The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-21

Utah's semi-centenniaI celebration Of
the arrival of it's pioneers is to be a
thing of reality. 1t VIII take place
next July, just 80 years from the day
the first division of rugged pioneers ar
rived and planted civilization in the
! Great Salt Lake valley.
This important decision was arrived
at yesterday afternoon, when the cele-
bratiOn commission appointed some
weeks ago by Governor Wells met at
the governors office and effected per-
manent organization.
1t may be remarked that when the
! last legislature appropriated the sum
of $4,000 toward defraying the expenses
of the celebration the wisdom of I'M
dertaking the enterprise during the
coming year was left entirely with the
commission. But Governor Wells ex-
ercised good judgment in selecting men
and women to manage it and to whom
the word fail is foreign. The result
was that when a majority of the COM
mission met yesterday, it was immedi-
ately and unanimously decided that the
arrival of the pioneers half a century
ago should be celebrated next July in
a manner that Will command the at
tention of the country and bring thou
sands of visitors to our valley.
The meeting was the first the COM
mission has held. Besides Governor
Wells, there were present of the MEM
bers Spencer Clawson, E. G. ROgnOn,
H. G. Whitney. Mrs. G. Y. Wallace,
Mrs. A. w. McCune, c. f. Savage and
Judge R. L. Colborn. After having
taken the oath of Office administered
by Secretary of State Hammond,
Spencer CIawsOn was chosen temporary
chairman and E. G. ROgnOn secretary.
A general discussion then followed
as to the duties of the commission and
the advisability of holding the celebra-
ton. Judge COlborn impressed the
members with the Importance Of the
undertaking. To make the affair a.
success on a proper scale would in
vOlye the expenditure of many times
the amount the recent carnival cost.
Mr.. Clawson adopted the views ex-
pressed by Judge COlbOrn. The $1,000
was but a beginning. Money would
have to be raised by private subscrip-
ton and the coming legislature would
be looked to for a still larger appro-
priation.
Mr. Rognon believed that the people
of this city especially would be gener-
Gus. The event being state affair.
people from different parts of the state
he believed would respond and while
not unmindful of the Importance of the
financial end OF the proposition. he be-
lieved the money could be raised.
Judge Colborn thought the estimated
cost of a celebration such as Utah
should have could not be placed
ed something that would attract
the attention of the world, something
that would eclipse anything of its ma
ture ever attempted on the American
continent EXpOSitiGES and state
fairs were well enough, but their day
had passed; there must be something
of the spectacular such as would at
fra0 "a fav
with being the most interesting spot
in the west, backed up by moral cap
ital and possessed of a history that in
itself would add to the attraction.
Mr.. Savage did not want the cele-
bration to assume the STYLE of the re-
cent carnival Ee believed an expo
sition would be the proper thing.
After some further discussion on this
line the temporary organization was
effected as follows: President, Spencer
Clawson; secretary. E. G. Rognon:
treasurer, Mrs. G.. Y. Wallace.
After another brief expression OF
views it was unanimously decided to
hold the celebration next July.
Following this Mr.. Rognon apprised
the members of the fact that the re-
cent carnival committee had a deficit
of something like $3.50 In the way
of assets the committee had all the
floats and much other paraphernalia,
lars. was now in good condition and
could be bought for the amount of the
deficit. Mr.. ROgnOn made it plain that
he did not desire to unload any old ac-
counts upon the commission, but the
carnival committee had instructed him
to lay the proposition before the pres
ent body. ClawsOn, Whitney and Rog-
non were appointed a committee to
investigate the matter.
Mr.. Whitney announced that the
management of the recent Denver car
nival had offered to sell $4,000 worth
of floats and paraphernalia for S1,10O.
\ committee composed of RognOn
Savage and Mrs. McCune was appoint
ed TO confer with the d. A. & NJ So
ciety, and if possible induce it's man
ayers to hold the fair at the same
time as the celebration.
Upon motion of Mr. Savage each
member was instructed to prepare in
writing ideas for the proposed celebra-
ton. The competition was not linn
tied to the members alone, but the
public as we'll are invited to submit
schemes that viii aid the commission
in deciding upon something on a grand
scale.
Adjournment was then taken until
next Monday evening at o'clock, to
meet at Manager Wallaces Office in
the telephone building on State street.
The II &. Govt RenorfS