Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-15
1t PALo ALTO.
SENATOR STANFORD,S ATTACH.
MENT TO OLD LANDMARKS.
A Day at the University Grounds
and Among the Horses-Liber-
ties Accorded Visitors.
Is E Rnlletin1


The interesting feature of visit to Menlo
Park just now is a trip to the Stanford
University at Paio Alto. On recent visit
found about one hundred and forty men
in the various departments actively en-
ployed in the work of construction. Car.
loads of material stand on the tracks and
the yards are literally full of huge blocks
of graystone and barrels of sand and
cement The foundations of all the pro-
posed buildings are laid, while the struc-
lures forming the south side of the quad
rangle are up and covered, those on the
southeast corner having received their
roofs of tile. The Westinghouse, which
stauds south OF the main buildings, is made
conspicuous by its stone chimney, reaching
to hight of 120 feet. Tunnels connect
this building with the cellars of all the
others, and from this central point they
gill be supplied with the heat necessary to
make them comfortable. The interest the
people take in this undertaking of Senator
Stanford is manifested in the large pumber
of visitors to the place. They go out on
bicycles and in vehicles of every descrip-
ton, while many come in on the trains
and walk out, the distance not being far
The road from Menlo passes the mau-
soleum, and pedestrians meet with some
thing to interest them at every turn. am
informed that sometimes there are twenty
conveyances there at once, all being well
filled.
The gates are always open on week days.
and all have free admittance. There are
no restrictions placed On visitors, as far as
| could discover. People walked around
the buildings, entered those which are COW
cred, went over to the heating house, and
climbed down into the chimney and looked
up through the apparently small orifice at
the little patch of blue sky, and wondered
how high it was-the chimney, not the
sky. They examined the workmanship on
the columns and arches, peered in here and
In there, and, during the two hours | was
engaged with the others in such psstime,
heard no word of c4ution or restraint from
those in charge. Everything is on a large
scale, erythipg is complete, ell bears
close inspection with favorable result, and
the superintendent, foreman and workmen
are proud Of their creation. The people of
Santa Clara county may congratulate them
s lvas that The boundary line of San Mateo
county is where it is, and not a mile fur
ther south, for then they coQld not claim
the University as one OF their educational
institutions.
l was interested III little story gentle
man told the other day about Senator Stan
ford's attachment for the old landmarks.
Some years ago the person in charge in
tended removing an old adobe structure,
located on the western side of the farm,
which was gradually tumbling down. The
Senator learned of the matter in time, and,
instead of Being removed, braces were put
up on the outside and other measures
taken to preserve the relic of day that
was past.
Another incident of this desire to preserve
is narrated of the Palo Alto tree. Travel
ers on the railroad may have noticed tall,
Weatber-beaten redwood tree on the east
SIDE of the track, just at the bridge below
Menlo Park. Formerly there were two, but
one gave way to the elements some years
ago. From these trees the farm received
| its name, Palo being the Spanish name for
stick or cudgel, and Alto meaning high.
Of the many trees on the place these lifted
| their lofty heads high above them ALL and
| could be seen from a long distance. At the
| time the one referred 10 fell, it wes evident
that unless something was done to check
| the encroachment of the spring waters in
| the San Francisquita creek, the other would
sooa follow, and the oldest landmark of all
would be wiped out. Toavoid this the side
of the creek on which the tree stands was
lined with piles and then faced with heavy
| p'anks. This proceeding checked the wash
ing away of the bank and saved the tree,
which still stands like a sentinel on duty.
| He who narrated this incident placed the
| expense of the undertaking at $4,000, but
| | think the figure is somewhat over esti-
| mated. However, | give it as it was told
| to me.
The same freedom which was accorded
! me at the University grounds was extended
when | visited the stock farm. The horses
| in the pens, at the sound Of my footsteps
gathered al the gates. They were mostly
young animals, and, much to my surprise
when | drew near them and reached out
my hand to stroke ones forehead the others
| tried to push him away that they might be
petted instead. a groom informed me that
| il was the result of the kind treatment they
| rece- ved. They hardly knew what blow
was, but expected kindness from others as
well as from their keepers. / wandered
| through the stables and looked at the racers
| in their stalls. To give an idea of the care
| they receive, one barn containing twenty
| animals has eight grooms and two drivers
to attend to their requirements. 1t seemed
novel to me TO wander over another mans
domain without having any one check me.
In fact, no one spoke to me at all, unless /,
with my usual inquisitiveness, threw out a
string of questions which required some
patience and time to answer.
JOSIAH LIGHTHEART
Menio Park.