The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-22
Bestowed Munificently by the Car
Upon Stanford University
Of California
Cabinet of Eight Hundred Speci-
mons of Russian and Siberian
Minerals
Tho Collection Worth Many Thousands oi
DOllars-H0w 1t Was Secured
Mrs. Stanford's Return,


have collection of minerals that will out
rival the cabinets Of every museum in the
country. The collection is on it's way from
Russia and Siberia to this city. It is a
gift from the cznr of Russia to the Stanford
university, culled from tho rarities in the
great museums of st. Petersburg.
The history of this imperial donation is
rs follows: Senator and Mrs. Stanford
visited Russia last year, where they were
welcomed as promoters of advanced edu.
cation. The art galleries of St. Peters
burg and Moscow were thrown open tc
them. In Moscow the California visitors
were initiated into the secrets of the Rus
sian jewelers.. who are unexcelled In the
art of hammering gold and silver into
marvellous union and etching in strange
relief the most variegated landscapes.
Specimens of this beautiful and costly
work were purchased by the Stanfords at q
very large outlay Of money. The Russian
peasant women perform wonders in noe
dlework, and they contributed to the COL
lection made by the Stanfords some beau
tiful specimens of handmade laces,
which are described us beautiful combina-
tions Of Spanish drawn work and embroid-
cry.
The lavish expenditure of the millionaire
tourists on the art and handiwork Of the
Russian people attracted attention, and
when the Stanfords reached st. Petersburg
and wished to visit the national museum,
one of the greatest repositories Of antiqui-
ties and possessing one of the finest collec-
tions in the world, they found that special
instructions had been given by the govern
mont to afford them extraordinary facili-
ties for inspecting the magnificent collec-
tion.
One of the most remarkable features of
the st. Petersburg museum is the extreme
~ valuable collection of mineral specimens,
some of the specimens from the mines in
Siberia especially being of extraordinary
rarity and value. The Siberian mines have
an individuality. 30 to speak, of their own,
and the treasures of the Siberian collection
Stanford saw that it would be an almost
inestimable advantage to Palo Alto univer-
sity u 1T could secure some portion of the
specimens which now can be seen only in
the st. Petersburg museum.
Through our minister TO Russia they
lntimated their desire to the czar, and he
returned favorao ole answer, but until rs-
GENTLY they did not know how great WAS
the favor the czar intended to confer. A
short time ago letter reached the uni
veraity from st. Petersburg announcing
that the cZar had ordered that a complete
collection of Russian and Siberian minerals
should be taken from the st. Petersburg
museum and forwarded to Palo Alto.
More recently Mrs. Stanford received let
ter giving brief description of 500 speoi-
mems which have been shipped and which
are now on their way to California.
And what does the great collection in
clude! In the first place, there are several
specimens of malachite, dearer than Gold
rarer than platinum. These specimens
alone are worth thousands of dollars. ! hey
are green and blue, and represent everv
grade and quality of the malachite. The
gold and silver specimens are also unique.
The California miner will study them with
absorbing interest. The iron specimens
will be as interesting and nearly as valua-
bic as any of the others. The process
by which Russian iron is medo su-
perior to any in the world is a state
employed by the government in it's
manufacture. The specimens in the Stan
ford collection are in the form of sheet
iron, and differ from ordinary iron in the
richness of their dark color, superior hard
ness and peculiarly bright enamel. then
there are rubies, flashing diamonds spark
ling sapphires, all large of their kind and
wonderfully valuable. They, too, come
from Siberia.
Within few days this valuable collec-
tion will reach this city from New York.
As it ia intended for a scientific exhibition,
and not for commercial purposes, it will
pass through the custom-house free of
duty. The entire collection is easily val
ued at from $4,000 to $45,000 princely
gift. indeed.
Not to be outdone in liberality, Mrs.
Stanford is now engaged in gathering to-
stones and minerals, which will be rs COM
plete as it can be made and very valuable,
and which she will present to the st. Pc
tersburg National museum.