New-York tribune., 1908-06-11
HONOR JOHN W. MACKAY
Mockay School of Mines Presented
to NeUada State University.

Reno New June 1o-By act of the Legislature.
to-day has been a state holiday to celebrate tne
dedication of the Mackay School Of Mines ana the
Borglum statue of John ". Mackay, potn present.
to the state and the university by clarence n
Mackay and his mother Reno mas never oeiole
had many visitors. The degree OF DOCTOR Ok
Laws was conferred upon Colonel George H"i'
who made the dedicatory address. ana OF naS'ei
OF arts upon Mrs. Katherine Mackay in recosni'on @
of her educational work. Presenting the statue u
Governor Dickerson, Mr.. Mackay said;
Your excellency. on behalf of my mother and
myself. wish to express to you as SneI sA aI,-
probation of the honor conferred upon us and l ine
courtesies extended to us The designation OF tnI3 @
wife, my friends and myself as the guests Of
msn might Wel be proud Bt even more highly
do prize the privilege accorded to us. Mnen men We =,
erect statue of my father as type OF the hardy
pioneers who began TO develop the stare botn , my
might. think, be considered pardonable But 9tS We
could but feel also that there should be linked
with this public recognition own loving. per
sonaI tribute Hence request that we be per,
which my father owed the beginning of his career
and the foundation of his fortune and 10 wlTm %f of
that privilege. sir. return our heartfelt thanks rs
found than this splendid campus. with the back
ground which you behold ..,,,,
to the State and the University Of Nevada this rep
resentaton in bronze of John MIIdn an Mas MSckay a h
eyes turned toward Virginia City the scene OF ms ms
struggles, MS early fnanhOOu me- MS AOpeS' '@
fears, his first great success.
Governor Dickerson accepted in a speech showing
the sincere appreciation of the people of the state
Mr. Mackay then dedicated the new mining build
ing in these words:
1t was the intention of my father during bis
form indication of his appreciation OF what what
be properly due for the erection of this DulidIhg 1
belongs to him My mother and my myself S aa4e S9
desire In endeavor to that end we 9 Ieit b1 tat
full and we could think of no token more GER
tain to serve that purpose than sGh49i actfes 81 10
acquire training and education not accessipIe 70
the youthful miners OF my 1as4er t nin mem
DRY of my father, dedicate the Mackay SchooI
development of mining engineering in this great
region of mineral treasure. and that It's 1naugqFa
tory of this university in whose interest you. Nlr
fons and so oi fabfuliy as to richly deserve
great success which I firmly beIleVe you are
bound to achieve.
The principal address of the occasion was made
by Colonel George Harvey, editor of Harper $
Weekly" He said. in part:
1t is peculiarly fitting that we should touch upon
the underlying impulse of our amazing natlonaI iona
be found a finer example OF the effect Of open
ing the q door to ReEsenaL ronght bV his
parents to this country and left fatheriesS while
of Scotch and Irish characteristics which mas ever
made for success. There is no need to depict al
How, as a lad while his form was still acquiring
the sturdiness which subsequently became a notice
able feature. he worked for the pennies so welcome
to the widowed mother; how, meanwhile. he strug-
gled doggedly master the details of trade; how
with keen foresight he quickly abandoned car
pentry to study mining; how at the age or twenty
he worked his long passage by way of the isthmus,
and arriving in California totled for years 70 earn
the pittance necessary to maintain physlcal eX-
istence and enable him prosecute his practical
study; how even in that arduous labor he demon
srated his superiority in industry by obtaining
higher wages than any other man who worked IN
the mines~all this personal history is familiar ana
be referred to only TO indicate the complete
ness of his preparation for the opportunity when
II should
1t is difficult to recall the name of man IN
whose notable success chance played so small :. q
part No favorng Fortuna directed his steps 70
the mountain of gold and silver; no advantag &c
whatever his beyond that which himself had
made by rigid application to details, theoretlcai
and practical, which gave him the mastery of his
pursuit But that suffced- OF all the thousands
who swarmed over the wealth laden hills but one
was fully equipped perceive and grasp the great
opportunity when it appeared; but one possessed
the essential knowledge of craft, the resourcefuI-
ness to avail himself of its offering, the intrepid
spirit TO urge him on and on, deeper and deeper
into the promising earth. while others were sue
cumbing to impatience and despair