El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-08-18
Adolph SutrO.
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II
West of the Great Divide few names
were better known than Adolph
Sutro's. This naturalized citizen had
distinguished himself as a mining en-
gineer before he launched out on the
great work OF constructing the tunnel
draining the Comstock Lode. He de-
serves all the credit for the success OF
| the plan, which rendered the Nevada
mines the most famous lin the world at
pleted his tunnel he was forced to for
bid its use by certain companies in
order TO make them acknowledge his
triumph. His wealth enabled him
to seek rest afterwards, and
he soon became known in
San Francisco, where he bought q
large tract on the sea, the title to
people of that city. There he built.
among other engineering structures,
the baths which are even in rivalry to
those of ancient Rome. He survived
all efforts to drag him into politics I'M
til 1894, when he accepted the popullst
nomination for mayor OF San Francis
CO. In reality he was an anti-Southern
Pacific candidate. His career in Office
was not satisfactory to those who had
selected him for the place and he re
tired after single term. But he re-
mains or of the most distinguished
and public spirited figures in the his
tory OF the city.
Portland Oregonian.
Adolph Sutro was q curious instance
OF q man widely famous on the basis of
a character and a career not one ele-
ment of which could stand critical
scrutiny. He was celebrated as an
engineer, and yet was so inefficient an
engineer that he never created any
thing that was, in an uuqualifedIsense
q success. The great Sutro tunnel,
designed to drain the mines of the
Comstock lode, was so ill-conceived as
70 be practically worthless. the Su-
tro baths, at Point Lobos, were SO
carelessly designed that it was i'm
possible to empty them until after ex-
tensive changes had been made in the
construction.
Sutro was Celebrated as Il philan-
thropist, but if he ever did anything
for the public interest that was not de-
termined primarily for his own sdvan-
tage 1t has never been reported. He
talked ince"santly about his plans of
public beneficeuce. but was careful to
postpone their fulfillment until after
his death; and il is regarded as more
than doubtful II his will,will justify the
public hopes that have been based up
on it.
outFO WAS CeleDtdCcu. LOO, as q pOilt-
ical reformer and succeeded, upon the
basis of public expectation in this re-
spect, in being chosen mayor of San
Francisco, only TO exhibit on q con-
spicuous stage the whimsicalities of
most infirm and ridiculous temper, and
to show himself wanting in all the
qualities of wise public leadership.
He cared more to pose before the pub
lie than to attend to the duties Of mis-
Office; in fact, was about the worst
mayor San Francisco has ever had.
Sutro W as also famous as q man OF
fabulous wealth; and it is fact that
his name has appeared on the assess
ment rolls as the owner of vast prop
critics; but his fiDauciering was of a
losing kind. Once in his life-in the
sale Of the Con lstock tunnel-Sutro be
came possesse of a great fortune.
That it was the product of deal"
more than questionable in morals,
which resulted in prodigious losses TO
persons who trusted him. was SutrO's
fsvorite little jt IKE of later years. This
invest ed in wide spreading
''outside" prope rites, wore the look OF
vast wealth; but. it has long lain under
u burden of de bit, steadily growing,
and those who have recently managed
Sutro's affairs b ave had difficult work
to keep his property out of the hands
of the sheriff.
In short, Adolp h Sutro was al
great visionary, q reat self-applaud
ing faker, given r., the recital of i'm
posing plans for the public interest,
and which he took care should cost
him nothing. How much OF all this
was due, within rece ut years, TO the
breakdown of his men tai powers, IL Is
Of course impossible to say.