Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-05


gagged at his desk behind stacks OF mail
and official business this morning about
three hours after he returned from the
east where he and his family and Of
nclal party attended the launching OF
the United States battleship Utah, the
largest man-of-war afloat Their special
train was delayed many hours by snow
tire country in its grip. arriving here
about o'clock this morning
Although Gov. Spry was buried, so
TO speak. with the affairs of his Of
fec he had time to talk of the success
full launching of the battleship and the
conditions of the east
The ceremonies were very simple
but perfect While the workmen were
knocking the supports away, the Utah
party stood on small platform When
the great steel hull began to tremble.
the battleship was named and it was
released, gliding majestically into the
water.
TRIBUNE FAKE DENIED.
The report circulated by the press
that Senator Reed Smoot made a
speech saying that 1t was 4 fitting
tribute to the memory of the Prophet
Joseph Smith to have the battlcship
launched on the anniversary OF his
birth WAS all nonsense. Senator Smoot
made no such remark or anything like
It, The story caused some comment but
1 take great pleasure In denying 1t.
Without hitch. the launching and
attendant features were carried out
perfectly" he declared. The EtahS-.S
now the largest battleship afloat havs
ing o displacement of $4,000 tons. The
South Carolina is the largest ship now
in commission, it having a displnce-
ment OF $4,000 tons. While the Utah
is now the largest man-of-war the
government contemplates the construc-
ton of two battleships much larger
but they will not be in commission for
some time to come.
"The Utah is equipped With all the
modern appliances. Oil can be used as
well as coal for fuel. 1t is the only
oattleship with a battery which Will
! destroy torpedo boats by shooting
under water, The first battery will be
of l4-inch guns and secondary bat
terry of smaller guns and rapid fire
| guns.
THE ship company was responsible
| for the launching on that day Mr..
May the president of the company, said
that the Utah was the heaviest battle
| ship that had ever been launched, and
TO nave unlll IHt Hdu
| been in place and the heavy machln-
| cry would have made it dangerous 10
| launch. The river near the shipbulld-
| ing yard oftlmes freezes and IL 1t had
| been delayed any longer the launching
| could not have taken place until March
| or April This would have delayed tne
work materially. The Utah weighed
| about 10000 tons when it was launched.
as it was.
UTAH'S SAILOR ENGAGED.
while we were in Philadelphia
| Lieut. Commander Henry Pearson
was with the party. His engagement
| to Miss Norris of New York was an
nounced at dinner given by the
company at which he was one of the
invited guests. Miss Norris Is a
prominent society. and club woman
OF New York and very handsome and
charming.
when the bastleship is placed in
commission I think it would be a
very fitting complement to Utah TO
have Lieut.. Commander Pearson IN
command OF the ship. He still holds 70
Utah as his home and Is exceeding
proud OF the battleship which carries
the name of the state.
CALL ON BALLINGER.
while in Washington. Senator
Smoot, Frank Pierce and myself ct,'S'
on Secy. Ballinger In regard to some
land in the southern part of the state
which had been Withdrawn from entry
because of the possible development oil
| oil. There are two large irrigation pro,
| iects under contemplation which wouid
| reclaim this land. Secy. Ballinger SAID
| that IL there was no indication of any
| oil or mineral in tracts OF this lana
| that 1t would be reinstated fog entry
| Tho projects under consideration VIII
| reclaim about 10000 acres of land ana
! IL could be taken up under the Carey
| Land act The promoters intend 10
| take the water from the Rio Virgin riv-
| CT to apply on the land and means
| great thing for the southern part OF
| the state, Senator Smoot and / also
| had q talk with Secy. Ballinger in re-
gard to mineral lands found In school
| sections. Mr.. Ballinger was willing that
| a friendly suit should be instituted to
| sec whether these lands reverted to the
| state or not and to determine what
| lands should be accepted In lieu OF
| school lands.
| washington was very quiet while l
| was there / visited with Senator
Smoot. Senator Sutherland and Con-
grcssman Howell. and their families.
| They arc all we'll and the Utah dele
CATION Is anxious to participate in the
large amount OF legislation which Will
come up In this session Of Congress"