on hand I have no time but what i can find, and I too am
getting old hence I must
do all I can to get these things into shape
to benefit my family & kin folds.- At the present time I am too full of
business to think of going on a visit, but during the coming year, when a few of
these Cos are in shape I propose to take the time to visit all of my people.-
Had the Stock [Ins Cos] let me alone in 1883, I would have been
in condition long ago to have spent the time - but they did not and as a
consequence I was crippled to such an extent that at times I did not know where
the next sack of flour was coming from.- Had it not been for this privation this
great invention would never have seen day-light,- so the fight on me has turned
to my advantage, although at the time we were at times disposed to grumble at
our lot.- It is all well that ends well and we now have nothing to fear - except
over-work.-
I am sorry to hear of the trials of Aunt Lydia & Uncle Daniel. I heard
from Sister Mary something about it.- but at the time was in no condition to
help them, as I could barely help myself.- I hope Henry will bring the offending
party to time.- if he does not the relatives aught to combine & make him
do right.- In a few years I will not allow any of my kin to suffer thus.~ Sister
Mary is not in good health, she is worked too hard,- I saw her at her home last
spring.- Caleb had a great raft of his folks there for Mary to cook for and she
was then nearly worked to death.- Clark writes me every week, & I am
expecting Mary to see me soon & will jog her memory about writing to
you.- By the way her Son Clark is a very nice young man.- well educated
&c. and is my partner in the Anchor & Bridge matter in British
North America.- I can hardly wait until next year I
want to see you
all so bad.- but now is my time. I must fix things as fast as possible - 1st the
Ins Cos_ I have to educate men to do my work, also show men how to make my
Bridge Drawings. I learned these things (ie. Drawing) in self defence.- and am
something of an Engineer & Draftsman.- In fact I make all
Drawings myself- I want to see Uncle Lemuel; and the
Relatives in Ind.- and I want to see Old VT. and fish for Spickeled trout in the
Little Brooks, as I did when a Boy.- If you live one year more I will certainly
do this- and I trust you & Uncle Andrew have many years yet in store.
Now Dear Aunt I must bring this to a close for fear of wearying you.- It is not
often I write long letters, but today I thought I would
& would tell you of a few of the many things that
have
conspired against me & for me. Wishing you and all the dear ones in my
Mountain Home happiness long life and prosperity-
I am now as ever your Affectionate NephewC.C. Pratt