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Vol. XIII. June 1892. No. 8.
The Brigham Young Memorial.
THE desire to erect a monument in memory of Brigham Young and the Pioneers has been in the hearts of the people of these valleys for many years. Time has only served to increase the desire, and, at last, people of all classes have, in a measure, united in the proposition to do honor to the men who pioneered this land, and to set up a monument worthy of the great leader and his faithful followers.
The redemption of this desert land and the beautiful homes and farms now seen in every valley of these mountains, show the great work done by the Pioneers, and form an indestructible monument to them; but the erection of a statue in bronze and marble will be a particular reminder to the present and future generations of the achievements of their fathers and mothers.
An association has been formed under the name of "Brigham Young Memorial Association," and active measures have been taken to accomplish the work designed. The following is the list of officers and members of the association:
James Sharp, president,
Willard Young, vice-president,
Heber M. Wells, secretary,
Elias A Smith, treasurer.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
President Wilford Woodruff,
President Jos. F. Smith,
President Geo. Q. Cannon.
GENERAL COMMITTEE.
James Sharp, Willard Young,
Spencer Clawson, Nettie Young Snell,
Susie Young Gates, Heber Young,
Leonard G. Hardy, Charles S. Burton,
Nelson A. Empey, Elias A. Smith,
Thomas G. Webber, David H. Cannon,
William W. Riter, George M. Cannon,
Franklin S. Richards, Andrew Kimball,
Francis Armstrong, Heber M. Wells,
Brigham F. Grant, John Clark,
T. W. Jennings, Frank Y. Taylor,
Le Grand Young, Orson F. Whitne y
James H. Moyle, John W. Young.
In December, 1891, this association circulated a letter throughout Utah and adjoining Territories setting out the purpose of the organization. It appointed committees to aid in the collection of funds, and also secured the services of the sculptor, Mr. C. E. Dallin, and the work then commenced in earnest. A committee on statue was appointed with Captain Willard Young as chairman and J. H. Moyle as secretary, and they made the following report:
THE DESIGN:
Your special committee on statue beg leave to report that they have adopted, as the general plan of the Brigham Young memorial statue, the design submitted by Mr. C. E. Dallin, a rough sketch of which is given herewith. The general idea, taken from the Gambetta monument, recently erected in Paris, France, is to make not simply a statue of President Young, but rather a monument to the pioneers, with President Young as the central, or crowning figure.
The base and shaft of the monument is to be twenty-five feet high, the base to be of granite the shaft, or column, twenty feet high, to be of white oolitic sandstone, with pioneer group cut in bas-relief on the face; the statue of President Young, ten feet high, is to be of bronze, as are also the sitting figures, eight feet high, at the base of the shaft. On the face there is to be a bronze tablet, giving briefly such data concerning President Young as may be decided upon. On the back there is to be a similar bronze tablet, giving the names of the Pioneers and the date of their entrance into the valley.