Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-01

Written FOR the News"
In September Of last year. a notice
appeared In the Salt Lake Daily papers.
which read as follows:
ny order OF the city Council of Sep
tcmbcr goth. isss bids are hereby 500
llclted for the old MN building at
Liberty Park-purchascr 20 clear on
and carry away an or said building
and level ground In workmanlike man
ncr. Bids received on or before oct
O."
To many the above official notice
came as the first lntimation that tho
historical old landmark which had stood
as a monument ~ the Industry and
struggles OF the pioneer people OF Utah
since the early years or their advent
Into the valley, was TO Huner the van
dnlism Of civilization. which through
the voice OF the city Council had con-
demned II as n blot upon the beauty
OF our public park.
The building was one OF the first
Touring mills erected In the valley, and
the second one erected within the pres
cnt confines OF the city. II had stood
FOR nearly fve decades a witness OF the
vlcissitudcs. and monument 90 the
pluck ana Industry OF the Utah pio-
nccrs-und tho news that this momcnto
Of past struggles and achievements was
20 be ruthlcuHly oblltomted. brought
forth from those whose lives had been
blended with the struggles OF those
days. OF which the min stood ne
striking and Characteristic monument
vigorous protests against the unncccs-
sary sacrifice Of the old landmark.
From the early settlers who had
plodded back and forth from It's doors
with the grain hardly won from the
ungracious soil; from the ngCd nrchi-
tcct. who had designed and constructed
the cdince; from those who had been
born ana reared on tho historic site.
and from children OF the pioneers who
desired 10 save that which stood uH an
object lesson Of the early toll OF their
parents-protosts were az once uttered,
privately and publicly through the
medium OF the press, and by active per-
sonul EFFORT with "a view to staying the
progress of destruction which had been
decided upon by the city Council.
bishop Frederick Keslcr. whose voice
has been but recently Htillod In death,
was the builder OF the mill. and one of
the last public efforts made by the
aged pioneer In behalf OF the city he
had hclprd TO shape. wns the following
plea, voiced through the Dcscret News
az the time Of the inception OF the
movement for the mills preservation:
II built the old Touring mill that
stands In Liberty Park, FOR President
brigham Young In 1859.
l would say. benutify It's surroundings
and make Il attractive. ana thousands
OF people win take pleasure IN viewing
one Of the old landmarks Of the early
days Of Utah. I am sure that the
majority OF sober thinking people will
voice my sentiment which u.s. Spare the
old mill"
From the Chase famlly-now residing
In BOuntiful-who lived on the site be-
fore the present min was erected. aud
whose ruoftrCe II became. and after
ward remained Tor many ycars-camc
a representative In the person OF
duughter who had boon born under tho
old min ruftnrH, ana who personally
petltinncd members OF the council In
the cause Of the historic old home
stead.
Employees OF the plnco-men who had
worked ON the mill dam and race. ana
at the grist Ia days Of It's activity and
usefulness, also came forward with "a
plea for It's preservation, and the senti-
ment which nctuatcd Il was doubtless
voiced by many tongues not heard IN
public uttorance.
The Views Of the pioneers descend
ants evidenced itself In the first prnc-
Teal step taken for the mills prcsor-
vntion-a movement whose credit be-
longs To Mr spencer ClnWsOn, who up
ON noting the proposed action OF the
council Immediately conferred with
members Of the committee on public
grounds with view To having pro-
coedlngs stayed until petition for
sparng the structure could be brought
before the council.
The request was compiled with, and
Mr.. Clnwson at once brought the mat
ter before the State Historical society
"a
pared and signed by lta members both
Individually ana az body
Following up this action. Mr. CmNg-
son had petition circulated through
out the citS which was signed by
large number Of prominent citizens.
voicing vigorous plea IN behalf Of the
old landmark.
Anticipating possible stumbling
block on the question N expense, MIR.
Clawnon secured the lowest bids for the
mills reconstruction, and submitted