Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-23
The Plaza Chosen as the Place for
Its observation-disclosures
for It's Erection.


citation now has S., lag in D. O. Mills bank,
and a balance of 81 90 in the hands of the
Financial Secretary.
The President stated that he had received
letters of regret from Governor Waterman,
Mayor Gregory. III. Weinstock, @. A. Grow
and B. d. Worthington Of the Advisory
Committee, who were unable to attend on
account of absence from the city.
President Hussey then called upon Will
lam 81. Mills, Chairman or the Advisory
Committee, who submitted the following
address to the Executive Committee of the
Association
We heye assembled at the request of those in
charge of the A. ]. Stevens memorial statue for
the purpose of assisting you, by our advice,
in selecting from among the designs. which
pria'ely commemorating the life aud services
of our late friend. The point which most dis
tinctiy marks in the progress of mankind de-
parture from barbarism toward civilization, is
that at which man supplementshis hand with
implements The rude implements of the chase
and OF war are closely succeeded by those used
the beginning of civilized life in all ages ard
among all people, mechanical skill and me-
chanical invention have borne a conspicuous
sud indispensable part as a civilizing agency.
In the ruder stages of human development
there was but two fields of distinction-war and
the chase. Next 10 bravery on the fie came
wisdom in the council; hence oratory Joined
the other two. These three maintained the po-
sition of first distinction long after the sun of
civllizing influences had arisen above the
horison of berbarism Then came statesman
ship, then srt then literature with its diversified
fields, then cQSnmerce, navigation discovery
science, philanthropy and religion. accom-
panying all these, the indispensable hand
maiden of each, and descending through all
the ages was mechanical skill. In proportion
as man has supplemented his hand with labor
saving agencies, in like proportion has his pro-
duetive capacity been enhanced and in core
spending ratio have the conditions of all classes
been improved.
Thus labor-aidipg machinery has conferred
wealth of elevating force. until to-day the con-
ditions OF our common life would have been
esteemed one OF luxury in past ages. The
chase gave way to the cultivation of the fields
as means of subsistence, because of mechani-
cal invention. Art arose to the exalted place it
holds to-day through the indispensable aid of
the artisan. Musical expression took on new
forms and invaded new realms of melody and
harmony with the construction of more perfect
musical Instruments. Science and discovery
confer their blessings upon mankind only
through the assistance OF mechanism. OF what
value would a knowledge of electricity have
been in an age devoid of the mechanical skill
TO construct telephone, a dynamo, or the APP
paratus of electric light? OF what use would
knowledge of the expansive power of steam
have been to people unable to make that ex-
pansive power effective by the construction Of
engines? Where would have been the sublime
mason, the carpenter? But the triumphs of
mechanical ingenuity do not stop with the en-
slavement OF steam and electricity: through
means of rapid and cheap communication
climates and soils are enlisted in the service Of
man. The distant shores of oceans are brought
near together in point of time by steamships.
Continents are spanned by iron pathways, over
which vast commerce is carried at rate of
speed far SURPRISING the ancient dreams OF en-
chantments.
Take from civilization to-day all that is due to
mechanical skill, achievement and invention
and you will impoyer;sh its every element and
relegate mankind to primitive barbarism. Tried
by the standard of usefulness to humanity the
realm of mechanical invention and construc-
ton oilers field OF dlstin ction equal in dignity
to that OF science, oratory or craftsmanship and
far surprising that of war. War is Destructive
handieraft is constructive. War covers the
earth with ruin impoverishes bereayes and de.
stroyes. The artisan builds cities, ships and
railways, enriches humanity and clothes the
earth with the garments of praise. 1t was upon
this ennobled field that our late friend acquired
honorable distinction. In the realm of his most
useful occupation he was q master, and in the
discharge of the great duty assigned TO him as
Master Mechanic of a vast railway system he
brought to bear in the discharge OF his great
office administrative faculties far beyond those
demanded in the administration of petty king
doms. We do honor to the arts of peace and
the blessings of prosperity when we perpetuate
the memory OF such man by-an enduring
monument. Let US hail it as a happy and hope
ful Cmen when useful lives and manly charac-
ter are thus eommemorated. Our late friend
has justly earned this commemoratiou. and the
lesson bis monument will teach will inspire in
the minds of young men ambitions equal in
nobility to those inspired by any monument we
NAV rear TO the benefactors OF mankind. Thus
win his example live again; live to be emulated
and multiplied in the lives of thousands; live
by enforcing hisher appreciation of the arts
of peace. We therefore enter upon the duty to
which we are appointed with reverence, re-
membering that in doing honor to a useful life
and brave and manly character we do honor TO
the noblest attributes of mankind.
Mr.. Mills then referred to the models
and designs before the meeting for its in
spection, and from which selection was to
be made, and spoke eloquently and feel
ingly upon the life and services Of Mr..
Stevens, and advised that the statue be
such as to perpetuate his features and char
acteristics, rather than distinguishing the
calling and field of action of the deceased
friend. In support of this he referred to
the statues of Washington, Pitt. Queen
Elizabeth, ROLAND Hill, Grant and others,
where the personality were made, by great
sculptors, the main feature
In accordance with Mr.. Mills sugges-
tons. the several designs exhibited were
then mum bered, and the representative of
each was heard as to proposed dimensions.
class of material, cost, etc. There were
four models and five drawings and photo
graphs of designs presented. All were care
fully examined and their merits consid-
cred +. ID. Meyers, of San Francisco.
appeared as representing four designs, pre-
scented in drawings. and one model Two
of the designs would give seventeen feet as
total hight of structure, and a third would
stand twenty feet in hight The model ex.-
hibiied by him was prepared in Munich,
and with pedestal aud statue would be
f.aot -. l. - L
said, If executed in America, with pedestal
made of California granite. could be put up
at cost of SIS 900, but If done at Munich it
would cost more.
Mr.. Mills spoke in favor of patronizing
American art and industry. He said. that
while they might make a better statue in
Munich than in America, this would
always be so if we continue to go to
Munich for our statues. GGreat applause. |
You can never advance mechanical skill
of our own people so long as you do not
have your work done in the United States. y
He therefore urged, as far as the advice of
the Advisory Committee might be proper,
that the work be done in America This
sentiment met with such unanimous ap-
prevail of the meeting that the President of
the Association said, there was evidently no
necessity to take formal action in the mat
ter.
G. II. Jones, of Oakland, spoke in refer
ence to photograph of model made by
Mr.. Taft, sculptor, of Chicago The full
hight OF this statue would be "a feet and 6
inches The pedestal standing IL feet in
hight. aud the statue feet inches. The
pedestal would probably be of Oak Hill
granite, and be cut by the Mitchell Granite
Company, Quincy, Mass, and the statue
cast at Chicago.
J. Marion Wells, of San Francisco, ex-
hibited model of similar hight of statue.
but which, with pedestal would stand but
about IL feet in hight. Frederick Flohr,
of San Francisco. exhibited the model
which has been on exhibition at the
Crocker Art Gallery during the past few
days, and has heretofore been commented
upon The pedestal would stand l3A feet
in hight. with statue 8 feet, making the
total hight 22l feet
| A. w. WeiBert. of San Francisco, pre-
scented model for examination, the pedes-
tai Ct which would be fourteen feet and
statue eight feet, making tolal hight OF
twenty-five feet.
The proposed msterial for each of the
siruc. ures was sim Lara granite PEDESTAL
with granite or bronze tablets and bronze
statue. After each bad been described and
all questions answered, remarks were made