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ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

ADDIE SsiiS

COMMEMORATIVE OF

GEORGE HAMMELL COOK, Ph.D., LED,

PROFESSOR OF

Geology and Agriculture in Rutgers College,

12. Wel “ . ms ov

DELIVERED BEFORE THE
TRUSTEES, FACULTY, ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND

FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE,

JUNE 17, 1890.

TOGETHER WITH
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH READ BY REQUEST
BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT

TRENTON, JANUARY 28, 1890.

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Newark, N. J.
ADVERTISER PRINTING HousE,
1891.

G2o01
(chi ia i a a

CeOnGE re COOK

‘STATE GEOLOGIST OF NEW JERSEY—DIRECTOR OF THE AGRI-
CULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF NEW JERSEY—
PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE

IN RUTGERS COLLEGE.
BY JAMES NEILSON.

2EORGE H. COOK, Pu.D., LL.D., State Geologist of
New Jersey, Director of the Agricultural Experiment
Station of the State, Vice-President of Rutgers College
.and its Professor of Geology and Agriculture, died at his
residence in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Sunday, Sep-
tember 22d, 1889. He died as he had lived, and as he
‘wished to die, in the active discharge of his duties.
George Hammell Cook was born at Hanover, Morris
County, New Jersey, on January the 5th, 1818. He was
‘the third son of John Cook and his wife Sarah Munn.
His ancestors on the male side came from England in
1640 to Lynn, Massachusetts. They soon after removed
‘to Southampton, Long Island, and thence to Hanover,
New Jersey, where their house, the home of several gen-
‘erations, still stands. It was built one hundred and
seventy-five years ago, and is still owned by Doctor
‘Cookis, brother: An old record of ‘ay will) dated) 1751;
states that John Williams gives it to his daughter, Mary
Cook, wife of Ellis Cook.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis Cook, of Hanover, Morris

4

County, son of the last named [born 1732 and died 1797],
and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch,
was one of the prominent men of the State during and
after the Revolution. He was a member of the Commit-
tee of Correspondence, and afterward of the Legislature,
where he was one of the active men, always a member of
the great committees. He was appointed Lieutenant-
Colonel of the Morris Militia, and was a member of the
Provincial Congress of 1776, which organized the State
by its constitution. Where important work was to be
done, there, like his distinguished great-grandson, we
find him quietly doing it.

Doctor Cook was married on March 26th, 1846, to Mary
Halsey Thomas. Mrs. Cook, two sons and two daughters
survive.

As a boy Doctor Cook attended the country school of
his native town. In 1836 he served on the survey for the
Morris and Essex Railroad, and then on that of the Cats-
_ kill and Canajoharie road. In December, 1838, he entered
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York,
and graduated thence with the degree of C. E. in 1839.
He there acquired, under the inspiration of the famous
teacher, Amos Eaton, that love for the natural sciences
which distinguished him, and which has borne fruit to
the great advantage of his native State and of a wide
circle of friends and pupils—a notable instance of the
power and far-reaching influence of the enthusiastic and
magnetic teacher. After graduation, Doctor Cook was
employed asa tutor, then as adjunct professor, and from
1842 to 1846 as senior professor in the Institute.

In 1846 he removed to Albany, where for two years he
was engaged in business, and from 1848 to 1851 was Pro-
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the
Albany Academy, and from 1851 to 1853 he was Principal
of the Academy. In 1852 he was sent to Europe by the

5

State of New York, to study the salt deposits for the
benefit of those of Onondaga County.

In 1853 he was called to the Chair of Chemistry and
Natural Sciences in Rutgers College, at New Brunswick,
and retained his connection with the College during his
life. He had already received the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy from the University of New York, and in 1865
Union College conferred upon him that of Doctor of
Laws.

In 1854 he was appointed Assistant Geologist of the
State of New Jersey, and was in charge of the southern
division of the State for three years. At this time he
made reports on the green-sand marl beds, the clay beds
and on the coast changes. The fact of the subsidence of
the coast, and the stratigraphical relations of the marl
beds were discovered by him at this early day. The
geological survey was suspended from 1856 till 1863,
when the Legislature put the property of the survey in
his charge, and in 1864 he was made State Geologist by
act of the Legislature, which by nearly unanimous votes
in 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1885 continued the survey with
Doctor Cook at its head.

In 1864 Doctor Cook used his influence successfully to
connect the “State College for the Promotion of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts” with Rutgers College, and he
was made Vice-President of the combined institution.
In 1873 he lent his aid in the formation of the State
Board of Agriculture, and was ever after a member of
its Executive Committee.

In 1877, at the Wilkesbarre Meeting of the American
Institute of Mining Engineers he read a paper on “The
Southern Limit of the Last Glacial Drift across New
Jersey and the Adjacent Parts of New York and Penn-
sylvania.”’ He was one of the first to discover the exist-
ence of a great terminal moraine in the eastern United

6
States; a description of which appears in the reports of
the survey for 1877 and 1878.

The geological survey under Doctor Cook’s manage-
ment has been the medium through which the closest
scientific research has been applied to the practical needs
of the State. The knowledge thus communicated has.
led to the development of the clays, of the iron and zinc,,
the soils, the swamp lands, water supply, and many other
interests. One of the most important achievements of
the survey has been the beautiful series of twenty maps:
on the scale of one mile to an inch, topographical, geo-
logical and hypsometric, executed with the last degree of
accuracy and care, and just completed before Doctor
Cook’s death. They are said by competent judges to be
the best published by the different States. They have
been adopted by the United States geological survey, and
indeed,’are considered the best which exist.

Doctor Cook’s interest in popular education was untir-
ing; his efforts in that direction extended throughout his.
life, and were wise and comprehensive. He was early
impressed with the great importance of agricultural ex-
periment stations, and examined carefully into their
organization and working, visiting the more prominent
stations in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway and
England in 1870, and again in 1878, while in Europe as a
delegate to the Congress of Geologists at the Paris Ex-
hibition.

During the session of 1879 he brought the subject be-
fore the New Jersey Legislature, and with his usual per-
severance again in 1880, when, owing to the confidence
of the State Government in him, the Station of New
Jersey was established. He was appointed its Director,
and under his wise management it has obtained the con-
fidence of the farmers in a remarkable degree; it has been
of the greatest possible service to the agricultural inter-

7

ests of the State, and its bulletins have been sought
throughout the country.

While attending the recent annual convention of ex-
periment stations and agricultural colleges at Washington,
the delegation from the New Jersey Stations were greatly
impressed with the remarkable foresight shown by Doctor
Cook in the many lines of work and policy not adopted
elsewhere, which were there considered, in the light of
events, wise for the future, but which fe had already
inaugurated in the college and Station here, in numerous
instances, since many years. Although the stations of
Connecticut and North Carolina were established a short
time before the one in New Jersey (the first in 1875, the
second in 1877, and the last in 1880), Doctor Cook
already in 1870 had thoroughly investigated the sub-
ject in Europe and had planned the work to be done.
The passage by Congress of the Act of 1887, creating
the system of stations in every State, was largely due
to his efforts.

His duties as Professor of Agriculture and Director of
the Experiment Station led to the delivery of lectures on
agriculture in every part of the State. In this way his
personality impressed itself in every direction. Some one
said, while sadly referring to his death, ‘Who now will
tell us what we want to know?” He devoted much re-
search to ascertain the best methods of water supply for
cities, and early pointed out the danger of supply from
wells and polluted streams. He induced the boring of
artesian wells to supply the sea-coast resorts, and exe-
cuted surveys and maps of the watershed of Northern
New Jersey.

He took an active interest in the introduction of water
into New Brunswick and served for more than fifteen
years as a member of its Water Board. He was among
the first if not ¢#e first to analyze the well waters, and to

8

show the people of his town, that they were unfit for
drinking.

He planned the drainage of the Pequest and upper
Passaic meadows and accomplished the first and saw
work begun upon the last, thus converting worthless and
unhealthy regions into fertile and salubrious fields. He
brought within the scope of the geological survey, the
botany and climatology of the State, and the development
of soils, and called attention to the mild and healthful
climate of the pine lands and the sea coast, and made
known the agricultural value of the light soils. He also
organized the New Jersey weather service.

By reason of his knowledge of the changes of coast
level, as well as of the history of the controversy, Doctor
Cook rendered valuable service as a member of the com-
mission for the determination of the boundary between
New York and New Jersey.

He was interested in historical investigation. He
knew what people had done, and were doing, and all about
them ; every locality for him was teeming with historical
association. He manifested a lively interest in the His-
torical Society of New Jersey, and in the Historical Club
at New Brunswick, and was constantly accumulating
books and documents relating to Jersey history.

He was one of the founders of the New Brunswick
Free Library, and a member of its Board of Managers
until his death. He often visited the library in the even-
ing, and, pleased at seeing the rooms filled with readers,
would express his conviction, that the library was accom-
plishing more for the citizens of the town than any other
public institution.

In 1870 and again in 1878 the writer had the privilege
of traveling in Europe with Doctor Cook. It was cer-
tainly like being admitted to a new world. He was at
home on so many subjects, and with all sorts of people,

9

and had not only a general and broad view. but technical
and detailed information, which he delighted to commu-
nicate, in the simplest and most interesting manner. He
would often spend whole days, and travel long distances
without accomplishing much; this in no way discouraged
him—he would say, ‘that is to be expected ; another day
we shall accomplish more than we anticipate, and so the
loss and gain will be equalized.” He had a remarkable
facility for drawing others out; after stating in a general
way the subject on which he wished information he would
let his informant tell his story in his own way, and at
length, not interrupting or checking him because he
might wander, or give unimportant or irrelevant facts—
after he had finished, he might ask further questions. He
said talking was necessary for the transaction of business,
and that the time consumed was part of its legitimate
cost. In this way, while gaining large information in his
own lines, he won the confidence of men, and received a
vast fund of information on every conceivable subject,
which was carefully entered in his note book. These note
books must be a perfect treasure-house; he always had
one in his pocket, and could refer to what he wanted.
Indeed, he made it his business to obtain information
general, as well as specific, and after a long day spent in
travel and investigation, the evening would be spent in
writing up his notes and planning for another busy day,
and the morning, before others were awake, in examining
maps and laying out routes.

At home he carried on with energy and success as we
have seen, not only the geological survey, which alone
would have overtasked the powers of most men, but also
the agricultural experiment stations and his college work.
To all this he added the creation and constant care of the
geological museum of Rutgers College. The year before
his death he gave the summer, which others were spend-

Io

ing in needed vacation, to supervising the erection of the
‘new Laboratory for the experiment stations, in addition
to all the rest—and this when past the age of seventy.
Change of occupation, he often said, was sufficient rest.
He did not hesitate to assume responsibility when his
public work required it.

To illustrate Doctor Cook’s devotion to the public
welfare, to the sacrifice of his own pecuniary gain, it
should be mentioned that, when as State Geologist he
was discovering the valuable clays underlying much of
Middlesex County as well as other parts of the State, it.
was proposed that he should drop the survey, and forma
partnership with gentlemen of great wealth, to mine and
sell the clays ; he declined the offer, which must have led -
to fortune, preferring that the knowledge should be pub-
lic property.

Again, when the State Agricultural Experiment Station
was established in 1880, in order that the work should not.
be hampered by even a suspicion of self-seeking (although
he was the only man thought of for director, or who could
successfully organize it), he insisted that a sum equal to
his salary as such director should be deducted from his
salary as State Geologist, and then proceeded cheerfully
to do work double in intensity if not in time.

Doctor Cook considered it fundamental, that under-
takings should be jmshed, and constantly warned his
pupils and friends against the habit of going from one
thing to another, leaving work incomplete. He often in
the last years expressed his uneasiness lest he should not
be permitted to finish his own works, which from their
nature extended over years. It is a source of satisfaction
to his friends, and of the greatest importance to the State,
that he add live to see his work substantially completed.
His labors and attainments extended his fame not only
throughout the United States, but among the scientific

If

men of Europe. He was a member of numerous learned
societies ; among others, of the Royal Agricultural Society
of Sweden; of the American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science (of which he was Vice-President in 1887)
of the American Philosophical Society ; the Academy of
Natural Science of Philadelphia; the American Institute
of Mining Engineers, and the National Academy of
Sciences. He was also Surveyor-General for the ‘‘Pro-
prietors of East Jersey.”

He was a member and for a long time an elder of the
Reformed Church, always in his seat on Sunday ; and for
many years this busy man found time to conduct a Bible
class. His religion was carried into every hour’s occupa-
tion, as is shown by the record of his life. He did not
talk much about religion, he lived it. He loved God—
that is, he kept His commandments ; he loved his neigh-
bor as himself; he was not slothful in business sherdid
what his hand found to do with all his might ;—a prac-
tical religion, and real, and were it generally observed,
the world need not wait for a millennium, nor look to a
future existence alone for happiness.

His was a noble life—utterly unselfish, devoted to the
public welfare on the wisest and broadest lines. His
great scientific attainments, his wisdom, good judgment .
and marvelous powers of observation and work, were
employed during a long life in inaugurating and carrying
through great public enterprises, such as have already
made life brighter and fuller to multitudes. He never
considered his own reputation or ease or advantage. He
often’ said in ‘advising young men, “I have always been
doing work which no one else would do.”” He was simple
and unassuming. His friendships and attachments were
strong. His disinterestedness and wisdom were widely
recognized. Probably no manof his generation has so
commanded the public confidence of New Jersey. He

I2

was known and looked up to by all classes from one end
of the State to the other, and far beyond its boundaries.
His versatility was remarkable and his successful efforts
for the development of the State were in most varied
channels. He was one of the happiest of men, cheerful,
even tempered, overflowing with knowledge and informa-
tion, delightful in conversation and admirable in every
relation, loved and honored throughout his State, and
among a large circle of friends and acquaintances in this
and other lands. His life isa model for all, which may
well be followed. A great and good man has passed
away.

DOCTOR: COOK AS) A CivIiZe Ny:

BY HON. ABRAM 5. HEWITT.

ape State of New Jersey is fortunate in being a small

State. It has been more fortunate, up to a recent
period, in being largely an agricultural State. There has
been a certain family and social feeling pervading this
State which is unique. I have known the Legislature and
its citizens pretty well for about fifty years, and I have
found that it is the most Democratic community in the
world. This is my judgment. The Legislature represents
more closely and more nearly the opinions and interests of
its inhabitants than any other political organization which
has ever come under my personal observation.

It is true that in ancient Greece, particularly in Athens,
where the people come together in mass-meeting and there
were no representatives, we have an example of a pure
Democracy, which always suggested to me what I have
during my life observed to be the fact in New Jersey.
Hence, in this State, there is a very close supervision of
the expenditure of money, and, forty years ago, there was
a great indisposition to expend any public money, for any
purpose except the ordinary conduct of government. The
State, occupying its peculiar position, between the two
great States of New York and Pennsylvania, was to a
large extent influenced in its development by the overflow
of population, wealth and industry from the neighboring
States. Of its own resources it knew but little, and it isa

14

very suggestive fact that up to 1836, a little over fifty years
ago, nothing was known of the geology of this State. In
the excitement of that speculative era, some one proposed
that Professor H. D. Rogers should be employed to make
a survey of the State, and find out what kind of an inher-
itance had come down to them from their fathers, and it
is a curious commentary that Professor Rogers made what
is a very remarkable survey, and his compensation for the
report which gave us the first knowledge of the geology
of this State was the modest sum of one thousand dollars.
It was probably the best investment that ever was made
by the people of New Jersey.

It insured the development of the mineral resources,
particularly in the northern part of the State, upon a
larger scale than had ever been possible before, but the
State contented itself with this knowledge until about
1856, when Doctor Kitchell revived the public interest in
the geological structure of the State and the mineral
resources which it might contain. With considerable
effort, in which some of the older gentlemen whom I see
here present must have participated, the Legislature were
induced to organize a survey, of which Doctor Kitchell
was the head. He chose for his first assistant a young
man little known to the people of this State, and whom,
up to that time, I had never had the pleasure of seeing.

When Doctor Kitchell died, after having made three
annual reports, one of which related to the marls and
green sands of New Jersey, the survey fell into, I was
going to say, “‘innocuous desuetude.” At any rate, it was
abandoned. But the young man who had acted as the
first assistant never lost sight of the importance of contin-
uing and completing the survey. He came to me and
asked whether some way could not be made to revive the
interest in the matter, and I was satisfied, after talking
with him, that there was only one possible chance of

T5

getting the money appropriated and getting the survey
reéstablished. That was that that young man himself
should go to the members of the Legislature, and let them
see what manner of man he was, and tell them what inter-
ests the people of this State had in the economic side of
the question, leaving the scientific and higher portion of
the subject to take care of itself. That man was George
H. Cook, then a professor in Rutgers, with a previous
record as a teacher in the Troy Polytechnic Institute. I
aided him to some extent, introducing him to the mem-
bers whom 1 knew. The result was the passage of the act,
in 1864, by which the Geological Survey was revived, and
the singular compliment paid to Doctor Cook of having
him named in the Act, as the Geologist who was to super- '
intend its operation. He was named because of the uni-
versal conviction that if he would undertake the work, it
would not only be well, but be honestly done. There was
not a single vote in opposition to this measure, and the
appropriation was made. If I remember rightly, the
appropriation was eight thousand dollars, possibly it was
five thousand, but I think it was eight thousand dollars.
A Board of Commissioners was established from each
congressional district. There were five districts. The
original commissioners are now dead, all except four. I
believe the other three, with myself, are now in this room.
The survey was organized promptly, and Doctor Cook,
anxious to have the work done, refused to receive any
compensation for his personal services. He was finally
persuaded by the Commissioners to take a small sum—
very small, I think it was eight hundred dollars—out of
the appropriation, because we knew it involved expenses
as well as sacrifices, and the survey went on for four years,
when what was known as the final report of 1868 was
finished. We became very well acquainted with Doctor
Cook, I mean the Commissioners. I think of all the men

16°

I ever knew he was the least selfish, and the most cheerful.
He was literally a man without guile. He loved this State
with a rare devotion. He believed that small as it was, it
had in it all the elements of wealth and prosperity, and of
political greatness, and I remember the pride with which
he turned to the result of the census of 1860, which |
showed that the agricultural value of the land in the State
of New Jersey had increased more than that of any other
State in the United States. He used to speak of this State
as a natural garden, as a source of supply of all the higher
articles of culture, not the cereals merely, but such vegeta-
bles as supply the markets of the great cities, and
especially of fruits and flowers. |

It was his ambition to have the people of the State of
New Jersey understand their own resources and possibili-
ties of development, and Iam sure that if this State has
held its own, as it has, and has advanced upon its condi-
tion in 1860, it is largely due to the personal devotion and
the untiring industry of Doctor Cook in making known in
every part of the State the advantages which it possesses
and the best directions in which to encourage develop-
ment. Along the coast he explored the marls and green
sands, and demonstrated the vast, inexhaustible fund of
fertility which nature has given to this State in the phos-
phate deposits of that region. In the central portion and
northern portion of the State he was careful to point out
that there was a large area of the most fertile land in the
world, made worthless by the overflow of the back waters
of the Pequest and Passaic rivers. Next he pointed out
the enormous value of the clays of New Jersey, which are
destined to make it the center of the production of pot-
tery of every kind. The product of that business in this
State is now in advance of any other, in the perfection and
quantity of the pottery ware. This is entirely due to
Doctor Cook’s careful work and the manner in which he

17

made these rescurces known, not only to the people of the
State, but to others outside, who would desire to make use
of them in the investment of capital.

Foreseeing that his State must be the center of a dense
population, occupying in this country somewhat the same
position that Belgium does in Europe; foreseeing that it
would require not only pure air, but pure water to main-
tain a vast population such as must grow up within its
borders, he carefully measured the sources of water supply
which must lie at the foundation of all development,
industrial and social, and he has pointed out that there is
no region north of the Potomac river, that is to say be-
tween Washington and Maine, in which there is so large a
supply of pure water as in the region which is occupied
by the northerly portion of the State between New Bruns-
wick and the Hudson river. The watershed of that region
is twice as large as the watershed upon which New York
depends for its supply—the Croton watershed.

In the course of one or two centuries the density of
population will depend entirely upon the ability to get
water to drink, and when that time comes the great growth
of that State must be in the region which can be supplied
from the Passaic watershed. All this Doctor Cook fore-
saw. He worked for this generation, it is true, but it was
less for us than for those who are to come after us, and I
predict that in the future the man whose name will be
written down upon the page of history as the benefactor
of his State, and of his time, will be George H. Cook.
The actual achievements of the survey from a scientific
point of view are not striking. Scientific problems have
been investigated, scientific laws have been proven, and
many prejudices have been removed. The old ideas about
the igneous origin of the metalliferous formation, have been
destroyed, but even if Dr. Cook had not been in the sur-

2

18

vey, this would have resulted from the work of other men
like Dana and Leslie, and other various geologists, includ-
ing the distinguished head of the United States Geclogi-
cal Survey, Major Powell, who is here to take part in these
memorial exercises, but I am certain that the State of
New Jersey would not have had any knowledge worth
talking about of its present resources and of the mag-
nificent development which awaits it in the future if
Doctor Cook’s services had not been secured for the
work which he accomplished. That work lasted twenty-
five years.

During allthat time Doctor Cook went in and out of the
houses of this State, making friends of every man, woman
and child whom he met. Did anyone ever hear an evil
word of him? Did anyone ever hear a complaint? Was
not his praise in the mouth of every intelligent citizen of
this State? And the fact that he was able to go on for
twenty-five years backed by the unanimous vote of the
Legislature in the work he was doing, and that no other
man ever thought he could do it as well as Doctor Cook,
that there never was any candidate spoken of for the place,
and that he was served with a loyalty by his distinguished
assistants, all of whom have made names for themselves
in the history of science in this country, and many of
whom will be the leading scientific men in the future, is
the best possible commentary upon his career of honor,
usefulness and self-sacrifice.

No one of these assistants ever for a moment thought
he could take the place of Doctor Cook, and now that he
has gone, who can know the man that could have taken
his place if his work had not been finished? Yes, he went
up into the mountain, he saw the promised land, he took
the people of this State with him to the borders, but
he was not permitted to enter. But his loyal band of

19

helpers will see that that work of which he was able
only to produce the first volume, and partly prepare
the second for the press, that that work will be finished,
and will constitute it the monument which, as Doctor
Raymond said in his address, he has built to the pub-
lic good, and to the benefaction of his kind, for ages
and ages to come.

DOCTOR COOK’ AS A GEOLOGIS®

BY MAJ. J. W. POWELL, PH.D.) LL.D:

‘“Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more
Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere,
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude,
And with forced fingers rude,
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.
Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear,
Compel me to disturb your season due:”

One by one the great men depart. As they pass from
the sphere of personal association through the portal of
the grave into the world of immortal influence, their
deeds and honors are recounted by those who remain.
When the last entry has been made, the book opened and
the account rendered, blessed is he whose good deeds
more than balance his emoluments, whose services to
mankind more than equal the honors paid him by man-
kind, for, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Thrice blessed is the man whose life and services we com-
memorate today.

The generation now at the zenith of life succeeds a
generation whose zenith was clouded by war. As the
great men of that day pass out through the sunset of life,
their battle-deeds are told. It is thus that the mortuary
ceremonies of this generation echo the clangor of charg-
ing squadrons, the shrieking rattle of the battle-lines, and
the roar of batteries.

2I

Sequestered from the pomp of parade, from the roar of
funeral gun, from the cemetery that hides under marble
columns the victims of battle strife, here in the peaceful
halls of learning we assemble to commemorate the life of
a man whose ways were “ paths of peace,” whose chariot
of progress through the world bore no scythe of destruc-
tion, whose life was wholly beneficent, whose youth was
devoted to learning, whose early manhood was devoted
to instruction, whose prime was devoted to research, and
whose old age was devoted to the organization and“devel-
opment of institutions for the increase and diffusion of
knowledge.

It falls not to my task to characterize the student life
of George Hammell Cook. That his opportunities for
training were wisely used is abundantly demonstrated by
the monument of success which he unconsciously reared
for himself in the years of his public activity. It is not
in my province to speak of his professorialjlife. The
scholars and public men who were guided into a higher
intellectual life constitute a living monument to his fidel-
ity and genius as an instructor. It was as a man engaged
in research that I first knew Professor Cook and learned
to honor his untiring industry, his deep insight, and his
intellectual integrity. The catalogue of his contributions
to science is long—too long to be recounted here, for it
constitutes the annals of a long life. Only a few examples
can be used to illustrate the wealth of his accomplish-
ments—in chemistry, geology, and geography.

In 1854 Doctor Cook became an assistant on the Geo-
logical Survey of New Jersey. This was his induction into
scientific work. For three years the field of his research
was in the southern part of the State, in the marl-beds
and amid the potter’s clay. Up to that time little atten-

tion had been given to these sources of wealth and fields
of industrial operations. While in this field of labor he

22

discovered that a thorough geological survey must be
based upon geography, and he constructed a topographic
map expressly for the representation of geologic struc-
ture. His stratigraphic determinations were based largely
upon instrumental measurements and carefully drawn
plans and profiles of the land surveys. Thus was inaugu-
rated in America a system of geological surveying which
has gradually obtained ground until it is practically
universal. The anatomy of the earth is exhibited in its.
topographic forms. Plains, valleys, terraces, hills, and
mountains are full of meaning to the geologist, for in
them is revealed the deep-seated structure of the earth
and the history of that struggle between the great geo-
logic powers which is forever in progress and from the
throes of which the continents are born.

The theater of these early operations was near the
coast, where the tides of the Atlantic ceaselessly surge to:
devour the land. Here his trained eye observed phe-
nomena that led to a long system of observation and
investigation, by which he ultimately demonstrated that
the margin of the Coastal Plain of the Jersey shore is
slowly subsiding, and that the sea is steadily enlarging
its dominion. This work, as it has progressed through
the years until his death, constitutes an important con-
tribution to the facts and philosophy of the science of
geology which he cultivated.

In 1864 Doctor Cook was appointed StateeGeologist,
and held the position until his death. His first task was
found in preparing an elaborate exposition of the mineral
resources of the State, which had been brought to light
by earlier surveys, and he added to these a series of
special investigations such as were required for the sym-
metric treatment of the subject. This exposition was
completed and published in 1868 in a large octavo volume
accompanied by a portfolio of maps. He thus at the

23

beginning cleared the field, systematized the existing
knowledge, and developed a comprehensive plan for the
researches which he carried on until the day of his death.
To him geology was not wholly a speculative science.
His conception of the duties imposed on him by being
entrusted with public funds urged him to administer his
trust in such a manner that the welfare of the State might
be promoted thereby. He did not neglect the great
philosophic problems of his science, for he directed the
investigations of the Survey into structural geology,
paleontology, chemistry, and geography; but he held
over these researches a constant corrective by making
them responsible for exact determinations of industrial
value. A series of great economic problems was forever
in his mind: How can these inundated lands be re-
gained? How can the broad fields of New Jersey be
fertilized? How can the potter’s art be developed from
the clays of the Coastal Plain? How can the deposits of
zinc be utilized by the industries of the State, and how
can the great beds of iron-ore be transformed into, the
instruments of modern civilization? And he applied the
principles of science to these problems. Geography, geol-
ogy, paleontology and chemistry were all made subsidiary
to the leading purpose of his survey.

Science was thus made to bless mankind, and the
advancement of science did not lose thereby ; science and
industry in copartnership were each strengthened ; indus-
tries of great magnitude and value to the people were
steadily developed, and science itself steadily grew under
the genius of his guidance.

The State*of New Jersey is the seat of ancient seas.
From the sediments therein deposited the rocks of the
hills of New Jersey were made. The history of New
Jersey through long geologic time is a history of innu-
merable earthquakes consequent upon the upheaval and

24

depression of its jands. At one period in its history it
was the scene of vast volcanic activity, when molten rocks
poured to the surface. Built by the sea, it has been fash-
ioned by the storm, and the waves of ocean have carved
its shores with a fret-work of beautiful forms. Its low
shores, its coastal plains, its broad valleys, and its billowy
hills have been carved by rains and rivers until it presents
a landscape of beauty. These physical features of the
State, which express its beauty and record its history and
reveal its structure, became one of the great studies of
Doctor Cook when he began the topographic survey of
the State. He lived to see that survey completed; and
he gave to the industries of the land and to the science
of the world the first gfeat topographic map of a State
constructed on this continent. Had this been his sole
contribution to the knowledge of the world, it would have
made him worthy of high honor.

With the increase of population in this country, the
ordinary wells which gather the water from the surface
steadily become dangerous to health and life. With the
multiplication of manufacturing establishments and
through other agencies, ever on the increase, the streams
become polluted and their waters freighted with disease.
The supply of pure water for domestic purposes to the
people of the State of New Jersey early attracted the
attention of Doctor Cook. With profound insight into
the physical structure of the State, he early became con-
vinced that the hills of the highlands constituted a
catchment area for the waters of deep-seated rocks in the
lowlands, and that through these pervious formations,
outcropping above, the waters were filtered and purified
and could be reached by artesian boring along the coast.
His prophecy was fulfilled, and now the beautiful towns
of the region are made salubrious through the genius of
his scientific induction. Today thousands of wells ex-

25

tending along our coast from New York to Florida pour
out the pure waters of life and bless multitudes of
people and make their homes happy. The clouds of
the highlands are tributary to the cottages of the coast.
and the rocks deeply seated in the foundations of the
earth carry them on their way.

Through long years of his life Professor Cook was
engaged in investigations relating to agricultural indus-
tries. The interests affected by these investigations are
vast, for they are at the foundation of all prosperity.
The facts and principles to be investigated are multi-
farious and complex, relating to climate, to soil, to vege-
tal life and animal life, and to the relations of all these
to human life. Science has done much for modern indus-
tries in manufacturing, in mining, in. transporting, and
in commerce; the hidden powers of the world have been
discovered and tamed; but science has done compara-
tively little for agriculture, and Dr. Cook was one of the
founders of a vast system of research which has now
been established throughout the land on a comprehensive
and symmetric plan. Through the agency of these
founders, of whom Doctor Cook was one of the leaders,
experiment stations have been established in every State
of the Union, endowed by national and State grants, and
the greatest army of investigators ever organized under
the sun is now at work on the complex problems of agri-
cultural science. This was the crowning labor of a long
and fruitful life. It has been a quiet, but vigorous and
efficient movement, and the people do not realize what
has been done. The labors in this cause of this beneficent
friend of mankind were untiring. They were conducted
among men of affairs, in the seats of learning, in the
State legislatures and in the national Congress. Every-
where his benign influence was exerted and felt; his
counsels were taken with delight, and he became a leader

26

of men where only the wisest and best men could be led.
His appeal was to scholars and statesmen, and the coun-
sels of this old man eloquent ultimately prevailed.

From the early history of civilization until the present
time many great thinkers of the world have been con-
structing temples of philosophy. It began with Socrates,
Plato and Aristotle, and this temple-building has con-
tinued through the times of Saint Thomas Aquinas down
to Hegel, Schelling and Fichte, and even later to the days
of Herbert Spencer. These theorizing philosophers have
attempted to construct systems for the explanation of all
things in the universe, and to build their philosophy upon
a few ‘fundamental principles ’’—postulates, presupposi-
tions—constructing temples founded on their domes.
One by one these: philosophies have crumbled into dust
and we know them only by their ruins. The history of
civilization is marked by the ruins of fallen philosophies,
now most interesting to historic archeology.

In modern times another philosophy is being con-
structed—the great temple of science. On this structure a
vast army of scholars is at work through the multifarious
methods of scientific research, and they are building this
temple with its foundation on the granite base of fact.
George Hammell Cook was a master workman on this
temple, building with the facts and principles discovered
by modern scientific research.

I knew Doctor Cook best as a counselor and a friend.
Having responsibilities thrown upon me kindred to those
borne by him, I was glad to seek wisdom at his feet.
Honest and pure, he was far-seeing, and for his counsel I
owe a debt of gratitude. His ways were characterized by
directness aud simplicity, and I learned to love him as a
father and to be guided by him as a son. And now the
wise old man is gone. This fountain of wisdom flows no
more. The processes of time and change never cease.

27

On we go with the stream of events. Shall our lives also
make the world better? The light is from on high. The
powers of the earth come from the heavens. They who
have wielded these powers best are placed in the firma-
ment of history.

The method of human progress is not through the
survival of the fittest, for man is more than brute.

The agency for the progress of mankind is the influence
of the fittest. In all ages this has been recognized, now
clearly, now dimly. In harmony with its principles, those
who have best served humanity have been placed on high
among the stars of our history, that the light of their
immortal deeds may forever shine upon the pathway of
mortal men.

George Hammell Cook is among the stars. On earth
he loved justice and rendered justice; he loved the truth
and sought the truth; and, dead, he lives again, the star
of justice and truth. O, venerable friend, your counsels
were wise and your example beneficent; shine on, to
illumine our way to the truth and the right with the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God.

DOCTOR COOK AS 'A MAN -OF SCIE INGE

BY) EE REV a2) Bo DRURY. Des:

] HAVE been invited on this memorial occasion to

speak a few words on Doctor Cook as a man of
science. He was a many-sided man, well recognized in
the arrangements for this commemorative gathering.
Others have been requested to speak of him as a teacher,
a devoted citizen of New Jersey, the head of a geological
survey and as a colleague in college work, in each of
which spheres he won distinction. But, concededly great
and useful as he was in all these capacities, his eminence
as a man of science is even more surely and deservedly
established. As a scientist, he possessed qualities which
command remark and admiration.

He was so thorough, so indefatigable, so broad, so
exact, so independent, and withal so modest and free from
personal ambition, that in him we find a rare combination,
which serves to explain the high distinction he won and
the influence he exerted, both among his scientific asso-
ciates, his pupils and the common people. He possessed
in an eminent degree the scientific mind. He was a close
and accurate observer. No detail escaped his inquisitive
attention. His power of analysis was keen, neglecting no
factor entering into phenomena. In synthesis he was
equally exhaustive, ever careful to omit nothing essential

21g)

to the result. His mind was ever open to receive new
light, and so unwedded to theories was he that each new
discovery found with him an unbiased consideration. His
patience in investigation was only equalled by his per-
sistence in seeking and proving new data, whether con-
firmatory or destructive of the old. He discovered and
announced more than thirty years ago the subsidence of
the Jersey coast, and almost’ his last journey was to
the shore after the storms of last Fall, to examine on the
spot the ravages of the ocean and weigh their bearing on
this well-established fact.

A few years ago he attended and addressed a meeting
of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science at Montreal, the place at which in 1857 he
announced this discovery. He opened his address with
words to this effect: “As I stated when I last addressed
you in this place’”—and immediately the assembly broke
into applause in recognition of the true scientific persist-
ence which, after a lapse of thirty years brings confirma-
tory evidence, gathered patiently year by year. He was
slow and cautious in affirmation. Not given to theorizing
and modest to a fault, he had seldom to withdraw a state-
ment. Under an impassive demeanor was an enthusiasm
which kept him active and zealous to the last in the prose-
cution of his chosen studies. By reading, by correspond-
ence and personal investigation, he kept pace with the
progress of science. Of necessity he was, in consequence,
most industrious, frugal in time, yet never so as to despise
the humblest channel of information. He kept himself
ever in contact with the common people. The fisherman
and farmer, the miner and mechanic, knew him, honored
him and helped gladly and efficiently in his work. From
such sources he gathered facts which, sifted and comple-
mented by his own stores of knowledge, helped to build

30

up the contributions so important which he made to
science.

Doctor Cook’s scientific attainments and tastes were
broad, but as was natural in the head of a geological
survey of a State, they centered more and more in
geology, and in that department his specialty was in the
formations exemplified in this State, and particularly their
structural, rather than their paleontological features.

The annual reports of the Geological Survey, of which
he-was head, and the volumes published or about to be
published, are a monument most enduring to his patient
and thorough work thereon, and to his scientific ability.
Though his work was not fully completed, he did enough
to put him in the front rank, as an original investigator
and important contributor to geological science. He
cultivated science from love for it and its beneficent fruits,
and cared little for the notoriety or fame to be won.

Few took less part in the ventilation of theories or the
contentions of schools, yet no one had clearer views or
could express them more exactly and in language intelli-
gible to the plain people, and few among our working
geologists have contributed more abundantly to the
ascertained facts of the science. Among these contribu-
tions may be noted:

First. The subsidence of the Atlantic coast, discovered
and proven by his observation on the Jersey shore. This
was announced in 1857 to the American Association for
the Advancement of Science at Montreal, and as we have
already mentioned, continued a matter of investigation
even to the end.

econd. The discovery of the stratigraphical relations
of the green-sand marl beds, and the addition to the
geological column of newer and important strata, bearing
fruit not only in improved agricultural resources, but in

31

supplying pure and wholesome water to the seaboard
communities of the State.

Third. The discovery and outlining of the great ter-
minal Moraine in the eastern United States, running
across New Jersey and the adjacent parts of New York
and Pennsylvania. It was announced ina paper read at
Wilkesbarre before the American Institute of Mining
Engineers in 1877, and described in his annual reports for
the years 1877 and 1878.

Fourth. Wis determination with exactness of the
stratigraphical relations of the clay beds of the State, so
important to the fire-clay and potters-clay industries, and
of the geological structure of the magnetic ore beds, of
special value not only to the iron miner and the iron ore
prospector, but to the geologist and the mining engineer.
These important contributions were published in the
report of 1878 for the clays, and of 1883 for iron ores.

Fifth. The exhibition by practical application of the
value of accurate topographical maps in geological study.
Thanks to Doctor Cook, New Jersey is the best mapped
State in the Union, and his atlas of New Jersey is recog-
nized as areal contribution to the science of geology as
well as geography.

I may not further dwell, nor need I, upon what Doctor
Cook achieved as a man of science. I would merely cali
attention to two marked traits, intimately connected,
which preéminently characterized him as a scientist.

First. The emphasis he placed on the practical or
useful applications of science. This was so strong that
nothing in the way of theoretical or speculative science |
ever diverted him from the single aim of making his
scientific knowledge and discoveries useful to his fellow
men. He was not without interest in the philosophy of

32

science, but that was ever subordinate to his desire to
enrich and benefit the people. The utilitarian, economic,
practical features of science were what most profoundly
interested him and enlisted his energies. His proudest
monument today is the riches and increased wealth he
conferred by his scientific studies on the State of his birth
and later residence. He had not time and was too con-
scientiously scrupulous to seek riches for himself, his
knowledge was never used for personal gain, but no man
ever lived in the State who opened so many sources of
enrichment to others.

By his study of the marl beds and indicating where this
fertilizer could be most economically gotten and how
most advantageously used, as well as by his lectures to
farmers, giving them the benefit of his science and taking
to them the results of most careful experiments, he has
made the agriculture of the State vastly more productive
than a generation ago. His maps of the clay beds gave
fortunes to many, and built up and expanded the great
fire-clay and pottery industries of the State. His ex-
haustive study and charting of the ore beds of the State
made mining more certain and profitable. He told the
cities by the sea how to get pure water, and added thereby
hundreds of dollars to the value of every acre along the
coast. One has but to read his reports as State Geologist
to see how this economic feature of the work is ever
uppermost. To improve the health and increase the
wealth of the State, the welfare of the people, by his
knowledge, is the end ever held in view. It was success-
fully executed. A matter of great satisfaction to him,
only a day or two previous to his death, was the tidings
that the draining of the lowlands of the Passaic, in order
to the removing of disease, and opening large stretches of
waste land to productive husbandry, for which he had
Striven for years, had been successfully begun. These

39

are but a few samples of the chief aim of his scientific
studies and pursuits. Thanks to him, New Jersey has the
most complete and most fruitful geological survey of all
the States, and has become a model for others.

Second. The other characteristic of Doctor Cook as a
man of science, furnishes us the clue to the form which
his unwearying and scientific industry took. It was his
religious faith.

Science spoke to him of God, even as his Bible: and in
the pursuit and the application of scientific knowledge,
he was ever the consistent follower of Christ. With him,
science was the handmaid of religion, and an instrument
of blessing. Because a follower of Him who went about
doing good, he thought himself under obligation to make
his knowledge, his discoveries and his attainments, a
source of blessing to his fellow men. Thus science be-
came to him a trust to be used to make men happier and
better. And this is the key to the peculiarly unselfish
and philanthropic character of so much of his scien-
tific work. |

Out of his Christian faith came also that honesty,
truthfulness and faithfulness which so characterized him
in all his scientific labors. He could and would not vary
a hairbreadth from the strict path of truth and duty. A
statement by him, ever carried conviction. When his
maps of the clay deposits were issued, lands were at once
sold and bought on the basis of their trustworthiness;
seller and purchaser accepted them as beyond all ques-
tion, so great confidence had he infused, not only in his
science, but in his honesty and truthfulness. His devo-
tion to the beneficent work he was doing, was such that
he wrought on a mere pittance of a salary. The whole
expense of the invaluable survey was only eight thousand

3

34

dollars per year, and the statement “all bills paid and
there are no debts,” is an invariable part of his annual
report. No wonder the State continued such a man in
the position. Hewas more careful of the State’s money
than had it been his own, and never, we venture to say,
did a State ever get more for the expenditure, than from
the Geological Survey conducted by the scientist and
Christian, Doctor George H. Cook.

He was a man of whom the State, this Institution, the
world of science, and the Church of Christ can well be
proud. He was a scientist of the highest order, thor-
ough, conscientious, persevering, and successful in seek-
ing, knowing and applying the truths of science. He
was also a sincere and intelligent Christian, illustrat-
ingin his life the entire consistency of the highest at-
tainments in science with fullest faith in the God of
the Bible.

DOCTOR) COOK, ASA MEMBER) OF
CEE ACW WN:

BY PROFESSOR T. S. DOOLITTLE, D. D.

a would be impossible for me not to allow the element
of personal affection to enter into my estimate of
Doctor Cook’s character and services as a colleague. A
student under him from 1855 (his connection with Rut-
gers began in 1853), brought into closer relations with
him than with any other professor during both the four
years of my collegiate and the three years of my semi-
nary life, returning after a brief pastorate of two years to
be associated with him as a member of the Faculty for a
period of a quarter of a century, enjoying thus altogether
an acquaintance extending through thirty-four years, and
finding him always “my friend, faithful and just to me’’—
how can I help betraying a feeling of deepest personal love
and of exalted personal admiration! And with my heart
aflame in memory of his virtues, why should I attempt to
speak of him as a stranger unknown and unrevered !

It was because honest Will Shakespeare had stood the
test—every test of friendship and manhood—not only in
the fierce ambitions for fame before the footlights and in
the free interchange of wit and banter at the coffee-house,
but in the rivalries and vexations of the rehearsal behind
the scenes, that Ben Jonson’s testimony to his character
is so valuable. When, therefore, we hear rare old Ben

36

exclaiming with tearful eyes and a throbbing heart: “I
loved the man, and do honor his memory, on this side
idolatry, as much as any’’—we recognize that he knew
at least what his words meant and felt constrained to
twine no less a chaplet of praise around the brow of his
silent, but more than ever appreciated companion. And
so, if we members of the Faculty seem to eulogize our
beloved colleague a little too warmly, bear with us, for
we come from behind the scenes with a tribute to those
traits of his which nowhere else were subjected to such
crucial tests, and nowhere else shone with a lustre so:
untarnished and attractive.

DOCTOR COOK’S HOPEFULNESS.

We realized more than outsiders could, his great-
hearted buoyancy and cheerfulness. His broad expanse
ef face, full of light, his eyes gleaming with kindliness.
as well as with shrewdness and often with a right merry
twinkle, his genial smile, his frank greeting, never marred
by any hollow and flippant phrase of mere etiquette, but
as honest as it was cordial, his sympathy so responsive
yet so genuine, his massive though quiet strength of pur-
pose, and his great self-contained, self-poised nature; all
crowned with boundless hopefulness, united to make his
very presence an inspiration and a benediction.

With a consummate knowledge of human nature, John
Bunyan portrays Hopeful as the fellow pilgrim of Chris-
tian along the way to the celestial city. And when Chris-
tian wanders from the true path and they get into
difficulty, Hopeful, with characteristic modesty and
charity, says: ““Never mind, brother, I forgive thee, only
let us turn this disadvantage to our profit.” Again, when
a little later they find themselves shut up in a dungeon of
the castle belonging to Giant Despair and poor Christian

37

is tempted to suicide, it is Hopeful that rises equal to the
risis and persuades his despondent friend to thrust the
key called “promise” into the prison lock and give ita
turn. He does it. The door flies open and they escape.
Well, Doctor Cook was our Mr. Hopeful. How apt and
skillful he was in converting a disadvantage into profit
He was an expert in opening locks with the key of prom-
ise. His courage was contagious. He never despaired
himself nor allowed us to despair. Many a time we
followed him from the darkness of doubt into the open
day of faith.

HIS FERTILITY OF RESOURCES.

Nor was he less versatile than hopeful. He was always
projecting new plans for improving the curriculum, for
multiplying professorships, for erecting new buildings,
and for bringing the scientific department into more vital
relations with the State, so as to widen its usefulness and
influence. Here are a few instances of his versatility and
perseverance. This institution upon his arrival was desti-
tute both of scientific collections and an exhibition hall.
He did not, however, deem a beginning useless, nor did he
despise the day of small things. It was one of his grand-
est characteristics never to despise the day of small
things, but to detect an oak in an acorn and to predict the
century flower from the germ of the century plant.
Accordingly he organized his classes into a natural his-
tory society and kindled among them a flame of enthu-
siasm akin to his own for gathering minerals, birds and
insects, coins and curiosities of all kinds.

But at what a pathetic cost to himself and his scientific
future was this work carried on! Think of the priceless
value of such a man’s time; think of those superb ener-
gies of his frittered away upon us when they might have

38

been utilized in making discoveries promotive of his
reputation and power. You must concede that his.
patience in listening to our crude papers and in flooding
with light our ignorant discussions was heroic, not to say
fairly sublime; while his delicacy and tact in concealing
our imperfections from ourselves and in stimulating us to

higher attainments were as beautiful as they were helpful.
Nor were his efforts vain. One of us brought him a
crocodile from Florida; another a flamingo and turtle
from the Bahama Islands; another the bones of extinct
animals from the marl beds of New Jersey; another
copper nuggets from Lake Superior, and others, gold and
silver ores from Colorado and Nevada. Nor was this all.
When Doctor Cook heard of rare and valuable specimens
which their owners would not donate, and the money for
which he knew not where to beg, he would buy them
himself and would point to them with a tone of satisfac-
tion which it made one happy to witness, though he never
gave a hint of his own unselfish liberality.

One day, while inspecting some remarkable fossil
tracks, which were among the finest in the whole world
and were enough to have made the face of Hugh Miller
glow like a star, ] asked: “What did they cost?” ‘Oh,
I don’t know; between one and two hundred dollars, I
suppose.” “ Where did you get the money?” ‘Oh, I got

it.” “*Did the Trustees furnish it?’. “Not that Isknow
of.” “Did you thrust your hand into the pocket of some
alumnus?” “TI guess not,’’ he replied, with a character-
istic shrug of his shoulders and shake of the head.
“Well, where did you find it?” “Oh, no matter; I found
it.’ ‘Ah, I see,” said I; “you have been playing another
one of your tricks upon your own purse.” ‘Perhaps so,”

he replied, while his eyes were laughing and sparkling ;
‘but you needn’t say anything about it, though.” In the
same way Doctor Cook gave hundreds, rather, I believe

39

from what I learned incidentally and at different times,
thousands of dollars in order, to quote his favorite ex-
pression, ‘“‘to make things go.” And things did go!
When he came a carpetbag would have held all our
collections. Long before his death they had so expanded
as to make yonder geological hall, with its spacious and
noble museum a necessity; and it rose in response to his
earnest wishes.

After it was finished he needed some two thousand
dollars for cases. His hope ran into faith. “Il venture,”
he said, “upon a new method. Ill have the cases built
and filled with such attractive exhibitions as to tempt the
pride and loyalty of the alumni to pay for them.” It was.
done. His fertility of resource came out on another
eccasion when the college wanted more apparatus. He
devised a course of lectures to be given by Doctors Van
Dyck and Rockwood, and then persuaded the managers of
our factories here to bear the expense in order to afford
free instruction to the masses. The plan was as success-
ful as ingenious, and with the net proceeds, some seven.
hundred dollars, the apparatus was secured.

If we wanted the State college to become united with
Rutgers, or an agricultural bill passed at Washington, or
an appropriation from our State for the construction of
New Jersey Hall, with its well-equipped laboratories, we
turned instinctively to Doctor Cook; for he knew the
leaders of the national administration, the Senators and
Congressmen, the Governor and Assemblymen—in short,
every prominent man concerned, and could harmonize
them all, if such a thing were possible, in favor of the
desired object. It was he who by his lectures, delivered
from town to town, popularized science and made it
profitable for the farmers. It was he who reminded the
county schools and their superintendents of the free
tuition at Rutgers for the brightest and best boys in those

40

schools. It was he who made many a parent believe that
the richest legacy he could leave his son would be a
disciplined brain and a sanctified heart. His influence
was a tower of strength for our scientific college, for
whilst the other professors did their work on the inside,
and did it well, Doctor Cook’s agency extended to the
outside as well as inside, and was forever attracting public
attention and support. Is it strange that we learned to
lean on such a man and fell into the habit of trust-
ing him? :

If, as will sometimes happen, the veil of uncertainty
and distrust seemed to hang over our future, Doctor
Cook’s strong arm would draw aside ‘the veil and point
out signs of promise which the rest of us had either failed
to observe or rightly to interpret. In many a trouble we
heard his buoyant voice and walked in the light that
flooded his eyes. “Never mind the present discourage-
ment,’ he would say; “let’s do our duty with what we
have; Providence, depend upon it, will send us some-
thing better after awhile.”

Though not a dreamer, he yet agreed with Emerson
that it was wiser as well as pleasanter to see castles than
‘dungeons in the air. No wonder we loved his society; he
came among us when we were depressed, like the outburst
of the sun from behind a cloud.

HIS SELF COMMAND.

I do not mean to affirm, however, that Doctor Cook
was nothing but a peddler of sweet hopes and delicious
amiabilities. Hewas a man of like passions with our-
selves, capable of smarting under an affront and of
yielding to a momentary gust of temper. His was no
nerveless and flabby organization, like that of an octupus,
which can be sliced away by inches without causing a

41

twinge of pain or reaching a vital part. On the contrary,
he was keenly sensitive, naturally quick and impulsive ;
but he had acquired the art of rigid self-control. Under
strong provocation his eyes would flash, his cheeks flame,
his lips quiver, his robest frame shake with indignation
and righteous wrath; but he would stand still, wrestling
with himself and allowing no unguarded word, often no
word at all, to escape. Such an impressive and masterful
illustration of self-conquest has often reminded us of the
inspired writer’s eulogium: “Verily, he that ruleth his
own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.” The
conqueror of cities has generally shown himself a grown-
up and spoiled child, peevish, fretful, intolerant even of a
courteous difference of opinion. Alexander, for example,
when his vanity was piqued, sent a javelin through the
heart of his best friend and ablest general for having
ventured to criticise one of his campaigns, and then in a
second fit of ungovernable remorse turned his sword
toward his own bosom, and would have died a suicide had
not an officer’s hand turned aside the point.

What a contrast with all this was Doctor Cook! He
not only welcomed the widest and freest discussion, but
could bear the stoutest opposition. Nor would he ever
assume an air of mortification and injured innocence, if
he happened to be voted down. Habitually and delicately
considerate of the feelings of others, he would rarely an-
tagonize directly our purposes and plans, but would seek
to overcome them, either by progressive suggestions ora
final adroit substitution of his own. He cultivated good
nature as he did self-command, and this with the aid of
divine grace resulted in his attaining one the most uni-
form and charming of dispositions. In the clashing of
ideas and interests, common to all bodies like a Faculty,
he never gave any of us—that I can remember—one harsh

42

or bitter word. Such a character was, as might be ex-
pected, remarkable for

THE FIDELITY AND PERMANENCE OF HIS FRIENDSHIP.

A secret confided to Doctor Cook’s ear was as safe as.
if hidden behind the impenetrable veil of the Egyptian
Isis forever. Prudent in advice, he sought to promote
only our truest relations and welfare. If sometimes he
were indirect in his ways, if in a crisis of excitement and
incipient hostility between you and another he hesitated
and did not stand up quite so openly and emphatically as
you could have wished; if, in short, he were exasperat-
ingly cool-headed and non-committal, you realized, after
it was all over, that he had not been actuated by any dis-
loyalty, but only by the habitual caution and self-restraint
to which he had schooled himself. Besides it was his
instinctive policy never to widen but rather to bridge the
chasm that divided friends, and a bridge must, from the
nature of the case, touch both sides of the opposing
banks.

His own resentments quickly vanished into charity and
good will. I was one day walking with him when he saw
a graduate on the opposite side of the street, looking
somewhat perversely in the wrong direction. Doctor
Cook said: “Do you notice that the gentleman over there
does not want to see me? He did not behave quite as he
ought to have done in college. Never mind. Let’s go
over and pass the time of day with him, just to show him
that we wish him well!’ Yes, O thou model of a peace-
lover and peacemaker, thou didst unfailingly wish every-
body well, and didst go out of the way, and how often
at the sacrifice of personal pride, to disarm and win back
the disaffected; yet never in a cringing spirit, nor with
the patronizing air that is so offensive, but with a frank

43

and manly bearing that was as irresistible as it was noble.
That disgruntled graduate was captured. His heart was
overborne by the better heart of his master. Subse-
quently he spoke to me in grateful terms of his old
teacher’s magnaminity, as well as.with admiration of his
greatness. Here was a typical case, showing his Chris-
tian willingness, commended by our Lord, to leave his
gift at the altar, while he went off after the alienated
brother, who ought rather to have come to him. This
spirit made him

THE MOST HELPFUL OF MEN.

How glad he was to build the stairway which his for-
mer pupils might ascend to higher activities and honors.
On one step of that stairway stand Vermeule and Bennett,
Bevier, Sproul and Van Brackle, Atkinson, Staats and
Blakeley, the two Hills and Luster; all of whom he
taught to delineate the finest geological and other maps
of which any State in the Union can boast. On another
step?stands Mr. I. S. Upson, our efficient Librarian and
the clerical head of the survey. On another stands Pro-
_ fessor F. A. Wilbur, whose analyses of water, soils and
fertilizers are authoritative in all the counties of the State
and beyond. On another stands Doctor Francis Cuyler
Van Dyck, whom the master trained for his own colleague
in chemistry, physics and electricity, and who has always
been as warmly loved for his talents as he is highly
respected for his unwearied devotion to his duties. On
another stands Doctor John C. Smock, who made so excel-
lent a name for himself as Assistant State Geologist that
the Board of Regents in the neighboring Empire State felt
constrained to invite him to come up higher as Director of
the great museum at Albany. On another stands Edward
A. Bowser, L.L. D., for whom Doctor Cook obtained the

44

chance to display on the United States Geodetic Survey
unrivaled capacity for making accurate and difficult tri-
angulations and whom he was delighted, as we all are, to
see climbing up and up with his enormous load of seven
mathematical works, embracing two thousand eight hun-
dred pages of original profound thinking, works already
used in nearly ninety colleges in the United States and
Canada—climbing up and up until his head fairly touches
the stars and comets upon which he lectures with such
masterful eloquence.

Doctor Cook had the art of making his students
believe themselves competent to do good work, and the
faith to commend them to the parties desiring such work.
Nor was he less generous of his sympathy and helpfulness
elsewhere. Farmers and plain folks flocked to him from
all quarters for counsel and on a vast variety of topics.
And from him no inquirer after knowledge ever went
empty away.

HIS WISDOM.

Doctor Cook was a wise man. As far back as Democ-
ritus the distinction has been made between learning
and wisdom. Learning embraces multifarious knowledge
in one department or several. Wisdom lies in choosing
the noblest ends and the application of the best means
for their attainment. A man may be an encyclopedia of
the languages or the sciences, and yet may be bereft of
common sense—a fool. Buffon was fond of the paradox
that common sense was the most uncommon of endow-
ments. Now, Doctor Cook’s mind was indeed an open
library of information. His acquaintance with facts and
corresponding theories was amazing; but no one was
wiser. He knew when speech was silver and silence
golden. He took in a situation intuitively and with

45

unerring instinct selected the best agents for the accom-
plishment of his aims. He understood whom to aproach
and whom to leave severely alone. Absolutely without
vanity, he was content to get things done, and never con-
cerned himself as to who might reap the glory. Too
magnanimous to be piqued or soured by any fancied or
real slight, he never drew back his hand from the plough,
nor hesitated on account of personal antipathies or mis-
understandings or envy to codperate with others in
driving it forward.

I have seen him smile with imperturbable good nature
at an individual differing violently from him in opinion,
and in such an argumentum ad hominem, half-abusive style
that had the Doctor possessed less wisdom or less self-
control he would have retorted with anger and made the
breach irreparable. And yet I have seen him using that
same individual afterwards with immense advantage to
himself and hisschemes. He would defer, but never let go.
Always casting the horoscope to see if the moment were
ripe for unveiling his ulterior purposes, he could, never-
theless, if the auspices were threatening, remain quiet and
bide his time. Disappointed in one direction, he would
try in another and another. The more he was baffled the
more fertile he became of expedients, until at last he
surprised his friends, possibly himself, by the final success
of plans supposed long before to have been abandoned.
The variety and value of his actual achievements attest
the wisdom of his methods as well as perseverance of
his will.

HIS STRENGTH.

He was strong in physique, in endurance, in energies
that seemed never to rest. If I happened to be up at
midnight and glanced toward his study window, the light

46

was blazing there, and his large head, reflected against
the curtain, was seen bending over his task. If sickness
or a journey roused me before dawn of a Winter morning,
I would see that light already kindled and that same head
again bending at the desk. I used to wonder when he
slept or if he ever slept at all. Nor was he less strong in
his mental and moral traits. He was stalwart in his pur-
poses, in his friendships, his faith, his usefulness to men,
his worship to God. Brave and unselfish, exceptionally
modest and unpretentious, he was devoted to the loftiest
ideals of scientific culture—a scientific culture, however,
always subordinate to Christian manhood—never an end in
itself, but only a means for enlarging human virtue and
glorifying our Maker. Charitable to the faults of others,
catholic in ideas, he allowed no narrow conceptions of
science, though its utilities were his constant and favorite
theme, to close his eyes to the importance of metaphysical
investigations or the problems of moral philosophy. His
mind was evenly and admirably balanced. He believed
in a complete education, in the symmetrical training and
informing of all the faculties as the essential preparation
for special lines of research. His interest in young men
was unbounded. He loved to dwell upon their promise
and forecast their future. Who could surpass him as a
patient listener or a considerate sympathizer? How re-
sponsive he was to the hopes and plans of others! how
ready to aid them as if his own! I have heard his
disinterestedness impeached by the captious insinuation
that he always had some axe to grind. Well, his axes
were of such finely tempered steel and designed to cut
down such thickets of ignorance and error that most of
us were contented to turn grindstone, and bid Godspeed
to his axes. Nor was he lacking in reciprocity. He
would take off his coat and turn your grindstone, too,
with a royal will and to excellent purpose. His principle

47

was, ‘‘ Live and let live.’ Hence his workmen were often
overpaid—paid more than the stipulated wages, and his
favors to you would be larger, if the chance permitted,
than yours toward him. His purse was at the mercy of
the benevolence beggar. Public spirited, he contributed
to everything, and often more than he could afford.

Like Louis Agassiz, he never had time to make money,
though he might have been one of the richest of men.
Twenty years ago, as he told me himself, he resisted the
most tempting offers to act as a mining expert—offers
which, as subsequent events proved, would have rolled
between one and two millions of dollars into his posses-
sion. By his drill he discovered those white clay deposits
about Amboy and Woodbridge, which raised the land
over them from one hundred dollars to several thousands
an acre; yet his freedom from covetousness kept him
from taking advantage of his knowledge to purchase a
single acre of the unsophisticated and unsuspecting
owners thereof. A critic once said of him, with a touch
of envy, “ Doctor Cook is the recipient of three salaries—
one from the College, as professor; a second from the
State, as geologist; and a third from the Agricultural
Experiment Station, as director.’’ Well, my friends, I
wish he had received six instead of three, for he managed
to distribute those salaries so liberally as to have little left
for himself. From no good cause did he hold anything
back, either gifts, time, talents, energies, or life itself.
With arduous labors he wore himself out, and passed
beyond the veil at an age when his eye ought yet to have
been undimmed and his natural force unabated.

How could all these qualities fail to render our col-
league a magnet, drawing us to himself for safest counsel
and in the sweetest amenities of friendship? In manya
dark and anxious hour he was for us the lighthouse on
the cliff, and now, since death has quenched the lamp

48

within the house, leaving us to navigate the ship in the
shadow, how can we express our emotions more fittingly
than in the words of Xenophon in regard to Socrates,
“Our master was so pious that he did nothing without the
advice of the gods; so just that he never injured any one
in the least; so completely master of himself that he
never choose the agreeable instead of the good; so dis-
cerning that he never failed in distinguishing the better
from the worse; in short, he was just the best and happi-
est man possible.”

HIS GREATNESS.

Is this the overdrawn tribute of affectionate and blind
partiality? Or was Doctor Cook a truly great man de-
serving it all? We think he was. For while the very
simplicity of his character and the unostentatiousness of
his spirit might cause a stranger to ask: ‘“‘ Wherein lies his
greatness ?’’ yet to us who were familiar with the sweep
of his inventiveness and the diversity of his projects and
methods he was always revealing new elements of a great
as well as noble soul. The twin proverbs, that “ familiar-
ity breeds contempt,” and that “no man isa hero to his
valet,” are where real greatness is involved as stupid as
they are false. If aman bea hero at all, he is a hero most
of all to those who know him best. And can anyone who
knew Doctor Cook well deny that he possessed a genius
for multiplying the beneficent utilties of science and for
enlarging the resources of human happiness! When it is
remembered that although intensely patriotic, he had no
taste for military campaigns, in which generals purchase
distinction at the price of blood; and that he had no
abilities for popular oratory which often win the show
without the substance of fame; but was wholly absorbed
in the homelier benefits of industrial progress, in those

49

benign arts of peace whose blessings are often in the inverse
ratio to their lowliness ; and yet that by these inconspicu-
ous instrumentalities he somehow managed to impress his
ideas—himself—upon countless multitudes of his fellow-
citizens in and out of the State, so that his prolific
suggestions for bettering the condition of labor and
society were quoted all over the Union and translated
into foreign languages of European journals, it must be
admitted that he bore the test whilst he exercised the
prerogatives of a great, a very great, leader of mankind.
If the value of life and the rank of renown are to be
measured by work done, then the great survey alone, to
say nothing of the all else he did, will form a historic
monument to Doctor Cook’s genius and_ usefulness.
Hence, since his removal from earth, the remark more and
more often comes from competent and impartial judges,
‘that he was the most eminent as well as most useful
contemporary citizen in New Jersey. Certainly of this
citizen it may be remarked, as Victor Cousin said of
Sainte Beuve, “This man seems not so much a limited
person as an impersonal force, a diffusive, persuasive force.”
His presence filled all our buildings and hovered like an
atmosphere over the campus. We came into contact with
him at so many points. He was everywhere and doing
everything. And when the grave swallowed up this
restless force, what wide, empty spaces were left, and
alas! how lonely! He had made himself so necessary, so
delightful, to us all, that each of us dreamed he had been
the most intimate with him, the most honored with his
love and confidence, and had therefore suffered the deep-
est personal loss by his sudden taking off. The startled
outcry of David, when beholding on Gilboa’s heights the
beauty of Israel prostrate, seemed to be our individual
lament: “Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew,
neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings.

4

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* % * How are the mighty fallen in the midst of

the battle. O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high
places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan ;
very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women. How are mighty -
fallen and the weapons of war perished !”’

Perished? Is then our friend and brother dead? Nay;
are not we rather among the dead and he among the
living? Translated to yonder pure realm, his astonishing
capacity for work developed under difficulties here knows
no cessation nor impediment to success there; his fond-
ness for discovery, the most unalloyed source of happiness
here, mounts upward to endless gratification there, making
his blessedness complete. Nor has his life, though trans-
lated, vanished altogether from these, its former scenes
and companions. For just as the rays of some fair and
far-off star in the sky continue to leap across infinite
spaces and to greet the denizens of this earth for ages
after it may itself have been extinguished, so the in-
fluences of the great and good shine on after the mortal
tabernacle that held the immortal spirit has crumbled into
dust, and they will shine on forever and ever.

LETTERS OR GRE GRE,

The following letters of regret were received:

NEw HAVEN, May 12th, 1890.
PRESIDENT GATES:

My Dear Sir—Your letter of the 7th relating to the commemora-
tion exercises with reference to Professor Cook, has been received.
His death was to me the loss of an old friend. We were not often
together in our work, but our long labors have been for a common
purpose, and with mutual interest in one another’s results, and I
have always found my esteem for him increased with each new
contribution of his to science. His published reports were always
the outcome of earnest work and good judgment, devoid of all self-
seeking, and showed the broad man who could investigate principles
and also study out the many practical applications connected with
the speciai subjects before him, and owing to the largeness of his
heart and his sense of duty to the State which employed him, the
latter sometimes seemed to give him the greater pleasure.

It is a satisfaction to do honor to suchaman, But, on account
of the state of my health, I regret to say I shall not be able to be
present and take part in the commemoration exercises. My sympa-~
thy will nevertheless be with you.

Very respectfully and truly yours,
JAMES D. DANA.

New York, May togth, I8go.
PROFESSOR T. S. DOOLITTLE, Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J.

Dear Sirv—I regret to say that the expected telegram arrived
this morning, and unexpectedly requires me to start in a few hours,
thus putting beyond my power the fulfilliment of my promise. Al?
that I can do is to express by this letter in hasty outline the im-
pression which was made upon me by the labors and publications

52

of my friend, and which I should have been glad of the opportunity
to utter in a more deliberate way and a worthier form.

The leading characteristic of Professor Cook’s scientific work
was conscientious fidelity. This was evinced in his conduct of the
New Jersey State Geological Survey in two striking particulars:

First—He never forgot that as the State Geologist he was the
servant of the State. He did not consider himself as called upon or
authorized to go beyond the limits set by the expressed will of the
Legislature, in order to build better than they intended who had
employed him. It too often happens that scientific men in public
service regard the grants of authority and money which they secure
as so many ‘‘entering wedges,” by the use of which they may gradu-
ally lift the popular representatives to a higher plane of wise liber-
ality. There is, in my judgment, a proper and praiseworthy way of
accomplishing such an education of public sentiment. But I am
equally convinced that it is not the way sometimes pursued, of con-
cealing ultimate purposes, and of inaugurating expensive schemes
for which no provision has been made. The true policy, it seems to
me, is to do the simpler duty first prescribed with such conspicuous
economy and intelligence, and make the usefulness of its results so
clear to all, as to inspire among laymen a confidence both in the value
of science and in the good faith of its representatives. This, at all
events, was the course of Professor Cook. It is a noteworthy pecul-
iarity of his work that it was not primarily made the vehicle of new
and brilliant theories, or of any personal display. Generalizations
and speculative inquiries were put in the back-ground; and those
things were studied and described which could be made most imme-
‘diately useful to the citizens of New Jersey. The mere list of the
most valuable and notable results of the New Jersey survey, given
‘by Professor Smock in his appreciative biographical notice of his
former chief, is a striking illustration of this characteristic. It in-
cludes the differentiation of the three green sand and marl beds and
their relations to the betterment of the soils; the geological structure
of the overlying formations, and the guide to abundant supplies of
excellent water in the southern part of the State; the description and
accurate survey of the clay beds, and their value as sources of refrac-
tory materials; the explanation of the structure of the magnetic iron
ore beds, and the methods to be followed in locating mines; the drain-
age of the Pequest and Passaic river valleys; the surveys of the water-
sheds of the northern part of the State, pointing to the great natural
reservoirs of water for city supplies; and the topographic maps, un-
surpassed in their accuracy and detail of delineation of the surface
features of the whole State.

In other words, as an officer of the State, Professor Cook deemed

53

it his duty to be especially an economic geologist, and to elucidate first
of all the relations, in his appointed field, of geology to mining, agri-
culture, draining and water-supply. The result was that the people
of New Jersey did not need to be ‘‘educated up” to the point of feel-
ing that his work was useful to them. They had the demonstration
before them.

Second—But he was not a man to seek a superficial appearance of
usefulness by hasty work. If his sense of duty led him to follow the
investigations which promised immediate practical return to those
who had trusted him with public office and public money, it also bade
him serve the State by accurate and thorough work. And thus he
earned the confidence not only of those who beheld the results of his
labors, but of those likewise who were competent to criticise the work
itself. Scientific men everywhere trusted his observations. He was
never suspected of warping or overlooking a fact in the interest of a
theory, or even of going into the field, theory in hand, to observe the
facts through that medium. His candor and caution were notorious.
And the clear, temperate, deliberate conclusions at which he ultimately
arrived, are firmly established by his patience and care.

It is worthy of emphatic comment also, that Professor Cook was
not given to controversy. His habitual attitude was one of not so
much ‘‘fighting for the truth” as seeing for it. Nor can I recollect
any instance in which he spent his energy in vindicating his own
originality, priority or consistency. He let his work speak for itself,
and left his reputation to the unsolicited recognition of his fellow-
workers. The universal esteem in which his name is held constitutes
the best proof of the wisdom of his policy in this respect.

The final volumes of the State Survey, though not completed by
his hand, will be everywhere regarded as his work. Indeed, it seems
almost like a providential concession to his earnest and humble abne-
gation of self that these books should be issued after his death. They
will be, as it were, a monument, founded, raised and carved by him,
to which we supply only the one thing which he forgot to add, when
we reverently engrave upon the blank entablature his honored and

beloved name.
Yours truly,

R. W. RAYMOND.

Gay its reels
PAMPHLET BINDER

Syracuse, N. Y.
Stockton, Calif.

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