Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-15

those OF Morgan City. two In number.
In each district new and commodlous
building has been erected within the
last is months. The school population
of the city IL about $50. No child has
over a mile TO go TO school. and the
greater number have less than half a
mile to cover In reaching the school,
INDUSTRIES.
While the Industries are somewhat
varied as in other Utah towns, by far
the greater part Of the people are en-
gagged In agriculture. some In mining.
manufacturing and stock raising.
AGRICULTURE THE LEADING
PURSUIT.
Agriculture Is carried on In all Its
branches. No grander sight can be
seen in Utah nor elsewhere, than the
one presented in Morgan county during
the summer months. The land in great
er part is Of a dark loan, excepting the
bench land, where 1t Is mostly rich
clay formation, for fertility either
combination Is famous. AS Is the case
over Utah generally, the land must be
irrigated to mature the crops but un-
like many localities, the farms are sup
piled with abundance of water taken
mostly from the Weber river, which
courses the eastern part of the valley,
entering the same through the canyon
on the east. and also Canyon creek.
the waters Of which nurture the lands
of the valley on the west. Besides these
two streams which unite TO form the
lower Weber, other creeks OF minor I'M
portanoe are diverted on the bench
lands. So that the whole OF the county
Is we'll irrigated and at no time during
the year Is vegetation parched and
unable to bear fruit because OF lack OF
water.
AS a natural result Of these ia
vorable combinations coupled with
thrifty husbandry. Morgan City
and county are widely known for
their excellent produce Chief
among their yearly exports is the
potato crop. For let II be known that
the potatoes Of Morgan cannot be ex-
celled In any state OF the Union. This
fact Is well known by all dealers Of
produce AS soon as the potato mar
ket Is OPEN enquiries are received from
most every section OF the west and even
as far central as Texas. To this last
named place is sent the major portion
Of our potato surplus. a Morgan po-
tato can be detected even after its
covering Is removed It's eyes dug out
and 1t is prepared for the table You
need but notice the iioury appearance
and the absence OF the dead. soggy
weight so common among other varie-
ties. 1t is no uncommon occurrence for
a single farmer to produce six or eight
cars OF potatoes, In a single year Re.
member we challenge, the world on po-
tato production and invite any doubling
Thomas TO come and we will show
him."
The average yield per acre Is about
400 bushel This will pay the farmer
better than will any other crop, II they
can be marketed at 80 cents per bushel,
which has been the average price for
the past eight years. IL Is no uncom-
mon thing for the shippers TO load out
daily during the shipping season from
nine to IL cars.
Besides the potato crop, Morgan pro-
duces an abundance Of hay, grains OF
all kinds, peas, sugar beets, and In
fact everything usually found in a
farming community. OF late years
much attention has been paid to hor-
ticulture; as result numerous apple
and pear orchards may be seen In the
third and fourth year of their growth,
The experiment has proved highly sat
isfactory and no doubt many more
farmers will go into the business.
All produce finds ready market both
east and west. This fact coupled with
the fertility OF the land makes a 20
acre farm a means OF an excellent liv-
ing for a CONNER family. Real estate
Is selling from 800 to 500 per acre,
depending upon the location, water
rights, etc.
HISTORY OF FIRST SETTLERS.
Early in the spring Of 1855 one Thorn
as j. Thurston might be seen vending
his way over the bed OF the Weber
river living as best he could. for as
yet there was no open road or located
settlers In this valley, Bishop Peter
son (of Peterson) came shortly after
and they together with help from Da.
Wis and Weber counties, made a road
so that II would be possible TO get In
with wagon. Thos. J. Thurston
raised the first grain In this county
and 1t was called seven headed wheat Ca
hardy grain) he made this experiment
because It was considered too cold and
frosty to make a success of raising
grain, vegetables, ETC., this was In
1859. Prior to this time the legislature
gave that part Of the valley from Mil.
ton TO Richville to Grant and Thurs
ton for stockraising purposes When It
was found that grain could be raised
quite abundantly In this section. as
early as 1860. many people came In
from Davis county, Uintah county. We
Der and other parts. The Frys, the pre-
decessors OF our worthy mayor came in
1860. Charles Turner came In 1861, d.