New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-29
MIR. LICK'S REVOCATION

A great deal of interest was felt last sum-
mer in the munGcent deed of trust by which
Mr.. James Lick of San Francisco made over
his enormous estate to trustees for pubic
purposes. 1t was one of the most remarkable
donations known in history. The donor had
accumulated by the labor of his own hands
and brain one of the greatest fortunes on the
Pacific Coast He had laid the foundations OF
his wealth in South America before the dis
cOvery of gold in California, and Immediately
on receiving the news of that event he had
converted all his property into cash and had
sailed for San Francisco Bay There, with an
intelligent courage and sagacity rare even
among the race of pioneers, he had invested
almost his entire capital in real es-
tate. His quick eye saw the future city
which was to arise upon those sandy hillocks,
and block after block, where streets were not
yet indicated, passed quietly into his hands.
He kept almost everything he bought occa-
sionally selling small slices Of his estate at an
enormous profit, but generally choosing to
build and lease rather than to part with the
rapidly approaching ground. In the growth
of the city, everybody aided in doing his
work All the energy and industry OF the Pa
ciiic Coast were cooperating with him to put
up tho price of his San Francisco lots. He
grew immensely rich and finally, discovering
also that he was growing old, he determined
TO give up all his wealth to those
who had assisted him in gaining it, He
made deed of trust, giving into the hands
of board of trustees consisting OF some OF
the most prominent citizens of the State his
entire property, with inconsiderable reserva-
tons. Among the purposes to which the trust
was to be directed, were the erection OF great
observatory, elmer than any in the world"
the magnificent endowment OF the Ploneer
Society of California, an Historical Society,
and the erection of certain monuments, one
being to the author of "the Star SpaDgled
Banner"
This remarkable act of renunciatiOn OF
course occasloned great remark and was
usually classified with the other inordinate
products of the California soil and climate.
In u country where trees are as big as mOnu-
ments, and the birds are said to roost in the
branches of the violet, it WIS quite matter
of course that the mllliOnaires should be ca
pable of q self-sacritice unparalleled in tradi-
ton. But Mr. Lick seems to have cared as
little for the fame of his act, as for the criti-
cism which would follow revocation of it..
In less than year he has made up his mind
with great clearness on several points and has
not hesitated to act upon his sober second
thought He has come to the conclusion that he
had not done Justice to his relatives, and that he
can himself carry out his purposes more salts
factorily than the Board of his selection can
do, He has also concluded that his days are
not so nearly spent rs he thought, when he
fastened to unload from his tired shoulders
the burden of his wealth. lie therefore filed
in the Recorders Office of San Francisco, on
Saturday last a revocation of the celebrated
deed of trust. He confirms all the steps hith-
erto taken by the trustees, and this may indl-
cate that he proposes to carry out by himself
the designs fully set forth in the revoked in
str1ment. But however this may be, he has
once more taken possession Of his estate, and
will for the present be his own administrator.
Perhaps he has learned something in this
year of premature Immortality as to the best
way to do good to the public. Philip of Spain,
after he had abdicated, and observed in retire
ment the reign and death Of his successor,
came back to the throne doubtless with larger
views of kingcraft than before. Very few
milionaires have ever had so good chance as
Mr.. Lick to see how it pays to die and leave
their estates to public uses. He has evidently
not listened much to the people who gave un-
intelligent praise to his princely gift; it re-
mains to be seen if he has paid any attention
to those who must have judiciousy criticised
it. His reasons for resuming control of his
property are natural and proper. 1t might
easily turn out that California has gained
greatly by Mr.. Lick's resuming the care of his
own affairs and the free and unembarrassed
execution of his own munificent plans.