The Coconino sun., 1916-01-07
Altar Erected by Interior De- partment to Memory of
 Major Powell
DEDICATION NEXT SPRING
Secretary Lane to Conduct Ceremony in Honor of Celebrated Scientist Who First Explored Grand
 Canyon

department or the lnteflOr mas com
 pleted, on the rim of the Grand Cam
 yon, in Arizona, memorial to Maj,
 John Wesley Powell, the interprid pioneer and celebrated scientist who
 first explored the Grand Canyon. The
 memorial is an altar decorated in h.
 dian imagery and supporting bronze tablet, resting upon pyramid base
 of rough-hewn stone. Fifteen steps
 lead from the west up to the altar
 floor, from which one may gaze into the very heart of the glowing mile
 deep canyon. It is structure worthy
 alike of the rugged, forceful person
 ality of the man and of the titanic chasm which it overlooks.
 The spot chosen for the memorial is Sentinel Point, promontory south of the railway station, which com mands a particularly fine view of the Granite Gorge and of the river, whose unknown terrors of whirlpool and cat aract the Powell party braved in small open boats. The structure, which is built of weathered limestone from the neighborhood, has a rectang- ular base 21 by 28 feet. The altar carries on its east side a medallion portrait of Maj. Powell in bronze bas- relief by Leila Usher and the follow ing inscription:
 Erected by the Congress of the United States to Maj. John Wesley Powell, first explorer of the Grand Canyon, who descended the river with his party in rowboats, traversing the gorge beneath this point August IF, 1869, and again September 1, 1872"
 The Dedication Ceremonies
 The general effect is unobstrusive, natural, and appropriate. A few small, gnarled trees grow close by, but do not obstruct the view. The structure stands back from the edge sufficiently to permit visitors in con siderable numbers to group them selves in front.
 The memorial which Secretary Lane has now realized was planned at the International Geological Congress of 1904 in recognition of Maj. Powell's services as Director of the United States Geological Survey. In March, 1909, Congress appropri- ated 5000 for the purpose" in recog- nition of his distinguished public serv- ices as a soldier, explorer, and ad- of Government scientific | work" Dr. Holmes chose the site.
 The original purpose was to make the memorial Roman chair facing l the canyon. Last spring Secretary | Lane substituted an altar for the chair, and Mark Daniels, then general and landscape engineer of National Parks, designed the struct- Ire as it stands today.
 It was then late in July, and Mir. Walter Ward, engineer of the Recla- nation Service, had difficult task be- fore him to find and hew the rock and build the structure within the slender The Riverside Port and Cement Go. helped by donating half the cement.
 This memorial, so expressive of the spirit and character of the man whose fife work it celebrates, and so admir- ably located, will be formally dedi- ,ated early next summer. Secretary Lanes purpose is to make the event ,ne of impressive importance. If, as s expected, Congress meantime makes he Grand Canyon national park Git S national monument now), the two ledications will take place together, making celebration altogether nota- ,le in the history of national parks.
 Devotional Fires on the Altar
 This memorial, embodying to a re- degree the essential spirit of he Grand Canyon, is planned to be- ,ome the scene of perhaps daily cere- nonials of a most interesting charac- CT, reviving the spirit and to some ,xtent the practice of the ancient re- igious forms in vogue among the original Indian tribes of the neighbor- iood. Devotional fires will blaze upon his altar.
 John Wesley Powell was born at Mount Morris, N. Y., March "A, 1884, # English parents. He taught school n Illinois till the Civil War, which le entered as a private and came out f as lieutenant colonel. But he was 4lways called major"
 He lost his right arm at the battle f Shiloh.
 At the close of the war Maj. Powell 'ecame professor of geology in the
 .