Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-21
Historical Society Of Utah.
Addresses Delivered at tho Second Annua
Meeting January 10Th. 1884,

A, the second annual meeting OF the
historical Society OF Utah minutes OF
which have appeared In the "Descrct
S.vs." addresses were delivered or
vbleh the following give the full text.
Governor Heber NJ. Wells sent the
annexed communication which was read
nv Hon. o. +. whitney.
January 10. 1899.
lion. Franklin u. Richards. President
state Historical Eo,icty. city.
near slr-owlng to press OF busi-
ness IL will be incSpedient for me to
attend your meeting this evening, but
1 write YOU this to assure you % my
,ympathy with the objects and aims
of the state Historical society, as un-
derstand them.
The history Of Utah has been 20
unl0ue-ao different from that OF any
~ the other stntea-so full OF interest
10th to those who have helped Ia make
II and TO the world who viii read OF H.
that II ought to be preserved and hand
ed down to poHterity
rhc history Of the Pilgrim Fathers
who plowcd across periioua ocean In
tn an unknown land FOR the sake of
God and conscience. IL written and vol
known. Every detail OF their cmbnrka-
lion. their pilgrimage aud their racri-
fces IL preserved w prose and poetry.
IN song and literature. nay more. u "
Inscribed IN the hearts Of the American
people. Yet comparatively little has
been written and less ~ known of that
other pilgrimage across thousand
miles OF tfackicaa wilderness into the
heart OF the Great American Desert NJ
ty-onc ycnrr apu.
The little band or pilgrims who came
over In the Mnyiiowcr were not more
prosecuted. no; moro weary. not more
hsrolc. not mofe endangered. not more
confident OF deiivcrancc. not more
tfustful In the goodness ~ God man
were the Mormon Pioneers. The his
tnrlan ~ the future VIII recognize these
facts aud will search into the nrchieNes
~ this state for Information concern
ina them. concerning their exploits.
their hnrdnhipH. their habits, their IN
dustry, their social life and every In
eiicnt OF their settlement and dcvci-
opment ~ the great West; and then the
Importance OF the work OF this society
win be more fully appreciated.
Fortunately tho Utah Pioneers
brought with them civilization that
recognized the supreme necessity OF
preserving records OF facts. Of Incidents
In their every day lives, which have
been written and printed. but much re-
mains To he collected and carefully pre-
served before those In whose memories
~ Il stored shall pass from earth. Such
should be the mission 81 this society
Tho traveller who visits ~ today III
his palace car and who secs our cul.
tivatcd fields. Our cities and our towns
our mines ana smcltcrs. our factories
our schools and colleges. our culture
ana our grandeur cannot appreciate
the years Of toll and travail that have
been spent In subjuTatlng the desert
and forcing the smile Of plenty upof
I.. HFla .saI 80 Of s.4N 80
n seems almost incredible that half %
century ago herds Of Wild buffalo
ronmcd over these mountninF and val
legs and that the ccnroicsa aurginR n
the waves OF our great inland sea wcr'
answered only by the howl of the VII,
coyote. The tourist ar he lays upon hi
luxurious bed at the knutAford woul'
scarcely believe that oven now the coy
otc'a Wild wall may be heard az nigh
IN the outskirts Of our city. The his
tory Of the extinction OF these nnima
Inhabitants OF our state win furnish
interesting research and should ais
be- preserved.
The groves were Gods first tenn
pies" aud In our mountains through
the oncroaohmcnt OF settlement and tn
rnvnRca Of nrr. these groves are dis
appearing. Their history must b
written. The flowers. the rocks. tn
streams. the shrubs. the RraHacr, al
WhNf hFN't9 inht aHuhih w NV
served.
In portions Of our state. relics 81
prehistoric race are found. More shout
hc written and preserved In regard 1
them. Hundreds OF new and cxhnur
tive fields OF research VIII prcsen
Themselves to the historian when one
his mind and his pen ARE ret at worl
II has been given out that some stat
aid viii he expected to compass the oh
iecta and ends Of the society. II ma
be- NJ interest Co know how the cNocu
tive Of the state views such PROPOSE
ton. Under proper conditions, not I
any way objectionable To the spirit q
existing Fundamental law, I should Il
IN favor of such assistance from IN
state treasury as the Legislature miRh
decide II could afford. To this end
invite your plan and your suggestion
Very respectfully
HEBEii NJ, WELLS
ti0Vefugf.