Utah, the Inland Empire : the Story of the Pioneers : Resources And
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BANCROFT LIBRARY THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA i p< *Wi / e" |r UTAH The Inland Empire ILLUSTRATED. The Story of the Pioneers. Resources and Industries of the State. Attractions of Salt Lake City. Leading Men of the Community. Written, Compiled and Published under the direction of ARTHUR T. SARGF.NT I I IK DKSKRKT NKWS, SALT I.AKI: CITY, UTAH. 9 THE PONY EXPRESS. How thr I'nitrd Sum Miil wn brought tn t'uh fifty von >|o. SUNSET ON GREAT SALT LAKE, FROM SALTAIR BEACH. Copyrighted 1901, by Harry Shipler > Salt Lake City. Proem. BANCROFT LIBRARY For many years a demand has existed, both on the part of our own public, and the for their for a which many tourists who find in Utah a fascinating field investigations, work should embody in convenient form an authentic record of the settlement of this state, its growth and development, its industries, its attractions and of the men whose genius and energy have made the commonwealth what it is. " It is to supply this demand that UTAH, THE INLAND EMPIRE," has been prepared. The various articles presented are from the pens of writers known as authorities in the fields they cover, and all the facts stated may be relied on as being from authentic sources. illustrations are from The figures presented are the latest compiled, and the various photo- graphs taken specially for this publication. The historic interest attached to Utah, and her rapidly growing importance in the mining, industrial and commercial world, will, we feel assured, justify the pains expended in preparing this offering to the public. THE DESERET NEWS. Salt Lake City, Utah, December, 1902. warn, arrival of the Pioneers upon the shores of the load of their proselytes from Europe had steamed up the THKGreat Salt I^ake was an epoch In American history as Mississippi and landed at the wharf below their terraced momentuous and far-reaching in its consequences as and temple-crowned city on the banks of the Father of the landing of the Pilgrims upon Plymouth Rock. In either Waters. This was the beginning of Mormon immigration case it meant the founding of an Empire, the establishment from abroad; but "the gathering," as It was styled, had been in progress upon this continent for a decade, and had called forth converts from the Canadian Provinces and from various states in the Union. It was a small but '' band from the body of the persecuted community ^ , . picked expelled from Illinois in 1846, that Brigham Young led A PIONEER'S HOME. of States that were to form Integral parts of the mightiest of modern nations: and that, too, by representatives of the world-dominating Anglo-Saxon race. Brigham Young, the leader of the Pioneers, was a de- scendant of the Pilgrims who settled New England and of Hi.- Patriots who established the independence of the Colonies. As such he was a type of the people whom he led a thousand miles Into the wilderness to lay the founda- tions of the commonwealth whose sovereign star is forty- fifth upon the flag of the Union. Mainly of Yankee origin were the earlier settlers of Utah, though the Mormon community was liberally sprinkled, even then, with emi- grants from other parts. As early as the year 1840 a ship JOSKPH SMITH. Kim rmldcnt of Ihf Church of Jrtui Chtiil of Litter Di -nun. from the Missouri River to Salt I,ake Valley the year fol- lowing. What Is now the state of Utah, glittering with Hi leu. smiling with orchards and vineyards, dottrel with thi> peaceful and happy honirs of a ipiart.-r of a million people. WM then a sun-baked alkalln<> dcHert. Infested with sav- age*, wild beasts and venomous reptiles, whiumed by the occasional went i mini Immigrant as a land of desolation and death, and habitable only tn while- men in tin- PIT sons of a few wandering trappers, roaming over the snow- < npped mountains and sun-parched plains. It was a por- tionand the most forbidding portionof what was named upon tho maps and In the school book* of that period as "Tho (Iroat American Desert." described by Daniel Web- .-IT the United States Senate a* a "vast IN I III DAY* upon the floor of UTAH THE INLAND EMPIRE worthless area." It is an oft-told tale how Colonel Hesperides, were already flocking the firstlings of emi- "Jim" Bridger, the veteran mountaineer, then living in a gration from the East, most of it from those very parts lonely log fort in what is now the State of Wyoming, met where the Mormon people had experienced their sorest Brigham Young as he crossed the Rocky Mountains, and trials. To settle upon the Pacific Coast, their leader fore- saw, would be to invite, ultimately if not immediately, a repetition of the troubles from which the despoiled and driven exiles were then fleeing. Hence his preference for ' Ill I THE ARRIVAL OF THE "OVERLAND MAIL." the sun-burnt, rock-girt wilderness a land coveted by none, contemned by all, a natural citadel, "a fortress formed to freedom's hand." "Here," said Brigham Young, "here we will build a City and rear a Temple to our God." Later, to those of his people, who, after the dis- covery of gold in California, would fain have rushed BRIGHAM YOUNG As GOVERNOR OF UTAH IN 1850. remarked pessimistically to him and his pioneer associ- ates, that he would give a thousand dollars if he knew an ear of corn could ripen in Salt Lake Valley. Yet it was to this very spot, the region thus tabooed and stigmatized, that these hardy empire builders made their way, refusing to be dismayed by discouraging reports and prospects, or lured from their purpose by tempting tales told them of IIKKORE ill K "OVER LAND LIMl'IKD." BRIGHAM YOUNG IN 1876. a fair and fertile land farther on; a land of flowers, the future land of gold, the green and grassy slopes of the Pacific. thither, or prematurely plunged into mining in these parts, There was "method" in this "madness," if madness it he sagely said: "We cannot eat gold and silver; wo need be deemed. To that heaven-favored region, that modern bread and clothing first; neither do we wi UTAH THE INLAND EMPIRK Fort Laramie; and a few days later they were followed by some disabled detach- ments of the Mormon Battalion, who had passed the previous winter at Pueblo. These were the men and women who struck the first blows in the conquest and colonization of "The Great American Desert;" though equal credit, so far as toils and hardships are concerned, be- longs to the emigrant companies that ar- rived from Winter Quarters in the ensu- ing autumn and during the early suc- ceeding years. Utah, when the Pioneers came, was "Eastern California." and California a province of Mexico, with which the United States was at war. Unfurling to the breeze the Stars and Stripes, these Mor- mon colonizers, as American citizens, took possession of the country, and after the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, by which. In February, 1848, the land was ceded to our nation, they organized, IN IHt \|nl Nl \IN> NKAK >AI.T LAKE. pending congressional action upon their petition for a state govern- a roving, reckless frontier population to drive us again ment, the provisional government of "Deseret" a name from our hard-earned homes. Let mining go for the pres- taken from 'the Book of Mormon and signifying "honey ent, until we are strong enough to take care of ourselves, bee." It was in March, 1849. that the first civil government and meantime engage in farming, stock raising, manufac- In the Rocky Mountains was thus established. Meantime the turing, and other healthful pursuits that lie at the basis surrounding region was explored and colonized, settle- ments formed wherever water of every state's prosperity." Such was the substance of being was found and means of subsistence available. The savage tribes were subdued his teachings upon that point. The wisdom of the advice, or placated, arid lands reclaimed by Irrigation, forts and the soundness of the policy then inaugurated, and prac- cities built, schools and factories founded, and the whole ticed by most of the people under his direction, is shown land made to hum with the whirring wheels of In the present prosperity and splendid prospects of the industry. As an illustration of how Utah was settled, how our state they founded, as compared with other common- Inland empire was founded, Salt LaKc City may be taken wealths where mining from the first was the main and as an example. Here the earliest settlers lived in a fort almost exclusive occupation. of logs and earthwork, reared on what Is now called Plo- The pioneer vanguard of the migrating people, which left the Iowa frontier early in April, and entered the Val- ley of the Inland Sea late In July, 1847, comprised one hundred and forty-three men, three women and two chil- dren. They were thoroughly organized, though none too well supplied with wagons, ox-teams, saddle horses, flre-arms. plows, seed grain, provisions and the usual camp equipment. Originally twelve times twelve men were chosen, but one of them fell sick and returned after the Journey began. The starting point was "Winter Quartern," a temporary prairie settlement founded by the Latter Day Saints after their arrival upon the Missouri River, and from which place In the summer of 1846. had gone foith. at the call of their country, the Mormon Bat- talion, five hundred strong to assist In the war against Mexico.