Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-23
THE TRIUMPH OF A CALIFORNIA IN
STITUTION.

1t IS gratifying to learn that the Academy
of Sciences in San Francisco has at last got
so far clear oE ENHANCEMENT that it is pre-
pared to avail of the benefcence of James
Lick, who endowed ii so richly, and will at
once begin TO erect structure for its home
that viii be in keeping with its importance,
the character of its endowment and the
city of its location.
No institution in this State longer or more
hero cally struggled for existence than the
Academy. 1t has known years upon years
when it was held together only by the in
domitable will and devoted purpose of
very few courageous and far seeing spirits
They saw the immensely of the field of
usefulness of such an association, and de-
spite taunts and sneers held it TO the front
of community advancement. We recall
when its meetings were attended by mere
handful of patient, tireless toilers in scien-
tifc research. They went down into
their pockets y time and time again to keep
alive feeble treasury they investigated
and studied the natural history of the
coast, gave thought to natural phenomena
peculiar to the region and made expression
of their honest convictions concerning State
possibilities on all subjects that touched
upon the development of the resources of
California aud the education OF the people.
They were long misunderstood and reviled;
they were called fossils and dubbed cranks:
the press sent reporters 10 their little meet
ings expressly instructed to ridicule their
unselfsh labors and make sport of their
pubic spirited efforts. They were at last
driven, in self-deiense, to close their doors
against the minimizing and short sighted
and pursue their purpose in privacy.
Bat the sober judgment of people is at
the last sure to be right Public thought
ie5nked the course of the press in time.
Agricultnrists and commercial men found
that this little band of inquirers was doing
great good for them. Respectful treatment
followed their debates were listened to
press, quick to catch upon the popular
drift of the tide, dropped the sneer and
substituted plain, truthful reports of the
proceedings of the Academy. Distinguished
scientists and institutions abroad recog-
nized this little band of workers in San
Francisco, and as a result the membership
rapidly augmented aud soon embraced
some Of the most eminent thinkers of the
State and nation. In few years Governor
Stanford and Charles Croker presented
the Academy with the $4,000 Ward col
lection. and James Lick endowed it with a
large portion Of his colossal fortune. and
to-day the Academy stands forward as one
OF ihe richest, best conditioned and most
useful scientific and popular educational
agsncies in the United States. 1t is now
aboui to erect splendid structure in which
10 Expose its valuable museum of natural
history and equip itself anew with facili-
ties inr research and the dissemination of
setii6s Intelligence.
Il reg :fes no extraordinary precedence
10 to'sces. the futn.e of the Academy aud
tns immense importance it will assume
anons California institutions. Its his
iory and example ought 10 encourage
ligs pubic spirited laborers in the
other cities OF the State It's triumph
ny we'll give hope and strength
TO he Capital city institution, that en-
braces culIivstio4 OF ART tastes also IL its
scheme and that during the PAST week has
been rscsiving something OF a benefit at ne
hands Of weil-wishing friends. it ho'ds
together. as do similar beginnings in two or
three other California cities, much AS did
the Academy in its early years, before il
was made by its own perseverance aud er-
ergy and the beneficence OF citizens of the
State so potential an agency Tor good TIE
opportunities for such institutions are lim.
i,less in California aud there is room f.-r
them in number AS the San Francisco
Cal well says:
This coast is almost virgin field for the sci.
eutitc student Nowhere IN the world can the
history of creation be studied TO better advan-
Jsge II is known that, 10 speak familiarly. this
was probably one OF the last parts OF the world
TO be finished by the hand OF the Creator; the
sierra was still quaking and upheaving when
volcanic agency had exhausted itself elsewhere
PARIS OF the Coast Range may have been lifted
Up aud the rocks tilted on edge when man lived
on the Hank of the Sierra in the later tertiary
age. High up on the same Sierra are cretaceous
rocks which are obviously of marine origin:
there mus. thus have been time-and probably
a long period-when Lsssen county was washed
by the waves of the ocean. Nearer home on
the sacramento and in parts of Contra tosta
county, are abundant prehistoric remains which
have never been thoroughly examined Here
alone there is a field where the Academy may
fed opportunities of usefulness. The whole
ate Is full OF maryeis to the scientific mind
and it is time that they were investigated By
competent persons.
R EMINIscRNT OF WASHINGTON