The San Francisco call., 1896-08-02


10 cause, to be erected at the intersection
of Market, Bush and Battery streets, in San
Francisco, opposite First street, for the City, a
public fountain dedicated to mechanics in
memory of my father, at cost of the sum of
S25 900.
The foregoing paragraph is contained
in the will of ]. Mervyn Donahue. The ex-
:. .ecntors of his estate-Peter McGlynn and
:. ]. f, Rurgin-have long been anxious to
execute the wishes of the testator in this
respect, but litigation, unexpected and
vexatious, impeded the execution.
-, In view of Judge Angelotti's decision,
rendered at San Rafael yesterday, it seems
that all objections to the building of the
fountain, with money Of the estate, have
been removed. There is the remote pos
sibility that an appeal may be taken from
the Superior to the Supreme Court, but
-thiseourse is not deemed probable. The
!. executors expect that all parties concerned
= VIII acquiesce in the decision of Judge
" AngelottI. =,
:. Peter McGIynn was seen at his office
yesterday. afternoon. He had heard the
news from San Rafael and was conse-
=. duently gratffied that an important step in
:. The final settlement of the estate had been
takeQ.. In. Ief6EGUC6- 10 Ltle H6
:; .said:: ..tT:he full sum of $25, 600 has been
:alIowedby the court. This bequest is re-
+: aided asa preferred charity and was not
j.: scaled down :.
d. Yes: We. have the permission of the
Board Of Supervisors to place he fountain
at.tha: Intersection OF Bush, Battery and
: Market streets. Under the terms Of the
:wiii:we could not build it anywhere else;
not even in Golden Gate Park. The tes-
tator wanted the fountain at the place
. designated IN the Will. Ii was on First
" and Mission streets, block distant that
=: ;: Peter Donahue's original blacksmith-shop
= in San Francisco was established. There
the foundation of his fortune was laid. ~.
=. Mr. .McGlynn was asked if the exeoJI-
tors intended to build fountain that.
: would be" an ornament to the City, He
.:.-replied:' We shall try to put up a
fountain that viii be creditable TO San
Francisco in the highest degree and be
recognized as work of art. The money
:. allotted is sufficient. We shall invite de-.
signs from artists and sculptors OF high,
!: re putation. | cannot say that the com Pc
" iition WILL be opened to the artists of the
world. Itsis my impression that the de-.
sign should come from an artist of Cali
foEnia, and that the materials and work
!: :Inanship should be Californian: Some
= time must necessarily elapse before the
.. actual work Of building can be COM
= Inenced; but meanwhile the executors can
consider plans for obtaining designs and
acquire some information as to the cost of
materials.
awe have heard that the Phelan foun-
tain. is to cost $s000 The Lotta fountain
lis said to have cost $1,000, but the ex-
pense should have been much less. The
:" allowance of $25. 900 is sufficient to build an
enduring and graceful monument 10 the
memory of Peter Donahue.
r.. Some time will be required TO adjust all
the affairs of the estate and effect a final
:: distribution. 1t will not be necessary TO
.: sell real property. The real estate in San
Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Mendoeine,
Lake and San Luis Obispo counties in this
State and the real estate in. New York go
p. to the widow. -. =.