The Taney County republican., 1906-05-24
STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
ALMOST COMPLETE DESTRUC'
TON OF THE PICTURESQUE
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE.
Built In Spanish Architecture and
Cost of Buildings Alone was Thirt,
Million Doliars-Will Probably be
Rebuilt.

Cost of Buildings Alone was Thirt,
Million Dollars-Will Probably be
Rebuilt.
One Of the nose serious results OF
the Pacific coast earthquake disaster
is the destruction of Stanford Univer-
sity, near Palo Alto. More than $780,
900 900 had been expended on the
buildings alone, and the damage has
been so severe that it will mean prac-
tically an entire loss. This group OF
buildings was planned and built on
prearranged scheme and has been ac-
counted the finest group OF structures
for educational purposes on this con-
tinent, IL not in the entire world. The
buildings were all In the picturesque
Spanish mission style, with the arch as
[. , principal architectural feature. This
fact. which was so much source OF
beauty, has probably been the largest
source of destruction, because, while
the arch undisturbed is one OF the most
secure of building forms. when thrown
out of plumb It must fall.
IRREPARABLE ART LOSS.
The main buildings are built around
an inner quadrangle, which contains
the offices of administration and some
class rooms. These buildings are all
one story in height The outer quad
rangle, which comprises the principal
architectural features of the univer-
sity, has as main points of interest
| the memorial arch, with its wonderful
frieze, by st. Gaudens, representing
the progress of civilization in America,
and directly opposite this, through the
inner quadrangle, the Stanford Memo
rial Church, with its mosaic front de-
! picting the Sermon on the Mount
This building cost, in construction
alone, 81, 900, 900, exclusive of the mo-
saics and carvings inside and out, and
it's marble statues and art treasures
from Europe.
Perhaps 1t may be said that the loss
of the buildings and equipment. in
spite of their great value, is the least
part of the disaster, because since the
university was started on Senator
Stanford's Palo Alto ranch it has been
a marvellous incentive toward higher
education on the Pacific coast. MOI
only has 1t gone ahead with great
lstrides on its own account, but 1t has
lcarried the State University at Berke'
ley along with it In healthy rivalry
until the two gave an equipment fol
higher education in California that was
not rivaled by that of any other State
MRS. STANFO. DIS GENEROSITY
If 1t were not for the indomitablt
lo,t,it u,hich coamc IN hayn pnablpl the
university to triumph over many diff
culties 1t might be said that its career
has been particularly ill-starred. Fol
in spite Of its great endowment, sale
to exceed that of any other institution
of learning in the country, 1t has beer
unfortunate from the beginning. Vex
latious litigation arose at the time OF
Senator Stanford S death, In 1894, ant
the claims put forward by those whC
lhad received personal bequests, to have
them settled first, seriously impaired
1.-THE finances Of the university because
lit was impossible to realize upon It's
property. After that the Pacific rail-
lroad suits tied up the university money
for a couple of years, until the SUI
preme Court decided in favor OF the
Stanford estate. But Mrs. Stanford
with wonderful courage and singleness
of purpose, unselfshly turned all Of hel
property over to the university. saw
it through Its crises until her recent
tragic death In Honolulu. when the
Leland Stanford University was again
thrown in despair. It's present de-
|struction by the earthquake seems Il
Icome MS a eliminating disaster, vet !,
is probable that it will rise again su'
perior to the conditions which seem
in league against 1t, though 1t has
practically been set back to an abso
lutely new beginning.
It is already understood that plans
have been considered for the rebuild
ing of the university, as the statement
has been made by President Davlt
Starr Jordan to the students of the
university asking them to remain ant