38 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE PITTSBURGH MEETING 



enterprise with all the ardor of youth and prosecuted it with vigor and 

 success for ten years. In 1905 he resigned his position, becoming pro- 

 fessor emeritus. In January, 1898, he was appointed by the Governor of 

 Arizona territorial mineralogist and geologist, an office to which no salary 

 was attached, but which he accepted with generous public spirit, and the 

 duties of which he discharged until his death twelve years later. 



Professor Blake received the honorary degree of M. A. from Dartmouth 

 College in 1863, that of Sc. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 

 1906, and that of LL. D. from the University of California in 1910. He 

 was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France in 1878. 



It was while in Berkeley, California, attending the semi-centennial 

 anniversary of the University of California that Professor Blake died. 

 For some years past he had been accustomed to spend his winters at Tuc- 

 son, returning to his home at Mill Eock, New Haven, Connecticut, for 

 the summer months. This year he was invited as one of the earlier pro- 

 fessors of the College of California to attend, as the guest of the univer- 

 sity, the semi-centennial celebration at Berkeley, and to receive, in recog- 

 nition of his "distinguished services to geological science,'' the honorary 

 degree of Doctor of Laws. He left Tucson May 12 (on his return from a 

 geological field examination in Arizona) and reached Berkeley May 14 

 after a fatiguing journey. Instead of resting he fulfilled with indomi- 

 table energy several social engagements already made before yielding to 

 physical weakness and taking to his bed. Even then he could not submit 

 to be treated as an invalid. In spite of the urgent warning of his phy- 

 sician he arose, dressed, and appeared in cap and gown at the Greek 

 theater on Wednesday, May 18, to receive his degree. From this academic 

 triumph he returned to his bed, which he was not to leave again. Pneu- 

 monia was rapidly developed, and he died peacefully and in full posses- 

 sion of consciousness early on Sunday morning. May 22, 1910. It was 

 the happy end of a long, honorable, laborious, and useful career. 



Professor Blake was preeminently a mining engineer and was a promi- 

 nent and influential member of the American Institute of Mining Engi- 

 neers. He joined the institute at its first meeting, in May, 1871, and was 

 elected a vice-president immediately. In 1872, 1873, and 1874 he was 

 unanimously reelected; in 1875 (the new rules, adopted in 1873, having 

 limited the continuous term of a vice-president to two years) he could not 

 be reelected, but in 1876 he was restored to the position of vice-president 

 and served until 1878. Twenty-seven years later, as a veteran of 79, he 

 received once more the honor of a vice-presidency, and I remember well 

 the example of fidelity which he set for younger men by his attendance at 

 the meetings of the Council, to which he came from New Haven. 



