The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-23
PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION.

Pioneer Day will be celebrated IN
this city tomorrow in moro general
sud representative way than ever be
fore. The celebration viii take the
form Of historical pagesnts, in which
viii De represented not only the cont
ing OF tho Mormon pioneers in this
valley. but the pioneer activities OF
! the Catholic fathers among the indians
OF all this mountain region, and there
viii also be floats typical of the early
( trappers. OF the fur companies, and Of
the earlier wandering white explorers
who had pretty thoroughly trsversed
nll Of this country prior 10 the year
1910. The Oregon Immigration began
in 1896, reaching its height in lsi3.
This immigration made the roads,
pointed out the fords, aud caused the
publication OF what was called the
Oregon Emigrants' Guide Book. which
was followed BY succeeding trains from
1910 onwards This book pointed out
the best camping places where there
was good water. where fuel could be
had. the best fords. and gave warning
of dangerous points. either for general
camping purposes or because of bad
water
The pioneer parties TO Utah followed
these trails as pointed out in the guide
book, and 20 their way was much easier
than IL they had been blazing a trail
for themselves Some of the earlier
Oregon pioneers went down the Weber
river. some crossed over and came 20
the site Of this city; and for many
years, both before the pioneers came
here and after their settlement, the
grasses of the meadows OF this valley
were famous for their recruiting quail
ties upon the worn.out stock Of the
trains bound for the Willamette valley,
and afterwards for California
But In no sense are the achievements
on this account; they were true pio-
neers Of this region, though not mean
ing at first TO stop here, but to 60 on
TO southern California, to Join the
company led there by Elder Brannan the
wear before around Cape Horn. They
found no one here and made their own
settlements. even 10 spite of some very
pronounced opinions that IL was i'm
possible to make settlements and grow
sustenancs in this valley or in any OF
the valleys Of these mountains. il Is
curious that opinions OF this kind
should have prevailed among keen, OBJ
servant men such as the trappers and
explorers were. but il is undeniable
that the early fur traders and the In
dian traders generally had the idea
that these valleys were non-produc-
tive, just as in the old Northwest a
great many OF the early settlers
thought that they had to settle in the
timber because they held that the
prairies were not fit to cultivate.
The celebration Of Pioneer Day to-
morrow will mark the beginning of a
broader basis for these celebrations in
the future. They have been up 20 this
time too restrictive and narrow; they
have been held to be exclusively the
property and representation of the ne
tivities of sect. and the original set
tlemeut of the country has been held TO
rebound 10 the glory of the ruling re-
ligion rather than Of a movement OF
American pioneers without reference
TO faith or revelation. We are glad 10
see the celebration get out of that old
rat and assume a broader basis. II is
quite true that the other features in
dicsted, the activity OF the Catholic
fathers. Of the trappers and fur gath
ere, OF the fur companies, Of the pio
neer wanderers who simply loved 10
wander and see nov things, all these
are enliuentIy deserving of represen
tation IN the celebration of Pioneer
Day in Utah. Another feature OF that
dav might very well be. and perhaps
VIII be added in subsequent eelebra
tions, a representation OF the Oregon
emigration. which made the roads and
pointed out the way for travellers, cspe
eially those who travel hy wheel, 90
this midtrail across the continent.
All can heartily join in the celebra.
tion OF Pioneer Day this year, and we
trust that this will become more and
more the case as the years go by, and
as the special religious claims in re
gard TO it will become merged. so far
as this celebration is concerned. in the
general representation of the advance
ment OF civilization within the bound
aries OF the United States. The set
tlemcnt OF Utah was but one Of such
pioneer movements; and hs II takes
its place justly and fairly among other
similar movements, il will receive tho
cordiHl support and earnest eo-oPera-
tlou Of all who ndn,re American pluck.
American independence, and American
enterprise.