TYPED LETTER TO MAJOR POND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND FUTURE MAYOR OF NEW YORK SETH LOW CONCERNING A POSSIBLE BUSINESS CONFLICT INVOLVING THE DEAN OF ELY. by Low, Seth. (1850-1916). American educator and politician. Served successively as Mayor of Brooklyn, President of Columbia University and Mayor of New York City - 1899.

New York: November 21st, 1899., 1899.. Very good. - Letter typed on one full side of a 10-3/8 inch high by 7-3/4 inch wide sheet of Columbia University letterhead with 3 lines on a follow-up sheet. The letterhead has "Columbia University of the City of New York" and "President's Room" printed at the top. Signed "Seth Low" with 1 ink correction. There is some very light creasing to both sheets. Folded 3 times for mailing. Very good.

Low writes to tour manager Major James Pond of the Pond Lecture Bureau. Low has invited Charles William Stubbs, Dean of Ely, to give a lecture at Columbia and is concerned that Pond, as Stubbs' business manager, may think he is poaching one of his clients. He assures Pond that he has asked Stubbs to give a lecture which he has already delivered as part of Pond's program. He tells Pond that if he still feels the arrangement is improper, he will pay a double honorarium, half of which would go to Pond. "Columbia has not the slightest disposition to profit by your business enterprise at your cost."

Seth Low [1850-1916] was a leading municipal reformer fighting for efficiency during the Progressive Era. An American educator, politician and diplomatic representative, he served as the 23rd Mayor of Brooklyn from 1881 to 1885 and as the president of Columbia University from 1890 to 1901. From January 1902 to December 31, 1903 he was the 92nd Mayor of New York City.