The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-15
OUR FORTUNATE UNIVERSITY.

HAT splendid good fortune which presided
over the destinies of the University OF Cal1tor-
MIA at the hour of its birth, and which has at
tended every step in its progress from small Begin
nngs to great accomplishments never more con-
spicuous, more bountul more active than at this
time. The institution already lowered with thou
sand gifts before it prospects of greater gifts to
come, and faces future more brilliant with glorious
promise than any other of learning the world
The increased endowments of the university
within recent years have been in themselves sufficient
to establish institution of and letters and
sciences, had there been no foundation already
laid for them to build upon. Without counting
smaller benefactions, which have been numerous,
there have been lately given to the university the
Hopkins Art Gallery and School of Arts, the Viii
merding School of Mechanic Arts, munifcent gifts
from Mrs Phebe Hearst, and now the rich dona-
ton from Miss Cora Jane Flood of lands, buildings
and water stock whose aggregate value is estimated
at 100000.
Vast these gifts from private citizens have been,
the advancing wealth and prestige OF the university
have not depended them alone The University
OF California was ordained by the people for the ben
eft of the people, and the people have never lost in
terest in it, have they ever been willing that its
maintenance and growth should be dependent upon
the iberay of the rich no matter how generous the
rich might be. Therefore at the last session of the
Legislature there enacted with the cordial ap-
proval of all citizens statute raising the revenues
provided by taxation for the university from one cent
to two cents every $Ioo of assessed property in
the State Under that the income of the institu-
ton contributed by the people doubled. and will
increase the commonwealth increases in population
and in wealth
The development of the popular ideal of what the
university should be has been as notable the in
crease in benefactions from private hands and in
revenues from the State. The time has gone by when
the public had further ambition for the university
than that of housing it in buildings that would be
fairly commodous and weather proof The aspira-
ton present is for group of edices whose ar
chitectural dignity and beauty will give the university
the most superb home possessed by any nstitu-
ton of learning That aspiration seconded and sup
ported by the noble generosity of Mrs. Hearst has
found III the regents sympathy whose ardor has
prompted them to undertake its fulfllment. The ar
chitects of the world are now competing with one
another in devisng plans for the stately structures
and the gardens that to surround them amid the
hills of Berkeley, and long the foundations of
part at least of the magnificent work may be laid
1t is at this uncture and amid these circumstances
OF good fortune that the announced retirement of
President Kellogg next March imposes upon the re-
gents the task of selecting new executive for the
institution. 1t is not necessary to say that upon the
character of the man chosen for the office much of
the growing good of the university will depend For
the advancement of knowledge and for the attain
ment OF art there is III the teacher than in the
building That fact is well known to all Americans
There will be, therefore, widespread public inter
est in the choice of the new president
The aspiration of Caifornians is to have the most
inspiring and influential we'll as the most stately
and richly adorned university in the world The
taxpayers have voted money literally and private
generosity has been munifcent, to accomplish that
aspiration, and now if the right man be chosen as
president the aspiration may be realized within the
lives of men of this generation