The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-15

windows as your trains Numbered hither
( through our mountains and valleys have
whetted your appetites for further infor-
nation concerning us, | am sure you viii
not be disappointed if you delve deeper
into the larder where our good things are
stored and when you have risen from
your repast of research and investigation
l think you will be willing to concede that
our people are honest. moral and thrifty.
and our state an FL Dorado of discovered
and undiscovered wealth. (Applause)
When the pioneers first came here fifty
years ago. these valleys were sterile and
unproductive. This land was set down
on the map as a part of the Great Ameri-
can Desert. Jim Bridger, the trapper.
who was one of the few men who had
visited the place before the arrival of the
pioneers. banteringly said to Brigham
Young. whom he met several hundred
miles east of here. that he would give
him a thousand dollars for the first ear
of corn he could raise in this valley.
But, nothing daunted. Brigham Young
and the pioneers pressed on and put in
their crops If they had depended upon
the rains entirely. Jim Bridger's banter
might have materialized into prophecy
But the pioneers had come to stay They
We're a thousand miles from anywhere
and they knew if they raised no crops
they would have to Starve. Necessity was
then. as now. the mother of invention a
small stream came. out of a canyon near
by and found its way into a sluggish
river that wound through the valley. The
pioneers set to work and constructed
their crops. AT first il took two days for
the water TO run half mile. so dry and
thirsty was the Sun-baked soil. but next
time it didn't take so long. The problem
was solved. The secret was out. The
crops were a success and the great
science Of irrigation was given to the
western world. (Applause.)
We'll. the pioneers of Utah from that
time began the cultivation of the soil.
They deemed il the part Of wisdom to
provide first of all for their sustenance,
Ill
the trainers of the constitution. they
builded better than they knew. The re-
suit is that Utah today has an agricul-
tural development that stands as a basis
other directions. So that while in later
years mining has become the chief indus
try in Utah, yielding as il does the most
wealth. agriculture forms the funda-
mental or basic industry. because through
it all the others are nourished ard sus-
tanned And so it happens that we can
tato to a. $50 gold piece and thus an un-
inviting wilderness where crickets
croaked and lizards creDt has been fash
toned by the industry of man into a gar
den where roses bloom and congresses
are held Enthusiastic applause)
1t is not my purpose to have you
think because I have expressed my sat
isfact1on with the country we live in.
that Utah suffers nothing from the ills
that affect the republic generally. Far
from it The country here is all right,
sadly out of joint, and while the thrift
and conservatism of our people. coupled
with our home production, have sared
US much of the suffering and business
stagnation so prevalent the past several
years. our misfortunes are sufficiently
acute to imDel US earnestly and eagerly
10 join hands with our sister states in a
united effort 10 correct them.
For this we have met today. In cOun-
sci there is wisdom-in union there is
strength. And so the representatives of
those states lying west of the Mississippi
states comprising half of this great ma
ton-need l say the better half-find it
necessary to meet in convention from
time to time to consider existing condi-
tons and discuss methods for promoting
their welfare and prosperity.
These "a states are all children of a
common PARENTAL a part of the body
polite. We are fed by the same food as
the rest of the ration; we are hurt Nth
the same weapons: subject to the same
diseases; healed by the same means:
warmed and cooled b. the same summer
and winter. If you prick US. do we not
bleed2 If you tickle us. do we not laugh2
II you poison Us. do We not die2 And if
you wrong us shall we not at least in
dulge our constitutional right Deaceably
TO assemble and petition for redress OF
prolonged applause)
Il an a believer in the efficacy of this /