Versatile American industrialist, inventor, and politician (1791–1883) who designed the first steam locomotive built in the United States. ALS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.5 x 9.5, January 1841. Letter to Frederick Graff, the superintendent of Philadelphia’s renowned Fairmount Water Works. In part: “With regard to the stopcocks…Perhaps one of the principle causes of this difficulty, originates in…turning the water from the Sewer on 6th Avenue into the Corporation well to be thrown up in to the Reservoir in 13th St for the purpose of extinguishing of fire carrying with it such a quantity of sand and clay as to fill up the openings in the stopcocks prepared to receive the lower end of the slide and thereby preventing it from effectually stopping the water…It frequently happens that the men, anxious to close up the water, press upon the screw until the slide is so completely fastened in its place, that in attempting to raise it, either the screw or head of the slide is found to give way without starting the slide from its place. I have recommended in order to prevent the screws…from injury in future by rust, to have them galvanized, or in other words coated with zinc which will effectually preserve them from corrosion. The stopcocks now in use here differ in several respects from the old English pattern…I think it will be found of great importance to have all the screws connected with the stopcocks galvanized which will cost but a trifle and will effectually preserve them from being eaten up by rust.” Graff penned a draft for his response on the reverse, remarking on the problem of sand and clay but indicating that he believes the root cause is mismanagement of the stopcocks; he also suggests a method for clearing sand and clay, and comments on the galvanization proposal. In fine condition, with intersecting folds (one vertical fold passing through a single letter of the signature) and a small area of paper loss to one edge from seal removal. Accompanied by an engraved portrait of Cooper. Substantive letters from Cooper are quite unusual, and this one has interesting content on 19th century technology and a fine connection to Philadelphia’s pioneering waterworks. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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