The San Francisco call., 1897-07-21
Unwilling and Dedication of
a Monument to Brig
ham Young.
FOUNDERS OF THE PROSPEROUS
COMMONWEALTH RFJ0ICF.
Twenty Thousand Spectators Hear
Choir of Thousand Voices
at the Tabernacle.

SALT LAKE, UTAH, July 20.-The in
itial day of the pioneer celebration which
is to last FIVE days opened cool and pleas
ant. and Is, 900 strangers are within this
city's gates. Great crowds of people
thronged the streets ali the time and the
holiday infection rested upon every one.
Every incoming train added to the
crowds, and at the time of the electric
illumination last night, it is estimated
that there were between 10000 and 900
visitors in the city. Every detail of the
first days programme was carried out
perfectly and the Introductory exercises
augured most favorably for the deliG htful
features of the celebration which will fol-
low. The ceremonies attending the un-
yelling and dedication of the monum ent
10 Brigham Young and the pioneers, in
the morning, the receipt on to the surviv-
ing pioneers at the Tabernacle in the af-
ternoou and the grand concert at the
same place in the evening were the feat
ures OF the day.
After the firing of the several salutes the
exercises of the day commenced with the
assembling OF the pioneers at Pioneer
square at o'clock in the morning. Some
of the scenes there were most interesting.
Old friends who had not seen each other
for years had the opportunity to renew
their acquaintance and happy congFatula-
tions were INDUCED in on every hand. At
10 o'clock line of march was formed and
the procession moved down Main street TO
the monument The pioneers were es-
corted by long procession. After the
usual ceremonies of unveiling, the monu-
ment was presented formally TO The State
and accepted by Governor Wells in brief
address. No less than 10000 people wit
messed the simple ceremonies. William
Jennings Bryan's appearance on the
stand, at the base of the monument, was
the signal for yell that could have been
heard mile away, and as he SHOOK hands
with the venerable president of the Nor
mon church, who was one of the first to
enter the valley fifty years ago next Satur-
day, the applause was renewed. a promi-
nent feature of the ceremonies was an ad-
dress by Brigham Young, who is director
general of the jubilee, and the oldest
living son of the man whose statue he
stood at the base of.
Pioneer Woodruff pulled the cord that
loosehed the American flag surrounding
the heroic figure of Utah's founder and,
in rather weak voice, lost entirely in the
booming of cannon, blowing of steam
whistles and patriotic music from dozen
bands, he said:
''In the name of God 1 unveil this
statue" At the conclusion of the cere-
monies at the statue the pioneers were
taken to the Tabernacle, where few SIM
pie ceremonies were had, and each OF the
pilgrims who founded Utah fifty years ago
was presented with gold badge or medal
struck for the occasion.
In the evening the streets presented a
scene such as is scarcely ever seen in the
West outside of San Francisco. Hundreds
of red, white and sage-green incandescent
lights biazed on the public thoroug ghfares,
while thousands of others flashed from
business houses and private dwellings.
A concert in the Tabernacle, attended
by 10000 spectators. and at which the
great choir of 1000 voices rendered the
lode to the Pioneers" closed the days
festivities. The principal feature of to-
morrow will be the pageant of progress,
contrasting the Utah of the past with the
Utah of to-day.