The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-02-29
UTAH..
It's Past, Present and Future
Able Lecture by Mr.. Robert
w. Sloan.
LOGAN, February &c, 1884

LOGAN, February 70, 1854.
Editors Herald:
The residents of Cache Valley
have been enjoying an intellectual
feast lately in the lecture OF Mr. r
w. Sloan, Of "Utsh Gazetteer" fame,
on "Utah, Past, Present and Fu-
ture." 1t has been the good fortune
of the writer to be present at several
places in the country where Mr..
Sloan has delivered his lecture, and
from the large and attentive audi
ences, as we'll as their evident ap-
prevail of the handling Of the subject,
by their hearty Outbursts of ap
plause, / feel warranted in the state
ment that few, if any, of our lee
turers ever met with better success
than has tie subject of this sketch.
We have never questioned Mr..
Sloan's ability as writer, but
on learning of bis intention to visit
Cache as lecturer, your CORES
pondent who has been personally
acquitted with him for number of
years, and knew his ineXperience in
that line, was very anxious to learn
how he would acquit himself,
and after being present on differ
ent occasions, as before stated,
is satisfied that q bright future as
both writer and q lecturer awaits
the talented young gentleman.
Every time the lecture Is given, the
manner of it's delivery and its effect
are greatly improved, as all who
have been fortunate to hear it more
than once will testify. Knowing
THE HERALD's interest in the de-
velOpment Of Utah's resources. both
animate and inanimate, I trust you
will pardon brief outline of the lee
tuae, as, if the balance of your read
ers feel as those in Cache County,
they would certainly never weary
of listening to it, creating as it does
q fgIeater affection for our already
well beloved Territory and its noble
pioneers. The lecture Is divided
into four parts, treating of Utah
physically, Utah past, Utah present
and Utah future. Under the first
head the principal physical features
Of the Territory are dealt with in a
succinct manner; thus the Wasatch
range is taken as the dividing line
Of the Territory, and upon it on
natural principles it is shown that
the Northern portion of the Terri,
tory should possess inherent condi.
tions which recon mend it as q
place suitable for agricultural
purposes, the deduction being that
the earlier and more rapid settle.
ment of the northern half of Utah
was q natural outgrowth of the COM
ditions referred to. A number OF
facts are given, among others the
comparative attitudes of the sew
eral counties, showing a marked
difference In the elevation, which
is calculated to give difference of
climate and thus render the growth
of a great variety of agricultural
and horticultural products, that
can only be raised where the ex>
tremeS Of temperate and semi.trop-
ical climates are found. Upon this
condition is based the assertion that
Utah is eminently qualified, so far
as relates to climate, to be'ss self-
sustaining country as any portion
of the United Statee.
Utah past relates to the hard
ships Of the pioneers; and the prin-
cipal difficulties, such as combating
with grasshoppers, crickets, Indians
and other obstacles are portrayed in
50 graphic manner as to awaken
the keenest appreciation for the suf-
ferings undergone by the pioneers
in the DEVELOPMENT of this country
The question is psrtinently asked
the young if they appreciate what
hiss been done for them by their
heroic progeni.ors, care we CRATE
full? are we worthy"
In the portion coming under Utah
present, after referring to the croak.
ings of those who are ever dissatis-
fed with the existing conditions, NO
matter how healthy, the lecturer
makes the deliberate assertion, and
challenges contradiction, that
Utah in all that is essential to the
growth and maintenance of pros
porous commonwealth is ahead oil
any State or Territory west Of the
Rocky Mountains. This assertion
is supported by clear yet brief en-.
umeration of the resources discov.
cred or operated, and an enuncla-
tion Of the political and social struc.
ture Of her society.
The concluding division Of the
lecture is devoted to an exhortatio1
to the young to walk in the ways d
theic fathers, to become granG
and noble as were their
parentaee, to take up the
work where they left off and carry
it On with equal earnestnesss, unit
Utah attains that eminence, thai
greatness. that glory, which future
generations are to see realized
Shall this greatness, this glory. bs
the result Of Utah's offspring? Shsl
the we 18th of this grand country bt
developed by the children of ths
pioneers, or shall this honor be &C
corded the stranger? The sppea
is in this vein and is calculated II