New-York tribune., 1912-04-29
CHERRY TREES PLANTED
Commemorative Tablet Unveiled
East of Grants Tomb.
5000 WITNESS CEREMONIES
DR.. Takamine, Gen. Woodford,
japanese Consul General and
Park Commissioner Speak.

Park Commissioner Speak.
Before a throng OF 5000 to 5000 per-
sons the bronze tablet commemorating the
Gift to this city Of $500 japanese cherry
trees by committee Of japanese citizens
was unveiled Yesterday afternoon in the
park 10 the east of Grants Tomb. This part
of the park. according to Park Commission
er StOver. is To bear the name Sakura, the
word for cherry in japanese. japanese and
American ilags we're floating from hall g
dozen flagpoles At the scene OF the unVeil-
ing. while bunting and imitation cherry
blossoms decorated tn" background on
which the tablet was placed temporarily
Franz Ksltenborn's orchestra gave con-
cert
Among the speakers we've General Stew
art J.. .Woodford. president Of the hudson
Fulton celebration Commission; Y. NJ
maro, ia" Japanese Consul General In this
city. ~ Jokirhi Takamire. head Of the
committee wni,. presented the cherry trees
and Park Commissioner StOver. Mayor
Gayuor. who was present on SATURDAY
" hen. because If rain the ceremonies had
70 be- postponed sent word Yesterday that
he could not attend.
The remarks Of the Japanese Consul Gen
sral. '. humane. brought much applause
He said that any talk of trouble between
Japan and this country. whether emanatue
from sources in his country or in this die
not have the sanction of the people them
selves. but was inspired by ulterioT mo
Z lives lie declared that the control Of tn
| destiny of the Pacific Ocean was in th'
hands Of America and Japan, two peace
loving nations.
Dr. Takamine made the formal presen
tation speech. and I'm accepting the bronz'
IA bIet and the cherry trees General Wood
| ford said
AT the time ot the IIuison-Fulton cele
bration Germany sent part of a powerful
fleet to these waters, France did likewis'
| and England was represented by hel
Dreadnoughts. But japan sent no battle
| ships or soldiers. The battleships and sol
diers represented strife and war. Japar
presented TO this country $500 cherry trees
the emblem Of which Is peace and culture.
General Woodford dwelt on the visit Il
| Japan Of General Grant and the great non
orr there accorded him. He spoke OF tn
approprlateness Of having the cherry tree'
so near the tomb, adding that the son o.
that great general. who had borne hi
fathers name nobly. had just been laid u
rest. General Woodford expressed the hop'
! that the ties between Japan and this coun
| try would be even more closely cemente'
| by the gift OF the cherry trees, which sig
nhed peace.
pr. Takamine called for "banzai,' anc
| three great cheers were Joined in by al
present
Then. while the orchestra played, thir
| teen little girls from the park play
| grounds marched before the assembly
each carrying a cherry tree and small
spade. Thirteen holes had been dug FOL
the trees. and the children, dressed in Jap
| anese costumes. planted them. The thir
| teen were representative OF the origina
| colonies. as Commissioner Slower eX
plained tn the audience. and he said h
! had deferred the planting OF the last thir
| teen trees 10 make ii n part OF yester
dav's ceremonies. Assisted by gardeners
| ,he trees were soon planted and the nttl'
| tots marched or the grounds. enthusiastic
npplause coming from the Japanese pres
! ent
! Commissioner Stover then explained
where he had placed the twenty-five nun
dred trees. following General Woodford
formal declaration in turning them ove'
| TO the Park Commissioner.
| This beautiful bronze tablet said th'
! Park COMMISSIONER. lis 10 be placed II
! Grants Tomb until the complete develop
ment Of this park has been accomplished
! which will be IN the latter part or th'
! present summer. The Board OF Estimate
has granted an appropriation OF |lO'oo'
I FOR the work and the plans are completed
The tablet will finally be placed on stone
wall which project has the approval o1
! the Municipal Art Commission.
Three hundred OF the cherry trees
have been planted in this park. commemo
! rative Of the 30Oth anniversary of the dis
covery Of tie Hudson River, at which time
the gift was announced. Thirteen Of th'
trees are Immediately back OF Grants
Tomb The bulk of them have been Sc
| out in central Park.
And | want to take this occasion tC
say that this city can in no way sho"
more it's appreciation FOR the gift OF these
/ trees than to call this unnamed park Sa
kura Park, Sakura meaning cherry In Jap
uusse"
Many well known persons were present
the JAPANESE part of the audience includ
ing Count and Countess Ogasawara, who
will attend the international Red Cross
conference at Washington as japanese
delegates.
'rb. committee of Japanese citizens oi
this city who presented the trees includes
Dr. Jokichi Takamine. kokichi Midzuno
Rioichiru Arai. DaiJlro tshikubo ana
Kikusaburo Fukui.
"Sakura Sakura" musical compost
tion written especially for the occasion by
Takaori. was played.