The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-20

him came Ashley, Wolfskill. Bonneville.
Fremont and others. who carried back
10 the states accounts of their explora-
tons Fremont's expedition occurred
in 1913. and the accounts of the coun-
try published by him are believed 10
have influenced Brigham Young TO or
ganize his plan to locate the Mormon
people west OF the Rocky Mountains.
In Hubert Howe Bancroft's more or
less reliable history of Utah. will be
found a series of maps OF the western
portion of the United States. commence
ing With one by Magin. in 1911, and
ending with one by Finley. in 1926.
These maps furnish means for measur-
ing the progress and information rela-
tive to the western portion of the Unit
ed States. In some OF them the Great
Salt Lake is shown as the arm of
great northern sea. and in others as
being connected by two great rivers
with the Pacific ocean. Finley's map
in 1926 claimed 10 have included all of
the geographical discoveries, and also
contained many things which never
will be discovered. The mountains are
historically placed. the streams made TO
run with remarkable regularity and
directness. and in position affording the
best facilities for commerce. But there
is a wide difference between the geo
graphy of the country as shown by
him and the true geography. The world
owes something, of course. 10 these
early explorers and mapmakers. but its
greatest debt is due TO Brigham Young
and the pioneers. They left the east
with no expectations of returning, and
proceeding into the very center of an
unknown country, over 5000 miles IN
diameter. established civilization. and
began the work of building a
state. Volumes could 0e filed
with accounts of the privatiOnS
they endured and the courage they dis
played. but a hundred volumes would
not contain the story Of their achieve
ments. They took the region where
Fremont lett l. and because of their
toll and perseverance and patience ard
faith we nave the splendid western
civilization of today. There were 14S
souls all told in the original company.
but less than three years later this
number had increased 10 Il, 354. BY this
time settlement had proceeded over
miles Of valley, and the state was fairly
started on its career. Ii is not con-
tended that in time the irresistible
armies that have been marching to-
ward the setting sun ever since the
Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth
Rock would not have invaded and re-
claimed kle dese-'ss Of the west, but it is
CJnSeEded hat but f0r Brigham Young
and the Utah Pioneers the march would
have been many years delayed and that
the advancement made dulng the past
half century would have been much
less.
We are amazed when we contemplate
what has been accomplished in and
for this region w.Ehin the past 90 years
Prosperous states, greater in area than
all New England and teeming with
population have been carved from the
Wilderness Millions pT h1If lately
verdurel5ss and desolate have been
covered with the homes and productive
fields of the husDandmar- Rugged
mountains have been made to disclose
their treasure vaults. and from these
treasure vaults have proceeded streams
of wealth which in times of war have
saved the life of the nation and in
times of peace have enriched the peo-
pie. Railways followed the route Of
pioneer wagon trans, have stretched
their iron parallels through canyons
and over deserts and brought the AT
lantic and Pacific almost within hail
ing distance. Systems of telegraph and
terepnOne have gridironed the once
great American desert; commercial
centers of Importance have been esta.b-
lished. and in other ways the moving
forces of humanity have proceeded IN
til there is no longer terra incOgnita
in America.
All OF the dreams Of the Pioneers
have been many times realized, and
yet the work of civilization may be said
to nave but fairly commenced in the
west. There are mines innumera BILE
YET 10 be discovered; there are vast
arid areas yet TO be redeemed; there
are thousands eff miles of railway and
telegraph lines yet 10 be built; there
are millions OF homes yec TO be estab-
Iished before the time the cry There
is no more room will be raised. The
splendors of this generation will be
scliDsed by the splendors Of the next.
and the time is not far distant when
the tester board of American popula-
ton and wealth if balanced on the Mis-
souri, river. will dip to the west