Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-05
TRIBUTE Of
NATION TO
PILGRIMS
President Taft Dedicates
$4,000 Shaft to the
Memory of the
Fathers.
NORTH ATLANTIC
SQUADRON PRESENT
DR.. Eliot, SENATOR Lodge
and M. Van Weed Were
Among Speakers
NORTH ATLANTIC
SQUADRON PRESENT

Provincetown Mass. Aug. 5-Welcom
tribute OF the nation to the Pilgrim
Fathers was paid today by President
Taft, when he dedicated the $4,000
monument to the memory of the little
band that landed here November IL,
1929.
The North Atlantic squadron stood
Off shore with ships dressed whilo
the ceremonies were held DR.. Eliot
and Senator Lodge were among the
speakers, also NJ. Van Weed represen-
tative of the Netherlands the land
from which Pilgrims sailed.
Thunderous Salute.
Providence, Mass, Aug. 5.--Welcom-
ed by a thunderous salute from the
guns of the battleship fleet in the
harbor and tho wild cheers of the
thousands of people gathered on the
shore, President TAFT arrived here to.
day on the Mayflower, and, through
quaint and narrow streets guarded by
marines, proceeded to the point oil
the tip of Cape Cod where the com,
pleted Pilgrim Monument rears its
massive tower. With ceremonies of
the most impressive character, the
memorial shaft that has been the
dream OF Mayflower descendants for
almost a century was dedicated by
the President.
The dedication exercises included
addresses by the President, Gov Eben
S. Draper, President Emeritus Charles
w. Eliot of Harvard and Senator Hen
ry Cabot Lodge. After remarks by
Congressman James T. McCleary of
Minnesota, the monument was formal
ly transferred from the United States
commission to the Cape Cod Pilgrim
Memorial Association, and was accept
ed by the Hon William Il. Lawrence
on behalf of that body. At the con-
clusion of the exercises, President
Taft sailed away agar on the May
flower, which passed between the line
of giant battleships gathered here for
the occasion.
The Pilgrim Monument commemo.
rates the signing by the Pilgrims of
the famous compact on the Mayflower
in Provincetown harbor, which has
justly been termed the "foTerunner of
the declaration of independence"
Under it John Carver was chosen gov.
ernor
The cornerstone of the monument
was laid by the then President Roose
welt three years ago. The completed
shaft, which is on the summit OF Town
Hill, is constructed Of Maine granite
and rises to height OF 252 feet from
its base or 347 feet above the har-
Dor. IL is a beacon to incoming ships
and memorial of unsurpassed beau.
ty. 1t was built under the direction
of Lieut.. Col. Edward Burr at n cost
of 100000, of which the national gov.
ernment contributed $4,000, the com
monwealth OF Massachusetts, a similar
amount and the Pilgrim Monument
Association the remainder.
The observation platform. under the
great arch OF the monument affords
a most beautiful view of the surround.
ing country and the ocean Although
built on a hill of sand the monument
has not settled an inch since it's com
pletion and does not vibrate in the
highest gale
The agitation for memorial monu.
ment to the Pilgrims began in 1926
when a bill was introduced into the
state Legislature having that end in
view. This bill and other later meas.
ures failed however and IT was not
until 1892, when the monument asso
citation was organized, that any head
way was made. Authorities on archi.
lecture declared that the monument,