The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-29
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS,
FORMER PRESIDENT OF u. P.
SYSTEM IN TIE CITY.
Talks Interestingly On the War, and
About Cuba-Spanish Soldiers and
Sailors No Match For Americans.

Sailors No Match For Americans.
! Charles Francis Adams, ex-president
of the Union Pacific road, came in from
the coast yesterday and spent the day
in this city. 1t is eight years since he
was here last. He has property inter-
ests in this city, and he stopped over
to make some inquiry concerning the
future prospects. Although he re-
marked that it was scarcely necessary
for him to come here TO look after his
property, as it was well attended to in
his absence.
Some years ago, when Mr. Adams
was at the head of the Union Pacific
system, he was frequent visitor to
Utah, and always took a lively interest
In the affairs Of the then territory and
future state. Mr.. Adams was the
mainstay of Ogden in her efforts to in
duce the Union Pacific and Southern
Pacific Railroad companies to erect the
union depot which had been promised
III consideration Of certain liberal dona-
tions of land 10 the railroads some Is
years before Mr.. Adams become pres
ident of the Union Pacific. 1t was
through his efforts that the splendid
union depot, which now adorns the en-
trance to the Ogden gateway, was
erected. His sympathy and co-opera-.
ton was enlisted by the citizens, and
although it was a long. hard fought
battle against great odds, the promise
which he made to the Ogden people was
al last fulfilled and the building was
completed and dedicated by the people
OF Ogden with appropriate ceremonies.
SOME "REMINISCENCES.
In speaking of the old days with a
citizen of Ogden last evening at the
Alta club, who was associated with him
in the depot campaign, Mr.. Adams
said that he had looked upon the build
ing yesterday and thought of the many
difficulties he had encountered before
it was finally completed, and was glad
to know that it was 50 thoroughly ap-
preciated. This building will ever be
regarded by the people of Ogden as a
monument to Mr.. Adams and his faith
fulness to promise given.
Mr.. Adams left his home in Boston
some two weeks ago for hasty visit
to the coast, and is now returning east
He dined at the club last evening with !
j. S. Cameron of the Rapid transit !
street railroad
WAR TALK
Speaking of the war, Mr.. Adams said !
that the excitement now was not to be /
compared with the intense feeling :
which pery2ded every section of the
country in the early days of 81, which
he so wildly remembered. He was a
member Of the state militia of Massa- /
chusetts at that time, and before the 1
first call for troops he said it was alb !
impossible for any one to at
tend to business or stay indoors; they
even had TO get out on the streets and
talk. He said the state of the public
mind now reminded him more of the /
feeling which prevailed at the time of
the commencement of the Mexican war.
Asked as to his opinion of the effect
of the war upon this country. he said
he could not say; he could only guess,
and one mans guess was as good as
another's. He said no one could tell
what the outcome would be when
war begun. Many predicted that the
war of 1861 would only last 60 days, but
they were mistaken. and some of the
men who made this prediction were
high in the councils of the nation.
NO MATCH FOR AMERICANS.
His opinion was that the Spaniards
were in no sense a match for the
American soldiers or seamen. This was
his belief founded upon observation.
both in Cuba and Spain. He thought
t would develop that the Spanish navy
would IN no way equal ours when it
anne to fighting, because the modern
lighting machine was beyond the capa-
)ilities of the Spanish naval men TO
and therefore could not.
wen if equal to the United States navy, !
Re made as effective in an engagement | ,
lie said such was his guess, although .,
Lfter the first battle he might find that
le was mistaken.
Speaking of the increase in prices, he
aid he could see no good reason for
ny material advance, because the
lumber of men engaged in the war or
lkely to be engaged would not ma {
erially reduce the effective working '
orce Of the nation, and the men in the |
eld would not consume any more than
they were at home, and their with {
rawal from the ordinary vocations {
7ould not be so extensive as TO make
lbor scarce and production, in conse- i
uence, higher. He said that in the f
-ar of the rebellion the south was t
evastated and the north deprived Of /
lany necessities of life that were pre- t
iously procured from the south land.
nd the withdrawal of so many men to a
ght for the Union increased the bur- i
en- of production. Thus was the price il
labor advanced and prices went up Il
5 a natural consequence. He thought
nat once the status of affairs was es- v
ablished and it was pretty well set S
ed along what lines the war with v
pain would be carried on, that things
| the country would move along as o
sual THIS, he said, was only a guess
4 his part, because no one could tell in
iYance just what conditions war would
evelop. r