He was a Pioneer Line Constructor, rebuttal of Cornell's letter

Was He a Pioneer Line Constructor?

UNDER the title of "A Misstatement Corrected" we printed in THE TELEGRAPHER for August 1, from the Ithaca Journal, a letter from Mr. EZRA CORNELL, in reference to the connection of a Mr. G. E. SMITH, recently deceased in Maine, with the construction of the experimental telegraph line between Washington, D. C., and Baltimore, Md., in 1844. It will be remembered that Mr. CORNELL state that "there was no person by the name of SMITH connected with Prof. MORSE, in any way, with the setting up of the first line of telegraph poles between Washington and Baltimore."

We are informed since that statement appeared that the Mr. G. E. SMITH, whose decease called out the original statement and contradiction, certainly claimed to have been engaged in that enterprise, as a subordinate, in the construction of the line. Perhaps Mr. CORNELL has forgotten him after the lapse of so many years; but, at all events, he has always received credit with those who knew him for having been one of the pioneer telegraph line constructors.