The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-25
STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
Utmost COMPLETE DESTRUC-
TON OF THE PICTURESQUE
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE.
Built in Spanish Architecture and
Cost of Buildings Alone was Thirty
Million Dollars-WiIl Probably be
Rebuilt.


Cost of Buildings Alone was Thirty
Million DOllars-HiII 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,
600, 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 a
prearranged scheme and has been ac-
counted the finest group of structures
for educational purposes on this con-
tinent, if not in the entire world. The
buildings were all in the picturesque
Spanish mission style, with the arch as
t. principal architectural feature. This
fact, which was so much a 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
al llAtA lLElCt HAAtn NOhSctAho
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 it's mosaic front de-
picting the Sermon on the Mount"
This building cost, in construction
alone, $1,000,000, exclusive of the mo-
sales and carvings inside and out, and
it's marble statues and art treasures
from Europe.
Perhaps it 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
marvellous incentive toward higher
education on the Pacific coast. Not
only has it gone ahead with great
strides on its own account, but 1t has
carried the State University at Berke-
ley along with lit in healthy rivalry,
until the two gave an equipment for
higher education in California that was
not rivaled by that ofany other State.
MRS. STANFO4 DIS GENEROSITY.
If it were not for the indomitable
spirit which seems to have enabled the
to triumph over many diff
culties it might be said that its career
has been particularly ill-starred. For
in spite of its great endowment, said
to exceed that of any other institution
of learning in the country, it has been
from the beginning. Vex
atious litigation arose at the time of
Senator Stanford death, in 1894, and
the claims put forward by those who
had received personal requests, to have
them settled first, seriously impaired
the finances of the university because
It was impossible to realize upon its
After that the Pacific rail-
road suits tied up the university money |
for couple of years, until the SUI
)reme Court decided in favor of the |
estate. But Mrs. Stanford,
With wonderful courage and singleness
If purpose, unselfishly turned all of her
property over to the university, saw
t through its crises until her recent
ragic death in Honolulu, when the
leland Stanford University was again
brown in despair. It's present de-
truetion by the earthquake seems to
ONE as eliminating disaster, yet 1t
5 probable that it will rise again SUI
,erior to the conditions which seem
n league against it, though it has
Practically been set back to an abso-
ltely new beginning.
1t is already understood that plans
ave been considered for the rebuild
ng of the university, as the statement
as been made by President David
tarr Jordan to the students of the
University. asking them to remain and