The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-21
Regarded as Mysterious.

Regarded as Mysterious.
These then young men were looked
upon as of some consequence IN that
day because Of the occult and novel
character of their work. II was looked
upon in nearly all places as mystic
rtous calling, and by few hero and
there was regarded with feeling akin
to awe. Undoubtedly the operators en-
joyed this situation while it lasted,
which was not long, for even the most
benighted people by association with
new condition acquire first familiarity,
then Indifference; and SO the boys, af-
ter their brief reign in the "some
pumpkins domain, got to be as COM
monplace as clerks in a store, for in
stance, and not half as consequential
as stage drivers, The last dominion
was never recovered, but q few of those
engaged at first on the Deseret line
became somewhat distinguished, two or
three decidedly so.
All readers will recognize in the Mt.
Pleasant operator the first counselor in
the first presidency of the Mormon
church, Anthon H. Lund; another in
stance of the kind was that of the late
President John Henry Smith, who, while
not one Of the first operators, succeeded
Joseph A. West at Provo within
month or two OF the beginning. Lund
of st. George became a prominent min
ing man, banker, merchant, and held
important political Offices under the
state government. Tribe of Toquerville
became and is yet a leading merchant
of Ogden, Dangall of Parowan was
for many years superintendent of the
company and man of affairs, and Dan
iel S. Spencer, who began his highly
successful business career as delivery
boy in The company 8 Salt Lake Office,
has, as almost everybody knows, been
the popular assistant general passenger
agent on the Oregon Short Line for
good long time, Most OF the "boys"
have gone to the land where telegraph
lines would be quite superfluous and
none OF the others are following the
business, although a few became quite
proficient in IL.
Deseret Line Important.
1t is proper to mention. before con-
cludipg this story. that the Deseret
line became quite figure in the com
mercial world before passing out of
existence. Through connections with
Ogden it received quite n budget Of
business for the east and west. and
in 1871 il extended its wire from St.
George to Phoebe, which place was then
at the zenith of its great career as a
producer OF ores and exporter of pre-
cious metals. The line was received
with spontaneous enthusiasm and
great volume OF patronage this amount.
ing 20 as much as $4,000 per month,
and even more nj times, the greater
part of it falling TO the local company.
the remainder going 10 the carving
lines east and west from Salt Lake
By far the larger portion of the bust.
ness was with San Francisco, relating
chiefly 10 stocks.
With the waning of the "flush
times, however, the traffic decreased
proportionately, and the advent Of the
Western Union about n wear after the
establishment of the Deseret still fur
ther reduced the latter's income until
IT amounted TO very little and eventu-
ally the line was closed While il was
going however, and the going was good.
1t made back all that the Phoebe ex.
tension had cost and quite q snug sum
over. The entire system was finally
sold TO the Western Union and year
Or so after was dismnntled altogether
This brings us up TO the time in
which all the improved methods are
in full vogue, and as the theme relates
TO the early and more primitive sys.
TENS OF transmitting intelligence. It's
mission, may be said to have, matured
and ended.