Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-10-01

/ VIZ" vi iSSiS'lnS INJURY ny SdItnqudkeS.
The outside is of wood resting OH stone
! foundations.
One of Miss Floods requirements is
that the University Regents shall always
keep the house in good repair and paint
it white, its original color Her wish is
that it may appear at least for fifty years
exactly as it was when her parents resided
within that domestic sanctuary. To every
request by Miss Flood the Regents reit-
Grated their desire to comply in spirit and
letter.
Just what use the Regents will put the
mansion to has not been determined, but
Miss Flood is to be consulted during her
lifetime on all questions. The house is
arranged for a summer or winter school
and for scientific gatherings of various
kinds. 1t will be country home for the
students of the Berkeley Institution.
1t is cheering to state that this mag
nifcent place is self-supporting. The
water company stock alone, which is in
cluded in the property, yields an annual
income of $1,000. 1t is thought that the
Regents will retain the stock, only sell
ing the outlying lands and judiciously in
vesting the money for the benefit of the
university. The interest will be used
without drawing on the principal.
One peculiar feature in connection with
Miss Floods gift is that this property is
in the neighborhood of Stanford Uni
versity. Miss Flood and Mrs. Leland
Stanford are the best of friends, yet that
she should rear a rival of the university
founded by the late Senator Stanford and
fostered by Mrs. Stanford creates no lit
tie surprise.
The generally accepted theory is that
Jennie Flood desired her home to be-
come a distinctive monument to the
memory of her parents, not to be over
Swallowed by the fame and magnificence
of Senator Stanford's great institution at
Palo Alto. portion of the land adj join-
ing the Flood estate at Menlo Park is
owned by John w. Mackay, and it is
said lie may also contribute the property
to the State University so handsomely
endowed by Miss Flood.
Miss Floods gift was unexpected
None of the Regents dreamed of receiv-
ing millions for the university. 1t
needed money and new blood, while the
Stanford University seemed to be having
everything its own way, with the millions
of the Stanford estate contributing from
time to time to funds already large.
Miss Flood is modest, quiet woman,
very sincere and thoughtful, like her
father, whose ability as a financier was
the beginning of the vast fortune which
arose to Alpine heights when John w.
Mackay came into the firm with his CO.
lossal scheme of developing the bonanza
mines of the Comstock district.
When James c. Flood died in Germany,
in February, 1889, flags we're displayed
at half-mast OH the principal business
houses in San Francisco. His estate was
valued at 100000 The wonderful
story, rivaling the fictions of the Arabian
Nights, has often been narrated, yet it is
ever fresh and new.
1t has been told how James c. Flood,
a New York boy, went to California in
the forties, and, with William S. O'Brien,
opened a little refreshment place in San
Francisco called "The Auction Lunch. "
1t soon became a famous place for
miners. Tips" and news of importance
could be picked up there almost any day
by those on the inside"
Mr.. Flood, business man by nature,
a good listener, silent, absorbing and |
industrious, soon possessed mining infor-
nation of value, and quietly bought
shares of stock and interests in mines in |
a small way with his limited capital, and |
the firm began making money. Pres
emily it was whispered that Flood and |
O'Brien were growing rich.
In 1864 John w. Mackay, a practical
miner, who used to work in a shipyard in |
New York and went to the Pacific coast a |
poor boy to take his chances with the
rest of the heroes of 40, entered the COM
Flood and OBrien's partner,
Walker, retired, and Mr.. Mackay, known |
IS "Honest John" and who had become |
IN expert miner in the mountains of
Nevada, earnestly advocated the claims |
Of the Virginia City region. He had
studied the Nevada rocks and knew what |
he was talking about. His advice was
followed. In six years they took out
nearly $200,O00,000 in bullion. Mr..
judgment and wisdom were
indicated.
Mr.. Flood was natural financier. He |
saw still more wealth ahead. He project
I'd the Nevada Bank, which became one
Of the institutions of San Francisco, with |
4 paid up capital of $4,000, 900.
In 1879 it was reported that Mr.. Flood
had retired from the stock market. In
1880 it was reported that he was about to
settle in New York, that he had sold his
share i'll the Bonanza mines to Mr.. Mac
kay. In that same year he commenced |
building the Flood mansion of dark
brown stone, on Knob Hill, San Fran
cisco. 1t stands there today, overlooking !
he bay and the blue waters of the Golden
Gate, like an Italian palace towering on
mountain side. The city stretches away
IN every hand, covering what were brown
lesolate hills when Flood and O'Brien, in |
40 fret haoa,, hueioaee -, tia;, 1;t,Ia