Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-12
LELAND STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
A Story That 1t Might Have Been Estab
lished in Albany.


lished in Albany.
From the Troy Press.
Leland Stanford was born in Watervliet, very
near to the present western boundaries of the
city of Albany, March Q, 1924. He began to
practice law at Port Washington, Wis, in 1S49
fire in 1852 destroyed his law library and de-
termined him to remove to California, where
three brothers had preceded him.
Success crowned his efforts there. Indeed,
few men have had the degree Of material pros
perity that has crowned Mr.. Stanford. Eut his
only son, Leland Stanford, IT,, died in Italy
just after he had entered his seventeenth year.
This child Of so many hopes was given regal
post-mortem honors. AL that the millions of
the desolate parents could DO to give outward
manifestations to their grief was done. For
many months both father and mother were
heartbroken. Their wealth could do nothing
toward softening the blow.
Leland Stanford's heart turned to the farm
whereon he was born and to the region where
his ancestors had lived. The body of his son
had been taken from Italy to San Francisco.
Mr.. Stanford determined to have the body re-
moved to the Albany Rural cemetery and to
erect there i'll memory of his dead boy and his
buried hopes magnificent mausoleum. At the
same time he had in mind disposition of his
millions that should forever celebrate the name
Of his son and that should be useful to the pub
lie.
Mr.. Stanford began negotiations with the
officers of the Rural Cemetery Association for
the purchase Of site for the mausoleum and
| almost simultaneously determined to obtain
$50 acres Of land, including the farm of his
nativity, just west of the boundaries of the city
of Albany, for to- purpose of erecting there
the institution that has since, in another loca-
tion become known to the world as the Leland
Stanford Jr., University.
Neither arrangement was consummated Re-
Gently gentleman intimately acquainted with
Senator Stanford has told the reason why. The
officers of the cemetery association, it is said,
knowing MIR. Stanfords great wealth and his
greater grief, seemed to be of the opinion that
they could get from him little more for the
mausoleum site than person OF ordinary means
would be asked. The sum which it is said they
endeavOred to extOrt was $75; that ia, the
asked that amount above the fixed charge for
the plot.
Mr. Stanford discovered the endeavor. He
shook the dust of Albany from his feet and
went back to California, where he Immediately
entered upon the development Of his univer-
sity project.
In memory Of his only son Mr.. Stanford has
given the state Of California $2O, 900 600 to be
used in founding at Palo Alto university
whose curriculum not only includes the usual
collegiate studies, but comprises instruction in
telegraphy. typesetting. typewriting, Journal
ism. bookkeeping. farming, civil engineering
| and other practical branches of education.
This, the most richly-endowed institution Of
learning in the world, was lost to Albany
"New Albany" as some of its enterprising ci.i-
zons call it-because according to this narration,
it was thought to be good business policy to
overcharge millionaire SIS for burial plot