New-York tribune., 1874-11-19
JAMES LICK'S ESTATE.

JAMES LICK'S ESTATE.
The most remarkable auction sale Of which
history gives us any account was held on
Tuesday last in San Francisco. portion of
the immense estate of James Lick, given to
trustees for public uses, was sold for two mil
lions of dollars. The residue was withdrawn
for disposal ut a future day. The time would
appear hardly favorable for the sale of real
estate and yet sufficient sum has already
been realized to accomplish all the specific
purposes contained in the extraordinary deed
by which this public-spirted citizen reduced
himself, a few months ago, from vast opu-
lence to position of simple ease.
James Lick is native of Fredericksburg,
PENNSYLVANIA, who learned the trade Of
piano-making in Philadelphia i'll the early
years Of this century. Having taste for adj
venture, which was with him not Incompatible
with great industry and thrift, he went to
South America, where he passed several years
engaged in any business which offered, some
times making pianos, sometimes dealing in
furs, but always getting ahead. When the
Mexican war threw California into our hands
and the rumOred discoveries of gold excited
such interest among Americans on the Pacific
Coast Mr.. Lick resolved to seek his fortune
in FL Dorado. His business in Peru was re-
lentlessly sacrificed and he started for San
Francisco Bay with $4,000 in cash, the avails
of property worth twice that sum. There were
very few of the early enligrants who had any
such sum of money, and still fewer who
had such a head-piece as was carried on the
square shoulders Of the Pennsylvania piano
I<t InlNn
house on the northeast corner of Montgomery
and Jackson-sts., to keep his safe full of
doublOons in, and then began to look about
him. He saw that u great town was sure to
grow up on those sand hills, and he lost no
time in selecting and buying the most eligible
positions in the future city. This was in 1S43,
when there was only struggling village
there. and the prices which Mr.. Lick paid
were usually above the market of the time
He wanted only choice lots and secure titles.
He kept his own counsel and for years after
wards, when the vigorous young city was
spreading out on every hand, there were many
vacant lots and blocks occupying the best
situations whose ownership was mystery to
every one except the quiet speculator.
He is now 7S years old, and does not choose
erty into the hands of bunglIng corporations
and grasping heirs He therefore made a deed
in July last giving his whole estate to seven
trustees, Thomas Ii. Selby, ID. o. Mills, Henry
NJ. Newhall, William Alvord, George II. How
ard, James Otis, and John o. Earl, for uses
and purposes therein specified: These pur-
poses are of a remarkable character. Seven
Hundred Thousand Dollars are to be devoted
TO the construction, on the borders of Lake
Tahoe, or elsewhere in the State of Califor
MIA. of o powerful telescope, superior to and
"more powerful than any telescope ever yet
"maden This is to be constructed as rapidly
as circumstances shall permit. Three Hundred
Thousand Dollars are to be used to found
and endow an institution to be called Tho
"California School of Mechanical Arts, the
"object and purpose of which shall be to ed
"ucate males and females in the practical
carts of life" to be open to all youths born
in California. Two Hundred and Fifty Thou
sand Dollars are to be spent in building a
monument designed to commemorate the his
tory of California, and One Hundred
and Fifty Thousand are to be devoted
to o Bronze Monument to Francis
Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled
Banner "-probably the largest proportion of
monumental glory to the amount of copy
which provoked it of which we have any
record. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dol
lars are to be spent in building free baths
for the San Franciscans, and One Hundred
Thousand in establishing a Home for Old Ladies
who have no means of support These are
the principal purposes of the trust, though
there are numerous gifts of s25,OOO and $4,000
to various charities. The family OF Mr. Lick
are scantily remembered. He gives $4,000
apiece for gravestones for those who are gone,
and the same sum or less to those who survive
less than Fifty Thousand Dollars in all. After
these purposes are accomplished, the residue
of his estate goes in equal portions to the
California Academy of Sciences and the So
ciety of California Pioneers, to be used in the
erection of suitable buildings, and the pur-
chase OF libraries scieutiGo COLLECTIONS. sppa-