, 1890-12-11
HISTORICAL GROUND
The Monument to Califor
MAS Pilgrim Father. '
A PACIFIC PLYMOUTH ROCK
Description of the Statue to p.
Erooted to the Pioneer of
Civilization.
fExnm iner.l

Exam liner.
The little town of Monterey bear.
the same relation to the pacleo
coast that Plymouth does to the Az
lantic seaboard. Not unlike thu
historical 22d of December, lo2o
when the sturdy band of pilgrim
fathers set foot on Plymouth Rock
and planted the tiny seed that was
to grow into this great republic. ia
that day century and half later
when Father Junipero Seera landed
on the beach at Monterey and
planted in the sand the woodenf
emblem of Christianity. There, on
a little wind-swept knoll, still stand,
that rude cross, the only token that
marks u famous date in California
history.
For years Plymouth Rock, the
Cornerstone of the United States.n
has been carefully preserved and
proudly pointed out to visitors by
the Inhabitants of Plymouth, but
the spot where tho famous Fran.
ciscan disembarkcd is rs uncared
for and neglected rs 1t was over a
century ago; but IL will be so only
few weeks longer, for there is to
be erected on the historic spot fit.
ting monument of the man and the
time that turned the tide of civlllza.
tion toward our shores.
The design that has been selected
is most appropriate. Father Ju-
nipcro is seen stepping from his
boat, cross in hand and dressed In
the regulation garb of the Francis.
can Fathers. The statue will rest
on two bases, each two feet high
| The figure and first base will be cut
from one block of granite weighing
"a little over forty tons. The height
| of statue and bases combined will
be about ten feet. 1T Is the inten.
tion to make the cross he holds Of
bronze, not larger than eighteen
| inches high. Crystal lake granite
quarried about four and a.half miles
above Emigrant Gap, in Nevada
county, will be the material used
| throughout. The rough work only
will be done at the quarry, as all the
fine finishing work will be done at
Monterey. II is anticipated that 1t
will be ready TO ship In about four
weeks.
Some difficulty, however, il ex.
pected In transporting IL, MS aside
| from the extreme care necessary TO
handle such heavy blocks of stone,
the cars have to ascend n steep
grade, which the railroad men fear
is too much of load for one engine
to manage. Special workmen,
skilled in handling heavy loads,
have been sent TO the quarry,
which will considerably lessen the
| chances of any accident destroying
what has already been accom-.
plished.
The eminence just beyond the
cross has been selected rs the best
site for the statute. From the road
and the railroad splendid view Of
il can be obtained.
The figure will be yelled with the
Mexican, Spanish and American
flags. With appropriate remarks as
to the changes that have taken
place since that flag waved over
this country, the president OF the
Young Mems Institute will remove
tht -btNl'hh mug. 'bN 'p''.'s''''Ns
this institute Is the teachings oil
Father Junipero.
The bishop of the diocese will re-
move the Spanish flag, which Is
there out of compliment to spain,
which country sent Father Juni-
pcro to the Pacific coast. IT is ex-
pected the bishop will favor the
assemblage with the thoughts that
such an occasion would naturally
inspire in the heart of the practical
head of the church here.
The governor of the state has
kindly consented to assist, by re-
moving the stars and stripes, which
will be the last ceremony connected
with the unwilling.
No day has been as yet positively
set, but due notice will be given 10
all who wish to- attend. Prominent
persons all over California and even
In the East have siguiiied their IN
tehtion of being present, and Dei0Ie
many days Californlaus will be aoie
to show to their visitors itting
memorial to Father Junipero Sierra,
the pioneer OF pioneers.