The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-21
H HIS story. relating to Califor-
MAS great universities, has
to do with two vast fortunes
I'm and the benehcent uses to


to do with two vast fortunes
and the benehcent uses to
which they We're put. It also
demonstrates woman's capacity for
handling large enterprises in the most
systematic manner and her willingness
to make great sacrifices for the accom-
plishment of worthy ends.
Fifty-one years ago a sturdy young
Afissourian, George Hearst, took the
Californian gold fever then prevalent
and went in search of his fortune. Aft
err ten years he found it, and when he
died in 1891 his estate was estimated at
$50 600 600. He had endured great hard
ships and had been almost on the point
of giving up when good luck came to
him. After it came he returned to his
Missouri home, sought out a young wo-
man whom he had known as a child
and made her his wife. This young wo-
man. then under 20 years of age was
Miss Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson the
daughter of a farmer. She was known
throughout the county in which she
was born for her wit and generous dis
position The miner returned to Cali
fornia with his bride and they made
their home in San Francisco In 1887
Mr. Hearst was sent as United States
senator to Washington. and in that
city he died
Forty-nine years ago another fortune
seeker Joined the great army that had
been for three years moving westward
and cast his lines in San Francisco,
where he entered into business This
man was Leland Stanford, the son of a
prosperous farmer of Albany county.
n A., whose education, obtained in the
common schools had been supplement-
ed by few years study of law In
1919 he had married Miss Jane Iathrop
the daughter of Dyer Lathrop. sheriff
Of Albany county. a talented young wo-
man Of great mental endowments and
an inherited sound and sturdy constitu-
ton
Mr. Stanford had great success in
business and. becoming identified with
politics, was chosen a delegate to the
convention at Chicago which nominated
Abraham Lincoln and the same year
was elected governor of his state by an
overwhelming majority AS president
OF the Central Pacific railroad he de-
voted all his energies to the consumma-
ton of the gigantic undertaking which
resulted in uniting the Mississippi with
the Pacific and in May, 1869, drove the
last spike in the first completed line
that belted the continent In 1885 he
was elected to the national senate and
reelected in 1891. like his colleague.
Hearst, ending his life in Washington
while serving as senator from Califor-
MA senator Hearst died in 1891 Sen
ator Stanford in 1893
These are the facts. badly stated.
which form the foundation of the won
derful story Of CALIFORNIA; advance
ment as a great university state. The
fortunes accumulated through the ener-
gy and sagacity Of two enterprising
men and judiciously left to the unre-
strlcted use of their widows have be
come in the hands of these phiIanthrop-
&c aimoners means of benefcence to
thousands These relicts of two of CAL
ifornia's great men became, though IN
Willingly, rivals in educational philan-
thropy, each dominated by the highest
and most worthy sentiment-the desire
to perpetuate the memory of a DEPART
ed member of her family and to carry
out aims and ambitions which were cut
short by death 1t is through this
friendly and noble rivalry that the state
of California is indebted to two women
for the achievement in a few short
years of what without their Intelligent
guidance and material assistance might
have taken long decades of effort
The older of the two institutions
which have been endowed by the ladies'
mentioned above. the University of Cal-
ifornia, was organized in 1868 and es-
tablished at Berkeley, then large town
opposite the Golden Gate on the eastern
shore of san Francisco bay It is
nonSectar1ans cOeducational university
at the present time well to the fore
with 500 instructors. more than 5000
students, with Benjamin Ide Wheeler,
IL D.. as president. The site of the
university is unsurpassed for natural
beauty, occupying q broad slope rising
to a height of nearly 600 feet, one OF the
forest covered buttresses Of Grizzly
peak, which is 1900 feet in height.
There are great fields. green or brown.
according to the season; magnificent
groves of live oaks, bays and pines.
dark. miniature canyons and sparkling
streams while from the verdure clad
slope that breasts the bay is outspread
a view that charms all who behold it
With a perception of the SURPRISING
natural features OF the site that in itself
IS a proof of her wisdom, Mrs Phoebe
Hearst, having decided to devote a for
tune to the university, invited internal
tional competition for comprehensive
plans for permanent buildings and
landscape scheme which should if pos
able enhance the beauty of the site and