Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-04-29
AT THE BANQUET.
Splendid Reception 10 tho Trans
Mississippi Delegates, Last Night.
THE VISITORS HIGHLY PLEASED.
Numerous Toasts and Responses by
Prominent Citizens. Resolutions
Of Thanks.


Press clue in honor Of the Trans-Miss-
isslppi delegates was largely attended
by Salt Lakes most prominent citi.
gems and all things considered was a
very successful affair.
Judge Powers was general toast-
master for the occasion and first called
upon Governor Thomas to speak, who
extended warm welcome to the
strangers. lie said: eve feel greatly
honored at your presence In our midst.
Although We have political differences
we bury them on much nn occasion Us
this. We have no diversity "
opinion as regards our city
aud we are equally proud
OF cur Territory. We believe our
mountains have holder anu grander
swell than tboie Of other states. BE.
meath these rugged mountains and
sheltered by them arc rich and fertile
valleys. The climate, seasons, and all
thiugs combine TO make Utah pleas
ant place Of abode. our Great Salt
Lake IL tho wonder OF the western
world. For the people OF Utah 1 DO.
speak you u most cordial welcome"
DAsKis's BAD BREAK.
Mayor Baskin In behalf OF the city
greeted the visitors In words Of well
come aud spoiled what otherwise
might have been fair speech had he
not Indirectly agitated aud referred to
certain local conditions which he APP
peared DESTROYS OF making the
strangers believe we're OF a serious
character.
PRESIDENT GEo. O CANNON
was introduced by Judge Powers as
one OF those who no pioneer had
bazed the way into this interior west.
'rhe PlOnoefsD wha the question
selected ioF President Cannon to speak
upon. In substance no said; 81 have
nothing like "a set speech but will say
that everything connected with the
hiitlry OF the pioneers Of this Territory
In VI absorbing interest. We came
here In lS47 ana although we believed
IN prophecy 1t would have been difll.
cult fOr me TO comprehend or to have
believed, had the prediction been made,
that l would live 10 witness the won
dorlul transformation which this scene
presents tonight. We came here evil
IDENTIFY alter n succession Lf very dry
seasons. The ground was pafched,
liieleea and Thirsty. 10 seemed impoi-
eible that anything could be produced.
One OF our party died almost as SOON as
we came here and 1 was one Of those
who went to dig thegrive. Thesoil WAS
absolutely without moisture aud re.
semhled brick dust. We constructed
ditch TO what was known nB the old
tort, and though the distance was but
short II took two days before tho water
reached there.
"At that time the lake was very low.
Where there Is now fifteen feet OF
water II was not more than knee deem.
Cattle were driven to what some OF US
call Church island aud back at fire..
quent Intervals, and hoy could have
wadsi the like the entire distance,
Since then rains have increased and
the lake has risen. This Increased
precipitation II doubtless due 10 irriRa-
ton and this planting OF trees. My
theory IL that where man Is God Is
also.
"rhis city was laid out In 1917 Just
as II II seen today. The men who
conceived the plan believed the time
would come when II would DO metro.
pOlltan city. The streets were wide
anu spacious. The blocks contained
ten Rcrea each, or eight and one
fourth acre lots, and were calculated TO
make up a city Of villas. There was
nothing monopollsilc In the arrange
ment. Men Catt lots for the land ON
which they were 10 build their homes,
for the five, ten, twenty and forty
aero tracts that were surveyed from the
city proper In tho order indicated.
Brigham Young told the people t.
take their choice Of city lots and that
after thcy had all oosn supplied no
would select his lot, which
was ON what we now
sometimes call Brigham street.
| know that | regarded his selection as
very poor and dry one, ~ aid others.
But subsequent developments proved
chat his judgment was very good, as the
land Ia that vicinity became very
valuable.
"rhore were many hardships con.
neoted with our early experiences
here, many difficulties to contend
with. The people were poor and food
was scarce. our rations were weighed
out TO us, and being n growing boy and
always hungry, II was not u pleasant
state Of ailalrs, Cfickets came into the
valley by millions, and frequently
what was n glowing teld oil grain Rl
sunset would by morning be converted
Into desert waste Us bare as ones
hand. We were 1900 miles from civil.
cation ON the east where food could be
obtained IL WINS 300 miirs In our u,Iyh
bors on the west ami they were In
new country anu had but little Tor sale.
But, proyldentially It seemed, gulls
came ana devOuTed the pests watch
had destroyed our crOps,
"In my Opiuion, The settlement OF
this inter.mountain region could not
have been made by people who were
not nctuated by u religious sentiment,
held together by t0nd OF II sacred
character. Our 20 pie being possessed
OF that Intense religious feeling re-.
mained here during their direst
extremity when the gOld fever syept
the country, when ministers lefl their
pulplts aud professors and stulents
their colleges and books In search OF
gold anu the Pacific coast, when was
INST discovered by Mormon pioneers.
II was their religion which sustained
them to share what little they had
with each other In times OF scarcity
ana need. But few Of our people aban.
dOned their homes in search Of gold.
Those who did could almost count on
my fingers,
When we came here this was Mexl.
can coll. We raised the Stars and
Stfiuos here mud ylrlually to,lr p,ss,,-