The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
Immense Street Parade PrecedeS
the Inauguration of
Wells.
ADDRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE.
Wealth and Attractions of the Com.
monwealth Portrayed in Elo-
quent Words.

SALT LAKE UTAH, Jan. 6.-The people
of the new State OF Utah observed to-day
as a triumphal holiday In celebration of
the entrance of the Territory upon her
career as the forty-ffth sovereign State of
the Union. This city, the capital. was
clothed in bunting and decorations Of great
variety and beauty.
The day opened with the booming of
cannon and the ringing of JOY bells This
was followed BIZ an immense street parade
of soldiers of the Sixteenth United States
Infantry, State militia, police, state
and civic officials, fraternal societies,
local organizations of various kinds and
citizens. The streets were thronged by
visitors from all parts of the STATE, and the
grand procession eliminated at the great
Mormon tabernacle, where the exercises
were held.
Acting Governor Richards, in the alb
sence of Governor West, shortly after
noon called the assemblaEe to order and
presided during the exercises, which in
Guided his surrendeIing the office to the
new Governor. Heber NJ Wells. MILFORD
Woodruff, president and head of the Nor
mon church, led in prayer, after which the
oath Of office was administered to the new
State officers by Chief Justice Zane.
Governor Wells, on assuming his office,
delivered an inaugural address, in which
he congratulated the people of Utah on
The suspicious occasion which had called
them together and expressed the opinion
that the United States was to be congratu-
lated. as we'll as the State of Utah.
Utah" he said, ''offers the country as
a recOmpense for statehood the gold and
I ! =
mountains. the luxurious soil OF her val
leys, a matchless, ife-saving climate, a
most efficient pubhc-school system, and
the gratitude of a happy, homogeneous,
patriotic people. She offers homes to set
tiers, investments to capitalists, work to
laborers, health to invalids, attractive
ness to pleasure-seekers and opportunity
10 fortune hunters. Utah to-day stretches
forth her arms and beckons to the dense ly
peopled districts of the East to come out
and share her glories."
The Governor enumerated with consd-
cradle detail the seven previous unsuccess-
ful applications OF the people of Utah for
admission to the Union of States during
the past forty-iye years, and gave short
outlines of the most important features OF
the proposed constitutions, referrin with
approval to the clause in the accepted
constitution forbidding polygamy. Said
he:
The assessed valuation of property il
Utah in 1895 was $97, 9S3, 525. The tota
export value OF the mineral product il
1885 was S8,312 $50. Computing the colo
and silver at their mint valuation anC
other metals at their value at the seaboarc
would increase the value of the minera
product to $14,519, 959. We have 19,S1t
farms in Utah, and 1854 of them are alb
solutely free of incumbrance. The tota
acreage irrigated is All, 455 acres. The out
put OF ranch and range was 81, 259, $50 il
1894. The number of our industrial con
Germs in 1894 was $50. employing 5054
laborers, paying in wages 81, 275, lis, repre-.
senung a total capital invested of S., 476-
246, and turning out product of S6,678,
lis annually. With such credentials a!
these, and the great strides that are being
made in the development of Utah's colo
mines, and a thrifty and enlightened pop.
ulation OF 247, 324 souls, IL is no wonder the
admission gates are thrown wide open
What Utah now needs most for her contin.
ued prosperity is the free coinage of silver
a railroad to the Pacific and the opening
of the Uintah and Uncompahgre Indian
reservations"
The Governor extended the hand Of
greeting to the female voters who were
now, under the State constitution, ad
mitted to equal suffrage with men.
I'VE are now endowed with self-govern.
ment in state and local affairs. With a
deep sense of gratitude we cherish these
great privileges. Our patriotism must
never falter. Our allegiance TO the Ma
tional Government will ever remain SUI
preme. Teach our sons and daughters
that patriotic love of country perpetuates
liberty. Through the vicissitudes of time
our strength for good must and will be
felt. If ever clouds of war hover over the
land Utah's sons will be found in the van
guard defending National rights and honor
Down the stream OF time, through all ages
may Utah be one Of the brightest stars il
that glorious constellation"
In the evening the city was illuminated
and grand bell, attended by the retired
and new State officers and the elite of tn,
State, brought the proceedings to a close
The Legislature met and organized.