The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-29
Tho Most Extraordinary Public Request Of the
Century.
JAMES LICK GIVES away HIS ENTIRE IMMENSE
FORTUNE.
IN. Y. Tribune. Nov. 20. ]

| ". Y. Tribune. Nov. 20.I
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 The residue was withdrawn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 at q future day. The time would
appear hardly favorable for the sale of real
estate and yet n sufficient sum has already
been realized to accomplish all the specific
purposes contaiued in the extraordinary deed
by which this public-spirited citizen reduced
himself, n few months ago, from vast opulence
to position of simple ease.
James Lick is native of fredericksburg,
Pennsylvania, who learned the trade of piano
making in Philadelphia in the early years of
this century Having taste for adventure,
which was with him not incompatible with
great Industry and thrift, he went to South
America, where he passed several years en-
gagged 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 in crest among Americans on the Pacific
Coast, Mr.. Lick resolved TO seek his fortune in
Ell Dorado. His business in Peru was relent-
lessly sacrificed, and he started for San Fran
cisco Bay with $50, 900 in cash, the avails of
property worth twice that sum. There were
very few of the early emigrants who had any
such sum of money, and still fewer who had
such head piece as was carried on the square
shoulders of the Pennsylvania piano maker.
He bought lot and large adobe house on
the north-ea corner OF Montgomery and
jackson streets, to keep his safe full of donb-
looms in, and then began to look about him.
He saw that q great town was sure to grow up
on those sand hills, and he lost no time in Sc
Letting and buying the most eligible positions |
in the future city. This was in 1S48, 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 afterwards, 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 a mystery to every one except |
the quiet speculator.
He is now seventy eight years old, and does
not choose to wait until his death shall throw
his property into the hands of bungling cor
and grasping heirs. He therefore
made q deed in July last, giving his whole es-
tate to seven trustees, Thomas II. Selby, d. o.
Mills, Henry NJ. Newhall, William Alvord,
George H. Howard, James Otis and John o.
Earl for uses and purposes therein specified.
These purposes are of a remarkable character.
Seven hundred thousand dollars are to be de-
voted to the construction, on the borders OF
Lake Tahoe, or elsewhere IN the State OF Call
fornia of a powerful telescope, superior to
and moro powerful than any telescope ever yet
made" 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 The Cahtor;
purpose of which shall be to educate males
and females in the practical arts of life" to
be open to all youths born in California. Two
hundred and fifty Thousand dollars are to be
Commemorate the history of California, and
1ne hundred aRd fifty thousand dollars are to
Do devoted to q bronze monument TO Francis
Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled Ban
the largest proportion OF mon
lmental glory TO che amount of copy which
!. q. - ...I.l. 49,. -. L...a