164
THE WEST SHORE.
warn Association, which began holding regular meetings
at which scientific, artistic and literary subjects were dis
euaaecL Aa a mans to ni fund to rnrry out the
purposes of the organization a Loan Exhibition was
undertaken, and for this purpose Mrs. Crocker teudored
the use of her gallery. This was a complete success, and
for two weeks tlio gallory was thronged with people who
wont to viow the great oolloctiou of rare articles, historic
cal relics and curious objects from every quarter of the
globe. Mrs. Crocker was highly pleased at the success
'of the exhibition and the deep interest the people took in
the object of the association, so much so that she an
nounced her intention of presenting the building and
content to the association. This waa accomplished on
the 2d of May by the execution of a deed to the city of
Hacramento of the entire property, in trust, for the ocou
jwtion of the California Museum Association, subject to
joint control of the two corporations, Uie property and its
proceeds to be usod " for the purpose of advanoing edu
cation and learning in tho city of Sacramento, of promot
ing art, acionoe, mechanics and literature in the State of
California, and to aid in carrying out the goneral pur
poses of the aforesaid California Museum Association."
When Mrs. Crocker's intentions were made known a
number of geutloraen met to devise some form for ex
pressing the gratitudo of the people, not alone for this
last and crowning gift, but as an assurance of the love
and resoct her long life of charity and care for the wel
fare of otliora had inspired in the hearts of alL It was
decided that in viow of her great love for flowers a floral
festival would the most dulicatoly and acceptably oonvey
the coroplimout desired. Committees were appointed,
and every man, woman and child in tho city entered into
the work with heart and soul. Invitations were sent to
every former resident of the city whose address was
known, and to the press of the State, while a general invi
tation was issued to every one to join them in doing
honor to so uoblo a lady. The new pavilion of the State
Agricultural Society waa secured, and by many willing
and dextaroua hands transformed into a bower of beauty,
For several days every boat and train that arrived in the
city bore its burden of floral offerings, until it seemed as
though not flower had been left unplucked in the State.
Offerings came from every Stat and Territory on the
Taciflo Coast and from many in the far East The great
pavilion was literally covered and fillod with a mass of
flowers, twined and wreathed into a multitude of forms
and devices, Large floral pieces were contributed by
very society and church for in her benefactions she
bad mails no distinction of religion or race firms and
private individuals. The day of the festival, the 6th of
May, the city put on holiday attire. All business was
su)eudod, and the eople, ss well ss the thousands of
visitors, abaudoued themselves to the spirit of ths occa
sion. The exercises consisted first of t reception and
floral march at ths pavilion by 8,000 school children from
the public, private and denominational schools, which
wars witnessed by fully 13,000 people. Ia ths evening
were a rsoepuon dj us auoiu, us presentation of
memorial tablet by the Sacramento Pioneer Society, and
formal presentation of the gallery by Mrs. Crocker, fol
lowed by a promcnado concert and dancing. InciJauUl
to the occasion was a banquet tendered by the Board of
Trade to the visiting members of the press, at which the
representative journalists of the State gave delicate, yet
hearty, expression to the universal love ana venerauon oi
the people for the lady whom all had so cordially united
to honor. Taken as a whole it was such an event as the
world never witnessed before, and one that could only
have been inspired by such a life of benevolence and
good works as that of Margaret E. Crocker.
TACOMA HARBOR
THE harbor of Taooma is a broad arm of Fuget Sound
geographically known as " Commencement Bay." It
is not, however, as the name would indicate, the extreme
head of that great inland sea, since Budd's Inlet, at the
head of whioh stand Olympia and Tumwater, extends
farther to the south; but it is the extreme southeastern
harbor, the one the most approachable by rail from both
the south and east the two routes by which the North
ern Pacific reaches the Sound from Portland and the .
East and combines the double advantage of easy acoesB
by rail and water more fully than any other, so far, at
least, as lines now built or under construction are con
cerned. The harbor is capacious, while the water is of
ample depth everywhere. In fact, the most serious ob
jection ever offered is that the water near the wharves is
too deep for anchorage; but as there is plenty of good
holding ground further out, and it is not necessary that
vessels should remain close in except when tied up to the
dock, this objection loses its force. As will be seen from
the engraving, the docks and terminal works of the
Northern Pacific, inclusive of the immense coal bunkers
in the foreground, are already quite extensive. The
largor vessels visiting the harbor are engaged in the coal
and lumber trade from this port to San Francisco and
the porta of South America, Central America, Hawaiian
Islands, Australia and China. There are also many
coasting schooners, steamers plying from Taooma to the
numerous Sound ports, the great ocean steamers running
on the route from San Franoisoo to the Sound, and fre
quent large vessels from Atlantic and foreign ports. To
these will be added a numerous grain fleet when the rail
road across the mountains is completed. Lively as it
now appears, uie Harbor will then present a scene of far
greater activity, while the number of wharves, docks and
warehouses will be multiplied. It is to this Taooma has
been steadily looking forward, and which she now has
reasonable hopes of speedily realizing. Among the craft
shown in the harbor is the magnifioent steamer Olym
pian, which is just out of dry dock, and has been replaced
on the line from Taooma to Victoria. In the background
is seen the giant Mount Taooma, the undisputed monarch
of ths Cascades, without whose hoary crown no view of
the harbor could be complete. It is the admiration o!
the tourist and prids of the native. Year by year its whiU
summit ia beooming more familiar with human feet