Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-05
THE MARSHALL MONUMENT.

By the unveiling of the monument
erected to the memory of Marshall, the
discoverer of gold in California, and the
delivery of the structure with its fine
bronze figure of the rugged old pioneer to
the State, California has done honor to
the man whom fortune so favored as to
relate inseparably to an event that gave
an empire of strength to the Union of
monument was fitting thing for the
State to do, and no one regrets the out
lay for the purpose. The monument is
enduringly constructed, and as long as
granite and bronze will resist the action
of the elements the pile will remain
sentinel over the spot where the shining
ore was first taken from the Pactolean
stream that by the yielding of its treas
ured secret turned the attention of the
world to the Pacific Slope, and made
possible what we who enjoy this incom-
parable heritage now possess State
than which there is not one fairer, more
full of promise, or richer in all that goes
to make up the sum of human satisfac-
ton.
The people of Placerville and of Coloma,
and indeed of Ell Dorado county as
whole, have from the time the monument
was proposed been active in the matter of
securing the erection of the statue of
Marshall. 1t was not the selfish interest
of having the statue set up in their
county tina: moved them to such indorse
ment, but sentiment as commendable as
the scheme for erecting the monument was
praiseworthy. Ell Dorado is the county
that embraces the territory within which
Marshall made his discovery; it was the
scene of the earliest mining enterprise; it
was for some years the very heart of the
State that sprang from the discovery of
gold; it had given to the State some of
the ablest men and most energetic citi-
zens; it is historically more intimately
and Economically related to the pioneer
history of California-of the era imme-
diately following the discovery of gold
than any other section. 1t was a nat
ural and most praiseworthy senti-
ment, Therefore, that actuated the
people OF Ell Dorado to approve the
proposition to have statue of Marshall
set upon one of the nights overlooking the
spot where the yellow grains first revealed
themselves to human sight. And FL
Doradoans have reason to be proud of the
success that has attended the promotion of
the scheme. That there was not large
representative attendance of people from
all over the State present upon the occa-
sion of the unwilling of the statue of
which they are so justly proud, is sin
cerely regretted. Ell Doradoans had made
every preparation to accommodate many
visitors, and had manifested broad spirit
of hospitality and fine degree of State
pride, and anticipated having some
hundreds of representative people from
abroad TO witness the ceremonies. But
while many reasons combined to prevent
the full realization Of their hopes in that
direction, the people of the county were
present in ample number, and worthily
and enthusiastically represented the whole
people in this notable State ceremonial.
All reports run to the effect that they
honored the State and themselves on the
occasion referred to, and in that fact the
people who wished to attend, bat could
not, find profound satisfaction.
There should be other monuments
erected in this State, Of historical char
acter. There are other counties within
whose confines are historic spots tina.
should be marked by enduring piles of EN-
blematic granite and marble and graceful
figures of bronze. In Monterey the old
fort of Fremont has crumbled away; one
lone gun, rusted and fallen from its
mountings, alone signifies where the path
finder made famous stand. In Sacra-
mento county the last relics of Suffers
Fort are fast disappearing, and if there
shall not be restoration of the old fort,
there should at least be monumental
stone to tell by its inscription that here
the walls of that historic structure once
stood. In San Francisco there are sew
eral spots that should be occupied for
monumental purposes to distinguish ia
nous dates and scenes in the eventful his
tory of the State. In Sonoma, Santa Clara
and other counties are localities where en-
during landmarks might we'll be raised to
speak to coming generations of the infancy
of California. Every monument raised,
every bit of chiseled marble or storied
bronze set up to honor valor, scholarship,
heroes, benefactors and statesmen, or record
history or mark the scenes Of great events
aids in refining the tastes of the people
and in cultiyating State pride.