The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26
DAVIS COUNTYS PROGRESS
one OF the Most Richly Endowed Spots Within the
State

That portion of the Salt Lake valley
Iylng along the eastern shore of the
Great Salt lake ard embraced within
the boundaries OF Davis county. is one
% the most favored spots in all of
our riehly-endowed and gift-laden
honwealth In the forming and
raslllohlng Of this scope of country,
t1 0onS was particularly lavish of its
y.AS9s4iiSS and elldOWnlentS of produce
I've SOL, abundant resources and mag
sit1iceAt scenery. and these native con-
lions have called together a happy.
eoSlerous, thrifty. law-abiding and
ftilseitsent people.
measuring north and south. the
couhty extends about % miles and in
Guiding mountain and lake. its greatest
~reaoth is about "a miles. The habit
doie portion is but two miles at the
4 ldtfoWest point. near Centerville, and
rom that point north it gradually
pIoaqens, until at the north end a
WId6h OF about u miles is attained
Every foot Of land between the bar
rens Of the saline inland sea and the
roehy, canyon-cut mountain sides is
valuable to the thrifty husbandman
The loWiandS are used for pastures,
thus enabling the dairies for which the
county Is famous to flourish; the noun
stock, ana even the waters of the lake
are made to yield their treasures of
Wealth in the form OF salt, which is
exported IN immense quantities by two
local salt companies.
In beauty of scenery, healthfulness
OF climate, richness of soil and album
dance of opportunities for the aericul-
turist, the mechanic, the professional
man and the Iaborer, this county is
unsurpassed, and the future is bright
with promise.
STATISTICAL.
From the little group of settlers who
located near BOuntiful in 1S47, to find
pasturage for their stock, the popuIa-
ton has steadily increased. In 1880
there were 5,279 inhabitants; ten years
later the population was 6,751 and in
1893 1t had grown TO 7,4S0. A conserva-
tive estimate places the present num-
Der Of inhabitants at 5000. The first
crops were produced in 1913, and every
year since that time the area of Guilt
waited farms has increased Lands
that We're considered almost worthless
are being brought under cultivation.
aad as rule real estate values are
%r1creasing. Nearly every head of a
family holds a title to his own home
stead. The latest statistical report
shows that of the S79 farms in the
county, al are free from mortgaged
debt. The total assessed valuation for
1897 is $3,440,2 3S, of which amount ST.
sos, ll9 is on real estate, $522. $50 on inn
provements, $l25, 191 on personal prop
el-ty and $62S, 1873 on railroads. car com
panies, telegraph lines, etc.
SCHOOL FACILITIES.
A complete system of graded free
schools is in operation in the county.
and year by year the facilities for
oh h
cation are improved. There are PIP
children of school age IN the county.
borty-three teachers are employed in
the Is school districts. The people are
liberal almost to a fault in educational
matters, and in the voting of special
taxes for the erection OF new school
houses. During this year five new
school rooms have been provided-three
IN kaysville, one in Layton and one
IN Centerville-and there are prospects
Of several more being erected next
year. n. Z. Porter is county superin-
tendent of schools, and is also president
OF the trustees association which
meets frequently to consider matters
OF interest to the various districts. The
total amount of state and county
school and special school taxes this
year was s29, 096.44. Several sectarian
schools and one private institution are
being run in the county, with a good
attendance.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
Almost every branch of agriculture
known in temperate climates is engag-
ed in by Davis county people, and
abundant success and profit crown the
efforts of the sl1illful husbandman
1t is from the southern part of this
county that Salt Lake City is supplied
with the excellent garden produce that
is placed upon the market so early in
the season. The gardeners Of Bounti-
full and Centerville and Woods Cross
have studied the conditions Of climate
and soil until by high cultivation their
land has been broU ght to almost the
maximum of yielding power. Small
platS Of land are the rule, more than a
siX-acre garden spot being the excep-
ton. A number of gardeners who were |
asked concerning the yield of vege- ]
tables and small fruits per acre, gave I
figures so astonishing that they are
published at the risk of being thought
the product OF a lively and enthusi-
astic imagination, and yet in each in
stance the statements can be verified. |
Following are the figures in bushels per !
acre of some of the leading vegetable /
products:
onions, 500 bushels; carrots, LOO
bushels: potatoes, $50 bushels; table |
beets 1000 bushels; green peas, 100 |
bushels; cucumbers, 200 bushels. In |
exceptional cases as high as 500 bush
els of potatoes. 600 bushels of carrots, |
1900 bushels of parsnips and 500 bush (
els of gooseberries have been taken /
from one acre of land.
Small fruits and berries are grown /
in immense quantities. 1t is stated that |
as high as $500 has been realized from I
an acre of Strawberries, While black /
berries currants, raspberries, etc, are
equally prolific. Hon. r. E. Egan of /
south Bountiful picks two crops of |
Strawberries from his beds each year.
One cherry tree in Bountiful has yield T
ed its owner $40 in one year, and several /
others are reported that come close to
this figure. An experiment is being |
tried by Willard Cali of Bountiful to
determine what profit there is in raising
prdnes for the market.
Atwood Brown of Centerville has
demonstrated the value of bench lands
by planting vineyard of y acres ex-
tent on the mountain side. He has been
rewarded already with several large
crops, and is satisfied with his venture.
Some very heavy yields of grasses,
wild hay and alfalfa are produced in
the central and norther portions of the
county. Four to five tons per acre is a
good, average yield, though the claim
is made that as high as eight tons has
been produced.
The wheat Weld on irrigated farms