Stanford University by David Starr Jordan

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · May 2, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 18.

Stanford University

By David Starr Jordan

President Jordan Makes Statement Regarding Earthquake

THE injuries to Stanford University by the earthquake of April 18 are in brief as follows:

1. Wreckage of the Memorial Church by the fall of the heavy spire, which crashed through the nave, the air blowing off the upper part of both ends of the church. The walls generally, of steel construction, are intact, but the building is ruined.

2. Wreck of the unfinished library. The great dome and its steel supporters are unharmed; their swaying completely wrecked the rest of the building.

3. Wreck of the new gymnasium, brick faced with stone.

4. Wreck of parts of art museum which were made of brick faced with cement. The central part of concrete strengthened by steel rods is intact.

5. The Stanford residence in San Francisco, a huge wooden structure, heavily built, was not harmed by the earthquake, but is completely consumed by fire.

Stanford Memorial Chapel, built in memory of Hon. Leland Stanford by his wife at a cost of $1,000,000 for the building and $600,000 for the decorations, containing many beautiful mosaics.

Arch at the entrance of the Quadrangle, with Memorial Chapel in the distance.

6. The inner quadrangle and engineering shops, of heavy masonry and one story high, are unharmed.

7. The outer quadrangle contains four large buildings reinforced by steel, the laboratories of zoology, botany, and physiology, with the temporary library and assembly hall. These are virtually unharmed.

8. The power-house was wrecked by the tall stone chimney, which was snapped off like the lash of a whip.

9. The Memorial Arch had its upper part snapped off and is split almost to the base, so that it is an entire wreck. This structure was of brick, reinforced with steel and faced with stone.

10. The chemistry building lost all its chimneys and is externally damaged by the fall of part of its stone facing. The building and its contents are little injured.

11. The four large buildings of the outer quadrangle, of brick unreinforced, and faced with stone, are somewhat damaged, the history building least, the incomplete mining building most.

12. Roble Hall, women's dormitory, of concrete with steel wires, is absolutely unharmed except for the fall of two ornamental chimneys.

13. Encina Hall, men's dormitory, a very large, finely-built stone building, was injured by the fall of stone chimneys, one young man being killed. The building also has a serious crack in each of two corners, but is otherwise unharmed.

The wooden buildings on the grounds lost only chimneys and parts of plastering. No injury was done to books, and very little to apparatus or collections. The working part of the university as distinct from its architectural effects is little harmed. The most effective part of its architecture, the inner arcades with their Spanish arches and towers, is wholly undisturbed.

DAVID STARR JORDAN.

Doctor Jordan adds in a later note:

The quadrangles, chemistry building, and dormitories will be at once repaired. The Memorial Church, not so badly wrecked as supposed, will have a temporary roof and will be protected. No attempt will be made to restore that or other large outside buildings for a long time to come—probably not until some donation is made for the purpose. Next term will begin August 23. In haste, JORDAN.

Arch at the entrance of the Quadrangle after the earthquake.