The morning call., 1894-03-04
THE BIG REQUEST.
Wilmerding's Liberal Gift
Discussed.
LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL.
1t Is Thought That 1t Would Do
most Good Here but Would
Prove Too Expensive.
LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL.

The members of the Board of Regents of
the State University have taken great
interest In the liberal bequest of J. G.
Wilmerding.
so lar as could be ascertained, not one of
them had received the slightest intimation
or the Intentions of the millionaire in rel3
ton to the university. 1t was expected.
from nOwledge OF the character of MIR.
Wilmerding. that when he died he would
probably devote a portion of his ample
estate to charitable purposes. but beyond
vague hope that he would remember the
States educational institution at Berkeley
there was no anticipation of the splendid
windrall.
1t is too soon as yet to learn the plans of
the board tor the expenditure of the
money, for. of course. they have not yet
been formulated, but some of them have
discussed the matter in general way.
A. S. Hallidie. chairman of the finance
committee, thi1ks that Mr.. WilmerdlIg
exercised excellent judgment in leaving
the money to the board, instead of estab-
fishing separate trust. Mr.. Hallidie is
one of the trustees of the Lick endow-
ment, and his experience in that role has
not made him an enthusiast over that
method OF making requests. THE Lick
fund.-" said he, mas been in litigation for
eONoHLcSu years, duu There is no lfdlUlDR-
school as yet. In this case l see no reason
10 fear delay in carrying out the provisions
OF the will. l think it was also wise TO
give the money to the university, because
II the school is established there the boys
may have the advantage of other inStrue-
tion which the institution is already pre-
pared to provide. We have just com pleted
"a building to be used as a college of me-
chanical arts, but it is intended for the
higher branches. In 1t men Will be fitted
Tor engineers, mining superintendent and
such positions. The school which MIR.
Wilmerding had III view would be below
that and would lead up to it. Besides this
the university has plenty of land to be
used as sites for the building without pur-
chasing more, and as the will leaves the
board large discretion, only advising that
small fraction of the money be used in
acquiring land the regents may use the
States own ground. OF course we are all
very much delighted, as there can be no
doubt That there Is great necessity for an
institution of the kind contemplated"
George I. Marye Jr. is inclined to the
opinion that the Wilmerdlng School
should be located in San francisco, where
it would De accessible to boys who cannot
go to the university. "AS ii is now" he
said, "the greatest fficuty is experienced
by boys in San Francisc' in getting an
opportunity to serve an appren tceship. /,
for one, know that this Is so. If you want
legs of. The proprletOrs tell you that the
trades unions will D OF permit them 10 en-
ploy more than prescribed number of
apprentices, and that they have all the
boys they can take. This bars the door
to majority of youths who want to learn
trade. and they grow up fit only for
manual labor. consider this bequest the
best, perhaps. we have ever received.
Il don't think so ghly of the plan of
running the school in connection with the
university. My understanding of the viii
Is that the testaor intended that the boys
De given chance to learn trades with
out being required to study great al.
Plenty OF work and little study conveys
the idea that the boys should be taught
quickly what IL is necessary for them To
know in order TO earn living. The
present College of Mechanic Arts will
turn out plenty of superintendent, cleo
triclans and mining and civil engineers !
The lower trades is what IL is intended to
Reach"
Isaias w. Hellman. a member of the
finance committee Of the Board Of Regents, |
says that it would be preferable to have |
the school where it would be In reach oil |
the largest possible number OF boys. Tha
would mean in the city of San Francisco. |
81 am afraid. though, that we could not |
select this city because property is too |
nigh here. We would nave to buy an ex-
pensive block and by the time we had put |
up the large building that would be re- !
CURED we would have SO depleted the fund
that we would not have enough TO sup orr
the school. There are great many |
things to be taken into consideration and |
Go not care to take positive stand now
There is plenty Of time, as we have not |
received the money yet ana Ii will proba- |
bly, be year before the executors will
be ready TO deliver it. [ only wish the
Lick bequest cnuId be united with the
Wmerding iund. Then we might have
the school mere in the cjtV''
The Regents have not been officially
notified of the bequest and until they are
will probably not consider the matter as a
hndV.