The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-18
A BOTANICAL GARDEN.
Biz Tract Donated by the State
for This Purpose.
Colonel Armstrong; Munifcent Gift to the
People Of California-A Liberal Endow-
ment Also Expected.

preservation of her natural trees and the
naturalization Of foreign species.
Colonel j. b. Armstrong of Santa Rosa Is
the donor. He has set aside $40 acres Of
the finest redwood timber land in Sonoma
County for the purpose. The deeds to the
property and its transfer 10 the people of
California in perpetuity have all been ar
ranged. The gift Is an accomplished fact,
and the following fve trustees have been
chosen to manage the trust and carry out
the wishes Of the donor: Miss Kats Arm
strong, f. j. Wickson. Charles Howard
Shinu, Luther Burbank, Robert Underwood
Johnson.
These persons have already signlfed their
acceptance of tho trust and the duties it
will impose. and have agreed to hold their
first regular meeting during the coming
summer. Colonel Armstrong is quite an
elderly man, but is still active, and will
doubtless remain the nominal head Of the
institution during his lifetime. Miss Arm
strong. the first trustee named. is the daugh-
ter OF the donor She is much interested in
forestry and shares her fathers fondness
for the great trees of California.
Professor Wickson, the second trustee
named, is well known throughout the State
for his connection with the university and
as the editor of the Rural Press. The third
leading experimental nurseryman in the
United States. Bis home is In Santa Rosa.
Charles Howard ShnD. another of the
trustees, is one of the best-knOwn literary
men and writer's on the Pacific Coast. He
is editor-in-chief of the Overland Monthly
and voluminous contributor 20 the East
ern magazines. usually on California topics,
and not infrequently on subjects connected
with the forestry OF the State. His advo-
cacy of the preservation of California for
estS and his depth of learning on the subject
were doubtless the considerations which
led Colonel Armstrong 10 making this COM
mendable selection.
Perhaps the most notable appointment
made by Colonel Armstrong was that of
Robert Underwood Johnson, the assistant
editor Of the Century Magazine. Colonel
Armstrong makes no secret of the fact that
this appointment was made because of his
admiration for the plucky manner in which
Mr.. johnson carried on his part of the fight
for the preservation of Yosemite and Sc
quota parks, for his great knowledge of
trees and the intense interest he has always
manifested in the forests of the Golden
State.
This is the first public announcement of
Colonel Armstrong; great gift TO the
people OF this State. The donor is a modest
man, WHO has stunned publicity as much
as possible. His sole motive in making the
donation has been his great interest in the
future Of California and his great desire 10
have her native trees preserved in all their
pristine beauty and grandeur. From the
Tact that II Is nearly year now since the
tract was formally decided to the State by
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong one may readily
believe that the donors were only actuated
10y The most unselish motives.
Tie tract comprises mile square of red
wood timber Land on the north bank of the
Russian River. Not tree has been touched
since nature planted them there centuries
ago, though Ia tile natural clesrings several
farmhouscS and cottages have been erected
Tor tie accommodation Of visitors aud the
men constantly employed on the place.
Since lis Donation Colonel Armstrong has
himself borne all the expenses of its proper
maintenance, and IL is fully expected that
before long the colonel will be5tow upon il
considerable permanent endOU ment.
To the north the tract Is backed by high
mountain wall, shelieTing 1t from the cold
winds. 4 large portion of the tract is the
bottom land Of one Of the tributaries of the
Russian River, and Is thickiy covered with
some of the finest redwood trees 10 be
found IN the State. One corner OF the land
reaches down 10 within mile Of the rail
road at Guernevlle. 1t is not far from the
Bohemian Clubs Fairgrounds. but is
said TO excel in point Uf picturesque scenery
aud natural advantages even the famous
Bohemian ground.
As yet but little other work than that
| neceSsltated III keeping the place in thor
! ougn order has been done on the new
| botanical garden, but as soon as the trustees
| have net ana decided upon tie first steps t.
be taken toward carrying out the purposes
| for which the land was donated. active
work viii be begun and carried on aggTes-
sively.
The garden Is to be thrown open to
summer schools Ike the ChautGuQuaS, and
TO DO made the rendezvous for scientific and
! literary persons who desire to see some
thing OF Csliiornia's great forests during
| their summer outings.
Colonel Armstrong deserves great credit
| Tor his timely Donation. He IS one Of the
few men who are disposed to employ theiI
riches for the public good before death has
| made their possessions worthless. More
! over, by his timely action, he has practically
| pTecluded the t0sSibiiity OF his wishes in
| this direction being misearried either by the
rapacity of near relatives or the law techni-
| Calities. He has chosen wise and pruden,
| trustees and will have ample time to test
| their loyalty 10 the trust The deed by
which the transfer OF this valuR bic land
was made was signed not only by the donor
| himself, but by every member Of his family
| who IN after years might have a Technical
| right TO question its validity.
The property already has a small but
| certain income, and there Is every prospect
that il could soon be made self-supporting
should 1t receive no further endowment
| At present its income is derived from q
small prune orchard. That part Of the land
which Is cleared boasts the most fertile OF
| soils, and further orchards Will be set out
| at once. As II stands to-day the property is
/ worth fully S150,000. Ii would bring thai
| in the market. lis prospective value, oil
course, Is lar IN excess of that figure, and
| those who have seen the ground declare thai
| 1t Will soon bo one Of the most valuable
| tracts in the county.
The donor of the California Botanical
| Gardens-fOr that will doubtless be its
| formal title-c0mes from one Of the oldest
| and most respectable families in Ohio. Ht
wore the blue uniform of volunteer
| colonel all through tho civil war, and upon
| its close came To California to live. He wa:
| wealthy man IN those days, as he is now
| but the failure of one OF the first of his Cal,
| ifoTnia investments made him poor mar
| for the time being. He brought with him
| from Ohio an ample fortune of S200OO
| Most of this-in fact, all except a few thou.
| sand dollars he invested in timber lands-ht
put in the old Duncan Bank When thi:
| Institution failed, Colonel Armstrong LOST
| all but his redwood interests These, how.
| ever, soon became very valuable
| For several years Colonel Armstrons
| owned and edited the Santa Rosa Republi.
| can. With the increase of his redwood i'm.
| teTeSts the colonel sold his paper and
moved to Cloverdale. where he devoted his
whole time to the latter industry. He ha,
made a great deal Of money from redwood
and aside from the tract donated to tbs
botanical garden he has large holdings il
| Sonoma County.