The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-28
EAGLE GATE SIGNIFICANCE.


matter as TO the significance of the
Eagle Gate situated at the head OF
State street Indeed, we have received
several inquiries along this limo, and
now having certain authoritative iufor
nation at hand we shall make q reply
which ii is hoped will prove satisfac-
tory to all inqurers upon this subject
In the very early DAYS OF Utah it
was impossible for teams to get up into
what is known as City Creek canyon
except by passing up that street and
through the point now marked by the
Eagle Gate. As is we'll known, the of
fetal residence of Brigham Young was
situated at that point, and was then and
is now known as the BE Hive house.
At that time there was much timber
cut in the canyon for fuel, fencing, and
buldnig purposes. \ thought struck
President Young as he saw the numer
Gus loads of wood and timber coming
down out of the canyon, and that
thought seems TO have inspired the
greater portion of a sermon which he
preached in the old tabernacle on DC.
tober .. 1852. as we find IT recorded IN
the Journal Of Discourscs, volume ?,
pages 2O9 to 220. Brigham upbraided
the elders for going up into the can
yon and sort of pre- empting 10 them
selves certain patches of timber, and
quarreling and fighting with others who
TO cncroach upon them. a
man, for instance Gas Brigham described
the situation) would cut a road to a
patch of timber, and then some other
fellow would make use of that road and |
cut timber out of that particular patch |
after the road builder had gone to the
trouble TO make it accessible. Numer-
Gus quarrels and fights resulted and |
Brigham referred TO these in the SER
mon alluded to. He therefore proposed |
a plan which would insure better regu.
lation and incidentally bring a modicum
Of profit 20 someone whom it is unpeces-
sary TO uame. After ripping the elders
to metaphorical shreds on account of
their pickering and fighting. President
Young said (see pages 217 and 216)
matter The motion s that we. as the
Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints in the capacity of a General Con-
ference assembled. and embracing the
whole community in the midst OF the
mountains, recommend. and give il as
'ur opinion. that the best method of dis
posing OF the kanyons is to put them in
he hands of individuals to make good
'oads III them. and obtain their pay by
aking toll from those who use the roads !
IT gate erected for that purpose at
ne mouth of each kauyon. Now. sisters.
want YOU TO vote also, because women
IRE the characters that rule the ballot
'ox, II You are in favor OF this motion.
Is Latter day Saints. signify IL by the
'plifted hand tunanimous.l
Let the judges In the county OF Great
;alt Lake take notice and govern them
elves accordingly, The same thing I
ay to the judges OF any other of the
nd govern yourselves accordingly. Put
hese kanyons into the hands OF ind-
'iduals who Will make good roads in
hem. and let them take toll from the
that go there for wood. tim
yer and poles. Now this is my order
or the Judges TO take due notice of:
I does not come from the Governor. but
rom the President Of the Church; you
VII not see any proclamation in the
'aper 10 this effect. but ii is mere
ecla ation OF the President OF the Con-
erence, i
And so it came about that the Eagle
iate WAS originally a toll gate. at which
ach man hauling wood. timber or poles
rom City Creek canyon paid every
hird load over to the woodpile of
Brigham Young. Brigham never built G
foot of road In that canyon that was
ot paid for out of the public funds :
xtorted from the people either as gen.
raj taxes. or poll tax contributions or
hurch donations to what were then
allied the ''pubIic works but he took I
ne toll of every third load of wood,
imber or poles at the toll gate which
e set up near his official residence, and
ear which he had private saw mill
or the purpose of reducing il to the
orms desired by himself The other
anyons were treated similarly. In fact
he Territory was divided into princi
aliiies. at the head Of each of which
Vas favorite apostle; and all took
oil from the people upon the natural ..
esources of those apostolic domains
Again, the president of the church,
nd the Mormon conference, having
nade the determination poted. il was
hen easy enough TO enforce the provi-
ions of grant earlier bestowed under
legislative ordinance, In the record of
re proceedings of the legislative assem- ,
ly of the Territory of Utah. 1855, =,
haptcr VII, we find the following.
An ordinance concerning City Creek !.
>apyon. Be II ordained by the General l
lssembly of the State OF Deseret: That 7
,righam Young have the sole control OF
'ity Creek aud Kanyon, and that he pay
nto the public treasury the sum OF Ave
undred dollars therefor (
Approved December 9th, 1850.
IT seems that although the Estate of r
)eseret'' had conferred this special "a t
or upon Brigham, the elders took no d
otice OF il until they were bound to a
is observance under edict of the church
resident and church conference. II is
.ncwn that all tho natural resources of
he Territory were thus parceled out to ,
ecclesiastical ,favorites. but it is not /,
,uowu that Brigham ever paid into the