The San Francisco call., 1898-07-21
DIR. COGSWELL'S FOUNTAINS.

N a communication published Monday MT. J. H. 1 Culver asks pointed question. He desires to ascertain for thinking that 1t was proper to the Cogswel fountain at the juno ton of California and Market streets, having re- marked to that effect few weeks ago.
 We do not know exactly how to answer Mr. Gull ver's interrogatory. He must be aware of the fact that the fountain had ceased to be useful having in- cured the resentment of the people of its immediate neighborhood and it Is quite probable that the veal of the city demanded its removal. It manifesty vain to maintain a fountain at which nobody would drink and the sight of which angered small boys armed with cobbles Our opinion was that the Cogs- well fountain at the foot of California street, having fallen into innocuous desuetude like all out things properly removed
 But on the main proposition we agree heartily with MT. Culver. The treatment accorded to Dr. Cogs- wells gifts in this city has been outrageous Making due allowance for all the doctors eccentrices the spirit of his philanthropy high and noble He gave the city an endowed technical school and at tempted to beautfy its streets with fountains. The people accepted the school and stoned and demol- shed his fountains. In less barbarous community than this the act of the crowd who lassoed the foun tain at the foot of California street and pulled it down would have encountered severe punishment. Here it is regarded piece of hu1nor
 
 people, attempted to possession of the Poly technic School property we heartily sympathzed with him. He justified in thinking that a com munity which would treat philanthropy as his phil anthropy had been treated would immediately upon death, sell his school property and go a pie nic with the money. Certainly Dr. Cogswell had no reason to believe that anybody was grateful for his gift Several thousand dollars worth of fountain ma- teral presented to the city by him has been allowed to go to ruin at the City Hall; yet somebody pro- poses to put figure of Admiral Dewey at the foot of California street. How do we know that our hu- youngsters will not lassoo the old seadog and pull him down? We expecting daily to hear that somebody who does not like Mayor Phelan has as- saulted his fountain at the uncture of Market and Mason streets.
 On great historic occasion this spirit of in- gratitude and envy inflicted almost irreparable dam age upon the State. About 1883 the late Senator Stanford contemplated giving his millions to the University of California With view to encouraging his design Governor Perkins appointed him regent But the legislative session of 1883 was stuffed with pin-headed statesmen who regarded the railroad with hungry eyes and its presidents money with desperate yearnng. Stanfords before the Senate for confirmation. The pin-heads arose on their hind legs and Tapped their To prevent rejection Governor Perkins withdrew the name Soon after the magnate established the Stanford University Those who think the mean spirit of envy which has characterized the treatment accorded to Dr. Cops- wells fountains in this city nflicts no damage unon the country should reflect for moment on inc gories of the State University with Stanfords mil lions behind it. It is our opinion that future b;s- torians will hold the pnheaded Senators of rS9, sponsibe for the diversion of this money If some one does not single them and erect them as MacauIev erected Barere, upon pinnacle of infamv so bob that nobody will ever be able to lassoo and pull them down we are laboring under mistake.
 However, we are still of opinion that Dr. Coes wells fountain was properly removed Mr. Culver makes an argument which may well shame us, but we think the fountain should have been removed if for no other reason than to obterate conspicuous | evidence of municipal meanness