The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-25
LITTLE CHICAGO.
A Year Of Progress
for Nephi.
ITS WOOL INTERESTS.
The Cattle, Wheat and Flour
Industries.
CENTER OF A RICH COUNTRY.
Nephi az a Source of Supply For
Many Miles Around - Its
Vigorous Growth.
ITS WOOL INTERESTS.
CENTER OF A RICH COUNTRY.
Eephi az a Source Of Supply For
Many Miles Around - Its
Vigorous Growth.

Nephi, or the Little Chicago" as it
is now known, is, for its population, the
liveliest place in the Territory. Mining
4 camps should be excepted, as the COM
n parison is based upon places possessing
growth - vt differs Eeaven-Wide from
the ephemeraI prosperity of mining
camp. It is the door to Sanpete Coun-
ty and the range of valleys that lie to
the south of it, besides being the near
est point of Importance on the railroad
to the city of Fillmore, the capital of
Mlllard County. What has given the
great impetus to Nephi has been its
wool interests, which are, beyond all
comparison, the largest in the Terri
tory Not only do the sheep interests
ofits own citizens-and they are heavy
centre here, but those also of the whole
of Sanpete County, and the other COun
ties adjoining. 1t is a fact that the
bulk of the wool raised in the Territory
is handled at Nephi, as it is the natural
centre for the vast area of country
surrounding, in which the sheep inter
ests are predominant, and in which
they have grown almost abnormally.
For some wears the Wool-raisers dis
posed of their wares alone, taking
personal chances as to the prices, and
often competing ag inst ach other; but
lately a mammoth association, known
as the Wool Growers Association of
Southern Utah was formed, and It's
membership embraces many of the
most notable sheep-ralsefs in the Ter
ritory. By this consolidation OF inter
ests, and the establishment of bank,
Nephl at once began to rank as one OF
the commercial factors of the Terri
tOrv, and she is gaining ground daily.
Nephi holds the same relation to the
cattle interests of the section OF country
surrounding that she does concerning
wool. That this is not more Observable
is due 10 the fact that, up to the
present, there has been no such consol-
idation of cattle interests as has been
accomplished regarding those OF the
sheep, but the handling of cattle, with
Nephi as a centre, is one OF the material
interests of Nephi.
The same state of facts applies to the
wheat interests. The nearest point at
which the wheat from Sanpete and
Sewer vaIleys-and they are vast pro-
ducers-on the one side, and Millard
County on the other, can find railroad
outlet that will connect them with the
markets of the north, is at Nephf; and
one of the occasions for surprise at this
thriving place, is that in has failed IN
the past to devote that attention to the
milling interests which the enterprise OF
its citizens have caused it 10 turn N other
directions. But there is an awakening
in this regard, and there is little doubt,
with the upward tendency of wheat,
and the great demand for it outside of
Utah, involving better local demand,
together with our own iDcre ased con-
sumption of -four, that the price OF
wheat will keep up and the milling in
dustry grow in proportion with other
pursuits.
In justification of this a new roller
mill has recently been erected there,
with a capacity of seventy five barrels
per day, and which is being operated
as a success to the proprietors and with
much satisfaction to the public. AL
ready a market has heen found in
the south for all the -four they can
make AS the natural outlet for
these two great valleys-Sanpete and
Sevier-and it will continue the outlet,
no matter what railroads may invade
these Valleys-there is not doubt that
the "Little Chicago of Utah will dis
cover the great advantage Of promoting
the milling interests of that region, and
will relieve the people of their wheat,
and converting it into -four, will ship
the pr. duct to the great markets of the
Territory.
Nor over, great interest has been
manifested in the breeding of horses,
and the interests of Juab County in
this direction are inferior to no county
In the Territory.
PocidoS oil ro tho T10InpFo1
terests of the county, of which Nephi is
not only the capital, but the inevitable
supply point, The Tintio mining dis
trict, which to-day ships more ore than
any in the Territory, is in Juao County.
A few miles west of Nephi are mn ense
marble quarries, and stone formations,
out of which the finest lime in the
world can be mace Up the canyon
that connects Nephi with Sanpete, and
few miles from the city of Nephi. and
on the line of the Sanpete Valley Rail-
road, are the gypsum miues, now being
operated, and which make the very best
of plaster of Paris. Mr. John Hague,
one of the old time residents of Nephi
and an enterprising citizen, is getting
them into shape to supply the demand
that is growing day by day for the
plaster of Paris made from these gyp-
sum beds. Mica is also found in this
canyon, and salt wells, as we'll as noun
tains of rock salt, which is steadily ex-
ported into Colorado.
Nephi is the terminus of the Sanpete
Valley Railroad, which ultimately will
connect the chain of Valleys running
south of Sanpete with this city. Nephi
is on the main line of the Utah Central
which will yet be extended to Califor-
MIA. A survey has been made for an
extension of the Denver & Rio Grande
ooski 81 L..
confidently to the day when it will
have connection with the Little Giant
railroad. It is also a matter of convic-
tion with the citizens that other rail