Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-24


valley-may see such celebration OF
the event as Salt Lake enjoyed ten years
ago, the ilftleth anniversary Of the
event. But until that centennial day
arrives. nothing like the glories of the
Pioneer Jubilee OF July, 1897. are apt
10 be witnessed by the people of the
city and the state.
1t may even be doubted whether the
hundredth celebration OF Utah's BIRTH
day viii equal the pomp and circum-
stance OF the nftieth. For one thing
-..ere will he no pioneers left to for1a
the centrah point of the enthusiasm
for another there will be no son OF
pioneer in the governors chair to back
up the plans and preparations for
fitting celebration. as there was in the
person of Gov. H. NJ Wells; the rel
les, the pioneer wagons In which the
great Journey was made. and the thou
SAND and one things and circumstances
that combined to make the Jubilee so
notable will ne lacking, and most of
all there will be no Spencer Clawson,
descendant of a pioneer grandfather,
the big ball IN motion. to keep II roll
ing. and TO take on his shoulders the
stupendous work of engineering the
celebration--such a celebration as caus-
ed the entire west to open its eyes with
wonderment, ana made the surviving
pioneers glow with feeling that their
achievements had not gone unap-
preciated.
An epitome of just what was done in
Salt Lake by the Pioneer Jubilee COM
mission, of which Mr.. Clawson was
chairman, is given herewith:
The sum OF s6s.s97,5l was raised by
popular subscription and legislative
gifts and all but sS76.10 was expended
on the celebration. This balance was
turned back into the state treasury.
'The Utah Pioneer Jubilee began
Tuesday, July 20. and closed Saturday,
July "a, 1897, during which Ave days
Salt Lake saw such a continuous round
of excitement, pageantry, professions,
reunions, meetings ,assemblages and con-
tests of various sorts as had never be-
fore been brought together or deemed
possible in the intermountain region.
The crowds in attendance came from
all over the United States. Among the
guests of honor was Hon. VIM. j. Bry-
an. Prest. Mckinley expected to come
UP TO the last day, but was prevented
by affairs of government. 1t is signi-
iicant of the time. and of the EZRA of
that the invitation to the president was
prepared by Geo. Q. Cannon. Geo. w.
Bartch. p. IA. Lannan, Chen manager
OF the Tribune) Frank J. Cannon, Jos.
l.. Rawlins and w. II. King.
AS special guests of the occasion all
the surviving pioneers who entered
Utah during the year ls47 We're brought
to Salt Lake. free of any expense TO
themselves. no matter in what part OF
the country they were found.
The committee was able to bring to-
gether about 700 % these veterans; all
were royalty entertained during their
stay and each was presented with an
elaborate gold badge, the cost of this
feature alone exceeding $1,000.
The Pioneer monument, at the inter-
section of East Temple and South Tenn
pie streets, was unveiled in the pres-
ence of thousands of citizens.
The Hail of Relics, which was remov-
ed to make way for the Deseret News
building of today, was erected and made
the repository for a host OF relies and
personal belongings of the pioneers,
many OF which were afterwards donat-
cd to the state Historical association.
THE COMMISSION.
The members of the Jubilee commits
sion named by Gov. Wells and con-
firmed by the legislature were Spencer
Clawson. Inez c. Wallace, Reed Srnoot,
Mrs. r. G. Easton. W. a. Nelden, Emily
Katz, Cora Hooper Eldredge. Ernest $.
Rognon, Edward Il, Colborn, VIM. b.
Preston, Jacob Moritz, Jno. d. Spencer,
Elias A. Smith. II. IL. Spencer cog
den). and Horace G. Whitney.
The committee was named in a Joint
resolution of the Legislature approved
April 3, 1896, and 1t qualified on Nov.
90 1896, organizing as The Utah Semi
Centennial commission" with Spencer
Ciawson as chairman, Ernest G. Rog-
non, secretary, and Mrs. Wallace, treas
urer.
EIGHT MONTHS HARD WORK.
For the next eight months. indeed
until after the celebration was over, the
Iabors OF the commission were almost
incessant. All their efforts were de-
voted TO raising a fund of $50 900, which
II was estimated proper celebration
would cost. Business conditions gem
orally were depressed and great difficult
~ was experienced In raising the neces-
sary funds. After all ondeavors, the
total receipts remained at a very low
figure until IN sort Of desperation the
committee called a monster public meet
Ing In the Salt Lake theater, on the
night of June 2, 1897, ana laid the situa-
ton before the people Of the city. The
audience Was addressed by Il. II. Rob-
orts, o. w, Powers and members OF
the commission. all OF whom pointed
out the danger OF failure. AS a result
sleeping enthusiasm was awakened and
from that time on money began to flow
IN. IN addition TO the donations received
from the citizens OF salt Lake and vail-
oua other parts of the state. substan-
tial sums came from out.of- town