Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-17

1t Is the center of the business of the
between 5000 and 10000 people in tho
immediate. vicinity of the town Itself,
and the contributing point of thousands
OF the inhabitants of the reservation.
1t is the largest city in this part OF the
state. and. as Will be seen farther on
in the. discussion, one of the biggest lit
tie cities that grace the country of
which we are all so proud. Meanwhile
let us bear in mind that 1t has fewer
than 1000 inhabitants.
Before continuing, however, to discuss
the present condition of the city, IT
would be interesting to know from what
it grew, and how, and In how long
time. In the month Of July in the year
1776. both so memorable, the month less
so because it occurs so frequently, and
the year almost Immortality so, because
it can occur no more, and because 1t
marked a dawn in the history of nations
which can never more be cloudcd, never
more know what dusk may mean; 1t
happened that in that month and that
year this valley was visited for the
first time by white men. Dominique
and Escalantc crossed this way from
Santa Fc on their search for direct
route to the missions on the coast OF
California. Not again for just 80 years
did the feet of white men trod the
barren tract.
vcrnal lies due east from main
street in American Fork, about 100
miles 1t was incorporated as city on
Oct. 5, 1898, with S. M. Browne as
mayor. Until 1909 it bore the unique
distinction of being the only city In
the United States not to levy tax;
the entire city expenditure being met
by the income from the licenses. What
is almost incredible. during the time
that it thus refrained from imposing q
tax on It's citizens 1t succeeded in
laying five and one half miles of side
walk pavement, more than any other
city it's slzo In the world can boast.
The tax of 1909 was levied to defray
the expenses about to be incurred by
the city waterworks, which were in
stalled this year, A private co-opera-
ton has also recently Installed n
telephone, and already 305 phones
have been placed IN the homes Of the
citizens Of Vernal, and the neighbor-
Ing residents. A power system, too. has
been created within the last few years
which lights 900 homes. and furnishes
power for several other things. Tho
city Is now but 90 hours from Salt
Lake City, the entire way by train and
automobile.
BUSINESS HOUSES
The town is q most enterprisnG one.
| as will readily be seen from the fol-
| lowing list of its business interests:
| two banks eight general merchandise
! stores. two hardware stores four
saloons, two hotels, one bakery, one
| creamery, three restaurants, one jew
| elry store, one newspaper, one brick
/ yard, one dance hall, one shoe shop,
| two harness shops, an opera house.
| two drug stores. two undertaking es-
| Establishments, two planning mills. one
| livery stable, two meat markets, two
| millinery stores, three lodging houses
| q telephone exchange, an express Of
| flee, three blacksmith shops. a taylor.
! two photographers. three flour mills.
| two implement houses. two barber
| shops, n bath house and n taxidermist.
| Then there are two real estate dealers
| seven lawyers. four doctors, two
| dentists, u lodge hail. and three school
| buildings.
1.-THE city now ranks as third class.
| and while the growth during the past
few years has been wonderful, 1t will
! be phenomenal in the next few. Hand
some business blocks and residences
have sprung up like magic, and splcn-
! did church and school buildings
bea,itify the suburbs. The Uintah stake
| tabernacle completed in 1907, cost
| $40, 000.tThe county court house would
grace any county seat In Utah. The
| Central school building is large and
convenient, Us we'll as quito modern
| Another Is now being erected in the
Maesar ward which will surpas the one
| at Fernnl. The city is fortunate in hav-
| ing ar set suf young and lively teach.
| ers, oil eager to promote the intel.