The morning call., 1893-06-10
DONAHUE'S GIFT.
Plans Will Be Prepared
for a Fountain.
Mervyn Donahue's Executors Ready
to Erect an Ornate Monument at
Bush and Market Streets.

After delay Of four years there is
good prospect that the city will have a
magnificent fountain at the Junction of
Bush and Market streets.
There are two obstacles vet in the way,
however. One rests with the Supervisors,
but as a committee of the board decided
on Thursday to recommend the erection
of a fountain as specified in petition,
nothing is feared from that quarter. The
other one is Judge Wallace's opposition
against paying the beQuest which is to
build the fountain.
Attorneys say they can defeat the
Judges action, and relying on that belief
have proceeded to secure plans and make
arrangements for the construction OF
monument that will be ornamental and
useful.
When Mervyn ]. Domaine died four years
ago he directed in his will that fountain
costing S25000 be erected on the gore at
Battery. Bush and Market streets in
memory OF his father, Peter Donahue. and
to be dedicated to the mechanics of San
Francisco.
The will stated that as Peter Donahue
helped to build the city around Market
and Bush streets, and construct and 0per-
ate steam and street car lines, gas works,
fonndries, and establish banks and insur-
ance companies, it would be appropriate
TO have this monument to his memory in
the business district.
Recently the executors of Meryyn's will
petitiOned the Board of Supervisors to
grant permission to erect the fountain, as
there was no legal reason why the be-
quest should not then be executed.
On April q another petition was pre-
sented to the City Fathers relative to the
fountain. in the interests of the adorn-
ment of the city and of art" il recites,
I'VE desire 10 call your attention TO this
beguest, and request that you give per-
mission for the erection of fountain. 1t
| is needless to say that S25, 900 Will be suffi-
clent to erect a beautiful fountain, and
that the interests of the city will be pro-
moted by the acceptance of this generous
gift which we petition you now to accept"
The following signatures were attached ::
Frederick W.Zeile, Arthur Rodgers, Jane s
ID. Phelan, Irving NJ. Scott, Edward Dos-
Qui. Horace q. Platt. Ed E. Potter, Louis
Sloss Jr., Henry Heyman, president and
directors of the San Francisco Art Asso-
citation c. L. Haskell, William Alvord.
Louis Gerstle. A Hayward and Charles
HOlbrOok. There were many signatures
of prominent business men and well-known
artists.
1--WE have already invited the Art Asso-
citation to make designs" said Attorne Y
Charles f. Hanlon yesterday. THE artists
may form themselves into committee and
give the work TO srulptors or select model
from the designs We will give them
power TO act, as we wish to have this
monument-lountain worthy of San Fran
cisco and representative of the highest
order OF art at present in this city.
THE site is 90 feet on Bush street, 81 on
Battery and ia on Market, but how much
space will be occupied by the base is not
yet known. The fountain will probably
be of bronze with granite or other stone
base.
There are none of the Donahues left to
keep alive the name. Mervyn saw how it
would be after his death. and it was his
idea that out of the wreck of the Donahue
Dame this monument should last and keep
alive the name.'