Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-04

for the redemption and cultivation o
the soil. and II then contrasts the pres
ont growth and development with the
former barrenness and sterlllty and
| gives graphic pictures by word and IL
lustration OF what has been accom-
pllshod in this direction,
The writer. however, seems to be
poorly informed in regard 10 Utah and
the adjacent country, and seems to
have confined his observation chiefly
to Arizona, New Mexico and old Mex
leo. lie makes this passing notice In
referring to the desert state OF the
country some years ago:
I'm Utah alone had the white man
attained q foOthold but the Mormons
were men who sought the desert TO
escape civilization, with the am ION
OF reverting to a culture as purely par
barrie as that OF Abraham and MS des-
cendants who now live In Sahara.
These sentences display either an ig'
norance which Is deplorable in such
writer. or a spleen which Is very con-
tempfible The "Mormons" who
crossed the plains and mountains to
reach this region were the pioneers OF
civilization on this slope. They marx
ed the path for the great continental
railway and petitioned Congress TO ana
I'm us construction, long before the iirst
shoyelful OF soil was cast up for the
grand highway. The culture they m
PRODUCED was that Of the best educa-
ton Of the period. They brought
with them the printing press. They
established the schoolhouse. They built
telegraph lines. They aided in the
work OF the Union and Central Paci'
fic Railroads. They encouraged ART
They erected places Of worship, They
conquered the wilderness. They made /
possible the organization OF several
states in the Union, and their labors'
their influence and all their energies
were directed towards the elevation OF
mankind. and the adoption 'of every
modern improvement and the highest
methods OF moral, physical and spirit
ual culture. II is evident that Mr.. Hi
however much he may know about sur
yeying. knows nothing OF the history
Of the Transformation Of this part oil
the great American desert, or he Is UNI
willing to give credit where It is due
Another statement which he makes
requires some brief attention. 1t Is this'
oThe first railways to be constructed |
u.ere DESIGNED nearly as highways be- |
to,een The Atlantic and Pacific sea-
boards, No thought OF revenue from |
the desert itself was anticipated
Here again the gentleman is very |
much mistaken. The endeavor' which
was successful, to obtain for the rail-
roads alternate sections Of land along |
the line OF their route showed that they |
did anticipate obtaining revenue from |
the desert by the way. Utah by that |
time was inhabited by many thousands
Of thrifty settlers, who spent large
sums annually for the transportation by |
teams from the states, Of merchandise
needed for their use. This freight and
that of their produce was expected by |
the railroads There was promise OF
new settlements between the Missouri
river and Salt Lake city some Of
which had already been established in
western Nebraska and in parts OF that
which is now included in the States of
Wyoming and Colorado
In all this prospective revenue to the
railroads, the work Of the "Mormons' |
as pioneers in colonzlng the country |
in introducing irrigation, and In eX-
tending the benefits Of agriculture |
manufactures and civilized Industries
OF various kinds was prominent, and
was recognized by the great minds that |
led out I'm the construction OF the con
tinehtal highway, although II seems TO
have failed to catch the attention Of
the gentleman who writes from the
standpoint or gt0lOgleal cufNeN.
II his remarks concerning other parts
OF the great American desert which has
been transformed, are not any more ac-
curate than those relating TO Utah, his
paper IN the Worlds Word will not he
Of very great value His summary Of
the mineral products OF that once des-
ert waste show that he has not proper
lyrated the gold, silver and copper out
put OF Utah However we believe that
his attention has been directed more TO
that portion Of the former desert em-
braced IN portions OF the Territories TO
the south OF Utah and in Old Mexico.
What he says in relation to them is
commendabe and wen worth reading
II Is only to his errors in regard to Utah