Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-20
STAMFORD UNIVERSITY.
ARTISTIC BUILDINGS AND PICTUR-
EsQUE SURROUNDINGS.
The Mission Type of Architecture Ex-
emplified-Notes of Recent
Visit to Palo Alto.
From the San Francisco Bulletin

From the San Francisco Bulletin.I
Tourist sight-seers, who go, as is now the
popular thing. to Palo Alto, will see there
something more than park domain, speedy
horses and fine buildings. They may see
there what all Californians may be proud
Of now that Yankee genius has developed
it-a characteristic California architecture.
1t was left to Massachusetts, architects to
appropriate to modern buildings the quaint
features of the old missions and the result
is seen in the present costly structures of the
Stanford Jr. University. The adaptation
produces an effect harmonious and generally
pleasing, while the novelty cannot but de-
light all admirers OF originality, wherever
found.
THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE,
1t is but a brisk drive of about fifteen
minutes from the stations of Menlo Park
or Mayheld to the University site, which
is portioned OF from the southern end of
the great Palo Alto estate. At various
road turnings one may get distant glimpses
OF the new buildings, their picturesque
coloring of yellow sandstone aud red tile
roofing harmonizing well with the dark
verdure of pine and oak foliage that is
everywhere in that locality. The building
OF the University has been bonanza for
local stable-men. Before, the stock farm
attracted many visitors, but the combined
attractions now draw so many curious
sight-seers that they have become some.
what of an annoyance. They have
ravaged the flowers and broken shrubs,
until now all the front gates are closed for
the sake of protection. If an earnest and
careful observer hopes to see all that is
there, he should take the precaution to
secure beforehand from the proper source
an Introduction that will save him much
embarrassment. This he may do without
difficulty. In time a main roadway will
lead from the new University Park station
direct to
THE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.
This has lately been cut through the
groves, and is now being macadamiZed,
On the opposite side of the track, lust
without the University grounds, il is
planned to have the college town. This
has already been laid out and MANY San
Franciscans have secured property there,
planning some day to possess a suburban
home under these wide spreading oaks
that everywhere dot the landscape. If the
visitor here appreciates native humor he
may find some in the volunteer guides
who will drive him about The new edu-
cational center, the trotting stock, the mau-
soleum and other points of interest are
oddly confused under one general head of
things worth seeing. In this catalogue
Just now the stallion Electioneer has chief
place, and the man who would rather ex-
anime the design of the new buildings and
speculate as to their future usefulness than
look through screen door at the trotting
sire holds very low place in the mind of
the talkative guide. This directing spirit
knows much of local family movements
and he is not backward in telling all the
Menlo gossip. If some of these folks
could occasionally ride in a carriage, other
than their own, how much they might
learn of themselves.
PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.
A large force of men is now EMPLOYED on
the dormitory for young men. The twelve
classroom buildings around the main
quadrangle were all completed some time
ago with the exception of interior finish
ing. All are of brown-yellow sandstone,
quarried from the hills not far distant. A
lofty stone chimney of marvellous symme.
try towers high above the low main build.
ings. 1t rises from the engine-house also
of stone, laid, as are all the walls, in irregu.
lar rubble courses. The dormitory building
now going up will be three stories. 1t is a
notwithstanding structure with many
pleasing features of artistic construction.
1t is located several hundred feet from the
classroom buildings. At about the same
distance from them in the opposite direc-
ton another dormitory building for young
lady students is soon to be built. The
wide graveled roadway marked out by
landscape artist Olmstead winds about in
graceful curves by these buildings and
passes through under arches, so deep as to
be almost tunnels, into the quadrangle
bounded by the classroom buildings. An
preaching these the full effect of the arch
itectural novelties above noted is seen.
The fiatness of these many one-story
buildings and the great expanse of roof SO
near to the level of the eye is at first sur
prlsing from its novelty. But the stability
OF the stone, the curves and well-fitted
arches OF the four entrance ways, the odd
beauty of the red-tile roofing, finally i'm
press one as most appropriate for their sit
uation and their object. The very lowness
of the buildings is restful to the eve that
tires OF nine story monstrosities of some
city building.
SUGGESTIONS OF THE MISSIONS,
Besides the tiled roofing. the recurring
arches and round pillars of the open cor
ridor that connect all the buildings remind
one of the missions. Santa Barbara Mis-
sion, that the Jesuits made from adobe
bricks century ago, has just this archi-
tectural fancy. But here ii is elaborated
upon and made more substantial and ar
tlstic. These carved capitals and skillful
designs would have suggested too much of
worldly beauty to the devoted fathers.
These connected tile-foored corridors will
be very useful during the rainy season.
Doubtless the idea of their utility only was
the cause of their long-ago origin. 1t is
only one stone step from the corridor into
each classroom. Very high are all the
ceilings, and very low are the windows
that pierce the walls on all four sides of
each building. Poor ventilation must
here be unknown. The entrance arches,
surmounted by square hipped, tile-roofed
towers, rise high above the building roofs.
relieving the monotony of their one-story
level. Within the large court palms of
various sorts are now growing. Soon
fountains will be playing here, and then
the architectural effect of the new Mission
style will be artistically complete.
STARTING AN ARBoREruM.
Some distance away. near the new Palo
Alto wine cellar, is the beginning of an
dfporetum winch promises 10 De one OF the
most complete of its kind in the United
States. Just now it is in nursery form, but
the shrubs and trees grow so rapidly in this
climate that another year will make quite
showing. 1t is III charge Oft. L. Douglass,
who for some years was director of expert
mental work for the State Board of For.
estry. Senator Stanford engaged him when
he left the State employ, and since he has
been busily at work here. He has two or
three acres in nursery, chiefly trees. He
has made large collection of confer
pines, securing stock from all parts of the
world. ALI these trees now in the nursery
will be taken up when the proper time
comes and set out near the University,
the grounds thus becoming an immense
arboretum. Manzanitas is great profusion
are TO form one feature of the tree. group.
ing. They are as Enthusiastically Cali
fornian as the missions and will helm form