The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-01

For years we have heard much about
the great natural bridge of Virginia.
People have gone from all parts of the
world TO behold this strange natural
phenomenon and enjoy the picturesque
scenery of the Appalachian mountains.
virginia, rich in it's historical associa-
lions, has looked upon this bridge as one
of her most attractive features, and
has let the world know Of the treasures
she possessed. Every community is I'M
der obligation TO inform the rest of the
world of her riches and opportunities-
opportunities for knowledge as well as
opportunities for material advance
ment.
1t is right for Utah to spend thou
sands OF dollars annually that the world
may know of her vast deposits of gold
silver, copper. lead, iron, coal and other
minerals, and the wonderful opportuni-
ties that her canyons afford for the de-
veiopment Of power and the greater DOS
sibilities Of her agricultural resources,
and then she must remember that she
has told only half the story.
What other state has a background of
snow-capped mountains at whose feet
stretches out a broad valley dotted with
cities, towns, and what other state DOS
seSseS climate that varies from the
dry cold of the mountain valleys, where
Ice often forms in August to the semi
tropical land of sunshine of Bluff and
Dixie?" Southern Utah furnishes a
winter climate unsurpassed for those
who wish TO avoid the discomfOrts Of
sudden changes in temperature and the
mists and storms Of the coast and low
attitudes, and for those who wish to
drink in renewed strength and vigor
from sunshine and the purest air that
anywhere kisses the earth In how
many states can the markets be sup
piled from March to November with
every variety of fruit and vegetable. all
raised with her own borders; prosper
Gus farms until lost in the simmer of
a vast inland sea? What other state
can present the beauty and picturesque
grandeur Of mountain canyon and
towering crag, of deep gorges, rugged
bluffs and lofty mesas? What other
state can introduce the world to vast
park stretching as far as the eye can
see, from whose level mesas rise bat
Elements, towers, pinnacles and domes
In such prOfusion Of fantastic shapes, |
and such a richness Of coloring that
you stand amazed at the wonders God !
hath wrought in this seeming remote |
corner Of the earth? In what other |
state viii you find great. lofty arches |
carved out Of massive stone by the |
hand OF time? In comparison with these
mighty natural bridges the Virginia |
structure sinks into insignificance.
titan should take a lesson from Col /
orado. She. with fewer natural re-
sources and with a less advanta geous
climate, by letting the world know of !
her attractions and opportunities has
increased her wealth and power far be-
yond that of our own state.
Where Nature Works Wonders.
Several magazine articles have an
peared recently about these great ma
tural wonders Of southern Utah: and
ii is pity that some OF them have
been very misleading. For instance. in
a recent number of the Scientific Amer
lean, a newspaper that is supposed TO
stand for that which is accurate and
reliable in science, appeared an article
on the Natural Bridges of Utah." that
demonstrates that the writer had no
personal knowledge of the bridges or
their surroundings. The geological for
nation OF the region is entirely misrep-
resented, and the kind of rock of the
bridges or the manner of their forma-
ton is not correctly told. All of the
articles so far published lay great
stress upon the difficulties of making
trip to this section of our state. To /
be sure, the region at present is far
from the railroad, but is by<no means
inaccessible to men and women who are
able TO travel on horseback for a few
days, ana the country through which
one passes amply repays one for the
trip.
san Juan county extends from Grand
county on the north, south to the Ari-
iona line; east to the border of Colora-
do, and west to the Colorado river. The
northern and northwestern sections ,
slope 10 the northwest into the Colo