Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-26
SEE UTAH FIRST
IS THE NEW CRY
Party Which Visited Grand Can
yon Returns Much En-
Unused.
RAILWAY is GREATLY NEEDED
Governor Thomas Declares Timber
Alone In the Country Would BE
Sufficient Induccmcnt.

Tha advantages awaiting the rail
road which will enter the Grand Can
yon of the Colorado from the Utah
side are again emphasized by Gov y
l.. Thomas who returned from thu
canyon country this morning. In the
party, which left here Aug II, were
Senator George Sutherland, Mrs. Suth-
erland and Miss Sutherland Mrs. FL
bridge Thomas, Miss Julia Cullen and
Governor Thomas.
Governor Thomas, In speaking of the
Offering which the country makes to a
railroad. declares that the Grand Cam
yon branch of the santa Fee Is its best
paying branch, hauling countless
parties of tourists into the canyon
country every day OF the season. Other
than this however, the branch has lit
te traffic to bring a return on the out
lay for construction. but this does not
mean that the Investment Is not Il
paying one for the road, declares Gov
ernor Thomas.
ON tho Utah side Of the canyon, says
Governor Thomas, there are forests
which would provide an endless sup
ply of commercial timber for freight
traffic in addition to the tourist travel.
The beauties of the Utah side of the
canyon far surpass the eastern rim,
says Governor Thomas and there Is no
reason why salt Lake should not draw
this class of tourists both eaStbound
and westbound.
THE TRIP TO THE CANYON.
The party with which Governor
Thomas visited the canyon left here
Aug. II, going to Marysvale by rail
and then heading for Panguitch 10y
team through the canyon. From Pan
guitch the party Travelled to Long Val
ley to Glendale, over the Palmyra des-
ert to Kanab, where the outfit was
secured. The party reached the Buck
skin mountains on the evening of Aug.
Is,
After n three days ride they wore
at the head OF Bright Angel trail,
where camp was made. From this point
the first glimpse of the canyon was
secured The Bright Angel trail at
this point Is 10 miles from lei ToVar
hotel, on the opposite side of the
canyon. The atmosphere was so clear
during the entire stay of the party i'm
the canyon that they could see the
hotel plainly and with glasses could
see persons walking about the place.
AT this point the canyon is over 5000
feet deep from the brink of the plateau
to the river, though to reach the river
entails perilous descent of five miles
over winding trails To the bottom of
the canyon. owing to recent heavy
rains the trails have been rendered un-
safe and travel To the river has not
been undertaken this season
cAMPEp ON PLATEAU.
AT Bright Angel point on the Klabab
plateau the party pitched its camp and
made daily excursions horseback and
afoot to the many interesting hooks
tucked away In the canyon The Kiabab
plateau, declares Gov. Thomas. Is one
OF the most peculiar places he has ever
visited In the course of his globe trot-
ting Carpeted with "a natural grass
that looks all the time as II it had
just been moved and watered. it is
forested with magnificent trees. Red
pines 10 feet In circumference are
common and quaking aspens six feet I'm
glrth and 10 feet high seem to be there
by countless thousands. The appearance
OF the plateau In its entire extent is
that of well kept park. Under the
trees there is no accumulation of dead
leaves. rotted timber or other waste
always found in forests. Instead the
grass Is as clean as IL swept every
day and it seems to grow only to a
short length. appearing TO have been
moved like the lawns of a private
garden or park, White squirrels and
neer seem to be the sole inhabitants
native to the country OF these there
are many.
The sight of q canyon sunset is worth
n great sacrifice, declarees Gov Thorn
as To see the many colOred rocks in
the formation of the canyon tinted in
q thousand shades by the fading sun
light is to view picture that Is one Of
natures masterpieces. Sunrise is hard
ly less mugiticnnt While the lower
DEPTHS Of the canyon are black in their
darkness, the tops of the peaks are
tinted in delicate shades. the colors be-
coming holder as the day advances un-
III even the deepest parts Of the canyon
are III up with bright hues-a revcr
the same tint in two places
THEIR FIRST TRIP.
II was the first trip any Of the party
had over made to the canyon country
and it was gretly enjoyed by all The
party was eight days in the canyon,
leaving there Aug % and returning by
way OF Warm Springs canyon on the
west edge of the plateau across the
desert and to ST George, where the trip
10 Modcna was taken Monday the mar
~ arriving home this morning over
the Salt Lake Route.
Every member of the party Is con-
vert To the "Eee America FIRST" prom %
ganda, but before that they are advo-
Gates FIRST and last FOR a newer duc-
trine see America II you will. but sec
Utah first" GOV, Thomas suys no viii
spread the fame OF the Utah SIDE of the
canyon until the message spreads
throughout tho Union. lie says he will
Z not sleep well until the railroad tapping
the canyon country rs in operation
z Then he win feel disposed to send every
one of the postal employees In his juris.
E diotlon down To the canyon lust to So,
Y what sort OF country they are llving