St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-11-27
James Lick'S Estate.
THE MAN WHO GAVE AWAY ALL HIS
PROPERTY.
From the New York Tribune.

The most remarkahle auction sale of
which history gives lis any account was
held on Tuesday last III san Francisco.
A portion of the immense estate OF
james Lick, given to trustees for pub
lie uses, was sold for two millions of
dollars. The residue WAS withdrawn
tor disposal at IL future day. The time
would appear hardly favorable for the
sale of real estate. and yet Il sufficient
sum has already been realized to ac-
compliSh all the specific purposes con
tanned i'll the extraordinary deed by
which this puhic-spirted citizen re
duced himself, Il few months ago, from
vast opulence to IL position of simple
ease.
james Lick is IL native of FlcdcrlckS-
burg. PennSy lvamia, who learned the
trade of piano making III Philadelphia
in the early ye;l$ of this century. Hay
ing taste for adventure. which was
with him not Incompatible with great
industry and thrift, he went to Sout Ii
America. where lie passed several years
engaged III any business which offered.
sometime making pianos. sometimes
dealing in tiIrS. but always getting
ahead When the Mexican wal threw
California INTO oar hands and the rII-
moIed 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 Irlentlrssly sacrificed. and he
started for san Francisco Bay with
S:iU. 600 i'll cash. the aNailS of property
worth twice that sum. Their. were
very few of the early cnigrantS who
/ |, !, al III
fewer who had such Il head piece rs
WaS carried on the square shoulders at
the PcnnSI lvamia piano maker. He
bought Il lot and Il large adobe house
on the northeast corner of Mont gomcrl
and Jackson streets. I" keep his SAT"
tull of louhIoou$ in. ami then began Ia
look about him. He SIM that il great
town Wa> sure to grow ur oh thn>, sand
hills. and he lost no time in selecting
and huyng the most eligible positions
in the future city. This WAS i'll Isis.
when there WAS only Il >tIag%lim" viii
lagc there. and the prices which MI.
Lick paid were USUALLY above the IIar-
act of the time. He wanted only choice
lots and secure titles. He kept his oW II
Counsel. and for Years afterwards. when
he vigorous Young city was spreading
out on every hand. there were many
vacant loi> and blocks "ccupl ing the
best situations who's" ownership MAS u
my >tcrN Ia every one except the quiet
~pcculator.
He j. now - Years old. and does not
choose tu wait until his death shall
throw hi- property int" ;hr hands at
hungling computations and gra>piny
heirs. He Therefore made Il deed in
july last wing his " hole estate t" >rv-
en- trustees. fer u>r> and puIp">c> there
IN specified. These purpu~r> are of Il
RENAL k;hlc character. seven hundred
thousand dollars aIc Ia br drVntrl Ia
the construction. on the borders al Lake
Tahoe. oI cl>cN here III the state OF
California. ui "poNcIiul telescope.
superior /" ami more powerful than
amy telescope even Vet made. lh> l.
il he constructed ~ rapidly ~ cIIcum-
stances shall permit. Three huudIcd
thousand d"lltl~ are I" hr used To found
and cmdoW and institution to ic called
Tho California school Of Mechanical
Ans. ,rt. ",irCT ana purpose ~ which
shall bt to educate males and females
III the practical arts at life. 1u Ice open
Ia all Youths bonn III California. Nv"
hundred and fifty ti"u>aEd dollars are
L" hc spent in huildiuy t monument
DESIGNED T." commandments the history
OF California. and on, hundred and titI}
thousand aIc Ia lee devoted tu = hiu!IIr
monument tn Francis Scott Key. author
"t the "StII >pauyicd banner pr"ha-
lily tine largest proportion Of monu-
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