Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-21
TWO LIBRARIES.
Valuable Books in San Fran
cisco Collections.
What a Los Angeles Man Was
Shown.
The Collections of Bancroft and
AdOlph Sutro.
Rare Old Historical Documents-A Col
lection of Americana Copies of
Spanish Archives-The Ideas
They Evoke.
'Istatf Correspondence Of the HERALD. /

SAN Francisco, Feb. 16, 1892.
During the past week it has been my
privilege to visit what 1 regard as two
great libraries. They are not great in
quantity but quality not in the volume
but in the character of their matter.
The first was that of Adolph Sutro,
Esq, which is in the Montgomery block.
On presenting myself at the office met
with cordial reception from Mr.. Sutro,
who Immediately quit his business to
show me his collection, of which he Is
justly very proud. Mr.. sutro is of stout
and vigorous frame, with clear, blue
eyes, and fresh, ruddy complexion, in
dicating good haalth and an active brain.
His gray hairs and side-whiskers, whit
ened by the hands of Father Time, give
him the venerable appearance of the
patriarch which he truly is.
His biography occupies large space
in the history OF the Pacific coast, and
needs no repetition here. But there is
one point that is worthy of particular
mention. Here is gentleman
whose career has been that
of successful fnancier. He
not only created for himself i'm
mense personal revenues, but also saved
their proceeds. He was endowed with
sufficient strength of mind, breadth of
brain and versatility of character to be
not completely absorbed by the art of
financiering. While his busy brain was
conceiving and his hands executing
such great enterprises as the Sutro tun-
mel, he was also thinking of other and
higher things.
Among these was that of founding
historical library. For this purpose he
visited the east and Europe. In Mexico
and Spain he purchased everything and
anything that love or money could OBJ
tain that pertained in the slightest de-
gree to the history of California. Many
book dealer was astonished at this
enterprising American taking almost his
entire stock at doubled prices and no
questions asked.
The result is collection unique in
character and unexcelled in quality.
Here are originals OF the first editions
of books printed in America, a complete
set OF the official Mexican gazettes, a
complete collection of Mexican histo-
ries, officially certified copies of Spanish
documents pertaining to California, and
manuscripts, newspaper files, pamphlets
and relics without number. The eyes
tire and the brain wearies in wandering
over titles and lists or looking at the
relics of the past.
Mr.. Sutro is of peculiar interest to
Los Angeles from his relations with the
Historical Society of Southern Califor-
MIA. Through series of events, ex-
tending over several years, he loaned
that society nineteen of his most valu-
able. manuscripts. They are certified
copies of official documents from the
royal archives at Seville, Spain, consist
ing of reports of the discovery and set
Element of California. These docu-
ments, together with their translations,
have been published by the society in a
book OF 200 pages.
Mr.. Sutro has further loaned the
society o bounce volume of rare,
original and official Spanish and Mex
lean manuscripts for the publication OF
another similar book. Among these
manuscripts is the official report of
Engineer Miguel Costanso, who made
the first official survey of California, in
the year 1859. His report on the har-
bor5 will be of interest.
Nor have Mr.. Sutro's contributions to
the southern historical society been
merely of literary character. He has
been of material financial assistance in
the publication of the first volume of
documents.
The query has arisen, why has not
the California Historical society, situ-
ated in San Francisco, been accorded
the privilege of publishing Mr.. Sutro's
manuscripts, especially as its members
are his feilow-townsmen? The answer
is easy. The Historical Society of
Southern California was the first to dis
L. AZ
scripts. In 1883, while the Very Rev
translating Palon's life OF FIR. Junipero
Sierra, Mr.. Sutro presented him with a
photolithograph of Sierra letter. This
was translated and published by the
southern society. Mr.. Sutro was 30
pleased with the action of the society
at Los Angeles that he at once
placed all his manuscripts at their
disposal. 1t simply was asquestion OF
enterprise on the part of the south, and
won. The northern society feels
chagrined over its defeat, but it must
be more active the next time.
The other library | visited was that OF
H. HI. Bancroft, on Valencia street,
near Twenty-eighth street. There is
not sufficient space here to even attempt
description of its historical wealth.
vi great interest to Southern California
are the famous scrap books of Judge
Benjamin Hayes, upon which gazed
with as great reverence as Tischendorf
did on his Sinaitic manuscript. 1t is
sad thought that there is even possi
biiity that this great collection, as
priceless to California as the Alexan-
drian library was to Egypt or the White
Tower library was to Wales, should be
14a 10 fn~
great-pursed and liberal-hearted An
sgeleno to take it to our southern town
Whatever criticism may be made of
Mr. bancroft's thirty-nine volumes,
there can be no adverse Judgment upon
his library. 1t is simply marvellous.
and read title after title. / lived the
past. | seemed to be with Cabrillo,
when he sailed slowly up the coast. and
met his fate on the island of San Miguel.
1 saw Drake, with his booty, repairing