The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-07

W lIn the next lll6GlillS Va biiC III
GERS Semi-centennial commission, the
big celebration which is to conamemor-
ate the first Corners to the land OF Utah,
will begin to take form.
At that meeting it is expected that
the principal features, or at least an
outline of the programme to be carried
out in observance of the occasion will
be decided on. The full plan cannot
of course be framed, but a general idea
of what will be considered as most fit
ting for a proper observance of
Pioneer day is expected to be agreed
upon.
The number of days the celebration
will cover has already been agreed TO
by the members. AT the last meeting
it was decided to hold the celebration
four days, beginning with Wednesday,
the 21st of July, and continuing till
Saturday night, the oath. 1t now re-
mains TO decide upon the character of
the celebration before active prepare
lions will begin.
In arriving at this, the members or
the commission have agreed to each
draw up a draft of what he or she con-
siders would constitute the most suit
able programme, and submit 1t to
meeting of the commission. The mem
bers to then adopt some one of the
plans or a combination of a number or
all of them.
1t is the desire to make the celebra-
ton as unique as possible, keeping in
view that which will be the most ap-
propriate, and to this end the members
are bending their efforts in preparing
their various schemes.
A MOST ELABORATE AFFAIR.
Co,,,a Of idaac bra cod in the
views of the members contemplate
most elaborate affair and if adopted.
will make the celebration all that it
should be, one that will attract vast
number of people from abroad and
give all who attend a proper idea of all
that Pioner day means to the people
Of Utah. as we'll as convey an adequate
sense of the great progress that has
been made in the 80 years of history
making in the promised land.
To do this, according to what appears
to be a consensus of the opinion of
the people, the celebration should be on
a very grand scale, the argument in ia
vor of such a celebration being. that
to make it all the success that is de-
sired, it must be of such a character
that people will come from far and
near. That is the first consideration,
as a, show without people to see it
would fail of that portion of it's OBJ
ject which is to give to the people of
the country an impression of the
greatness the state has attained. With
the people drawn here, the celebration
must be of such nature as to send
them away with the proper impression.
All this can be done, il is held, and the
guiding sentiment which gives occasion
for the celebration not lost sight Of
that of celebrating the arrival of the
pioneers.
This seems to be the view taken of
the matter by the generality of people
same view is taken by the members of
the commission. This, then, may be
expected to be the guiding spirit of the
members in arranging the programme,
for it is agreed by all that the cele-
bration should be one that will live in
memory till the time comes around
again for the holding of another on
the centennial of the pioneers coming.
PIONEERS ENTRY.
That portion OF the programme which
will receive the first and most careful
consideration of the commission, will
be the arrangements for the part the
pioneers will play in the event. In this
connection, the majority of the COM
mission favor very strongly the idea
of reproducing. true to life, the first en-
trance into Salt Lake valley OF the
pioneers through Emigration canyon
If it is possible, the commission would
give that scene over again exactlv as
it transpired on the oath of July, 1S47,
with hand carts, OK teams, ETC., and
the participants dressed as were the
members of that first hand.
The commission will endeaVor to
have every living person who came TO
Utah in 1S47 in attendance on the ceIe-
bration, and arrangements for their
transportation here and hack to their
homes again, and their care while in
the city, will be made, and they will
be made the guests of honor through
out the celebration. If there are
parades they will be assigned to the
place of honor in them, and every at
tention possible will be showered upon
them.
In this connection it may be we'll to re-
peat the request of the commission that
all persons who know of a AT pioneer
should send in his or her name to the
commission. together with the exact
date of arrival. For information on
this point, the letter the secretary of
the commission is sending out for the
guidance of those who send in informa-
ton, is again given herewith:
please inform us of the exact date
of your arrival in Salt Lake valley and
with what company you came and any
y
give When this celebration is over
we intend to file with the state officers
all the information received about the
pioneers, which, we think will make
up a valuable history of the heroes who
first settled these valleys and made
possible the blessings which the people
of this inter-mountain country now
enjoy.
please send US all the names and
addresses of the surviving pioneers of !
1S47 with whom you are acquainted
and with what company they came"
SOME OF THE FEATURES.
Some of the features the various
members of the commission have in
mind are these: it is hoped that an
of the state militia can |
be arranged and as military displays
on festival occasions are always among |
the most attractive features, an effort !
viii be made to have such an encamp-
ment, together with troops from
regular army posts outside of the
state. 1t is believed the attendance of |
a number of companies from Colorado
and Idaho could be secured, and enable
the management of the celebration to
give a very fine military exhibition.
If the views of those of the commits
sion who have this idea in mind are
carried out, sham battle will be
another thing that will be proposed,
and there is some thought of arranging
such battle, depicting the scenes of |
the Black Hawk war
In the line of making portion of |