| Show 18591891 The Eagle Gate Renovated and Restored Simple Ceremonies Without Speeches or Music Were Held at the Historic Landmark Land-mark Yesterday It is now just one year lacking a week since in compliance with tne demands of modarn public convenience the arches and pillars as well as the bird which constituted the celebrated Eagle Gate standing at the intersection of State and South Temple streets were taken down Nearly a full generation ago the first structure was erected by the late Brigbam Young Mr H B Clawson our wellknown townsman being the designer William Bell and Ralph Ramsay made the carving in wood of the eagle which for so many years stood with outstretched wings hover log over ttils gateway to the upper or hill portion of the old town When it became necessary to remodel the gate Architect Don Carlos Young now in charge of the Temple was called upon for a design and the contract for the stonework stone-work let to Sheriff Morris the well known stone cutters and masons The work has been under way for the past two or three months and when completed will cost about 2500 The large assembling of people the city this week presented a very p opitious occasion oc-casion for the laying of the corner stono The southeast pier was selected in which to deposit the usual metal box containing such articles as would best convey to future generations information of the people of this century so that when it again should become necessary to take down or remodel they would know by what manner of folk it had been built No special programme had been arranged ar-ranged but it is pleasant to note that Mr Spencer Clawson tIm son of the gentleman who designed the first structure and who had taken upon himself the task of hay ing the now ono replaced in a suitable style had prepared the necessary casket and given notice of tho hour of its insertion in the stone Without music or even indulging in speechmaking speech-making a good number assembled to witness wit-ness the ceremony Among the crowd were to bo seen George Q Cannon Joseph P Smith F M Lyman H J Grant Hon John T Caino A AL Cannon John R Winder H B Clawson and his son Spencer Spen-cer Clawson the well known dry goods merchant Exactly at 130 p m George Q Cannon placed the metal box in the excavated section sec-tion and the contractors assisted by workmen work-men George Nesbitt and William Dunlap lowered the massive granite block in olace THE CONTENTS of the box were as follows A copy of the Dcscrct Evening Actcs of September 18 ISl a copy of the Dcsci let Semi We My cics of the same date a copy of the Detcrrt Weekly of September 19 1891 a copy of the SALT LAKE DAILY HERALD of September 171S91 the CHKISTMAS HERALD for ISJO Salt Lake Daily Tribune of July 26 1891 containing an editorial on the life and labors of the Itao President Brigham Young Juvenile instructor of September 15 ISm A package of photographs carefully sealed in an oilsilk covering of the Gardo Bee Hive and Lion house the old Eaglo Gate Temple Tabernacle choir likenesses of Presidents Brigham Young Wilford Woodruff George Q Cannon Joseph F Smith John Smith arid the late Daniel H Wells was put in the box by C E Johnson John-son A collection of photographs from Savages Art Bazar as follows was also put in the box Wasatch mountains from Andersons tower design of Temple Brig ham Young Assembly hall Garc1 house F I grave of Brigham Young Salt Lake city from Arsenal hill Eagle Gate construction construc-tion of Tabernacle roof Salt Lake from Prospect hill Ute Indian Jim Lion and Bee Hive houses Temple block In addition to the above a polished plate of pure copper bearing the following inscription in-scription artistically executed by David McKenzie was put in the box The Eagle Gate was erected in 1S59 Hiram B Clawson designer Ralph Ram say and William Boll carvers It formed part of cobblo stone wall eight feet high and 500 rods long which surrounded the grounds of President Young and was buit by him as protection against Indians and to furnish labor to tho unemployed Torn down in lUO to widen tho street and to permit the passage of electric carl Rebuilt Re-built in 1891 Many present put in their cards and some appropriate relics in the shape of coinOn On the southwest pier is the following inscription EAGLE GATE ERECTED BY BKIGHAM YOUNG 1S59 The girders will soon be placed in position posi-tion and be surmounted by the old bird of freedom with newly tipped wings ready to again resume his guardianship of the city Much credit is due Mr Clawson jr fr tho interest ho has taken in the matter As a barefooted boy nearly thirty hree years ago ho witnessed the ceremony attending at-tending the raising of the first structure struc-ture under the charge of his vecorablo father and very appropriately he fills tho second chapter Wo trust a descendant of this liiie maybe present when tho structure is again dismantled and read the history of his forefathers and their times |
