The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-24

manufactures were started of various
kinds, self-sustenance was inculcated and
the people were soon well supplied with
necessaries and some luxuries, and were
usually content even when cash was
rarity and fine clothing and fine furni
ture were just as scarce.
The advent of the railroad aided in
making great change in Utah affairs.
1t contributed largely to Utah's pro-
gress. There was never any opposition
to it, as many have supposed. A route
for a railroad was marked out as
the pioneers travelled across the plains,
and a petition to Congress to favor its
construction was one of the earliest mem
orials sent to the seat of government.
The Mormon people built large sections
of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads. BRIGHAM YOUNG and his sons
and other leading men took and completed
contracts on both these roads. The money
received was largely invested in building
the original Utah Central and Utah South
ern railroads, now incorporated in the
Union Pacific system.
Before the overland railroad was in
operation, goods that were not manu-
featured in Utah had to be transported
over the plains from the Missouri river,
more than a thousand miles, in wagons
generally hauled by OK teams. Many re-
markable improvements were made even
at that time The Salt Lake Theatre was
built, and decorated with materials chiefly
brought here in that primitive manner.
So with the business places and dwelling
houses that were finished and furnished
with any pretence to elegance. The cost
was great, and the territory was drained
OF its currency to meet the payment.
When the railroads came in, money
came also. All kinds of merchandise
was cheapened. Machinery could be
imported more plentifully. Products were
shipped out to money markets. Luxuries
became more plentiful. Coal was brought
in. improvements were made in every
direction. Taste in architecture began to
be developed. Decorative art was Guilt
waited. Salt Lake City began to put on a
metropolitan appearance and to approach
the form of its original design.
The opening and development OF the
mines though sprung prematurely, as
viewed by the Mormon leaders, proved
from the beginning powerful aid in the
progress of Utah. Men of some capital
began to invest their means, and in many
instances good returns resulted. Money
circulated as it never did before. I'm
provements were possible that could not
previously be attempted. Every branch
of industry was stimulated and the COM
forts and luxuries of advanced civiliza-
ton were distributed to larger degree
than at one time seemed possible. Still
the capitalists who have brought into
Utah great sums for investment have
been few and far between, and
what has been expended here is largely
that which has been brought out of the
mountains, produced from the soil and
manufactured in the workshop and the
mill.
Considering this, Utah's progress has
been rapid and remarkable. Commenc-
in al with a hundred and forty-fve
people, almost penniless, on a houseless,
foodless desert, the population in '92 has
grown to at least 225, 600. Settlements
extend from Idaho in the north to Ari-
iona in the south and from Wyoming in
( the east to Nevada in the west, many of
the people of Utah having also over
flowed into all those regions. Besides
the fiourishing cities OF Salt Lake, Ogden,
Provo, Logan and many others, hundreds
of thrifty tows and villages flourish in
the twenty-six counties of Utah.
Cattle roam By thousands on the hills.
Sheep swarm on the mountains. Fine
horses are raised for the road and farm
and are famed on the race track. Cereals
of ali kinds are grown in abund-
ance for home and foreign con-
sumption. Cotton and grapes are
grown in the south. Alfalfa and
fine hay almost everywhere. Utah DO
tatoes are the wonder of the world. Utah
barley is the best in the land. Utah
fruits OF every variety cannot be excelled
in flavor. Choice flowers adorn the
stately mansion and the humber cottage.
All sorts of vegetables of the semi tropi-
cal and temperate zones are raised and
used by the masses. Utah meats are of
the choicest kinds.