The San Francisco call., 1904-07-04
Monument to the Great GeoIogist
Formally Commended.

YOSEMITE, July 3.-The LIE Conte
memorial was formally dedicated this
morning under the auspices of the ST.
ezra Club. There were about 200 per-
sons present at the ceremony. Secre-
tary William T. Colby of San Fran
cisco presided. The invocation was
given by Rev. c. T. Brown of San Di-
ego. Winoughby Rodman of Los An
geles read an original poem and sang
a tribute song entitled THE Song Of
the Sierras" to the air of "Hiawatha. 3"
Speeches were delivered by Alexander
G. Eells of San Francisco and G.. p
Gilbert of Washington, d. c.. Andrew
p Lawson, as chairman of the COM
mittee, rendered the dedication speech
Miss Harriet Monroe, who composed the
Columbia ode for the ST Louis Fair
this year, read a quatrain inspired by
the event and day.
The lie Conte memorial lodge orig
mated in the suggestion of members
of the Sierra Club and the committee
appointed to consider ways and means
to provide the memorial consisted of
Professor William K. Dudley, Profess
sor A c. Lawson. DR.. Edward r. Tay-
lOr, Elliott McAllister and William E.
Colby The death of Professor lie
Conte in Yosemite Valley in July, 1902
anu HIS ACTIVE ana useful lie suggested
the character and position of the me-
mortal. 1t was determined. instead
OF the usual conventional shaft and in
scription, to erect something that
would be of aid and cheer to the thou
sands Of mountain lovers who annually
visit the Yosemite The lodge stands
on Professor lie Conte's favorite spot
in the valley and within a hundred
yards of the place where he died.
L.
Gated to-day, the lodge has been acces-
sible all seaser Robert L. MeWil-
Jams, a recent graduate Of the Univer-
sity of California. and every way quail
fed for the task win have charge of
the lodge during the summer. Books
guides. and maps of the high Sierras
have been placed there, and the custo-
dian will give information to parties
wishing to make more extended trips
from Yosemite into the higher Sierras.
The lodge is entirely free to all visitors
in the valley. and copies of the daily
papers and the magazines will be kept
on file for their use.
LODGE PRETTILY SITUATED.
The lodge is located at the upper
end of the valley, Immediately under
Glacier Point. 5000 feet above and close
beside the old Indian ledge" trail to
that summit. 1t faces the Royal
Arches, North Dome and Half Dome
and looks up Toneiya Canyon to
Clouds Rest. Professor lie Conte's fa-
vorite view in the valley. The lodge is
constructed on a unique design, ac-
ccrding to the plans of Architect John
White. 1t has one large room, % by SO
feet, with large open stone fireplace
at one end and two smaller rooms
fisnking the entrance opposite the fire.
place. These are set obIiquely in the
main wall, their sides with the broad
front stone steps forming a raised peb-
ble-paved court before the door. The
roof is steep to shed the winter snow
and it's supporting rafters are aged to
correspond with the gray granite walls
The entire building is made of rough
hewn granite, quarried out near the
SPOT the weathered surfaces as far as
possible having been built in the walls
facing the outside. All the wooden
rafters and finish had to be brought
distance of fifty miles over the noun
tain trails. The interior features are
the immense stone fireplace, the low
cred window-seat alcove before it, its
sides lined with book shelves, and the
center table, q massive block of wood
five inches thick, by Is feet, and sup
ported on two sawed sections of a
large yellow pine. Everything is rustic
and appropriate in design and built to
last, with the valley walls towering
above 1t.
HOME OF SIERRA CLUB.
The building cost $4,000, the greater
part of which was subscribed by men,