• " • ^ 1
i
""'•'
i
$
'
*%*
"\ ^r * *
n4\ m
*'°>
^"" '%
' ,#;,. i
f "
•
mx.w
" - T ^ I N N
•••
;
--IK:; 'S'HsSi "t, "'"'"'
%
r'jSp-\^t^
•
^CgaPH
;:
:*.
:
•
(
'
|
%
.
*?^~* * *
In
,5. *^W/* : . ' . :'. .
UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES j . GRANT IVERSON, Salt Lake City, 1967 President DELLO G. DAYTON, O g d e n , 1965
RICHARD E. GILLIES, C e d a r City, 1967
JACK GOODMAN, Salt Lake City, 1965 MRS. A . C J E N S E N , Sandy, 1967
Vice-President J O E L E . R I C K S , L o g a n , 1965
EVERETT L. COOLEY, Salt Lake City Secretary
L. GLEN SNARR, Salt Lake City, 1967 LAMONT F . TORONTO, Secretary of State
j . STERLING ANDERSON, Grantsville, 1967
LELAND H . CREER, Salt Lake City, 1965
Ex officio S. LYMAN TYLER, PrOVO, 1 9 6 5
ADMINISTRATION EVERETT L . COOLEY, D i r e c t o r
T. H . JACOBSEN, State Archivist, Archives F. T. J O H N S O N , Records Manager, Archives R. W . INSCORE, Registrar, Military Records T h e U t a h State Historical Society is a n organization devoted to the collection, preservation, a n d publication of U t a h a n d related history. I t was organized by publicspirited Utahns in 1897 for this purpose. I n fulfillment of its objectives, the Society publishes the Utah Historical Quarterly, which is distributed to its members with payment of a $5.00 annual membership fee. T h e Society also maintains a specialized research library of books, pamphlets, photographs, periodicals, microfilms, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts. M a n y of these items have come to the library as gifts. Donations are encouraged, for only through such means can the U t a h State Historical Society live upto its responsibility of preserving the record of Utah's past.
J O H N J A M E S , J R . , Librarian MARGERY W . WARD, Associate Editor IRIS SCOTT, Business Manager T h e primary purpose of the Quarterly is t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of m a n u s c r i p t s , p h o t o graphs, a n d documents which relate or give a new interpretation to U t a h ' s unique story. Contributions of writers are solicited for t h e consideration of the editor. However, the editor assumes no responsibility for the return of manuscripts unaccompanied by return postage. Manuscripts a n d material for publications should be sent to t h e editor. T h e U t a h State Historical Society does not assume responsibility for statements of fact or opinions expressed by contributors. T h e Utah Historical Quarterly is entered as second-class postage, paid at Salt Lake City, U t a h . Copyright 1964, U t a h State Historical Society, 603 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, U t a h 84102.
SPRING, 1964
VOLUME
32
NUMBER 2
1IST0RIGAL QUARTERLY FLIMFLAM F R O N T I E R : SUBMARGINAL LAND DEVELOPMENT IN UTAH BY C A R L T O N F . C U L M S E E
91
SUPPLY HUB OF T H E WEST: DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN, 1941-1964 BY LEONARD J . ARRINGTON AND T H O M A S G. A L E X A N D E R
99
FREIGHTING ON T H E COLORADO RIVER: REMINISCENSES OF VIRGIL FAY BALDWIN BY BARBARA B A L D W I N E K K E R
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO STATION BY PEARL F. JACOBSON
122
130
MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTHERN UTAH, 1866 EDITED BY C GREGORY C R A M P T O N
145
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS
162
NEWS AND COMMENTS
174
Capitol Reef National Monument is a part of the long line of Water pocket Fold that runs some 150 miles from Thousand Lake Mountain to the Colorado River on the south. Given its present name by A. H. Thompson of the Powell survey, Capitol Reef was viewed by the military reconnaissance party of 1866. UTAH TOURIST AND PUBLICITY COUNCIL PARKER HAMILTON
EDITOR ASSOCIATE E D I T O R ART EDITOR
Everett L. Cooley Margery W. Ward Roy J. Olsen
J A C K S O N , W. T U R R E N T I N E , Hill: Portrait of a Silver Mining
Treasure Camp,
BY W I L L I A M S. GREEVER
162
G R I V A S , T H E O D O R E , Military Governments in California, 1846-1850, with a chapter on their prior use in Louisiana, Florida and New Mexico,
BY ROLF W . ORDAL
162
R U T H , K E N T , Great Day in the West: Forts, Posts, and Rendezvous Beyond the Mississippi,
BY MERLE W E L L S
164
B A R S N E S S , L A R R Y , Gold Camp: Alder Gulch and Virginia City, Montana, BY M E R R I L L G. B U R L I N G A M E
165
P A I N E , L A U R A N , Tom Horn,
Man
of the West, BY CHARLES KELLY
BOOKS REVIEWED
L A V E N D E R , D A V I D , Westward The Story of the Oregon Trail,
166
Vision:
BY ALTON B. OVIATT
166
W O R C E S T E R , D O N A L D E., Fifty Years on the Trail: A True Story of Western Life. The Adventures of John Young Nelson as described to Harrington
O'Reilly,
BY KARL YOUNG
167
B E A L , M E R R I L L D., "I Will Fight No More Forever": Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War, BY P H I L I P C. S T U R G E S
168
A L L E N , T . D., Navahos Have Five
Fingers,
BY H . B. LIEBLER
168
P O R T E R , E L I O T , The Place No One Glen Canyon on the Colorado,
Knew:
BY C. GREGORY C R A M P T O N
169
F A B I A N , J O S E P H I N E C , The Jackson's Hole Story: An historical novel set in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming, BY I L E N E H . K I N G S B U R Y
171
R O B E R T S O N , F R A N K C , Fort Hall: Gateway to the Oregon Country, BY BRIGHAM D. M A D S E N
I S R A E L , F R E D L., Nevada's BY ORDE S. P I N C K N E Y
171
Key
Pittman, 172
Printed by Alphabet Printing & Typesetting Co., Salt Lake City
FLIMFLAM FRONTIER: Submarginal Land Development in Utah
BY C A R L T O N F . C U L M S E E
We invest the Frontier with robes of majesty. A leading interpreter of it terms it one of the "two grand themes of American history." Historians have analyzed it as a human tsunami rolling inexorably into the sunset. The mural painters have pictured it led by heroes many times lifesize, supermen in coonskin caps and fringed buckskins — giants in the earth with vision in their eyes. Without discrediting those images, may I mention a frontier figure ignored more often than his influence justifies? That person is the Promoter, the gentleman who sells golden dreams for a fast buck. He does not always make it but he tries. Captain John Smith's promotional effusions even survive in college literature anthologies. The Jamestown and Plymouth colonies, first in Anglo-America, were promotions by commercial companies. The salesman, the advertiser, the boomer who was touched with foresight of a splendid future, and the chap who was little better than a bunco artist — all these types helped roll the tide of empire toward the Pacific. So let us briefly examine some trends and techniques among frontier boomers. One striking fact is that these pioneers' slogans promised more as the lands became less promising. (There ought to be an economic law for this: the ardor of adjectives warms in inverse proportion to the attractiveness of the real estate being sold; or some such phrasing.) When the Promoter faced the problem of selling lands in the zone of chronic drought along the 98th meridian down the middle of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and on south, he became more than eloquent; he grew scriptural. The prairies had been "cleared of trees by the hand of God." There were no forests to fell and burn, no stumps to pull. (And precious little rainfall in the dry phase of the precipitation cycle fell on these lands.) Dr. Culmsee is the dean of the College of Humanities and Arts, U t a h State University Logan, Utah. "
92
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Now you know that this essay is about the Submarginal Frontier. Before you turn away, let me seize your lapel thus: activity on this Frontier has not been confined to the listless gestures of ne'er-do-wells, to the pitiful scrabbling of a few submarginal farmers. The wild lands actually settled on this Frontier since 1890, when the U.S. Office of the Census officially declared the Frontier at an end for all practical purposes, equal approximately the area of the Louisiana Purchase. Many people have poured fortunes into it. The losses in treasure, toil, hopes, and sanity on this Frontier are probably larger than those on the notoriously ruinous Mining Frontier. Since the 1870's, tens of thousands have thronged starry-eyed into the sub-humid West, to be repulsed after a year, a decade, or a generation. They were driven back by wind and drought or left beneath a sandy mound by their survivors. What is more, this Submarginal Frontier appears and disappears and reappears again in protean guises. Thus it is likely to be with us for a long time yet, as long perhaps as human ingenuity and the Promoter's cupidity persist. There is a reason why my enthusiasm for this subject has a wry note in it: I was a beneficiary and a victim of one of these land booms pumped up by the Promoter's rhetoric. Because of ill health, my father retired from medical practice in Iowa and Nebraska to live near Los Angeles. Almost as soon as we arrived in southern California in 1913, an imaginative band of "frontiersmen" seized him. The gimmick was this: they would let my father in on a discovery they had made, a Last Frontier so virginal that it had not even been violated by a surveyor. They would undertake to survey it with a "wagon-wheel" device so that father could choose a homestead in the most favorable spot before the area was officially surveyed and opened for settlement. For these services they would charge only $1.00 an acre. They would take him and mother to see this lovely secluded valley; if he picked his homestead and paid the fees, they would not even charge for the trip and entertainment. They plied father with folders filled with more fancy than fact. One I remember depicted a jovially beaming Uncle Sam proffering a rich farm to anyone who had the gumption to reach out and take it: a slab of deep black soil complete with a mansion embowered in trees, a big Dutch colonial barn, and flourishing fields of corn and wheat. So father and mother journeyed via the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad to the Escalante Valley in southern Utah with a select group of the gullible — men and women whose chief qualifications for subduing a desert were a pocketful of money and a headful of ignorance about deserts.
FLIMFLAM
FRONTIER
93
The "land-locating company" salesmen were fools for luck. That spring of 1913 fell in the wet phase of the cycle. After heavy winter snows and spring rains, the May air was cool and soft, the grass was tall and lush, and the flowers bloomed profusely. There were pools of water in the low places. Wild horses trotted down out of the hills to feast on the luxuriant vegetation and lend a note of authentic wilderness glamour. In the center of the valley were springs so hot you could boil eggs in them, and a log cabin bathhouse — a primitive spa with waters asserted to possess curative values. An aura of buried riches rose from nearby mines such as the legendary Hornsilver at Frisco.
THIOKOL CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Attempts at cultivation of the submarginal lands frequently met with failure. However, in this scene in Box Elder County, agriculture has given way to the production of missiles. In the background can be seen a portion of Thiokol's Wasatch Division Research and Development Plant.
Among the "prospects" junketing gaily to the Last Frontier were a few who had farming in their background, perhaps as boyhood experience. If such as these asked anything like searching questions of the salesmanguides, the latter answered that scientists of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station had removed the last obstacles to bonanza farming in that
94 Publicity to sell land took many forms. One method used by Utah was to advertise her agricultural resources at the many centennial expositions in which she participated after becoming a state. This brochure was one used in connection with the Panama Pacific Expositions in San Francisco and San Diego and is typical of the many others which were circulated at this time.
U T A H HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
Sfte L A S T C A L L To the G R E A T D E L T A PROJECT Delta, U t a h NATIONAL SAVINGS A N D T R U S T COMPANY Top Floor Walker Bank Building, Salt Lake City, Utah
region. Magical In the heart of n e w ways to raise Nearly a the Finest bounteous crops by Million and Richest dry farming methAlfalfa Seed Dollars ods h a d b e e n disRegion this already covered. T h e guides Country has spent at ever known. even passed around bottles filled w i t h Delta. Land that yields plump wheat kerFifteen 50 bushels of nels and p h o t o thousand Wheat to the graphs of fair fields acre; bumper acres under of g r a i n , a l f a l f a , crops of oats cultivation and sugar beets as and barley. evidence. As t h e surrey b u m p e d over the faint trails through the brush and grass, the guide might burst forth in song befitting the courage and joy in his robust pioneer's heart. His favorite ditty was a paraphrase of a currently popular ballad which went, "Everybody's doin' i t . . . Doin' what? . . . Dry-farmin' it!" Father a n d mother fell in love with the place. They chose a half-section (320 acres) by the railroad. Also they succumbed to the townsite speculation dodge which h a d reaped many a harvest of greenbacks on the High Plains and elsewhere in the past century. Here is the way it was operated on this occasion.
FLIMFLAM F R O N T I E R
95
While father and mother waited at Nada the night before their return to Los Angeles to get the family, they lay abed in t h e company's "hotel," the only other building besides the railroad section houses. The hotel was a shell of unpainted pine boards, t h e "rooms" divided off with calico partitions. Father and mother were privileged to hear a confidential conversation, low-voiced but not too low, through the calico curtains. One of the men dis*, Salt Lake City, will furnish pamphlet containing the Carey Act Law closed that he had and Regulations upon request. just learned of a deNATIONAL SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY cision to establish Top Floor Walker Bank Building, Salt Lake City, Utah a t o w n 10 miles south, at a sidetrack U T A H STATE ARCHIVES named Kerr. This was in a tract already surveyed, and he knew of a piece of "school land" which the owner was being forced by financial reverses to sell cheap. Anybody who bought it would be lucky — the speaker said in his stage whisper that he would buy it himself but he was already deep in debt for land in that same tract. The property would be in the heart of the city to be built there. Next morning father was beckoned aside and offered a chance at the Kerr land. He believed his Nada land would also be part of a townsite; so if he purchased the Kerr land he would have two strings to his bow; he would have property in two townsites within 10 miles of each other on
In an area to which the author's family was drawn in 1913, new efforts are being made once again to attract buyers, but agricultural pursuits are not stressed, instead desert living is given emphasis.
the railroad. H o w could he lose — a f t e r all, $10.00 a n acre! So he bought the 320 acres at Kerr. RICHARD E. GILLIES
T
i
r
,1
>„£„
L a t e r w h e n l a t h e r s lather took u p a homestead at Nada, and then I took u p one, too, we were rich in poor land. O u r resources were sunk in the Escalante soil, our future pledged to strenuous efforts to make the venture a success. But that was later. T o return to 1913, the spring rains stopped. Almost every afternoon fat, black clouds rose over Blue Mountain to the west of our ranch, lightning flared, and thunder muttered promises. Once in a while a veritable shower pelted us, but usually the clouds drifted aloofly over, giving us nothing but a temporary cooling shadow. Things dried up. Winds howled through that funnel where we lived between two broader reaches of valley. Dust and sand rose in clouds from the fields where the settlers h a d "railed" or grubbed off the brush and turned over land that h a d been "right side up in the first place." But if we h a d doubts, father and mother recalled stories of pioneer adversities in the Middle West — prairie fires and grasshopper raids, blizzards in winter, and, yes, even drought sometimes in summer! Father's health improved in that dry climate. In fact we all felt good. Although some homesteaders abandoned their land, others took their places, and cooperatively we kept u p our spirits by magnifying our meager successes with hardy crops. O u r family was more dogged t h a n most. We stayed on and on, to see several booms of different character rise and subside on the Submarginal Frontier. T h e Dry-farming Era was more or less successful during the wet phase of the cycle, and has, of course, continued to produce results in areas adapted to it. But our hopes died out completely in Escalante Valley when the really dry years, with only four or five inches of precipitation, came down upon us, windy and hot and thirsty. Next came the Pumping Era, sound in principle for limited areas, but inflated out of all proportion to its possibilities by the "fable of the under-
FLIMFLAM FRONTIER
97
ground lake." Promoters filled new prospects with this fairy tale and led them to semi-arid and arid valleys in many parts of the West. This was the usual story: land would be taken up, wells sunk, and pumps installed; crops usually were raised wherever sufficient water was applied. Sometimes the cost of fuel was prohibitive, and the venture was unprofitable. Sometimes too many wells were sunk, the water table dropped, and all farmers in that area suffered. T h a t "fable of the illimitable underground lake" is as persistent and impish as the dust devils that rise and whirl across the deserts. For more than a third of a century I have heard the tale — "the huge, inexhaustible lake underlying all this valley." I was astounded to read last spring in a Salt Lake newspaper an announcement attributed to an official who was quoted as declaring that a vast body of water underlies many parts of the state. This is what the second wave of settlers believed. It is a myth. Oh, some water percolates through sand and gravel down there, true. But the implications of a cavern measureless to m a n and brimming with water which will be ever renewed from some unfailing secret fount — this has no factual basis in our desert valleys. T h e water in those spaces among the sand and gravel particles is definitely limited and will always be limited by the precipitation that falls in that drainage basin. A certain number of wells can be p u m p e d ; beyond that number, the drilling and pumping threaten disaster. After several dry seasons, though pumping for irRICHARD E. GILLIES rigation h a d been given up in our area, the water t a b l e d e c l i n e d even in our culinary wells. Furthermore, the legendary u n d e r g r o u n d l a k e in some of our desert valleys is as waterless as any m i r a g e . M a n y of t h e areas are underlain, not with water-filled beds of sand and gravel, but with bedrock. The appeal to buyers is no longer concerned with ranching or farming, but instead emphasis is placed on fishing, scenery, and leisure.
98
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
T h e new epoch on the Submarginal Frontier parallels the rise of the city to dominance in American life. T h e Promoter now enjoys a real advantage over his older counterpart. Instead of attempting to disguise the desert, the Promoter urges upon city dwellers the delights of the desert. This phase received powerful stimulus from the success of desert resorts in Arizona, New Mexico, and California, for health, divorce, gambling, and other reasons in Nevada. Judging from advertisements in Esquire and other magazines, there must be hordes of people who long to leave the swarming anthills of cities, with exhaust fumes and smog and regulations governing almost every aspect of existence, for the pure dry air, salubrious sunshine, and freedom of the deserts. City children probably visualize themselves galloping over the barrens and shooting with gay abandon, like television "western" heroes. Although the newer promoters do not have to soft pedal the desert motif, but actually exploit it, they like to bolster the appeal of sand and sun with the promise of some other attractions. O n e advertisement locates the ranchos to be sold (these are available in sizes from one acre u p ) as "Just halfway between Colorful Albuquerque and Fabulous Hollywood." T h e signs one sees on parched, dusty tracts in the Escalante Desert (the word desert, indignantly denied a place in our family vocabulary for decades, appears proudly now on the Promoters' m a p s ) , and other choice areas of heat and drought show a fondness for such appellations as Paradise Acres and Happiness Hollow. Spanish phrases are still salable in the Southwest, as California real estate men found long ago. One piece of barren land is called Ranchos Felicidad. O n e of the appeals of the far deserts is the presumed safety from nuclear destruction in event of war. Some persons say they are buying desert lands in U t a h partly because they think they could escape to these havens if their California seaport cities are attacked. Unfortunately, the predilection of the military for locating their installations in forbidding and uncomfortable wastelands reduces the safety appeal. W h a t new motivation will loom large in public imagination to be seized by the promoter of the Submarginal Frontier, the future will disclose. But there may always be opportunities for the person quick of imagination and dwarfed of conscience to exploit. For the Submarginal Frontier has lured several waves of eager pioneers since 1862 and has hurled most of them back to make room for others.
Supply Hub of the West: DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN, 1941-1964 BY L E O N A R D J . A R R I N G T O N A N D T H O M A S G. A L E X A N D E R
It is difficult to overestimate the importance to the Utah economy of the federal defense installations constructed in the Beehive State during World War II. In the Ogden area alone the Army, Navy, and Air Force poured almost $100 million into permanent facilities, and the number of employees at these installations during the war was almost 52,000 persons — easily as many as in all of Utah's agriculture — 50 per cent more than in all of Utah's manufacturing at the time. The investment in such facilities in the Ogden area was more than twice the assessed valuation of Ogden for 1942 and more than one-half times the assessed valuation of Weber County. P E A K W A R T I M E E M P L O Y M E N T IN FEDERAL I N S T A L L A T I O N S I N T H E O G D E N A R E A ( S O U R C E : Historical records at each of the four installations.) Installation O g d e n Arsenal
Number _
_.
Employed 6,000
Defense D e p o t O g d e n ( U t a h G e n e r a l D e p o t )
12,000
Hill Air Force Base
21,780
Clearfield N a v a l Supply D e p o t
12,000
Total
51,780
Dr. Arrington is directing a project for U t a h State University involving the writing of the histories a n d economics of the federal defense installations in U t a h . Articles in this series are A°, T P r e v i o u s l s s u e s o f t h e Utah Historical Quarterly. An associate in the project, Thomas Alexander, is a candidate for the doctorate in history at the University of California, Berkeley All photographs in the article are courtesy Defense Depot Ogden, United States Army.
100
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
I n the process of converting the area into a major supply base for the Army (Ogden Arsenal and Defense Depot O g d e n ) , Air Force (Hill Field), and Navy (Clearfield Naval Supply D e p o t ) , the population doubled, service establishments were overwhelmed, and housing facilities were strained to the limit. 1 Largest of these facilities in terms of immediate investment and employment was the U t a h General Depot, now known as the Defense Depot Ogden. 2 T h e 23-year old military installation on Ogden's West Second Street received its eighth name, Defense Depot Ogden, on January 1, 1964. Colonel O m e r S. Dews, USA, was appointed commander. Under the new Defense Supply Agency policy, the installation will be staffed by representatives from all military services — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force — and will stock Defense Supply Agency materiel for military services in the western part of the world. Prior to January 1, 1964, the Depot operated under Army command and was known as the U t a h Army Depot, but has been phasing into the Defense Supply Agency mission for the past two years. Before 1962 the Depot was known as the U t a h General Depot. T H E F O U N D I N G OF T H E U T A H G E N E R A L D E P O T
Even though the appropriations to the United States Army were cut to the barest minimum in the early 1930's, its need for supply storage continued. I n search of a location to build a general warehousing depot, the Quartermaster Corps sent General E d m u n d B. Gregory, quartermaster construction chief, to inspect personally a site at Ogden. I n 1935 the chief of Field Service and Procurement designated Ogden as a city of strategic importance; and Major O r a Bundy, a former mayor of Ogden, was as1 O. N . Malmquist, "Major Military Construction Adds Importance to Ogden Area," Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday Magazine, July 4, 1943. 2 T h e basic source for the history of Defense Depot Ogden is the " U t a h General Depot Diary: 1930 to July 1, 1960," which is a day-by-day typewritten listing of events and activities of importance kept by the public information officer. This headline-type summary is supplemented by the "History of the Signal Supply Section, September 30, 1941-November 1, 1945"; and Aaron W. Tracy, "History of the U t a h Army Service Forces Depot, Ogden, U t a h . " O t h e r sources include: "Brochure of the Engineer Supply Section," prepared under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Angus (ca. 1952) ; "Summaries of Major Events and Problems," 1953-1962; "History of the U t a h General Depot J u n e 25, 1950 to December 31, 1952"; and various brochures published by the Depot and issues of The Minuteman, which is the U G D newspaper. All of these are in the Depot Public Information Office, as are a number of histories of individual sections, units, and divisions of the Depot. T h e authors are grateful for interviews with Miss Geraldine A. Utsman of the Public Information Office; Colonel Lyman P. Marden, post operations officer; and Mr. Ralph P. Richardson, deputy comptroller, all of U t a h General Depot. All information in the article is from these sources unless otherwise noted. T h e writers are also grateful to Mr. M. F. Burson, public affairs officer, for assisting with the up-dating of materials collected in 1962.
Aerial view of Defense Depot Ogden, two miles northwest of Ogden. The Depot comprises 1,681 acres of land and has an estimated replacement value of over $100 million.
signed to survey a possible site two miles west of Ogden, in the small farming community of Marriott. O n May 28, 1940, the House Military Affairs Committee approved the purchase of 3,000 acres of land "near Great Salt L a k e " for the storage of general supplies and equipment for 500,000 men. After appropriate reviews a n d appraisals by Army representatives, the W a r Department arranged in August 1940, for the purchase of approximately 1,600 acres. T h e land was part of the original right-of-way of the Central Pacific Railroad, which joined the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869 to form the first transcontinental railroad. T h e r e were several reasons for the Army choice of Ogden as the site for a general depot. Near the meeting point of the first transcontinental railway, Ogden was " T h e Junction City." Utah's second largest city, it sat astride both east-west and north-south railroad lines and was almost equidistant from the three major Pacific ports of embarkation, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Ogden was also served by four major transcontinental highways. Even more important than the geography,
102
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
however, were the human resources. Ogden and surrounding communities provided an excellent supply of skilled and semi-skilled labor. Although the land was priced at $409,632, Congress appropriated only $310,000. Recognizing that they must act quickly to obtain the base, the Ogden Chamber of Commerce and local citizens groups strove to obtain locally the $99,632 which the Army needed to complete the purchase. Within 48 hours, Ogden's leading citizens, "sparked" by Frank M. Browning, deposited $100,000 with Federal District Judge Tillman D. Johnson. The final purchase was not completed until 1943, because the farmers who lived on the land decided to contest the purchase.3 In the latter year a clear title to 1,679 acres of land was turned over to the secretary of war. As later events showed, it was fortunate that the clearing of the title did not stand in the way of the government, which, after condemning the land, began construction on December 16, 1940. The Army designated Colonel E. G. Thomas, already serving as area engineer, to command the Depot during construction; but after the War Department's building program in the Ogden-Salt Lake area became too great for Thomas to handle, Colonel William L. Mays, a former construction quartermaster from Fort Douglas, replaced him. Al Johnson and Leek Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, won the first contract of $1,705,000 to construct eight warehouses. Unlike the later Tooele Ordnance Depot, Utah General Depot was originally meant to be a permanent installation, and the warehouses, completed by September 20, 1941, were made with six-inch reinforced concrete floors, eight-inch brick walls, and steel-truss-constructed roofs. Among the construction problems was the encounter with surface water. In the north part of the reservation, a creek caused a permanent swampy area, and the water table was so high that the concrete floors became not only a sign of permanence, but an absolute necessity to keep the materials dry. Fortunately, a gravel bed on the western side of the reservation helped fill in many of the puddles, and subsequent drainage projects largely eliminated the water. In addition to the original cost of construction, the War Department permitted the Depot to rent a 1911-vintage locomotive which had been used in Bingham Canyon by the Utah Copper Company, freight cars owned by the Salt Lake and Garfield Railway, and seven passenger cars which had seen 40 years of service in New York's famous elevated railway.4 3 Many farmers whose land was condemned felt that they were dealt an injustice because of the low appraisal price of the land, and because Army officials insisted on locating the base on some of the choicest farming land in Weber County instead of on wasteland west of Ogden. As a result of this there were numerous lawsuits contesting the condemnation. 4 Tribune, M a r c h 28, September 5, 1943.
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
103
Electricity was purchased from U t a h Power and Light Company, natural gas from the Mountain Fuel Supply Company, and water from Ogden City. U t a h State University (then U t a h State Agricultural College) furnished 15,000 trees to help beautify the area. At the time of completion during World W a r I I , it was the largest quartermaster depot in the United States, a n d contained 45 miles of railroad, 57 miles of roadways, possessed more than 5 million square feet of warehouse space, and almost 13 million square feet of open storage space. ORGANIZATION OF U T A H G E N E R A L D E P O T
As a general depot, U t a h General Depot h a d representatives from many technical services, with a technical service commander in charge of each and the Depot commander serving as "landlord" of the entire project. 5 As O. N. Malmquist described it at the time, " W h a t the old-fashioned general store was to a civilian population which might suddenly call for anything from a needle to a threshing machine, the . . . [ U G D ] is to the army." 6 T h e Depot's first mission, as received on September 15, 1941, was to receive, store, maintain, and ship Quartermaster, Chemical, Signal, Medical, and Engineer corps supplies within the Western States and to prepare these supplies for shipment overseas through the West Coast ports of embarkation (principally Seattle and San Francisco). T h e Chemical Supply Section handled training ammunition, gas masks, and toxic chemicals; the Engineer Supply Section stored spare parts, heavy equipment, tools, and engineer supplies; the Quartermaster Supply Section h a d the responsibility for all clothing, bedding, and household goods, as well as special purpose machinery such as loading equipment; and the Medical Supply Section stored drugs and other medical supplies. With the addition of the Ordnance and Transportation Supply sections, U G D housed representatives of each of the Army's seven technical services. Even before the Japanese dropped the first bomb on Pearl Harbor, "Second Street," as the Depot was affectionately called, was ready to function. Having been already established, the U t a h General Depot was directed to expand to meet the challenges of the war. While the expansion of the Depot's physical plant produced no great problems, there was a strain on the local labor market because of the establishment and expan5 U.S., Department of the Army, J o h n D . Millett, United States Army in World War II: The Army Service Forces: The Organization and Role of the Army Service Forces (Washington D.C., 1954), 302. 6 "Army Has Record Stocks at O g d e n , " Tribune, J u n e 30, 1943.
104
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
sion of other bases and industries nearby. From 18 civilians on August 15, 1941, the labor force grew to over 6,000 by September of 1942. Each division originally recruited its own personnel, but in 1943 a Civilian Personnel Division was established for the entire Depot. In several cases, the Depot used U.S. Army labor battalions, and during 1941 and 1942, high school and college students helped fill the labor gap. Some of the students traveled as far as 160 miles on Saturday and Sunday to unload incoming cars which had accumulated during the week. During the summer of 1942, high school and college students worked full-time to replace the agricultural workers who left for their usual employment during the summer. When the Depot once again faced a labor shortage with the opening of school, a work battalion was imported from San Luis Obispo, California, until the local harvest was completed. In February 1943, the Depot reached its all-time peak civilian employment of 7,672 persons. A large share of these employees were women. While some found their niche in the usual female jobs of typist and receptionist, others were assigned such "masculine" employment as guarding warehouses. After intensive training in self-defense and in the use of the .45 calibre pistol, they performed yeoman service with German and Belgian shepherd dogs of the Army's K-9 Corps. That "the weaker sex" made excellent guards was confirmed by one arrogant male who, upon refusing to halt for identification, was forced to leap to the top of his car when the lady guard released her barking four-footed aide.7 One of the most successful of the worker recruitment programs was the Cache Valley "special labor project," in which over 600 high school and college students and teachers commuted on week ends to work at "Second Street." Headed first by Dean of Students Jack Croft, and later by Professors H. B. Hunsaker and Evan B. Murray, all of Utah State University, the project ran during the winters of 1942-43 and 1944-45 as an organized undertaking and during the winter of 1943-44 on an unorganized basis, as well as on a full-time basis each summer. Traveling at first by Oregon Short Line, and later in 16 Cache County school buses rented for the purpose, the workers, including an average of 20 coeds, commuted from Logan to Ogden each Saturday and Sunday. In January 1943 the project branched out into Box Elder County and southern Idaho. As organized crews, the students and teachers worked at such duties as loading and unloading box cars, making up shipments, and cleaning up for inspection, at a beginning wage of $.65 per hour, on a 10-hour shift. 7
Ibid., Sunday Magazine, February 6, 1944, June 6, 30, 1943.
*#iยง a
Mums^m^'m
Main entrance to the Utah General Depot, now called Defense Depot Ogden. Since classified materials are stored and repaired here, limited entrance is gained through permits issued at this gate.
Though most of the workers went home overnight, some stayed an extra shift and several groups traveled to Ogden for night shifts during the week. Barracks were provided for summer crews and for those remaining overnight. Not only did this work aid America's w a r effort, but many students and teachers found this a means of paying for further education. 8 SECTION ACTIVITIES D U R I N G W O R L D W A R I I
Quartermaster Section. Records indicate that the most important function of the Depot has been the receipt, storage, and shipping of quartermaster supplies. Early in the war, the Quartermaster Corps designated the Depot as the base for all items of clothing a n d general supplies for Utah, Nevada, and California. By July 1942 the Depot supplied all quartermaster items to the Army installations in Idaho, and the supply area was expanded shortly afterward to include Montana. I n 1944 Washington and Oregon were added to the list. By October 15, 1944, U t a h General Depot supplied all nonperishable subsistence items for all posts in Washington, Oregon, U t a h , Idaho, Montana, northern California, and northern Nevada. T o this ever expanding area, U G D supplied a varied assortment of goods. Steel helmets, rations, protective clothing, and animal transportation vehicles were sent to San Francisco port of embarkation for shipment overseas. Band instruments, winter clothing, utensils, field ranges, razor blades, tabulating machine forms, packing and crating materials, laundry 8 William Johnston, "Cache Valley Youths H e l p Keep Army Freight Rolling; Students Volunteer for H a r d Work," ibid., Sunday Magazine, J a n u a r y 24, 1943; also ibid., December 25, 1942, J a n u a r y 11, 1944, February 4, 1945. T h e writers also profited from an interview with Professor Evan B. Murray, head of the D e p a r t m e n t of Economics, U t a h State University.
106
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
and dry cleaning equipment, cabinets, storage cases, desks, and coffee were among the thousands of articles which left UGD for posts in the western United States. Even the relocated Japanese-Americans at Heart Mountain (near Cody), Wyoming; Topaz (near Delta), Utah; Hunt (near Rupert), Idaho; and Tule Lake and Manzanar, California, had UGD to thank for their supplies. Utah General Depot also stored and shipped lend-lease material for the Quartermaster Corps' International Division. So vast were the Quartermaster Section activities that in fiscal 1945, 32,407 freight cars were required to ship the 1,137,670 tons of supplies which it sent to the war front.9 The function of Quartermaster Supply was so important to the Depot that while UGD retained its mission as a general depot, its name was changed to Utah Quartermaster Depot in July of 1942. This designation lasted until May 1943, when the Depot was renamed Utah Army Service Forces Depot — the name by which it was known until after the end of World War II. As the war neared its close, the Quartermaster Supply Section supplied honorable discharge emblems, flags, and grave decorations to units overseas. In cooperation with the Medical Supply Section, Quartermaster Supply also sent several carloads of medical supplies to Japan to be used by the Red Cross in caring for American prisoners of war. Signal Supply Section. Early in the war, when there was general fear of Japanese bombing, the Signal Corps ordered 50 per cent of all signal supplies moved from San Francisco General Depot to the Signal Supply Section at Utah General Depot. The Signal Supply Section then became known as the "Ogden Signal Depot." At the time, UGD's warehouse and closed shed space was hopelessly inadequate, and no additional shelter was available. Thus, an estimated 1 million pounds of cable on reels "lay out in the open; crating materials piled up in the yard." 10 Between the fall of 1942 and October 1943, the Signal Supply Section also maintained a back-up repair shop for radio and electrical equipment. As the danger of an attack on the West Coast subsided, however, this mission was moved to Sacramento Signal Depot. Some of the items which the Signal Depot repaired included radio sets, telephone equipment, radio tubes, coils, electrical assemblies, fuses, switches, insulating material, wire communications apparatus, cypher devices, tools, and tool equipment. At the peak of the wartime activity, the Signal Section repaired between 6,000 and 10,000 items daily on six production lines. 9
Tribune, June 29, 1945. U.S., Department of the Army, George Raynor Thompson, et al., United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services, The Signal Corps: The Test, December 1941 to July 1943 (Washington, D.C., 1957), 179,515. 10
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
107
Even after UGD lost the back-up maintenance activity, the Ogden Signal Supply Section remained an important military activity. In the spring of 1944, the Army assigned UGD the responsibility of storing heavy power plant equipment and connected it by teletype with Philadelphia and Dayton to expedite the movement of Signal Supply materiel between the three important depots and overseas. As the war moved on toward a successful conclusion, and especially after VE Day in the summer of 1945, the Signal Supply Section became more active. A mission called the "Utah Project" began as the war shifted to the Pacific Theater. Utah General Depot was ordered to ship Signal Corps supplies on 24-hour notice. To prepare for this task, the section had to separate and crate over 30,000 items in sets designed for a specific number of men, and have them ready for overseas shipment. Late in 1945, the section sent more than 1,500 tons of materiel in less than two weeks in coded shipments to the ports of embarkation. Also with the end of the European war, airplanes had to be flown back from Europe for use in the United States and other theaters of operation. To expedite the return of these planes, the Army inaugurated "Operation Green Plan" under which the Signal Corps ordered UGD to assemble radio towers and plant equipment for shipment to North Atlantic posts so the planes could fly back on radio beams. With the help of German prisoners of war and Italian Service Units, personnel of the Depot worked day and night and shipped 140,000 pounds of radio towers and equipment in three days. Chemical Supply Section. This section was responsible for renovating protective clothing until May 1942, when it received orders to ship the renovated equipment overseas. After the section lost this mission, its main function was shipping Chemical Corps supplies to the West Coast ports of embarkation. The Chemical Supply Section was "well supplied" with toxic gas, stored flamethrowers, and other chemical weapons.11 Ordnance Supply Section. After August 1942 the Army transferred motor transportation repair functions from Quartermaster Corps to Ordnance Supply. One of the major problems the Ordnance Supply Section encountered was in the manufacture of boxes. After working on the problem for a long time the Ordnance Section developed an assembly-line technique so that it could produce as many as 576 boxes per day with a total weight of 136,434 pounds. In December 1944, the Army deactivated the section and transferred its functions to other depots. 11
Tribune, November 28, 1943.
108
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Ordnance Supply Section was not the only section which h a d problems with its boxes. By February of 1944 the volume of business done by the Signal Supply Section necessitated the use of an average of 21,000 boxes every three months. T h e volume of business became so great that Signal Supply Section contracted with Wickes Engineering and Construction Agency of Camden, New Jersey, to set up a plant in Logan where its supplies could be packed. T h e U t a h State University Field House was the focus of this activity, which involved the employment of several dozen persons, primarily women. This arrangement worked well as long as the materiel did not have to be shipped overseas; but as soon as overseas shipment was ordered, the system proved inadequate. This packing, not designed for rigorous conditions and delicate electrical items, deteriorated through the growth of fungus, corrosion of parts, and breaking of subassemblies. After a few such experiences, U G D sent its own employees to the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, to take courses in packing. Transportation Supply Section. Because the Depot had to ship this materiel all over the West and to the ports of embarkation, rolling stock h a d to be kept in good order. This function was assigned to the Transportation Supply Section, activated in June 1942. Besides a locomotive repair shop with trained mechanics, the section assembled tanks, artillery pieces, and other vehicles for long-term storage. Almost $16 million in tools were received by the Depot at the time of the activation of the section — enough to supply two armies. These were segregated into sets and shipped overseas. Machine Records and Training. Until 1942 the programming of supply and shipping orders and the maintenance of stock records were done by hand — a slow and often inaccurate method. Later, the Depot sent personnel to an International Business Machines school in Salt Lake City, and inaugurated mechanical accounting and posting techniques.
DEFENSE DEPOT O G D E N
109
Using this mechanical process, the Machine Records Division was eventually able to process as many as 300,000 detail cards per month. U t a h General Depot also served as the site for several training schools held by the Army during the war. I n 1942 and 1943, for instance, the Depot hosted an institute for troops already in the service who received advance training in warehousing, shipping, packing, and loading of supplies. T h e base organized the "Advanced School for Storage Officers," to train qualified officers for such key positions as quartermaster storage officer and director of storage. Several of the conferences and post-graduate schools were attended by general officers of the Army. 12 O T H E R W O R L D W A R I I ACTIVITIES
Like the Colossus of Rhodes, U t a h General Depot lay astride the major transcontinental transportation routes, and just as the Rhodians formed an important link in the supply activities of the ancient world, U t a h General Depot formed a link in the chain of supply which eventually won the second World W a r for the United States. As early as December 1941, the Engineer Supply Section alone handled 4,848 tons of materiel. I n May 1945 the Depot as a whole received 37,749 tons of supplies and shipped 20,169 tons. This volume of business represented more than the combined activity of Ogden Arsenal, Hill Field, and the Naval Supply Depot at Clearfield. Throughout July 1943, for example, the Depot handled about 200 carloads of materiel per day. In August 1945 the Lessthan-carload-lots Branch alone handled 1 million pounds of materiel per day. T h e Depot did not, of course, confine itself to supply services for the Armed Forces, other government agencies, and foreign governments. It also rendered a valuable service by maintaining facilities for the internment of prisoners of war. In October 1942 the Army authorized U G D to ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
S '• |(||> ' • * # , mmmtt *>*mmmmm
"Ibid., October 2, 4, 1942, March 6, December 16, 19, 1943, February 15, M a r c h 26, 1944; and U.S., D e p a r t m e n t of the Army, Erna Risch and Chester L. Kieffer, United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services, The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services (Washington, D.C., 1955), I I , 276.
Concrete storage warehouse at Defense Depot. The Depot has 6,189,000 square feet of covered storage space, consisting of 69 storage buildings. Largest of these warehouses, constructed of concrete, is 280,000 square feet, or six and one-half acres of storage space under one roof.
110
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
build a POW camp. The facility, built by James J. Barnes Construction Company, accommodated eight companies of 250 men each. After being deloused, disinfected, fumigated, bathed, registered, clothed, quartered, and given a physical examination, the first group of 1,030 Italian prisoners entered the compound on April 9, 1943. A subsequent contingent arrived on May 10, 1943.13 These prisoners were used at the Depot for various jobs until April 1944 when Italy surrendered and their status as POWs changed. The United States Army, in conjunction with Italian officers, formed an Italian Service Unit (ISU) to perform the tasks formerly performed by the POWs and, in association with German POWs who came in 1944, to perform other tasks which needed to be done. Wrhen the Italian officers came to UGD to recruit for the ISU, many of the soldiers were hostile. Some of them threw rocks at the officers, considering them traitors to their country. Whether they were angry at the officers for having conducted the unpopular and unsuccessful campaign in North Africa, or for present support of the Allies, is not clear. One of the Italian colonels was hit behind the ear, and several of the others suffered minor damage to their persons and pride. Of the 4,000 Italian prisoners at UGD, 2,700 or about two-thirds signed up for the Service Unit. After they signed with the ISU, the POWs believed their status would change. The action of the War Department in authorizing the formation of such units was interpreted as a sign that the recruits would receive concessions which ordinary prisoners could not expect. When they found that they would not be allowed to go to town on leaves, they called a strike. When the colonel in command of the compound unsuccessfully tried to get them to return to work, he was relieved of his command. Finally, the new commanding officer made the concession of allowing a company of ISU to go to the canyon each week end for a picnic and instituted a heavy athletic program to burn off some of the excess energy. The POWs and ISUs at the Depot formed an indispensable adjunct to the civilian and military labor force. In May 1945, for example, there were approximately 5,000 POWs and ISUs employed at Utah General Depot, as against 4,000 American civilians. Many were engaged in clerical and office work; others were trained to work as messengers, draftsmen, and in other skilled positions. Groups of POWs broke down and assembled shipments, loaded and unloaded freight cars, and cleaned up around 13 O . N. Malmquist, "Italian Prisoners Fare Well at C a m p Near Ogden," Tribune, July 17, 1943. Malmquist wrote: " T h e U t a h depot is the only one in the country which has a prison camp attached. Officers there regard it as an experiment in easing the manpower shortage through utilization of war prisoners."
DEFENSE D E P O T OGDEN
111
the installation. They repaired and rehabilitated shoes, dishes, canteens, and field stoves, and salvaged scrap metal and lumber. In the first six months of 1945, 90 POWs under the supervision of five civilians salvaged enough scrap lumber and metal to save the government $56,000. In addition to their work for the Depot, members of the ISU worked as field hands for private citizens. In resorting to this procedure to meet the shortage of labor, the government required local farmers to pay a daily wage to the U.S. Treasury for each worker employed.14 POWs were distinguished from United States servicemen by their clothing, which was dyed blue in a special plant established by the Depot. The same plant dyed all POW clothing for the camps in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho. The ISU were returned to Italy in January 1946; all German POWs had been returned by June 1946. A few of these later returned to Utah as immigrants determined to spend their life in America. Unlike prisoners of war and the work battalions, civilian employees could not be forced to work. To help provide incentives for the employees, the Depot instituted an employee suggestion program. This system served the dual purpose of raising morale and saving the government thousands of dollars for a small investment in prize money. One employee in the Ordnance Supply Section saved the government a great amount of time and money by suggesting a jig which the section used as a guide for dunnage in loading vehicles on railway cars. The Depot also carried on an extensive sports program and sponsored concerts by a Depot band. As the number of employees grew, the number of letters and checks flooded the downtown banks and post offices to such an extent that the employees created traffic jams on payday. After operating a check cashing concern in conjunction with the Commercial Security Bank on the tenth and twenty-fifth days of each month, the First Security Corporation opened a branch bank at the base in March 1943, and about the same time the post office opened a unit at the base. The Depot also provided emergency medical and dental service by establishing a dispensary. The Depot with its large labor force required safety and security precautions. The Intelligence Section conducted personnel investigations on every employee and investigated pilfering and subversive activities. With all the materiel in storage, the Depot had to establish its own fire department with three stations and six mobile pieces of equipment. This proved to be a wise precaution when in August 1943 one of the employees, "appar14
Tribune, May 13, August 5, 1945.
112
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
ently out of curiosity," struck a military lighter from a shipment of lighters he was handling and a spark fell in a pile of oakum. Even with the available foamite fire extinguishers, the employees could not put out the fire, and the damage to the supplies and warehouse amounted to about $1.5 million. With the expansion of missions, the facilities were also expanded. W h e r e there h a d been originally only eight warehouses and seven sheds, by the end of the war there were 28 large warehouses and 19 sheds. U G D possessed one of the two large, heavy equipment overhaul shops in the nation and repaired all Army lifts, cranes, and other heavy equipment west of the Mississippi River. T h e adjutant general's depot for all states west of the Mississippi was located at Second Street, and the Depot handled the printing and distribution of all Army publications for the Western States, Pacific bases, and Far East — roughly one-half the globe. 15 T h e largest supply house installation in U t a h , U G D h a d grown into an indispensable and permanent link in the Army's supply system. AFTER WORLD W A R II
After the surrender of Germany in M a y 1945, the activities of U G D increased rapidly. Records which h a d heretofore been considered phenomenal were shattered a n d still greater goals were set. And while J a p a n accepted the Allied surrender terms on August 14, U G D ' s task was far from ended. Beginning immediately after the war, great amounts of tanks, guns, clothing, and other materiel poured back through the ports of embarkation ; and shipments designated for overseas use were rerouted for storage or salvage. Signal Supply Section, for instance, had just over $4 million in surplus materiel on July 31, 1945, but by September 30, it had accumulated almost $14 million worth. T h e volume of this returned materiel became so great that the Depot was forced to build emergency storage areas using huge mats which h a d formerly served as emergency landing strips for U.S. fighter planes. Indeed, it was necessary to activate a Disposal Branch to dispose of as much surplus materiel as possible on the civilian market. This task was assigned, in M a r c h 1946, to the George A. Fuller Company, with offices in the U t a h O r d n a n c e Plant (Remington Arms) in Salt Lake City. U t a h General Depot received the additional mission of returning the bodies of dead servicemen to relatives for burial in the states. In 1946 the 15
Deseret News (Salt Lake C i t y ) , December 14, 1946.
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
113
Army Graves Registration Division ( A G R D ) chose U G D as a distribution center for southern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Housed in remodeled barracks, A G R D personnel had the task of instructing local funeral directors in proper procedures for the final burial of the servicemen's remains. I n keeping with the postwar retrenchment program, the Army required U G D to cutback its personnel strength. This began in the fall of 1945, and was required in every section and division. As personnel quotas were cut, U G D ' s regional mission was trimmed to include Utah, Idaho, Montana, northern Nevada, northern California, and some posts in Washington and Oregon. At the same time U G D was ordered to store nonperishable subsistence items, clothing, packing and crating materials, petroleum handling equipment, laundry and dry cleaning supplies, materials handling equipment, memorial supplies, shoe repair supplies, canvas, I B M forms, and enemy equipment. In addition to these supply functions, U G D was instructed to perform back-up maintenance on general supply items and special purpose vehicles; to repair engineer supplies, especially construction machines; and the Signal Supply Section was ordered to receive and store telephones, plant equipment, and other small items. In J u n e 1946 U G D was designated as a satellite depot of Stockton General Depot in California. In May 1947 the Depot was renamed U t a h General Depot, and its functions were expanded to include the duties formerly performed by the Quartermaster Supply Section at Stockton General Depot. Thus, U G D was assigned control over all the stocks in the entire Sixth Army area, plus Colorado and Wyoming, as well as the supply of items requested by San Francisco and Seattle ports of embarkation. Nevertheless, during the entire year of 1949, U G D handled about 32,041 tons of quartermaster supplies, which was only an average month's business in the summer of 1945. T H E KOREAN WAR
With the outbreak of the Korean War, the activities at U G D increased rapidly. I n 1950 the Quartermaster Supply Section, for example, handled 125,093 tons of material — almost a three-fold increase over the previous year. Receipts and shipments of other sections jumped proportionately. Peak shipping activity came in 1953 when the Depot shipped 37,000 tons per month, an amount greater than the heaviest shipping done in World W a r I I . Employment increased from 2,774 civilians, in J u n e 1950, to 3,919 by September of the same year. There were 4,282 civilian employees in February 1951.
114
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
This expansion was undoubtedly a result of UGD's location in the western part of the country. The general flow of supplies during the Korean War was, of necessity, from east to west. Thus, the normal expenditures, together with the expanded payroll and new construction, increased the impact of UGD upon the economy of Utah. In fiscal 1952 UGD spent $9,225,853 on Depot operations, equipment, transportation, and contracts, most of it in Utah. Additional sums were expended on new facilities and the renovating of old ones. Korean War construction included a new engineer maintenance shed, 53-unit Harrisville Heights housing project costing $1.5 million, four warehouses and one shed constructed at a cost of $6,395,700, and $381,970 for a warehouse to store flammable materiel. The growth in employment permitted a mounting volume of production. In 1951 the Engineer, Signal, and Quartermaster maintenance divisions repaired a total of $23,882,673 worth of materiel at a cost of $5,843,507. This included repair of heavy construction equipment, generating units, fire trucks, and refrigeration equipment in the Engineer Section ; cranes, forklif ts, towing motors, and kitchen equipment in the Quartermaster Section; and power units and field radios in the Signal Section. One of the jobs given to the Quartermaster Supply Section was the modification of 223,000 parkas in July 1950. When the newly arrived parkas proved to be different from the samples previously furnished, Depot officials requested the assistance of employees of the local Welfare Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Depot officials were pleased when the church unit finished a ripping contract in less than five days which was expected to require at least 15 days. Although the Depot's mission remained essentially one of receiving, storing, and shipping supplies and equipment in the Sixth Army area, UGD was assigned the responsibility, in 1952, of controlling the stocks at Auburn (Washington) andSharpe (California) General depots and Mira Loma (California) Quartermaster Depot. The Depot now concentrated on shipping supplies to the forces in Korea. An additional new activity was made possible in 1950 when a Defense Printing Plant was opened to print material for the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the area. By 1952 the dollar value of the printing for these units totaled $336,000. As during World War II, the Depot also assisted in training military personnel for the Korean campaign. Particularly important was the "Refresher Training Program" for reserve officers recalled to active duty. Officers heard lectures on stock control, civilian personnel management prin-
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
115
ciples, cost accounting, safety, security, work measurement, and storage techniques, and also received field and on-the-job training. The 58th Quartermaster Depot Unit, which was assigned to UGD from 1950 to 1954 to supervise the training of military and civilian personnel, received an additional assignment when, in January 1953, a plane loaded with 40 servicemen returning from Korea crashed about seven miles from Fish Haven, Idaho. With the aid of a snowmobile developed at Utah State University and supplies obtained from UGD, the 58th moved into the area, established a base on the mountainside, and guarded the wreckage until the snow melted five months later. In an attempt to reduce the paperwork required in stock status reporting, UGD was chosen, in the spring of 1951, as the test site to establish a new method of commercial procurement for low-unit-value items. The test program, which was an adaptation of the merchandising concepts used in private industry, consisted of three phases. The first substituted "flexible line item documents" prepared by a photographic process for the regular shipping documents. Using this method, the Supply Section reported the stock status after shipment was completed, rather than during shipping as had been the case before. The second phase of the test consisted of instituting a simplified manual record-keeping procedure. Early construction at Defense Depot Ogden. In addition to covered storage space the Depot has 563,500 square feet of shop facilities, 28,000 square feet for care and preservation operations, and open storage areas totaling 19,131,000 square feet.
•
»::••
...
•
" . . .
.
116
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
I n the third phase the quartermaster supply officer began to function as sort of a company president with the responsibility for all supply actions including maintaining supply levels and replacing depleted stocks. When the Depot completed the test in J u n e 1953, the entire Army depot system adopted the new procedure. U G D also established performance standards, cost accounting, and work measurement programs to establish standards for each operation and a subsequent follow-up to determine the effectiveness of the operations. By using graphs and pictures to explain the progress at the Depot, the various sections developed more efficient methods for performing such operations as loading and unloading trucks, refinishing table tops, and loading refrigerator cars. Through these performance standards and a general cost consciousness program, it is estimated that almost $2 million were saved between July 1, 1951, and December 31,1952. T h e Depot also instituted a stepped-up accident prevention program. I n 1951 the Depot received the Quartermaster Corps Award of Merit for superior accomplishment in safety and accident prevention. By continuing the program the Depot received, in 1957, the Quartermaster General Golden Eagle for working 1 million man-hours without an accident. SINCE T H E KOREAN W A R
T h e Korean conflict ended in July 1953. T h e cost of the conflict to the United States had been over 136,000 men killed or wounded and over $18 billion in supplies, equipment, and labor. T h e 4,282 employees of U G D in February 1951 dwindled to only 2,362 by 1954, and 2,069 in 1956, as nearly all activities at the Depot underwent a reduction in personnel. Even with the cut in employment, however, the payroll still amounted to almost $10 million in 1955. By 1958 the Army h a d frozen employment levels, and any new employment required prior approval from the quartermaster general. During 1959, the average employment stood at about 2,066, and since that time it has varied between 2,000 and 3,000. Shipments to and from the Depot declined from 37,000 tons per month in 1953, to 22,700 tons in 1954. By J u n e 1959 the total volume had dropped to 12,362 tons, and in M a y 1961 the Depot handled only 9,946 tons of materiel. Despite the decrease in personnel, the Depot has found it necessary to award about $2 million a year in contracts for new construction and for repair of existing facilities. By 1954 the Depot h a d completed construction of six new warehouses, thus increasing the available storage capacity
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
117
by 28 per cent; and awarded over $250,000 in contracts for modernizing the dispensary, remodeling the railroad yard office and roundhouse, paving streets, repairing the electrical system, painting buildings, insulating and reroofing buildings, and air conditioning Depot buildings. In 1956 it was estimated that the replacement cost of the improvements on the Depot was $82,272,300. The value of the inventory was placed at $4,800,486 in supplies. Total operating costs at the Depot are now in excess of $ 1 million per year. EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS OF D E F E N S E DEPOT OGDEN, 1942-1963 ( S O U R C E : D a t a furnished by comptroller, Defense Depot Ogden. D a t a for 1961, 1962, and 1963 includes the Army Support Center and Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service Center, which is located on the base.) Year
Civilian
1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 (1) 1947 1950 (2) 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958
Military
5,500e 7,672
n.a. n.a.
4,000e 3,615 2,955 2,794 3,858 3,976 2,362 2,308 2,218 2,069 1,966 2,243
1959 I960 1961 1962 1963 n.a. e= c= (1) (2)
-
Total Employed
Total
Payroll
n.a. 305 63 56 137 225 150e 54e n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
6,000 7,672c 12,000e n.a. 3,920 3,018 2,850 3,995 4,201 2,512 2,362e 2,218c 2,069c 1,966c 2,243c
n.a. n.a. $10,248,808e n.a. 8,111,716c 7,689,751c 8,850,068 13,550,841 14,238,283 13,594,264 9,658,508c 9,712,439c 9,563,704ce 9,566,255c 11,434,779c
2,066 1,986 2,974
n.a. n.a. 59
2,066c 1,986c 3,033
11,482,920c 11,304,443c 16,304,194
2,947 2,989
48 50
2,995 3,039
16,300,000e 16,561,578
= not available estimate civilian only Military includes 137 U.S. military personnel and an average of 168 prisoners of war. Fiscal year 1949-50.
Because Utah General Depot's operations are not "classified," there has never existed a tendency for UGD to separate itself from the community as has been true with the "secret" operations at some other Utah
118
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
facilities. The size and nature of its contracts and purchases have been publicized, and UGD has participated in the community chest, bond drives, blood donation programs, and Pioneer Day celebrations. In August 1956, when the Weber County ambulance was out on an accident call, UGD dispatched an ambulance to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Huntsville, a small community in Ogden Valley, to transport a seriously ill priest to the hospital. As another public service, the Depot sends some 20 officers each year to the Weber State College High School Debate Tournament to act as judges of the more than 1,100 high school debaters from Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. UGD plays host to numerous business groups, governmental visitors, and private citizens from the United States and foreign countries. Recent activities at the UGD include the dedication, in February 1957, of the service center of the Internal Revenue Service; printing all the work of the Air Force (decided in 1954) at the UGD Defense Printing Service; and the training of personnel in Depot operations. The Depot has retained its Quartermaster, Engineer, Signal, Chemical, and Transportation Supply sections, as well as its surplus and salvage activities. During fiscal 1958, Auburn (Washington) General Depot came under command of UGD and was redesignated Auburn Depot Activity. The Auburn Depot was phased-out in 1960, and the Washington and Oregon area was assigned to the Utah General Depot. A consolidation program, undertaken by the Quartermaster Corps in April 1954, made UGD responsible for all quartermaster depots in the 10 Western States, from Colorado to the West Coast (except New Mexico) , and the Alaskan, Pacific, and Far Western commands. In September of 1955 UGD received the mission of storing repair parts for all the area west of the Mississippi River. Three years later UGD was assigned the mission of supplying all clothing and textiles for the entire Armed Forces in the western United States. In 1960 UGD began modification of parachute and air delivery equipment. At the same time some of UGD's missions were transferred to other depots. In January 1956 the Army transferred the record-keeping function for all quartermaster material to Richmond Quartermaster Depot Inventory Control Center, thus causing a cutback in personnel in the UGD Machine Accounting Division. In February 1958 the regional procurement mission was transferred to Sharpe General Depot. The transfer of these missions has not altered UGD's status as a strategic link in the Armed Forces quartermaster system.
Defense Depot Ogden changed its name for the eighth time January 1, 1964. Prior to this time, the installation operated under Army command and was known as the Utah Army Depot. Before 1962, the Depot operated under the name of Utah General Depot.
Since the Korean War the Engineer Supply Section has continued to receive, repair, and ship all types of engineer equipment, from cranes to bulldozers. It has facilities for taking almost any piece of worn-out machinery, determining what services are required to put it back into firstclass shape, perform them, then ship the machinery back into useful service with the Corps of Engineers. In 1953 the Army Industrial Fund was established under which UGD bid on projects like a private corporation — without, of course, expecting to make a profit. For example, the Depot successfully contracted to rebuild a substantial quantity of Westinghouse "Turnadozers," and performed field maintenance on all vehicles of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In May 1956 the Army assigned the Engineer Section the mission of storing, maintaining, and issuing all fast mov-
120
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
ing engineer repair parts for the F a r East, Alaskan, and Sixth Army commands. T h e Signal Supply Section has continued to repair such items as high compression heads on power units, submarine cable reels, and radios. T h e Chemical Supply Section, whose primary mission is the storage and supply of toxics, irritants, smoke weapons, and commercial chemicals for troops in the Western States and overseas through San Francisco, has modified and repaired many thousands of portable flamethrowers and other equipment. O n February 1, 1955, with the closing of Ogden Arsenal, the Ogden Transportation Depot Maintenance Shop was transferred to the Transportation Supply Section where, with the help of about 150 employees, the section rebuilds locomotives, locomotive cranes, and all types of rolling stock for the Army and Air Force west of the Mississippi. Between 1955 and 1958, the section carried on a program of long-range storage cocooning of railway rolling stock. W h e n the Air Force decided to begin its railway Minuteman program in 1960, the Transportation Supply Section was designated to build and maintain the test train. I n 1961 the Depot built R a d a r Bomb Scoring (RBS) Trains for the Air Force to be used in training bomber crews to find r a d a r j a m m i n g targets and train crews to get away from bombers with radar searching devices. T h e Depot also accepted a contract with Thiokol Chemical Corporation to design and construct flat cars for the shipment of ammonium perchlorate for missiles. T h e yearly proceeds of the Salvage Branch from the sale of surplus and obsolete material have averaged between $1 and $1.5 million, in addition to surplus materiel turned over to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Boy and Girl Scouts. In fiscal 1958, for example, the Depot sold $10,576,877 worth of surplus stock for $1,274,224, and donated $ 1,481,070 worth to public service agencies. O t h e r interesting activities include the inspection of meat and other food products consumed by U.S. Army personnel and the maintenance of a game preserve in conjunction with the U t a h State Fish and Game Commission. Ring-necked, golden, white, and speckled pheasants, which breed in profusion on the Depot, are trapped and taken to restock natural game areas. U G D has planted six acres of wheat as winter feed a n d cover for the pheasants. • FUTURE PROSPECTS --...,. Defense Depot Ogden (still called "Second Street" by most Ogden residents) continues to remain one of the largest supply-type depots in the
DEFENSE DEPOT OGDEN
121
United States. It has 6,189,000 square feet of covered storage space available in 69 warehouses of various types. The largest of these warehouses constructed of concrete offers 280,000 square feet, or six and one-half acres, of storage space under one roof. There are 610,000 square feet of hardstand for open storage and 8,521,000 square feet of graded and drained area for possible future use. The installation has 563,500 square feet of modern shop facilities and 28,000 square feet for the care and preservation operations. An 800-car rail-marshaling yard ties into a network of 45 miles of railroad which services the various warehouses and is spurred into Ogden's terminal. There are some 46 miles of paved streets which allow motor access to the warehouse area and all parts of the installation. Total replacement value of the installation at the present time is estimated at over $100 million. It was originally constructed for $56 million. Generally stated, the mission of the Defense Depot Ogden is the efficient and economical operation, administration, service, and supply of individuals, units, activities, and missions assigned and attached. Specifically, the Depot is charged with the receipt, storage, and issue of Defense Supply Agency supplies to Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force posts, camps, and stations in the western part of the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and overseas in the Pacific and Far East. The mission includes the training of military units and individuals in the Military Reserve program and the providing of administrative and logistical support to the following attached activities: Defense Logistics Service Center, Regional Office Number 4; Defense Surplus Sales Office; Department of Defense Household Goods Field Office; U.S. Army Support Center; and Chemical, Biological and Radiological Regional Maintenance Office. The Depot also provides support to a tenant activity, the Regional Service Center, Internal Revenue Service. Since its opening in 1941, the Depot has shipped over 165 million tons of supplies to every part of the world, and this figure is mounting daily. At the present time approximately 50 military personnel and some 3,000 employees (including the IRS and attached activities) are employed at the installation. It is anticipated that when full DSA operations are underway, there will be over 3,500 persons employed at the Defense Depot Ogden.
FREIGHTING ON THE COLORADO RIVER: Reminiscenses of
VIRGIL FAY BALDWIN B Y BARBARA B A L D W I N E K K E R
The Colorado River has been of interest to numerous persons for years, but for five years it was part of my daily life. It all began in 1924. The Mid-West Exploration Company sent their geologist, Mr. H. A. Aurand, to study the geology of the country and to find a location for drilling a well on the Colorado River downstream from Moab, Utah. The Moab Garage Company had several boats. One called The Pumpkin Seed, so named because of its shape, was 20 feet long with an Evinrude four-horsepower outboard motor. The Black Boat, 20 feet in length with a 41/2 -foot beam, was powered by a Ford automobile engine. The company also owned a 27 footer with a 6-foot beam and equipped with a Chandler motor, an 18-foot motorboat, and several rowboats and canoes powered with outboard motors. These boats were hired by Aurand and operated by myself and my brothers, Clarence and Dennis Baldwin of the Moab Garage Company. Aurand made several trips up and down the river during that year collecting data. Finally, a location was made on the John L. Shafer Dome, 18 miles downstream from Moab, where the formation dipped quite abruptly. Mrs. Ekker, of Hanksville, U t a h , is the daughter of Virgil F. Baldwin, part-owner of the Moab Garage and Transportation Company from 1921-1933. Mr. Baldwin dictated his reminiscences, with the aid of a brief diary he had kept, to his daughter in 1960, shortly before his death. T h e following account covers the period from 1924-1929.
BARBARA B . E K K E R
In the period when this photograph was taken the river was used as a means of transportation and freighting. Today pleasure seekers run this same stretch of Colorado River (approximately 24 miles above its confluence with the Green River).
The first of January 1925, the Mid-West Company offered the Moab Garage a contract to move 200 tons of drilling equipment from the railroad station at Thompson, a Denver & Rio Grande railhead 38 miles north of Moab. This equipment was to be hauled from Thompson to Moab by truck and then by boat to the well on the river. This posed a problem as a larger boat than the Moab Garage owned was needed to do this hauling job. Many ideas were discussed, and finally a paddle-wheel boat or barge seemed most feasible for we knew that the river was quite shallow in low water — at times less than two feet in places. So plans were drawn to construct a boat with shallow draft. At a cost of nearly $7,000, a large scow was built. It measured 75 feet in length and 16 feet in width. It had a depth of three feet with a 40-horsepower automobile engine and an eight-foot paddle wheel. It had a draft of four inches when empty and 12 inches when loaded with 12 tons of freight. It was provided with a capstan and a 500-foot steel line for pulling it off sand bars. It took all of January 1925 to build this barge, while the river was frozen over. This made it possible to use a sled and a team to haul lumber to the location to build bunk houses and other necessary buildings.
124
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Late in the month the usual thaw came and softened the ice. The change in the weather made it unsafe to haul any more material by sled. But it was not until March 2, 1925, that the barge was launched and the finishing touches were made for its first trip with Clarence Baldwin at the helm. Dennis Baldwin and Bob Clark, members of the Moab Garage Company, accompanied him on the maiden voyage. I was ahead of the barge in one of the smaller boats trying to find the deepest channel, but I hit a shallow place and got stuck on a sand bar which delayed us more than an hour. We completed the trip to the location without further incident and unloaded the barge by hand. This hand labor proved a need for a power hoist which was installed later. Starting back upstream without any load caused the front end to project out of the water and the stern to settle too deep for the wheel to operate properly. So we found a rocky bank and took on a load of boulders to hold the bow down in the water. We were in sight of home port when one drive chain broke and went into the river and was lost. We were very fortunate to have an extra one aboard. During the confusion we began to drift downstream, and then discovered that during the building we had forgotten an anchor. However, we had plenty of rope which we tied to boulders and threw overboard until we got the craft stopped. After installation of a new chain, we returned to Moab. The next day we spent in making adjustments such as raising the paddle wheel, building a trough under the drive chains to keep them out of the water if they broke again, and most necessary—installing an anchor. But on another trip our self-devised anchor failed, and so we had to order a regulation anchor from San Francisco. We made trips almost daily for the next week. On the ninth trip we got stuck on a sand bar and took two days to make a round trip. After this experience my brother, Clarence, said he had enough, and I became the master. Passengers and oil crew workers on board the barge. Note the bed rolls and the camp stove. BARBARA B. E K K E R -..•'...:
! - :
,'
'•"•.
:.;••
":•••
. . .
:.; ;
.
« « . * ;
.
'
*
".;.;
'
BARBARA B . E K K E R
Equipment being transported by boat to the oil wells which were being drilled on the Colorado River in 1927.
At the outset the barge made three round trips in a week to the Shafer No. 1 well, taking down each time a load of 12 to 15 tons. The down-trip was made at about six miles an hour and the return trip at about three miles an hour. In two weeks 100 tons of equipment were transported. In April a pointed prow was added, which enabled the boat to make a round trip in about nine hours. By May 1 we had hauled 30 loads of equipment. The next trip was on a Sunday. The load consisted of 46 passengers for a picnic and sight-seeing excursion. The John L. Shafer No. 1 well began operations and progressed very rapidly even in hard lime rock most of the time. It was at this early period that the Mid-West Company decided to have a telephone line built to the location. The line was built by Midland Telephone of Moab — a length of eight miles, a much shorter distance than the 18 by river. Not many poles were used as they would have been almost impossible to set, so holes were drilled in the rock ledges. Into these were installed a short piece of pipe with insulators and wire connecting through them. This was truly a lifesaver for the company. At first the water in the river was low for boating and then about the 15th of May, to the same time in June, almost too high to be safe. There was usually a 10- to 12-foot raise or 50,000 second-feet. This is fine for downstream travel if you do not strike a whirlpool where the water is going both up and downstream at the same time. A boat will turn halfway around with the water piling high on one side and sometimes coming over the top. After we had fought the Colorado at such high levels, it would return to its normal level with its treacherous sand bars. The river would shift from one bank to the other and cut out the bars by carving out great
126
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
slabs from one bank, wash it downstream, and deposit it somewhere else. One of the discomforts of river travel was when we would pull ashore to rest our weary selves we would be pestered by mosquitoes. They never bothered us while we were on the water but welcomed us ashore singing. By June 24, 1925, we had hauled 40 loads to the well. In my daily diary, kept during these years, on this date I recorded a record rain storm. It lightninged and rained on us throughout the entire trip. But it was not as terrible as it might seem, as beautiful waterfalls were created which fell over the canyon walls in cascades. Drilling operations continued around the clock all summer and late fall at the Shafer well. On the morning of December 8, an urgent telephone call was received in Moab saying the drilling company had struck a gusher. The oil and gas pressure was so great that it had blown the tools right out of the hole and then caught fire. Help was needed as was firefighting equipment. The drillers requested fire hoses as they already had pumping engines. Water was pumped onto the smouldering structure; and with aid from a jet of steam from the boiler, the fire was extinguished. The next time the well flowed it did not catch fire. The oil was of the highest quality and beautiful in appearance. No arrangements had been made to shut off this flow, so mud was needed to pump into the well to quiet it down long enough for another derrick to be built. Suitable mud was found in the foothills of the La Sal Mountains, 15 miles south of Moab. This was put into old, cloth cement sacks so it could be trucked to the boat dock. Three, 15-ton boat loads were taken to the well and pumped into its bowels. To me this seemed like a silly thing to do, but those were our orders. After getting the well cleaned out and the collapsed casing removed, the drillers failed to bring back the oil that was first struck. But an official of the company stated a fissure in the rock had been drilled into and that the oil was actually coming from a distant source. The first strike was at 2,028 feet, so the company drilled to a new depth of 3,600 and hit another oil showing, but it was nothing like the first strike. The well was drilled to a depth of 5,100 feet before operations were halted. While operations slowed up on this well, the Mid-West Company decided to drill another well 10 miles down the river. On January 17, 1926, the first load was taken to this new location. It consisted of lumber, groceries, bedding, and carpenters. Extra passengers were numerous as news had spread of striking oil.
H Y L A N D OIL C O M P A N Y
On March 6, 1926, J. L. Dougan and George T. Hansen of the Utah Southern Oil Company, of Salt Lake City, flew to Moab to make a trip down the river. They were interested in drilling on the Colorado and did so later at a place called Lockhart. This was about 40 miles from Moab. They only drilled about 500 feet and discontinued operations. Governor George Dern and a party of nine came aboard the boat the 11 th of April for a trip to the well location. They re-
The Frank Shafer No. 1 oil well shortly before it caught fire and when it was burning. In December 1925, oil was found at a depth of 2,028 feet. Oil and gas gushed from the well, caught fire, and burned the rig. The fire was extinguished, but the well never reached profitable production, and operations were suspended. H Y L A N D OIL C O M P A N Y
•:i>€»
iilSlSIlli ••
•
128
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
turned by a smaller boat to save time. About this time Snowden and McSweeny came to drill a well across the river from the Shafer No. 1 and about two miles away from the river on much higher ground. T h e Moab Garage received the contract to do their hauling. O n e of the first items of freight for this new company was a seven-ton steam boiler. W e had a power hoist to unload all machinery, so this boiler was unloaded directly onto a farm wagon. A small tractor was brought down to the dock to pull the load to the location, but the load was too heavy for a straight pull. So a long cable and pulley were used to give double power. All this blocking and tackling took a week to move the two miles. A peculiar thing happened during the drilling of this hole which might be well to mention. At a depth of a 1,000 feet or so, they drilled into an open pit or cave. This caused them to loose circulation. They had to call it quits as no matter how much mud they poured into the hole they could not fill it up, nor could they drill deeper. So the company began moving out. A truck, to replace the tractor which h a d given them nothing but grief, h a d been taken down on the boat to haul supplies from the dock to the drilling location. Bets were made that the truck could not haul the huge boiler back to the dock, but the work was completed in less than an hour. Another drilling company set up operation at Indian Creek, 50 miles down the Colorado, and built a barge similar to ours. This operation was short-lived as the road built from the river to the location was too steep for hauling. It was almost a 35 per cent grade. O n January 2, 1927, we went down with our 167th load. This time the ice was flowing, and we broke the shore ice with the waves of the boat. These large chunks followed in our wake. It was not until we started back upstream that we ran into an ice j a m in a narrow place on the river. We got stuck and finally managed to back out and return to the well camp and A Sunday cruise on the Colorado River. The crafts were used for pleasure as well as for freighting. BARBARA B . E K K E R
FREIGHTING ON T H E COLORADO
129
spend the night. We phoned M o a b for help, and the next morning my brothers came with dynamite and blasted the channel through. But this did not work as it only formed a d a m in the river. T h e river began backing u p and started cutting a new channel on the opposite shore. W e waited until this passage was large enough for us to pass through and then worked the boat past the j a m and returned to Moab. Not many trips were made during January, February, or M a r c h as Shafer No. 1 well shut down operations for a while. O n April 17,1 m a d e a trip to Lockhart and hauled out their equipment. This trip took about two days as the equipment was heavy and the trip was 40 miles each way. Between M a r c h 1925 and J u n e 1927, our scow made about 200 trips (between June 1927 to June 1929 about 40 trips in addition) being taken in every month of the year. Most of the trips were made to the Shafer No. 1, Shafer No. 2, and the Frank Shafer wells. For transportation of freight alone, the oil companies paid about $250,000. M a n y passengers were also carried. After the first well strike in December 1925, a survey was begun by the Mid-West Company for construction of a road and a pipeline leading from the west bank of the river to Thompson. It was thought that if the oil field proved productive, the M o a b Garage Company scow and others could not handle the necessary freight and equipment. In 1927, however, the oil field proved nonproductive and wells were closed down. T h e MidWest Refining Company in two and a half years of oil production spent $2 million. This figure included freight and well operations. It was estimated that since 1925, the M o a b Garage Company had hauled down the river 3,500 tons of freight, coal, supplies, cattle feed, and heavy equipment. O n up-stream trips it hauled equipment needing repairs, and on one or two occasions barrels of crude oil from the well. These trips took a lot of fuel as well as h u m a n endurance and will power. T h e boat went into "moth balls" and was later sold to some fellows to use on the river for camping purposes. They left it submerged near Moab, where it is today. Another craft, the Charles H. Spencer, is another ghost steamship of the Colorado that is submerged near Lee's Ferry, Arizona. Only these remains know the hardships and stories of the colorful Colorado during this era, and they too will soon be lost in the depths after the Glen Canyon D a m is completed.
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, Heber J. Grant, speaks the first words broadcast over radio in Utah on May 6, 1922. The individuals present at this first broadcast of KZN were, left to right: Nathan O. Fullmer, George Albert Smith (later president of the L.D.S. Church), Mrs. Heber J. Grant, President Grant, C. Clarence Neslen (mayor of Salt Lake), and George J. Cannon.
Utah's First Radio Station BY P E A R L F . J A C O B S O N
Radio broadcasting as we know it today was a product of the first decade of the twentieth century, although the first successful experiments that led to radio were conducted during the late 1860's. In 1866 Mahlon Loomis, a District of Columbia dentist, was successful in sending the first message through the air. In 1888 Henrich Hertz produced electro-magnetic waves. Later, Marconi perfected the experiments of Loomis, Hertz, and others so that by 1901 wireless messages were being sent across the Atlantic. Radio broadcasting was begun in 1907, and some stations were being heard in America regularly by people in the Eastern States during 1920. By the year 1922 radio was becoming popular with the American public, and 14 years later there were over 27 million radio sets in use in the United States with more than 500 stations supplying them with programs. Radio was then "Big Business," for by the end of 1936 the gross receipts Mrs. Jacobson, a school teacher in Richfield, U t a h , is the daughter of N a t h a n O. Fullmer, Deseret News executive given the job of establishing Radio Station K Z N in 1922. Most of the information for this article was taken from the personal files and memoirs of N a t h a n O. Fullmer. Included in these files are personal letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and brochures.
X NATHAN O. FULLMER
of N.B.C. were over $34 million, and for C.B.S. the amount was around $23.5 million.1 Radio was pioneered in Utah by Station KZN in an historical first broadcast on May 6, 1922, from a 250-watt transmitter housed on the roof of The Deseret News Building. The story that follows is an account of these first years of radio in Utah. It is hoped that the information presented here will be of some value to those who are interested in Utah history. Like most pioneer stories, this one of pioneering a radio broadcasting station in Utah has its moments of high resolve, frustrations, difficulties, and successful accomplishment. Like many other pioneering ventures, the idea of building and operating a radio broadcasting station in Utah was first conceived in the minds 1
Robert Eichberg, Radio Stars of Today
(Boston, 1937).
132
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
and hearts of a few men. T h e m e n instrumental in this undertaking were either directly or indirectly connected with The Deseret News during the fall of 1921 when their idea began to take shape. At that time radio had "caught on" in the states east of the Mississippi River, and by 1920 people were listening regularly to programs being broadcast over several stations. Radio was the wonder of the day, and it was also the most popular topic of conversation whenever people grouped together. O n e of the most significant of these conversations took place in the office of Elias S. Woodruff, general manager of The Deseret News, one morning in the fall of 1921. M r . Woodruff had been conferring with the business manager, N a t h a n O . Fullmer, about matters pertaining to the publishing of a special news story. After they concluded their discussion, M r . Woodruff asked M r . Fullmer to remain for a few minutes to talk about something else. T h e "something else" was a discussion about building a radio transmitter. 2 This h a d been mentioned by M r . Fullmer to M r . Woodruff on a previous occasion, but it h a d been more or less a bit of "wishful thinking," for radio transmitters were costly and scarce due to the fact that American Telephone & Telegraph Company h a d a monopoly on most of the equipment needed. After discussing the problem for sometime, these two newspaper executives decided that the thing to do was to find out if they could obtain the necessary parts and equipment from some other source t h a n American Telephone & Telegraph Company and have someone build a transmitter. N a t h a n Fullmer was really excited about this idea, for he had been hoping that his employer would be as enthusiastic over the idea of building a radio transmitter as he was. T h e discussion then led to the problem of locating the studio on the roof of The Deseret News Building. T h e only way to get to the roof was to climb three steep flights of narrow, iron steps. At the top a boardwalk led to a corner of the roof where the studio could be built. Arranging for a place to house the transmitter was fairly simple. T h e big problem was the transmitter itself. During the last few weeks of 1921 the problem of obtaining parts for a transmitter was thoroughly looked into. T h e men were obsessed with the idea that The Deseret News should be the first to build a transmitter in U t a h . This seemed to be the pattern, for all over the East newspapers were setting u p radio broadcasting stations. The Deseret News did not have the financial backing that other newspapers in the East had, so their plans would have to be modest. T h e president of the Church of Jesus Christ 2
Memoirs of N . O. Fullmer, related by him to his daughter, Pearl F. Jacobson.
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO STATION
133
of Latter-day Saints, Heber J. Grant, did not approve the spending of $25,000 (the amount that American Telephone & Telegraph was asking for a transmitter) .3 This meant that if these Deseret News executives were to go ahead with their plans, they would have to build the transmitter themselves. Next spring Elias Woodruff went on a business trip to Chicago, Detroit, and New York City. On April 21, 1922, he wrote a letter from Chicago to Nate Fullmer. Dear Nate: As soon as I reached Chicago M r . W o o d m a n took m e to the " F a i r " , a large d e p a r t m e n t store doing broadcasting. I m e t a M r . O ' G r a d y w h o has charge of this d e p a r t m e n t . H e told m e they were working in connection with the Chicago Daily News a n d could buy e q u i p m e n t i n d e p e n d e n t of A. T. & T . Co. H e quoted m e $3,000 for a 1 kilowatt set with a radius of 750 miles, a n d $2,400 for a / 2 kilowatt set. H e said they were fighting the A. T . & T . Co. monopoly through R e p . Britten of Illinois. I told h i m I would see Senator Smoot if I reached Washington. If not, I would write to him. T h e n I wired you a n d later got your message advising m e of a $500.00 price at San Francisco. I a m wondering if there can be a joker anywhere. If we can buy as we seem to be able to, why does A. T. & T . Co. quote such a price and a p p e a r to be so cocky? If we buy a toy set we will kick ourselves, but O ' G r a d y says his set will send 750 miles. Heretofore we were told by Wilson t h a t 250 watts would do that. According to O ' G r a d y , 1 kilowatt with a 1,000 w a t t motor generator is required to do the business. If Wilson has not gone, ask h i m this question. If he has gone, wire h i m a n d caution h i m to be sure of w h a t he is getting. T h e whole town is radio crazy. Every p a p e r has radio bulletins in the windows. Every delivery wagon shrieks, " K e e p posted on radio. R e a d the radio d e p a r t m e n t of the Chicago Daily News." Hearst's paper splashes it all over, and every few blocks radio stores offer radio sets for sale. I a m too tired to write more tonight, b u t I w a n t e d to let you know w h a t I h a d learned here regarding radio. R e a d this to Goff a n d H o m e r . Regards to all. Cordially, / s / Elias 4
A few days later, on April 25, 1922, Woodruff wrote from New York City to Fullmer as follows: Dear Nate: Just a hurried scribble. I have not written you a word, although, of course, we have been in touch with each other. I t is comforting to know 3 4
Deseret News (Salt Lake C i t y ) , May 3, 1962. Personal correspondence, N a t h a n O. Fullmer (possession of the a u t h o r ) .
134
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY that all is going fine. I want you to express my thanks to Homer and Goff for their support and my appreciation for their efforts. Radio is a real problem. I believe we will never be able to broadcast except in a small way. Nevertheless, it is good for Wilson to get the set for the amount he is spending. We may have to stop after awhile, and if we do we will not be out much. The publicity we can get before we are stopped or regulated will be worth while. The Detroit News has already spent $25,000.00 on broadcasting, so you see how much some of them think of it Cordially, / s / Elias5
Despite moments of doubt and discouragement, these men continued to plan and work toward their goal. Building the transmitter involved a lot of technical work, mostly on the part of Harry Wilson, the engineer. First one thing and then another would go wrong during the summer of 1922. The generator would quit working, and Wilson was always having trouble with the tubes. They would burn out like light globes, and they cost $110 each.6 The engineer finally decided to try using two 250-watt tubes as oscillators, and two 250-watt tubes as modulators. A three-horsepower motor to drive the 2,000 volt, 1 kilowatt plate-current generator was to provide power for the transmitter's tubes. A series of dry cells with 350 volts and a storage battery of 12 volts would be used to provide power for the speech amplifier tubes.7 These plans seemed to be practical solutions to the problems relative to the transmitter. There was also the problem of an antenna. Harry Wilson went to work on it, and one day he brought in to Nate Fullmer a sketch of his plan. The antenna was to consist of eight wires, each 120 feet long, spaced 39 inches apart and arranged in an inverted "L." He explained to Fullmer, that he thought it would work, but that he could not know for sure until he tried it out. Nate Fullmer was now getting anxious to know when the first broadcast could take place. When the engineer told him that it could probably take place within a month's time, he was elated. He felt that if the transmitter really worked, something truly worthwhile could be accomplished. The Deseret News would then be able to bring news from all over the world — game scores, weather reports, entertainment, and even L.D.S. conferences — into people's front rooms. He, as well as the other men who were working on the project, believed that radio had a great future, greater perhaps than any of them dreamed. 5
Ibid. Deseret News, May 3, 1962. 7 Facts About KZN, The Deseret News Broadcasting 6
Station
(Bulletin, J a n u a r y 1, 1923).
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO STATION
135
During the days and nights that followed, every effort was made to "get the job done." The men worked long hours, often forgetting their meals in their zeal to accomplish their purpose. A small, three-room station was built on the roof of The Deseret News Building. It consisted of a studio room for entertainers, an operating room, and a generator room. The station was simple and unpretentious, there not being the need for anything elaborate or costly for radio facilities at this time, nor did the promoters have much money to spend on it. The bare necessities were arranged for, which included heavy draperies to soundproof the studio as much as possible. Mr. Woodruff had warned Fullmer about this in a letter while on his trip East, and had cautioned him about the necessity of absolute silence on the part of everyone in the studio except the performer or announcer during a broadcast. It began to look as though the date of the first broadcast could come sooner than Harry Wilson had predicted, and the transmitter soon was ready for testing. The technicians were ready to send the signal and broadcast some music, and Nate Fullmer had arranged with a friend of his, who had a little electrical shop east of Broadway and State Street, to try to "tune in" on it. In those days very few people had radio sets, and this was the nearest one available. Great was the excitement that Saturday morning early in April of 1922, in the studio of Radio Station KZN, when preparations were completed to make the test. Engineer Wilson and his two assistants had "hooked up" the last transmitter equipment. Fullmer's friend, William Elder, had been notified by telephone that KZN was ready to "send." Nate Fullmer could no longer bear the suspense, and before anybody knew what he was going to do, he "took off," running practically every step to the electrical shop about four and a half blocks away to hear for himself if KZN's broadcast was really being picked up.8 People who saw him must have thought that Nate was running to a fire somewhere. A few of his acquaintances attempted to stop him to find out what the excitement was all about, but he was in a hurry. When Elder saw him coming, he shouted the words that Fullmer most wanted to hear: "She's coming over, Nate! She's coming over! Congratulations!" 9 Needless to say, Nate Fullmer was thrilled, as were all who had been so vitally concerned with the venture. The first thing he did, of course, 8 9
Memoirs of N. O. Fullmer. Ibid.
An early KSL studio. Drama was one of the feature attractions of early radio. This scene shows the KSL dramatic players during one of these broadcasts.
KSL RADIO STATION
In contrast to the rather simplified facilities shown above, the modern control room is an electronic masterpiece with multiple turntables, stereo machines, and many other pieces of equipment. KSL RADIO STATION
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO STATION
137
after catching his breath, was to telephone H a r r y Wilson and tell him the good news. T h e n he sent a telegram to Elias Woodruff who was still in the East on business for The Deseret News. After all these efforts it was such a great thrill to find that the thing that he and his associates h a d dreamed of, waited for, and prayed about was actually coming true. T h e next step was to complete preparations for the dedication of the new broadcasting station, K Z N . News of the coming event was publicized by The Deseret News, and many people caught "radio fever" and purchased the small radio crystal sets complete with ear phones and cat's whiskers for "tuning in." Persons who were prominent leaders in church, civic, and state affairs were invited to be present in the studios of K Z N for the initial broadcast. Arrangements were made for President Heber J. Grant of the L.D.S. Church to speak the first words to go out to the world over K Z N , and appropriate musical selections were prepared for the event. One important person who should have been present for the first broadcast, Elias S. Woodruff, was unable to attend because he had been detained on business in the East. O n the night of the dedication, May 6, 1922, there was a feeling of tense expectancy among the people assembled on the roof of The Deseret News Building. They had to be reminded to be quiet so as not to m a r the broadcast, for it was easy to forget that the microphone would pick u p the slightest sound and broadcast it as well as the planned program. Promptly at 8:00 p.m. President Grant spoke into the microphone of K Z N , and with his ringing, resonant voice m a d e the following statement: This is my message to the people of the world — a quotation from the Doctrine & Covenants, known as Section 76, a revelation to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. " A n d this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us, " T h a t H e came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, a n d to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; " T h a t through H i m all might be saved w h o m the F a t h e r h a d p u t into his power a n d m a d e by H i m . " F o r we saw H i m , even on the right h a n d of God, a n d we heard the voice bearing record that H e is the Only Begotten of the Father. " T h a t by H i m and through H i m , a n d of H i m the worlds were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons a n d daughters of God." This is the end of the quotation. I bear witness to all m a n k i n d that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and living God. 1 0 10
Deseret News, May 6, 1922.
138
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
President Grant's speech was followed by an address from Mayor C. Clarence Neslen, whose statement is as follows: Personally, I am particularly interested in this accomplishment on the part of this paper, because I earned, or at least received my first money from this institution, as a boy, and worked hard in this institution for sixteen years. It is a pleasure, on behalf of this city, to congratulate them and to send a few words of greeting to you listeners wherever you may be. It is fitting, of course, to have this word of greeting come in the springtime, at the beginning of new things. Here in Salt Lake City, we are now enjoying beautiful spring weather and we presume that is the case throughout this intermountain country. We have passed through a rather severe winter —• a trying winter — but I am sure, from indications here, times are improving, things are getting better, and there is nothing but hope and cheer before us, and we should all feel encouraged and decide to go forth with renewed energy, undertaking those things that lie before us. I feel to congratulate the people of this state and this intermountain country for the fortitude which they manifested in the trials they had before them during the recent winter. Nowhere, perhaps, could we find such stability, such conservatism, and such fortitude on the part of the people under such trying conditions. We were calm and deliberate, and we all feel that we have withstood the storm, and, now that things are brighter, it is a pleasure to congratulate each other over this wonderful invention that has been made possible here for us to use, through the enterprise and the liberality of this, one of the leading newspapers of the western country. I send personal greetings and greetings on behalf of this city to you all, and will now bid you good night. 11
Another voice which was heard was that of Mrs. Heber J. Grant, who said, I think this is one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. I am glad I live in this age when every day — almost every hour, brings us some new invention. I would not be surprised if we were talking to the planets before many years. This is one of the most wonderful inventions of this or any other age. 12
President Anthony W. Ivins stated, When the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, at which time the Pony Express was the most rapid means of communicating news from one point to another, they little dreamed that before a period of seventy-five years had passed their children would talk to the world by wireless.13
George Albert Smith gave the closing remarks, I have had many unique experiences in my life. I had the privilege of riding the first bicycle that came into Salt Lake City, and the first pattern 11
Ibid. Ibid. 13 Ibid. 12
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO STATION
139
of safety bicycle t h a t came here. I talked in the first telephone t h a t came here a n d have talked over the long distance telephone from San Francisco to N e w York. I have heard the Pacific a n d the Atlantic oceans rumbling over the wires. I have also h a d the pleasure of riding in an airplane from Brussels to L o n d o n , at the rate, p a r t of the time, of 100 miles an hour. I have lived to see many wonderful things occur, as predicted by the prophets of old, wherein it was stated that when the Book of M o r m o n should first come forth, the Lord would commence his work a m o n g the nations, a n d we have lived to see more wonderful indications during the period of time since the coming forth of the Book of M o r m o n , t h a t would contribute to the comfort a n d satisfaction of the h u m a n family, t h a n have occurred in all the balance of time since the world was created. And now, to cap the climax, we have the opportunity of talking over a wireless telephone, a n d having it broadcasted to very many stations scattered at intervals anywhere from 500 to 1,000 miles away. I h a d the privilege once of sending the first wireless telegram t h a t was ever received by President Joseph F. Smith, when I was out in the Atlantic O c e a n , b u t I look u p o n this wireless telephone as the culmination of all the marvelous experiences to which the h u m a n family has thus far been heir, a n d I congratulate the people w h o live in this wonderful land of liberty, this country which is always foremost in matters of invention, a n d I a m grateful indeed, t h a t my lot has been cast among a people w h o look forward to every good thing for the benefit and uplift of mankind. 1 4
A humorous incident has gone down in the history of this first broadcast, for President Grant was heard by his listeners from far and near to say during his speech, " T u r n off the heat." Many letters came to K Z N from people who had heard those words and wondered about them. T h e explanation was that it was cool this M a y evening on the roof of The Deseret News Building, and somebody h a d connected an electric heater to provide some w a r m t h right behind President Grant. Apparently, it was providing too much warmth. 1 5 Regularly scheduled radio programs were broadcast daily after the first one. These were short programs at first, only a half an hour from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m., but gradually increasing to an hour and a half each evening. One major reason for short programs was, of course, the limited facilities of K Z N . Another reason was the newness of this type of entertainment. T h e persons involved were only amateurs who were just "feeling their way." Public response to KZN's broadcasts was very gratifying. Letters and telegrams from listeners in many states and as far as Honolulu were received by The Deseret News and K Z N , each expressing appreciation and pleasure at hearing the programs. T h e News published many of these mes14 15
ibid. Ibid., May 3, 1962.
140
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
sages. One writer from Los Angeles, Mr. M. L. Babcock, stated, "I have just listened in on the best example of radio broadcasting from a distant station that I have yet received, and I have heard nearly every station west of the Rocky Mountains." 16 Another radio "fan" from Los Angeles wrote, Probably the most wonderful station in the West is K Z N , The Deseret News p h o n e at Salt Lake City. It's signals come in throughout the entire Pacific slope with almost the same strength as a local station. People with good crystal detector receivers in Los Angeles are hearing K Z N nightly. 17
A letter from Mr. O. H. Hovey, of Perry, Oklahoma, said, Complying with radio request from K S B (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) we wish to say t h a t your broadcast came in with wonderful resonance at 12:25 this morning. W e didn't get in to get all of it, being tuned to other stations; b u t can assure you that your modulation was excellent, and, further, t h a t you evidently have at your disposal some splendid talent. Come again, a n d often. If you publish an advance p r o g r a m I would be glad to be placed on your mailing list. I a m said to be one of the oldest a n d most enthusiastic radio fans in the country, going on 70 years young. 1 8
Such messages as these were, of course, very much appreciated by the officials of The Deseret News and KZN who had worked so hard to put the enterprise over successfully. According to their records they heard from 18 states as far east as Iowa and all up and down the Pacific Coast during the first weeks of broadcasting. One especially prized response came from the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, written October 3, 1922, and published October 14, 1922, in The Deseret News. In it George S. Teall, manager of the radio department, said that he had received KZN's concert "loud and clear, even louder than our own station only 250 miles away." Now that KZN had been successfully launched, many plans were developed to improve not only the engineering aspects of radio broadcasting, but also the programming. One of Nate Fullmer's ambitious ideas was to broadcast musical programs directly from the McCune L.D.S. School of Music on North Main Street, in Salt Lake City. The technicians were able to do this by stringing a wire from that building down on top of the temple square wall and across the street to the transmitter.19 The recital hall and certain other studios at the school had acoustics that were far superior to those at the studio of KZN, and these eliminated much of 10
Ibid., October 2 1 , 1922. Ibid. 18 Ibid. 19 Memoirs of N . O. Fullmer. 17
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO
STATION
141
the echo that was so prevalent in many broadcasts. Many of the performers were prominent local musicians. A typical program listed Becky Almond, piano soloist; Robert S. Fisher, cello soloist; P. Melvin Peterson, baritone soloist; and John J. McClellan, pianist, accompanying Willard Weihe in a violin concerto.20 A regular program of special interest to children, called the Peter Rabbit Club, broadcasted musical selections performed by children. It also broadcasted birthday greetings to children who belonged to the club. As time went on, it was found that this facility called radio was to mean more to people than just a medium of entertainment. Persons prominent in public office and politics began to use this means to reach the people. One such person to speak over KZN October 25, 1922, was William Jennings Bryan, "the Silver-voiced Orator," who posed with Deseret News and KZN officials for a newspaper picture on that occasion.21 A few months later on June 26, 1923, KZN made "radio history" by relaying President Warren G. Harding's address in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City to thousands of listeners. It was an exciting experience. Many persons heard the broadcast from a "specially constructed station in Liberty Park that was connected up with the tabernacle amplifiers." 22 This, of course, was a "first" that was followed in the years to come by many addresses of prominent persons in all walks of life. 20
Deseret News, September 1, 1923. Ibid., October 25, 1922. 22 Ibid., June 27, 1923. 21
William Jennings Bryan, standing outside Radio Station KZN prior to delivering an address over the air on October 25, 1922. From left to right: N. O. Fullmer; Mrs. D. C. Dunbar; Mrs. R. L. L. Collier; Mr. Bryan; Dan B. Shields, Democratic county chairman; Mrs. B. W. Musser; E. S. Woodruff, general manager, Deseret News; and R. F. Homer, circulation manager, Deseret News. NATHAN O. FULLMER
i
142
UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Another type of program that began July 14, 1923, was the broadcasting of dance music from the Hotel Utah Roof Garden orchestra. This was accomplished by means of a remote control system which transmitted this music to the KZN control room and was then broadcast.23 Dance music from Owen Sweetin's Band at Saltair was also brought in by telephone line to KZN's control room to be broadcast.24 During these first years of radio broadcasting from KZN, many performers donated their services freely. It was later on, when radio had proved itself, that advertising came into the picture as holder of the "purse strings" and hired performers. Radio was here to stay, but by June 1924 KZN had had its day, and radio broadcasting in Utah was to take a new course. KZN had done the pioneering, and it was time for another development. The first step in this was taken when The Deseret News sold its interest to John Cope, KZN radio engineer, and to his father, F. W. Cope. At this time the Radio Service Corporation of Utah was formed. On June 13, 1924, the call letters were changed from KZN to KFPT. The power was still 500 watts, but the kilocycles had been changed to 1,149. The studios were kept for a time on the roof of The Deseret News Building.25 On November 17, 1924, Earl J. Glade joined the radio station where he served as supervisor of programming. He also managed the sales and accounting, and often did the announcing. He served on the staff of the station for many years, seeing it grow to the great station that is KSL today. The L.D.S. Church acquired stock in the radio station in 1925, as did The Salt Lake Tribune. The next development was to again change the call letters from KFPT to KSL. This was done on June 24, 1925, and power was at that time increased to 1,000 watts and the frequency to 1,000 kilocycles. Then in 1929 KSL received permission to build a 5,000-watt transmitter, the frequency was changed to 1,130 kilocycles, and the clear channel designation was obtained.26 Just prior to this time, national radio networks had begun to be formed, and radio had really become important to the American way of life. New developments of all kinds in radio had come rapidly, and fancylooking radio sets adorned the living rooms of most American homes. Early in the history of the National Broadcasting Company, KSL became one of its affiliates. On July 15, 1929, the first of the Tabernacle Choir broad23
Ibid., July 14, 1923. Memoirs of N. O. Fullmer. 25 "History of K S L R a d i o " ( M S , possession of the a u t h o r ) . 26 Ibid. 24
UTAH'S FIRST RADIO
STATION
143
casts over N.B.C. was begun as an experiment with Anthony Lund as director ; Edward P. Kimball, organist; and T e d Kimball, announcer. Today the Tabernacle Choir has the distinction of being the oldest continuously broadcast program in radio. 27 Another progressive move in the history of this radio station came on October 16,1932, when the Federal Communications Commission granted KSL permission to increase its power to 50,000 watts. I t was during this year that K S L dropped its affiliation with the National Broadcasting Company and joined the Columbia Broadcasting System. I n the closing months of 1932, K S L moved to new studios on the top floor of the Union Pacific Building and changed its frequency from 1,130 kilocycles to 1,160, its present location. I n 1947, the Kearns Corporation, owner of The Salt Lake Tribune, sold its stock in K S L in order to back another radio station in Salt Lake City and become the principal stockholder. 28 27 28
40th Anniversary KSL Radio Broadcast House, Salt Lake City, Utah (Brochure, 1962). "History of K S L Radio."
In contrast^ with early facilities atop T h e Deseret News Building, present-day KSL Radio Station, located on Social Hall Avenue and occupied February 10, 1962, offers spacious studios; large, bright offices; colorful decoration; and all new equipment. K S L RADIO S T A T I O N
lilt:*:
m^mmfifi;
:
: • . : •
-.vfc iV
'.'""' •'••"''~-:r v - * : . « : t l : !::p f c
^sSSSSSS^^^^_ 2
•,:•••••
.:. . - * - : r i : :
144
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Throughout the history of KZN and KSL, there have been many interesting programs and entertainers. Two old favorites, Parley Bair and Francis Urry, who performed as a comedy team known as "The Bates Boys," are remembered by many persons and are great entertainers to this day. Another popular pair of KSL comics back in 1928 were Roscoe Grover and Ted Kimball, who are still active in radio.29 KSL moved to its new home at Broadcast House on Social Hall Avenue, Salt Lake City, February 10, 1962. The spacious studios, large offices, and amazing new modern equipment mark a sharp contrast to the facilities of those early days in 1922. Today, of course, KSL-TV walks hand-inhand with KSL-Radio. Arch Madsen, president of KSL Radio and Television, and Joseph A. Kjar, general manager of KSL Radio, together with their staffs, offer television and radio programs to a large listening and viewing audience in the intermountain area of the West. In 1963 the Salt Lake City Telephone Directory listed 13 radio stations. Radio has become commonplace — something that the modern generation takes for granted. The children of today find it hard to understand that great changes have taken place just within the last 40 years; but to many persons, who have seen the transition from a little 500-watt powered station to the great radio station that is KSL today, the developments have been marvelous. Living through the changes that have marked the first half of the twentieth century in Utah has been an exciting and thrilling series of experiences —• not the least of these has been the birth and development of the first radio station in Utah.
40th Anniversary
KSL
Radio.
MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTHERN UTAH, 1866 EDITED BY C GREGORY C R A M P T O N
The extension of American rule in 1848 over the region and the rapid colonization by the Mormons after 1847 posed serious problems for the Indians living on both sides of the canyon country of the Colorado River basin. On the eastern side American relations with the Navajos ran a stormy course until a majority of the tribe was starved out of their stronghold in Canyon de Chelly and exiled to Bosque Redondo in 1864. In 1868 the Indians were permitted to return and were assigned to a reservation astride the Arizona-New Mexico boundary. During the course of the warfare and exile, many Navajos fled into the canyon lands of the San Juan country. Others worked their way westward toward the Colorado River and crossed it to raid the settlements on the advancing Mormon frontier, which was already plagued with Indian difficulties. The Mormons in pushing their settlements southward through central Utah had early encountered Indian resistance. The Walker War, 1853-54, was followed in 1865 by a general outbreak of the Utes in central Utah and of the Paiutes in southern Utah and northern Arizona. This uprising, called the Black Hawk War, caused a serious retraction of the Mormon frontier and cost many lives before it was brought to an end by the Utah Territorial Militia in 1868. During the war the Navajos crossed the Colorado, often teamed up with the Paiutes in the fight against the southern settlements, and did not make a general peace until 1870. The war in the south began when Navajos early in 1865 stole some horses at Kanab. More serious incidents followed. J. M. Whitmore and Robert Mclntyre were killed near Pipe Spring in January 1866; a few months later the Berry family was killed in Long Valley. Martial law was now proclaimed; outlying settlements were abandoned; and units of the Iron Military District, Utah Territorial Militia, were sent against the maurauders. During the course of its campaigns the militia explored much new territory bordering the canyon country of the Colorado River. When Dr. C r a m p t o n is professor of history at the University of U t a h and associate editor of The American West. T h e author is grateful for the assistance provided by Robert W. Inscore, registrar, Military Records Section of the U t a h State Archives, and Preston W. Parkinson, historian of the Woolley family, Salt Lake City. At Cannonville, U t a h , O. Wilford Clark, whose grandfather Samuel Newton Adair was in the 1866 campaign, kindly supplied much information and directed the author to the grave of Elijah Averett. Field research undertaken for this article was supported by a grant from the University of U t a h Research Fund.
146
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
the war was over the retracted Mormon frontier in southern Utah and northern Arizona was soon regained and was then extended into the newly discovered farming areas. One of the more significant campaigns was ordered into the field August 15, 1866. James Andrus, captain, was placed in command of a company of cavalry, consisting of five platoons — a total of 62 officers and men. The orders issued by Brigadier General Erastus Snow, dated at St. George, called for an examination of the country bordering on the Colorado River from the Buckskin Mountain (Kaibab Plateau) to the mouth of the Green River. All the crossings of the Colorado within this distance were to be examined; the hostile Indians were to be chastised; and the friendly Piedes, "Ki-babbits," and others were to be conciliated. Andrus was ordered to "learn all you can of the facilities and resources of the country" and to make an accurate report of the campaign. The command traveled eastward to Kanab by a well-established route and then, heading generally northeastward, reached the summit of Boulder Mountain (Aquarius Plateau) after crossing the upper tributaries of the Paria and Escalante rivers. In the mistaken belief that they could see the mouth of Green River from that point, the militiamen returned to St. George by way of Grass Valley, Circleville, and Parowan. They had ridden 464 miles and had spied out some new land soon to be brought under the plough. One man, Elijah Averett, Jr., was killed in the only encounter with the Indians. Adjutant Franklin B. Woolley filed a report of the expedition, together with a chart of the country explored and the official muster roll. All three documents, from the manuscript collections in the Military Records Section of the Utah State Archives, are published here. Franklin Benjamin Woolley, born in Ohio in 1834, was a member of a prominent pioneering family in southern Utah. He met an early death at the hands of Mojave Indians near Victorville, California, in 1869, the same year that his brother, Edwin G. Woolley, served as adjutant for two more campaigns against the Navajos. F. B. Woolley's report of the 1866 expedition is an important first description of the rough canyon country sloping off eastward from the rim of the Great Basin and the high plateaus to the Colorado River. The chart is probably the earliest portrayal of the region based upon actual exploration. The report is hand-written on legal-size paper and is a probable copy of the original. It is printed as it was written with a few slight changes in punctuation to improve the clarity. Two other documents, the chart (here reproduced) and muster roll, are originals.
?y
)<§•
148
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
REPORT OF RECONOITERING EXPEDITION M O U T H O F T H E G R E E N R I V E R , 1866 1 James Andrus, C a p t . F. B. Woolley, Adjt. City of St. George Washington County U t a h Territory Sept. 18, 1866 Brigadier General Erastus Snow. D e a r Sir: I have the honor to report the return to H e a d Q u a r t e r s of the Volunteer Cavalry C o m p a n y under my c o m m a n d late on service as a reconoitering party to the Buckskin M o u n t a i n a n d the country between there a n d the m o u t h of Green River. I n accordance with Brigade O r d e r N o 14 this company was mustered into Service on the 16th U l t i m o . Myself a n d p a r t of the C o m p a n y rendezvoused at Gould's R a n c h e 26 miles East from this place on the 16th a n d 17th Ult. T h e remainder were directed to proceed via Parowan a n d the Seveir a n d join us on the h e a d Waters of Pah Rear [Paria River]. O n the 18th we left Gould's R a n c h e proceeding by the main wagon road m a d e u p Gould's K a n y o n which affords a good pass of easy grade to the Pipe Springs Plateau. T h i s plateau is the second table or elevation above the R i o Virgin Eastward from St. George a n d extends from Gould's R a n c h e East to the Buckskin m o u n t a i n about 60 miles a n d from the foot hills of the mountains bordering the Rio Virgen to the south about the same distance to the Breaks of the Colorado. T h e western and Southern face of this plateau is a nearly perpendicular wall of rock from 800 feet to 1000 feet above the level of Virgen River. A Steep difficult pass near O l d Grafton, Gould's Pass, and one Still farther to S o u t h w a r d , Almost impracticable u p "Black R o c k " Kanyon, are the only passes yet discovered, to this plateau from the west or South sides. O n Sunday the 19th we reached "Pipe Springs" or Whitmore's R a n c h e East from St. George about 60 miles south about 5 miles. H e r e we procured 4 beeves which we killed a n d dried. O n Tuesday 21st we n u m b e r e d in C a m p , 1 Capt., 1 1st Lieut., 1 Bugler, 4 2nd Lieuts, 4 Serjeants, 35 Privates, well outfitted with 1 Saddle horse to each m a n , 1 pack animal for E a c h two m e n , a n d forty days rations. E q u i p p e d generally with one good long range rifle a n d two revolvers each. 1 A number of other pertinent documents, including a manuscript "Copy of O r d e r 14 Dated at Brigade Hdgtrs, Iron Mil. Dist., St. George, Aug. 15, 1866, by Brig. Gen'l Com'g Erastus Snow, Henry Eyring, adjt.," are found in the Military Records Section, together with much other material bearing on the Indian wars in southern U t a h and northern Arizona. T h e following relates to later phases of the Mormon-Navajo conflict: C. Gregory Crampton and David E. Miller, eds., "Journal of T w o Campaigns by the U t a h Territorial Militia Against the Navajo Indians, 1869," Utah Historical Quarterly, X X I X (April, 1961), 148-56. T h e following items from the bibliography of the Indian wars in southern U t a h may be regarded as the most generally useful: James A. Little, Jacob Hamblin . . . (Salt Lake City, 1881, and later editions) ; Peter Gottfredson, comp. and ed., History of Indian Depredations in Utah (Salt Lake City, 1919) ; Angus M . Woodbury, A History of Southern Utah and Its National Parks (Salt Lake City, 1950), reprinted from the U.H.Q., X I I ( J u l y October, 1944) ; J u a n i t a Brooks, " I n d i a n Relations on the Mormon Frontier," U.H.Q., X I I (January-April, 1944), 1-68; C. Gregory Crampton, Outline History of the Glen Canyon Region, 17761922 (Salt Lake City, 1959). Anthony W. Ivins, "Traveling Over Forgotten Trails: I I I â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Indian Revenge, and a Brother's Devotion," Improvement Era, X I X (May, 1916), 6 0 1 - 7 , tells of the circumstances of F. B. Woolley's death in 1869.
MILITARY
RECONNAISSANCE
149
F r o m Pipe Springs to C a n a b [Kanab] Settlement our course was generally N E Skirting the base of a high red Sandstone M o u n t a i n on our left. First 5 or 6 miles over a sandy ridge a m o n g cedars [was over] heavy road, remainder of road good, distance 18 miles. T h e fort and houses [at K a n a b ] remain in the same condition as when abandoned by the settlers last M a r c h . This place would support a Settlement of from 30 to 50 families and a military post here would c o m m a n d the passes of the Buckskin m o u n tain and the trails leading in to the Settlements on the Virgen. Leaving C a n a b , instead of following the main trail to the East across the Buckskin M o u n t a i n to Shirts R a n c h e on the Pah Rear, a few miles East from C a n a b , we turned to N . N . W . u p K a n y o n R a n c h e K a n y o n thence N. E. by Scootembaugh R a n c h e a n d head of Silver K a n y o n and the u p p e r end of the Buckskin M o u n t a i n to P a h R e a r Valley. T h e pass by this trail is high, in winter covered with snow to considerable depth, some parts rough with Steep difficult crossings of Breaks and washes putting in to the P a h Rear. 2 T h e Buckskin M o u n t a i n is a high plateau extending from the rim of the basin, near the [head] waters of the Virgen and Sevier riveres about one h u n d r e d miles E. N . E. from St. George to the Southward, bearing a little to the west, to the Colorado River, a distance of about 60 or 70 miles when the river breaks through the m o u n t a i n in a deep narrow gorge. T h e range Continuing on towards the Sanfrancisco M o u n t a i n s of Arizona. T h e M o u n t a i n presents to the eye a generally level surface on top with an average width from 10 to 15 miles broadening to the Southward with occasional buttes, rising above the level. T h e western Side Steep, wall like, with two or three kanyons affording passes to the Summit, which is rough [and] covered with Pine timber. Only two or three watering places on the western side. T h e waters from Snow a n d rain flow down the sides forming numerous deep gullies in the M o u n t a i n a n d then discharge by a deep narrow precipitous impassable gorge from N e a r Pipe Springs R a n c h e to [the] Colorado, a distance of about 50 miles. (This gorge effectually prevents any parties from reaching the South end of the mountain from the west without passing in sight of Pipe Springs.) T h e Southern face of the m o u n t a i n supposed to be a Sheer precipice to the River. T h e 2 This is an early description of a region, here called the Pipe Springs Plateau, extending from the Hurricane Cliffs on the west to the Kaibab Plateau (Buckskin Mountain) on the east, and bordered on the north by the Vermilion Cliffs and on the south by the Grand Canyon. This is the heart of the Arizona Strip. T h e western part is now called the Uinkaret Plateau, the eastern part the K a n a b Plateau. Today the principal access to this vast upland from the west is the route taken by the cavalrymen in 1866. U t a h Franklin B. Woolley (1834-1869), adjutant State Highway 59, connecting with Arizona of the reconnaissance company of 1866 sent State Highway 389 near Short Creek (Coloto quell Indians and explore the country. rado C i t y ) , parallels the old trail between Hurricane and Pipe Spring National Monument. ( I n contemporary documents the name OLIVE W . B U R T of this famous watering place is spelled in both the singular and plural; the singular form is now generally used as in Pipe Spring National Monument.) Between St. George and K a n a b the volunteers were following a well-established trail used again as a military route when the U t a h Militia campaigned a g a i n s t t h e N a v a j o I n d i a n s in 1869. See Crampton and Miller, "Journal of T w o Campaigns," U.H.Q., X X I X , for details of the route to Peter Shirts' Ranch on the Paria River. For the route of the 1866 campaigners to the Paria River, see footnote 4.
150
U T A H H I S T O R I C A L QUARTERLY
Eastern face, Steep, rough, occasional Springs and watering places in the rocks, Shedding down, to a lower plateau and Pah Rear. 3 Upper Pah Rear Valley or basin is nearly circular in Shape, about 20 miles in diameter. The South Eastern boundary is a gradual Slope rising to a ridge about the altitude of Pipe Springs plateau then breaking Square off in that direction to a lower plateau. The South and S. Eastern face of the ridge presenting an impassable rock wall for a distance of about 50 miles, from the eastern base of the Buckskin Mountain to the "Old Ute Crossing" of the Colorado, with the exception of "Pah Rear Kanyon"; a narrow gorge through which the waters of Pah Rear discharge, and affording a pass from Shirts Ranche to Pah Rear Basin.4 The other sides of the Valley are formed by the Buckskin Mountain on W'est, the rim of the basin bending out to North forming the arc of a circle, on the north; and on N.E. and east, by a spur of the mountain extending from the rim of the basin to S.S.E. to the Colorado. Over this spur of the mountain there are two passes into a similar valley to this called by us Potatoe Valley. One around the south side of Table mountain lying East from Camp No. 7 on Pah Rear (see chart), the other to the north of Table Mountain and between it and a high perpendicular faced white sandstone point of the rim of the basin seen to our N.E. and distant about 20 miles. There are also two passes to the North leading, one up the main north branch of Pah Rear over the rim of the basin to the East fork of the Sevier usually known as the "Ute trail" one up a More westerly branch of Pah Rear to the Seveir and thence to the South branch of that stream and town of Panguitch in Iron [written over Piute] County. There is also the pass to the S.West at the head of the Buckskin Mountain by which we approached the Valley. These passes are all high; and for a large portion of the year impracticable owing to the Snows, which fall here very deep in winter. The Valley sides are Sloping, excepting near to the Mountains, where they are generally precipitous, covered with scrubby cedar and pinion pine cut up by rough deep kanyons and gorges, running from the mts. to the Pah Rear. 5 The immediate margins of the 3 This is an early description of the K a i b a b Plateau, a n a m e applied to Buckskin Mountain by the Powell survey, J o h n Wesley Powell, Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and its Tributaries, explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872 . . . (Washington, D.C., 1 8 7 5 ) , 185. From the Vermilion Cliffs (not from the rim of the Great Basin), it extends southward over 90 miles a n d is separated from the Coconino Plateau, continuing southward to the San Francisco peaks, by the mile-deep G r a n d Canyon of the Colorado. " T h e southern face of the m o u n t a i n " is the North Rim, indeed almost a sheer d r o p to the river. T h e deep canyon of K a n a b Creek west of the Kaibab Plateau (the "Impassable G o r g e " on the c h a r t ) was an effective barrier and served to deflect eastwest travel to the latitude of Pipe Spring. 4 F r o m K a n a b Andrus' c o m m a n d traveled u p Johnson C a n y o n (Kanyon R a n c h e K a n y o n ) , also known as Spring Canyon, to S k u t u m p a h (Scootembaugh, also by many other spellings) Ranch, located about 20 airline miles northeast of K a n a b . Here J o h n D . Lee four years later took up residence for a time before he moved on to open Lee's Ferry across the Colorado River. See Robert Glass Cleland and J u a n i t a Brooks, eds., A Mormon Chronicle: The Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1876 (2 vols., San M a r i n o , 1 9 5 5 ) , I, 136 et. seq. From there the c o m m a n d reached the upper valley of the Paria River by a route parallel to a county road between S k u t u m p a h and Cannonville. This road for about half the distance crosses broken country cut up by numerous tributaries of the Paria River. Silver Canyon Creek has not been identified. T h e upper branches of the Paria, called here the " P a h R e a r " (there are a n u m b e r of other spellings), heading on the lofty slopes of the P a u n s a u g u n t and Table Cliff plateaus, form an amphitheater no more t h a n 20 miles at its widest diameter. This opens out toward the south where the land slopes gently u p w a r d until it drops off abruptly at the White Cliffs which Woolley here compares in height with the Vermilion Cliffs near Pipe Spring. T h e whole area resembles somewhat a huge circular basin drained only by the Paria River which has broken through the gentle slope and forms a deep canyon. See chart. 5 This is an a t t e m p t to describe the area of cliffs enclosing the Paria amphitheater on the north a n d forming a sector of the rim of the Great Basin. C a m p N o . 7 was in the probable vicinity
MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE
151
Streams, a n d the beds of the dry washes are narrow. Streams Small a n d subject to sudden floods. Most of t h e m dry u p in the summer season. Along the margin of the m a i n stream a n d Some of the branches are n a r r o w bottoms of fertile land, not in sufficient quantity to Sustain any large settlements, if there was even a certainty of the water during the dry season. T h e streams rise from small springs in the heads of the washes, close u n d e r the m o u n t a i n the elevation not being m u c h greater t h a n the lower p a r t of the valley and afford small spots of hay and m e a d o w land with a climate m u c h the same as L o n g Valley on the Virgen. 6 C a m p N o 7 on P a h R e a r is about East from Kanarrohville [Kanarraville] in Iron County distant from St. George by our trail 141 miles. W e reached here on Friday 24th Aug. 7 O n Saturday sent out two small exploring parties one to the S.S.W. down the Pah Rear, which returned early finding the kanyon impassable owing to deposites of Quick Sand from recent floods. O n e to the S.E. to some open glades in t h a t direction returned in afternoon. N o signs of Indians in the neighborhood nor of any having been here for sometime. W e a t h e r rainy m u c h of the time. O n Sunday 26, we were joined by the d e t a c h m e n t of the company u n d e r Second Lieut. Joseph Fish; who left Parowan I r o n County on the 22nd with 18 men, m a r c h i n g by the wagon road u p Little creek kanyon, Bear Valley a n d fort Sanford to Panquitch. T h e n c e South 6 miles u p the Seveir River. East 10 miles u p Six mile kanyon a n d over a low dividede to East fork of the Seveir. T h e n c e SE to S u m m i t of the R i m of the basin and the N . W . pass previously mentioned to P a h R e a r a n d East S.E. from thence 24 miles to c a m p no 7. E.S.E. from Parowan, a n d by his route distant from Parowan, 94 miles. R o u t e practicable in summer for w r agons. 8 Some of our animals being unfit for service, and deeming it best to disencumber ourselves as m u c h as possible, we sent back Elijah Averett, Charles Pinney, George of the m o u t h of Henrieville Creek. Stand there and face north. O n the western skyline stand the Pink Cliffs of the Paunsaugunt, the main scenic attraction of Bryce Canyon National Park. Woolley thinks of this as a northern extension of the Buckskin, or Kaibab, Plateau. T o the northeast is the eroded face of Table Cliff Plateau, here called Table Mountain, 2,000 feet higher than the rim at Bryce Canyon. From Table M o u n t a i n a "spur" (Kaiparowits Plateau) does extend south-southeast to the Colorado River. Trail information is given. Two routes reach Potato Valley in the Escalante River basin to the east: one south of Table Mountain, soon to be taken by the c o m m a n d ; another (by Henderson Canyon?) passed north of Table Mountain. T w o trails reach the rims to the north and west. One of these, the " U t e T r a i l " (see chart) was a prominent Indian road from the Crossing of the Fathers to the valley of the Sevier River. From the vicinity of Peter Shirts R a n c h (see^Crampton and Miller, "Journal of T w o Campaigns," U.H.Q., X X I X ) the U t e Trail followed up the bed of the Paria River and crossed over the rim into the Great Basin in the probable vicinity of U t a h Highway 54. Another trail, Woolley informs us, reaches the rim somewhere south of this and goes on to the south (main) branch of the Sevier and the town of Panguitch. This route today is closely paralleled by U t a h State Highway 12 between Bryce Canyon National Park and the Sevier River. It was the trail followed by the command under Lieutenant Joseph Fish who reached C a m p No. 7 August 26, 1866. See footnote 8. 6 This is an appraisal of the arable resources of the Paria Valley. Within a few years herdsmen, probably acting upon information brought back to the settlements by Andrus' command, were bringing stock into the a r e a ; they were followed in 1874 by the first settlers. Cannonville and Henrieville were the earliest permanent settlements. Long Valley at the head of the Virgin River is traversed by U.S. Highway 89. 7 Prior camps (see chart) were m a d e at Gould's Ranch, Maxwell's R a n c h near Short Creek, Pipe Spring, K a n a b , Skutumpah, and C a m p No. 6 at an unidentified point a few miles from the Paria River. As already noted C a m p No. 7 was in the vicinity of the m o u t h of Henrieville Creek, three or four miles south of Cannonville. 8 Lieutenant Fish from St. George traveled a well-known route to Panguitch and thence found a road suitable for wagons to the head of the Paria River. See footnote 5. Fish was following instructions contained in the general orders dated August 15, 1866.
152
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
Isom, Albert Beebee, Frederick Rugg, a n d H y r u m Pollack having in charge 14 animals, Spare c a m p equipage etc. T h e y Started from C a m p about 2 P . M . at the same time we moved c a m p N E 7 miles to Coal Point on a b r a n c h of the P a h Rear. At about 4 : 3 0 p.m. and 5 miles S.W. from C a m p No. 7 the returning party were waylaid by indians while crossing a deep gorge a n d passing u p a Steep ledge of rocks. T h e foremost m a n Elijah Averett being dismounted, a n d leading two animals, was killed at the first fire and before h e could make any resistance. T h e party were all dismounted and leading their animals u p the steep acclivity at the time the attack was m a d e . George Isom received an arrow w o u n d in the left shoulder. Supposing there was a large party of the indians, T h e y retreated to the opposite side of the gorge a n d took shelter in the Cedars, T h r e e of t h e m continuing their retreat to our c a m p where they arrived about 8 p.m. O n e from exhaustion was left secreted in the timber. T h e other one H i r a m Pollack, after discharging his pistol at the Indians became Separated from his Comrades and remained concealed near the place until he saw the indians d e p a r t with the horses and the direction they h a d taken. O n learning of this disaster we at once detailed 25 men to give pursuit a n d if possible punish the Indians. About 11/% miles from C a m p we met H Pollack returning from w h o m we learned the course the indians h a d gone and as we deemed it useless to search for the missing m a n in the night, we changed our course and instead of following out on t h e trail taken by the party we w e n t down the Pah R e a r with the design of intercepting the Indians in or Near the P a h R e a r Kanyon. At 12 oclock we came u p o n their trail at the crossing of the Stream a n d 15 minutes later overtook t h e m as they were ascending a point of the M o u n t a i n . We surrounded the place as C GREGORY CRAMPTON quickly as possible but in the darkness the indians escaped to the m o u n t a i n . We remained on the ground until daylight supposing we h a d some of t h e m driven into a Small cave near where we overtook t h e m b u t in the morning found we h a d been mistaken a n d that there were but two indians engaged in the matter a n d t h a t they h a d escaped a n d were beyond successful pursuit as the Country was rough a n d impracticable for cavalry into which they h a d retreated. We recovered 12 of the animals a n d Equipage, 2 of t h e m having escaped from the indians at the time of their attack in the afternoon. About 10 oclock A . M . of the 27 we recovered a n d buried the body of Averett and also recovered the other m a n , m u c h exhausted from fatigue a n d exposure. 9 R e t u r n e d to c a m p 9 Elijah Averett was killed August 26, 1866, while crossing a shallow but precipitous canyon now called Averett Canyon. T h e n , or sometime later, a round stone with the inscription "E A 1866" was
Grave of Elijah Averett, Jr., the only man killed by Indians on the 1866 reconnaissance. The canyon where he died now bears his name.
MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE
153
8 at Coal Point in the afternoon. At this place n u m e r o u s veins of Stone coal crop out on the hill sides. O n Tuesday 28th resumed our M a r c h to N . E . u p a Small b r a n c h of Pah R e a r 10 miles thence u p a Sharp, Steep, clay ridge barely wide enough at times to afford footing for our animals; one of a series of Such ridges, between deep almost perpendicular gullies worn in the m o u n t a i n side by the storms of ages a n d the only one on the entire face of the m o u n t a i n between Sandstone Point a n d T a b l e M o u n t a i n t h a t is at all practicable as a trail and this is very steep difficult a n d dangerous. O n e of our animals in a t t e m p t i n g one of the ledges was overbalanced by his pack a n d rolled Some distance down the m o u n t a i n side fortunately the side down which he fell was less Steep t h a n the opposite one or he would have been inevitably dashed to pieces. W i t h some difficulty he was recovered, not m u c h injured, b u t m a d e more circumspect by his experience. Arrived at the S u m m i t of the divide the Scenery at once changes as if by magic, to a beautiful park green grassy meadows, groves of timber on Sloping hill sides, streams of clear cold m o u n t a i n water shedding into a Small open Valley forming the Centre of the picture, very refreshing after the barrenness of the P a h R e a r Side. While climbing the ridge a n d for Sometime after a terrific t h u n d e r a n d rain storm passed over us, the lightning Seemed to play a r o u n d our heads a n d the t h u n d e r m a d e the m o u n tains shake. Sometimes seeming to almost lift us from the ground. C a m p e d on the mountain, wet, rainy, night. T h e waters of this park enter a narrow gorge some 6 miles from the S u m m i t to E.N.E. and in about 5 miles further enter cottonwood creek in Potatoe Valley. D o w n this kanyon are traces of an old Indian trail. H a v i n g no guide a n d the gulch appearing very rough, we concluded best to t u r n to the left a n d reach the lower Country by passing around the heads of these washes a n d down some pass farther to the north. W e found this way the roughest Country we h a d yet passed over. A succession of deep hollows with Steep rough rocky sides almost impracticable at first a n d worse as we proceeded until it was impossible to proceed in our course any farther. T u r n i n g back a short distance after Considerable Search we found a place where we could descend from the ridge which we h a d been following to the plain below. T h e descent was lengthy, difficult and dangerous over ledges of rocks with barely footing enough for our animals. O n e of our horses in descending a Steep ledge lost his footing and was precipated over a Cliff a distance of n e a r fifty feet breaking his Shoulder a n d otherwise brusing h i m badly. W e were obliged to kill him. H a d he been u n h u r t it would have been impossible to have gotten h i m off alive from the ledge on which he lodged in his descent. After a laborious m a r c h of some 12 miles, camped on a clear Stream which we called Cottonwood. [We] experienced quite a heavy frost. Travelled down this Stream 2T/s> miles to Birch Creek, a Stream Coming down from the M o u n t a i n s to N . W . After junction with Cottonwood it flows 6 M . East through Potatoe Valley. C u r r e n t , Sluggish for a M o u n tain Stream, banks Steep difficult crossing, Sometimes miry, to junction with Pine placed on the grave. This was noted by members of the Powell survey who passed along the trail in May 1872. See Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, A Canyon Voyage: . . . (2nd ed., New Haven, 1926), 197-98, and Herbert E. Gregory, ed., "Diary of Almon Harris Thompson . . . 1871â&#x20AC;&#x201D;1875," U.H.Q., V I I (January, April, July, 1939), 80. About 1929 a more elaborate monument was erected at the lonely spot. T h e grave is not far from the county road connecting Skutumpah and Cannonville; it is about six miles from the latter place.
154
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
Creek, when it enters a n a r r o w rocky gorge [with] perpendicular sides extending to [the] Colorado. 1 0 This Stream affords about as m u c h water as one b r a n c h of Rio Virgen at Northop. T h e Valley along the M a r g i n of the Stream susceptible of Cultivation a n d below the Junction of Cottonwood and Birch creeks to head of Sandstone gulch is about 1 mile in average width by 6 miles in length, level easy to irrigate, fertile and all facilities surrounding it for the support of a thriving settlement of one h u n d r e d and fifty families. Climate a n d elevation about the same as Long Valley on the Rio Virgen. Fuel and timber a b u n d a n t , excellent range for cattle, hay accessible in valley at T i m b e r Park, within distance of 10 to 12 miles. We have found wild potatoes growing from which the Valley takes its n a m e . T h e Surrounding Country presents some of the same features as to form and size as the Pah-Rear basin being however a little lower, the mountains hig[h]er. Country to West and N west rougher. T o N o r t h a pass N.E. and E rim of the basin and hig[h] mountains. Between, the valley and which extending from the foot of the rim of the basin and mountains to N . E . to the Colorado, is a flat Sandstone country with occasional ridges making [coming] down from the mountains. T h e whole of this country from the mountains to the River is cut u p in all directions by these narrow deep perpendicular crevices, Some of which are hundreds of feet in depth and b u t a rod or two in width. We a t t e m p t e d to cross this plateau to the mountain to the E.N.E. by passing to the South a n d thence round a point visible in t h a t direction hoping we might find a pass that way. F o u n d it impracticable. Could find no place to get down on to Birch Creek below the h e a d of the gorge. C a m p e d on the ridge overlooking the breakers of the Stream. Ascending a point of rocks overlooking the country to East we found it useless to a t t e m p t to proceed farther in t h a t direction. R e t u r n e d to junction of Birch a n d Pine Creeks thence u p Pine Creek N . W . Potatoe Vally is distant from St. George by our trail about 175 miles and about the latitude of Parowan. 1 1 W e traveled up Pine Creek 12 miles, rough, rocky, kanyon. N o land for farming; water may be conveyed across a low divide to Potatoe Valley. Old indian trail by this creek a n d pass to the N of Potatoe Valley over the rim to East Seveir. N o t m u c h used trail South of the Valley, Small, and h a d appearance of being from there to the river, only a Piede foot trail. Did not follow it to the river. Leaving the Stream to our right where it issues from a rocky gorge in a Short distance trail leads to left toward lower p a r t of the divide. This being too m u c h out of our course we commenced to ascend the rim of the basin by a Steep rough difficult kanyons, and side hills. C a m p e d on moun10 T h e militiamen on August 28 traveled a route closely parallel to U t a h Highway 54 between Henrieville and U p p e r Valley Creek, an upper tributary of the Escalante River. Two miles north-northwest of Henrieville a low, rounded hill streaked with seams of coal is seen to the right of the road. This was undoubtedly Coal Point and the location of C a m p No. 8. From here the command climbed up the steep, clay hills locally known as " T h e Blues," and arrived in the green meadows of U p p e r Valley Creek. Next day they followed this stream six miles and then turned left to avoid the canyon and found themselves in rough country until they got down to Birch Creek which they called Cottonwood Creek. Going on next day two and a half miles they came to a stream now known as North Creek but which they called Birch Creek. Six miles farther Pine Creek comes in from the north-northeast. These streams together form the Escalante River, so named by A. H . Thompson of the Powell survey (See Dellenbaugh, Canyon Voyage, 210). It flows through a spectacular canyon to the Colorado River. 11 T h e Escalante River here called Birch Creek, is compared with the Virgin River at Northrop, a small pioneer settlement below Springdale. Within 10 years of the expedition, the first settlers arrived in Potato Valley and laid out the village of Escalante, named after the Spanish explorer and diarist Silvestre Velez de Escalante. The Escalante expedition, traveling through U t a h in 1 776, did not reach the drainage of the Escalante basin.
.-,
C GREGORY CRAMPTON
Aerial view of the rugged terrain through which the Escalante penetrates. To head these gorges requires miles of circuitous
River travel.
tain side at Q u a k i n g asp Springs. C o n t i n u e d our journey u p the m o u n t a i n on the following day a n d nooned on the S u m m i t by a beautiful clear stream of water, excellent feed. S u m m i t and sides of m o u n t a i n covered with groves of Pine a n d Q u a k i n g asp. O n S u m m i t but little underbrush a n d of small growth. M o u n t a i n very high. Riding out to the Southern edge of the M o u n t a i n h a d an excellent view of Potatoe Valley lying below a n d S. W . ; the route we h a d traveled and all the country in the basin below us and extending far beyond the breaks of the Colorado River. This view satisfied us entirely of the utter impracticability of any trail crossing the basin from Potatoe Valley, N . E . or S.E. either to the M o u n t a i n s bordering it or to the river. T h e Summit of the Ridge where we ascended was rough a n d after following it a Short distance we descent on the N . W . side to a lower table of the m o u n t a i n a n d D e e p lake. A beautiful clear sheet of water romantically situated at the foot of the m o u n t a i n surrounded by groves of trees and grassy knolls, thence u p a small valley over a low ridge a n d down a corresponding valley a short distance good travelling. Course N . N . E . 4 miles from lake. F r o m this place we have a good view of Beaver M o u n t a i n to West 75 miles, Filmore M o u n t a i n s a little farther to N.W., Salt Creek M o u n t a i n s near Selina [Salina] N . W . and continuing on round East from there were other mountains at the head of Salt Creek and the dividing ridge between Seveir a n d Green Rivers with the R i m of the basin forming the divide between these Streams continuing on S.W. to where we Stood. T h e country inside of these boundaries is [written over was] comparatively low open and can be traversed in any direction little or n o water excepting the main streams, Seveir a n d O t t e r Creek and the small streams a n d lakes on the high M o u n t a i n which we crossed. 12 Ascending the M o u n t a i n again our course was N . E . 12 Balked in their attempt to cross the canyon of the Escalante River south of Potato Valley, the command traveled up Pine Creek paralleling the route now taken by the U.S. Forest Service road crossing the Aquarius Plateau between Escalante and Bicknell. Flat-topped and forest-covered, the Aquarius Plateau, called locally Boulder Mountain, rises to heights in excess of 11,000
156
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
9 miles. T o p of the m o u n t a i n comparatively flat, numerous Small lakelets, Groves of Pine timber, growing less dense as we proceed. Surface of the country covered with black volcanic rock Sometimes in huge masses or scattered in fragments over the surface. At noon on Sunday Oct. 2d we came suddenly out on to a high bold promontory of the S Eastern face of the m o u n t a i n overlooking the country to N . E . , E. and SE. and South, I n some directions probably for a distance between one h u n d r e d and two h u n dred miles. Immediately u n d e r us a n d down the black volcanic precipice forming the South Eastern face of the M o u n t a i n , a n d more t h a n a thousand feet below are three Small lakes surrounded by groves of timber beautifully Situated on A Small plateau of 1 or 2 miles extent on the m o u n t a i n side t h a t seems to have sunk d o w n from the upper level of the m o u n t a i n . These lakes may at one time have been the craters of now extinct volcanoes. Below these lakes again, down another precipice to the S.E. is the Colorado Plateau Stretching away as far as the Eye can see a naked barren plain of red and white Sandstone crossed in all directions by innumerable gorges similar to those mentioned before. Occasional high buttes rising above the general level, the country gradually rising u p to the ridges marking the "breakers" or rocky bluffs of the larger streams. T h e Sun shining down on this vast red plain almost dazzled our eyes by the reflection as it was t h r o w n back from the firey surface. I n the far distance a blue line marks the summits of high ranges of mountains just visible over the plain to the East and S.E. Nearer, to the east, are Pot-Se-Nip M o u n t a i n s , visible to the S.E. [actually southwest] from Elk Mountains. Elk Mountains seen to N of East. 1 3 S.E. 3 small isolated M o u n t a i n s , n a m e u n k n o w n , near the Color a d o a n d forming the end of a spur of the m o u n t a i n extending in t h a t direction of lower elevation a n d t h r o u g h a gap in which are seen to S.E. and distant about 40 miles the breaks of a larger Stream coming in to the Colorado from the E.S.E. Supposed to be St. J o h n ' s [San J u a n ] River. T o N of East a n d distant about 15 to 20 miles a p p e a r the breakers of two larger streams one coming from the N . E . Supposed to be Green River the other coming from E S E Supposed to be G r a n d River. A short distance below the junction of the Streams a n d directly facing us to the east the rocky gorge in which the river flows opens out to near J/2 a mile in width for a length of two or three miles. M a r g i n of stream covered with Cottonwood T i m b e r . Gorge closes in at lower end of this little valley again and S t r e a m flow's to the S West. T o N . E . and between the m o u n t a i n a n d Green River are the breaks of another Stream flowing through the same naked red Sandstone Country supposed to be Castle Creek. 1 4 feet. From points on its rim, magnificent vistas are afforded. T h e views here described are from the southern and northwestern rims. 13 From C a m p No. 13 the expedition traveled nine miles across the top of Boulder Mountain when it came out on Bown's Point, or Deer Point, on the southeast rim. Wilderness mesas, upthrust mountains, and intricately carved canyons lay spread out below the militiamen. They could turn halfway round a circle and see for distances over 100 miles. East-northeast 125 airline miles away, they could see some of the peaks of the Elk Mountains, now known as La Sal Mountains. Looming up to the east and 25 miles away were the Henry Mountains, here called the Pot-Se-Nip or Pat-Se-Nup Mountains, the earliest known name. Powell thought of this spectacular group as being unknown and bestowed the present name in honor of the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 14 O n top of Boulder M o u n t a i n at Bown's Point the campaigners were 80 airline miles from the m o u t h of the Green River, but they guessed it was only about 15. It is difficult to tell accurately just how they read the intricate country that spread away before them like a m a p . Field study and comparison of Woolley's chart with modern maps indicate an interpretation something like this:
MILITARY
RECONNAISSANCE
157
T o t h e N . N . E . is a very low g a p 4 or 5 miles wide in this chain of t h e r i m of the basin affording a pass to the C o l o r a d o P l a t e a u a n d some o p e n country in the Valley N . E . of us 8 or 10 miles b u t not p e n e t r a t i n g the country any considerable distance. T h r o u g h this g a p a Small S t r e a m flows w h i c h rises on the west side of t h e M o u n t a i n to the N o r t h of us a n d after flowing S. West turns to SE a n d East a n d flows o u t by the gap to the Colorado. 1 5 W e found no trails leading into n o r across this country. T h e indians from PotSe-Nup M t s . a n d S.E. from there w h e n travelling to the N o r t h cross the Elk M o u n t a i n s a n d thence by the G u n n i s o n trail [to] San Pete. E t c . T h e Green River is identified with the Fremont River below Capitol Reef, the G r a n d [Colorado] River with upper Hall's Creek. Woolley's chart was not scaled, b u t his directions were generally good. Directly east of Bown's Point about 15 miles, the expedition would have been able to see a few open areas along the head of Sandy Wash which today support stands of cottonwood trees of some size. T h e m a p m a k e r then showed the Colorado River to r u n across the Waterpocket Fold, through the Circle Cliffs area, near three isolated mountains (high places, possibly, like Deer P o i n t ) , and dropped it into its proper channel by way of the Escalante River drainage. T h a t they were able to make an interpretation like this is easy to u n d e r s t a n d : I n ever so many places in the canyon country of the Colorado River, tributary streams are found to be independent of the structural slopes of the country. From a point atop Boulder Mountain, Clarence D u t t o n a few years later commented on this problem. See his Report on the Geology of the High Plateaus of Utah . . . (Washington, D.C., 1880), Chapter X I I . Castle Creek is probably to be identified with Caineville Wash, a northern tributary of the Fremont River draining the country between Thousand Lake Mountain a n d the San Rafael Swell. lo Woolley is referring here to the Fremont River. This stream heads at Fish Lake a n d vicinity, flows through Rabbit Valley, and thence through the wide g a p between Boulder Mountain and Thousand Lake Mountain. I t breaks through Capitol Reef a n d reaches the Colorado after flowing north and east of the Henry Mountains.
Posey Lake, one of many high mountain lakes on Boulder Mountain. This lake may have been explored by the expedition of 1866. C. GREGORY C R A M P T O N
158
UTAH HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
T h e Elevation of this m o u n t a i n may be better guessed at by this; t h a t ; although the lakes below seemed to be almost under us and t h a t one could easily throw a stone into the nearest one, from where we stood; a long range breech loading gun sighted for 500 yds held at the opposite margin threw [a ball] a little less t h a n J/2 way a cross, Striking the water at w h a t seemed to be about 30 rods from the Shore. Being Satisfied t h a t the M o u t h of Green River the point of our destination was in sight before us, a n d t h a t we were as n e a r to it as it was possible for us to get and that there were no trails leading in t h a t direction, we unanimously agreed t h a t we h a d carried out so far as practicable that portion of your instructions, a n d commenced our r e t u r n at 3 P.M. of Sunday Sept 2d having reached a point in L a t i t u d e about [blank] Longitude about [blank] in a country perhaps never before penetrated by white men, H a v i n g traveled from St. George in a generally N . E . direction by our trail a distance of about 260 miles. R e t u r n i n g we crossed t h e divide to the N . N . W . and descending the M o u n t a i n Side to N . W . Descent, Steep, rocky, over fallen timber Etc. F r o m the base of the M o u n tain W . N . W about 20 miles u p a gentle slope, barren, destitute of water shedding to E. through gap before mentioned. About 12 miles from After leaving the M o u n t a i n and within a distance of two miles we crossed four heavy indian trails leading [coming] from towards the h e a d of the Seveir [leading] N o r t h to the old Gunnison trail at the head of O t t e r Creek. These trails do not seem to have been traveled very recently. Passed on this Slope in a n u m b e r of places rude breast works of rock forming however no system of defence so far as we could discern but thrown u p in a hasty m a n n e r a n d points widely separated from each other. O n the Summit of the Bluff bordering O t t e r Creek at the h e a d of a small kanyon leading down to Grassy Valley we found the most extensive and effective of these works defending the head of the kanyon, a n d in case of defeat affording some Shelter in retreating to the rocks a n d timber in rear. I n this kanyon we found where the indians w h o drove the cattle from Circleville c a m p e d for some time keeping the cattle in this kanyon, Some of t h e m tied to the trees for Several days. Rocks still remain on which they dried their meat. T h e approach
The Crossing of the Fathers or Ute Crossing as seen from the upstream rim of mouth of Padre Creek. In 1963 this famous crossing was covered by waters of Lake Powell. C. GREGORY C R A M P T O N
MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE
159
to t h e m from Grass Valley u p this small kanyon was easily defended, kanyon being narrow, Steep rocky a n d brushy. Five miles further S.E. O t t e r Creek in Grass Valley flowing S. Westerly is met by the East fork of the Seveir coming from the South after the junction the Streams turn to W . N . W and flow down a kanyon 12 miles through the range of mountains forming the divide between the East a n d South branches of the Seveir to the Southward a n d between the Seveir River a n d Grass Valley Etc. to N o r t h w a r d and [blank]. At the junction of these streams about 19 miles N . E . from Circleville at the u p p e r end of the kanyon is an excellent site for a larger Settlement, good farming and grass land, extensive range for stock, fuel a n d timber a b u n d a n t a n d convenient, climate a n d elevation about the same as Fort Sanford on the South Fork of Seveir a n d would comm a n d all the passes east from Circleville, Beaver Etc. We arrived at Circleville on the 5th inst, found the w h e a t there good a n d ready to harvest. N o one to take care of it. F r o m thence we m a r c h e d by the m a i n road u p the Seveir to Bear Valley down Little Creek K a n y o n , Parowan, C e d a r a n d Toquerville to St. George where I have the honor to report our arrival in safety with exception of casualties mentioned in this report. 1 6 With the exception of those indians w h o attacked and killed Elijah Averett we saw no hostile indians on our route. Nor did not come upon the trail of any large party. T h e r e was a small party of Piedes, judging by the signs, tracks etc. which we crossed, h u n t i n g elk in the mountains near the rim of the basin a n d D e e p Lake but we did not see them. By this reconisance we have learned that there are no trails East from St. George a n d between there a n d the m o u t h of Green River leading from the N o r t h to the Colorado River with the exception of the main trail known as the " O l d U t e " trail by the head of the Seveir, Pah R e a r K a n y o n and W a r m [Wahweap] Creek to the U t e Crossing of the Colorado. At Shirts R a n c h e on the P a h R e a r a branch of the trail leads down the west side of the P a h R e a r by a high Plateau at foot of Buckskin M o u n t a i n to M o u t h of Pah Rear, Sometimes called "Jacob's Crossing." This trail having been traveled by Br Jacob H a m b l i n in some of his visits to Moquis [Hopi] Villages. This trail may be reached by crossing the Buckskin M o u n t a i n from Pipe Springs. T h e only other trail is the small foot trail u p Potatoe Valley. T h e character of which we cannot speak advisedly of not having followed it to the river. 17 10 Descending from Boulder Mountain the command crossed the barren Awapa Plateau and dropped down into Grass Valley just above the m o u t h of Otter Creek where Woolley thought the natural resources were adequate to support a settlement. A few years later the little settlement of Antimony was founded upstream from the mouth of Otter Creek a short distance on the East Fork of the Sevier River. Grass Valley, near the passes between the Great Basin and the Colorado River basin and near the Mormon settlements in the Sevier River basin, was undoubtedly a favorite rendezvous point for m a u r a u d i n g Indians. In 1873 three Navajos on a trading venture were killed there by white stockmen and another " w a r " was narrowly averted. The militia marched through the canyon of the East Fork of the Sevier to its junction with the main stream, here called the South Fork, and on to Circleville where they arrived September 5, 1866. Traveling over a familiar route the command reached St. George a few days later. 17 Within the latitude explored by James Andrus and his command, two main Indian trails leading to crossings of the Colorado River were identified and indicated on the chart. T h e " O l d U t e " trail from the head of the East Fork of the Sevier River crossed over to the head of the Paria River by a route parallel to U t a h Highway 54. It continued on down the Paria River to Shirts' Ranch. Below this place it left the Paria, crossed W a r m (now Wahweap) Creek and reached the Colorado River at a point 25 miles above the Glen Canyon D a m . T h e first white party to cross the river at this place was that led by the two Franciscans Escalante and Dominguez in 1776. It
UTAH HISTORICAL
160
QUARTERLY
For further particulars of the route traveled course a n d distances, I beg leave to refer you to d i a g r a m of trail accompanying this report a n d forming p a r t thereof. I would also direct your attention to the C o m p a n y muster roll for names of men a n d officers forming the c o m m a n d . I n conclusion I feel to acknowledge the blessings of the Almighty extended to us on our journey; m u c h of the way being through an indian country rough Mountains a n d without trail or guide a n d to attribute our safety to his overruling Providence. I would also express to the officers a n d men of the C o m m a n d my appreciation of their hearty Co-operation in all the duties of the Campaign. Yours Respectfully James Andrus
Capt.
F B Woolley Adjt. F B Woolley Adjt. Muster Roll of Volunteer Cavalry Co, First Brigade, I r o n Military District, Nauvoo Legion, C o m m a n d e d by J a m e s Andrus, Mustered in Iron Military District, 16th Day of August, 1866. 18 J a m e s Andrus Franklin B. Woolley Charles J o h n T h o m a s First Platoon Willis Coplan George Gould Jesse W. Crosby J r James Cragun J o h n Houston David C a m m e r o n M a h o n r i Snow William Meeks William E d w a r d Cowley Henry McFate Archibald Sullivan
2 Lieut. Sergt. Private
John Say Second Platoon Woodruff J o h n F r e e m a n Thales Hastings Haskell Alfred Ford
2 Lieut. Sergt. Private
Capt. Ad jut. Bugler H i r a m Pollock T h o m a s Jefferson Clark Samuel Newton Adair Frederick Dickerson Ruggs Lehi Smithson William G a r d n e r William Slade Bennet Bracken Benjamin Knell T h i r d Platoon Thomas Dennett George Petty George Williams Albert Beebee George Isom Charles Pinney J a m e s A. Stratton
2 Lieut, Sergt. Private
has since been known as the Crossing of the Fathers as well as the U t e Crossing or U t e Ford. T h e M o r m o n pioneer explorer Jacob Hamblin also used this ford before a ferry, 40 miles downstream, was established by J o h n D. Lee. T h e trail from "Jacob's Crossing" or Lee's Ferry skirted the Vermilion Cliffs, headed the north end of the Kaibab Plateau, and then went generally west to St. George by way of K a n a b . T h e trail from Potato Valley may have led to the Colorado River but there was no satisfactory crossing in the vicinity until a wagon road was opened through Hole-inthe-Rock by Mormon pioneers in 1879. 18 T h e names follow the spellings on the original muster roll in the Military Records Section, U t a h State Archives.
MILITARY
RECONNAISSANCE
Robert H . Brown Elijah Averett Jr. G a r d n e r Potter Walter Winsor William Riggs
Eli N Pace J a m e s Brigham T h o m p s o n Fifth Platoon
F o u r t h Platoon Albert Minerly Elijah H Maxfield William A Bringhurst J o h n S Adams Joseph S. McCleve J o h n Batty George A. W a r d s w o r t h Lemuel H . R e d d Francis Prince Robert Richardson
161
2 Lieut. Sergt. Private
Joseph Fish William C. M c G r e g o r Enoch W a r d l e George Richards Thomas Robb John White T h o m a s Rowley R i c h a r d H e b e r Benson E d w a r d Parry Samuell Wood A n d r e w Corry H o r a t i o Morrill
2 Lieut. Sergt. Private
Five miles, South of Toquerville Aug. 18 1866. Genl D. H . Wells Dear Brother Apreciably to the request of Prest. Young of 21st July, I have fitted out a reconnoitering expedition, the objects of which the enclosed order will show. I a m just returning from Gould's R a n c h where I have been to muster t h e m into service to instruct a n d help them a n d have sent t h e m on their way, a picked company a n d well fitted out. Should you on the Sanpete companies wish to communicate with t h e m you will probably find t h e m near the farther point of their destination about the 1st of September. T h e y have one half or two thirds of the long range and most approved Guns a n d a brace of revolvers each. I do not know but t h a t they are too few in n u m b e r to send into that region of country, of this you are better able to judge t h a n myself, b u t they will probably be two h u n d r e d miles from us at their farthest point of destination. T h e harvest and other pressing labors t h a t are upon us in the South are reasons for sending so few. If you think they will be nearer Sanpete t h a n to us when they t u r n back, it is submitted to you whether they should receive any support from Sanpete Dist. F. B. Woolley has gone as 1st L i e u t e n a n t a n d Prof. C. J. T h o m a s as Bugler, my oldest son M a h o n r i is also with them. Praying God &c go with them, a n d hoping t h a t my acts may be approved in this m a t t e r I remain Yours truly Erastus Snow P.S. We are out in a heavy rain.
iimwfi':,.. :!>.s. ..ST
I P s * K %...| '£•
J
xmm «» .
. . :
••
:
.;•:::::•••::•:
:. •'•
':'•'•
;
;V.
i;
Tl i l l
il ii
w>
B.
•••...:•."-:
&
$
£
. .
*l,
: :
.: .
: ;l':.£
L I * * IIII
:•::•.
^
:;?:
M
•••
^.iy
'0$8
i I i
• •::.
::.
&8
:
::::
Si
:-:8&
,v.
11 I
* "
' •
Treasure
Hill: Portrait
ing Camp.
of a Silver
Min-
By W . T U R R E N T I N E J A C K -
S O N . ( T u c s o n : T h e U n i v e r s i t y of Arizona Press, 1963. 254 p p . $5.00) T h e discovery of rich silver deposits precipitated a rush to w h a t became t h e White Pine M i n i n g District, centering a t H a m i l t o n a n d about 40 miles west of Ely, in eastern N e v a d a . W i t h western mining elsewhere in t h e doldrums, so many m e n flocked to t h e n e w area in 1868 a n d 1869 t h a t it h a d a real boom. Typical of t h e excitement early t h e first spring was t h e establishment of seven new stagecoach lines to compete with the two older companies connecting H a m i l ton with t h e railroad a t Elko. Miners' recreations were limited, masculine, a n d c r u d e ; t h e theater was comparatively well-supported b u t lacked distinction. T h e r e was m u c h lawlessness, b u t t h e police were effective enough that vigilantes never arose. M a n y lawsuits were t r i e d o v e r t h e p r e c i s e b o u n d a r i e s of claims. A n o t h e r major problem was health, especially because t h e unusually severe winters began early a n d lasted well into April. Municipal a n d county governments were founded, b u t chronically i n a d e q u a t e finances prevented effective action a n d only a few citizens cared enough about democracy to b e come registered voters. T h e first prospectors in t h e area u n earthed t h e most valuable deposits, all on a m o u n t a i n called Treasure Hill. D e velopment quickly shifted from individual enterprise to 169 corporations with a n n o u n c e d capitalization of $246,884,000; some were legitimate undertakings, b u t most were speculations so fraudulent t h a t they gradually destroyed t h e dis-
trict's good reputation. I n White Pine's peak year, 1869, nearly 200 mines within an area four miles square sent their ore to 23 mills a n d secured in silver about $3 million. I n 1870, as the area definitely began to decline, British investors formed a joint-stock company to purchase two major mines. T h e overcapitalized corporation a t first h a d ample funds for development work a n d later, in financial difficulties, doggedly continued work until 1893. Very little net profit was earned by t h e company simply because the rich ore deposits of Treasure Hill proved to be close to t h e surface a n d steadily declined in value as the mines sank deeper. Professor Jackson has been extremely thorough in his research, using company records, newspapers, national magazines, a n d government documents. His wellrounded, clearly written account gives a comprehensive picture of social, political, a n d economic developments. T h e book is filled with specific facts and enlivened with h u m a n interest stories. Its appeal is broader t h a n to Nevada specialists, for t h e story of t h e White Pine Mining District's development a n d d e cline is quite typical of w h a t happened all over t h e western mining frontier. W I L L I A M S. GREEVER
University
of Idaho
Military Governments in California, 1846-1850, with a chapter on their prior use in Louisiana, Florida and New
Mexico.
By T H E O D O R E GRIVAS.
Frontier Military Series, I V . (Glendale : T h e A r t h u r H . Clark Company, 1963. 247 p p . $8.50) T h e r e is a n interesting introductory chapter on military government in Loui-
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS siana and Florida. It is confined to a narrative of the major items in political, constitutional, and treaty changes in those areas, and, on the whole, admirably done. The author properly praises the excellence of the work of William Charles Cole Claiborne as military governor in Louisiana. The best chapter of the book is the one on Alcalde Rule. Here are the unique problems of Americans who were struggling to amalgamate American jurisprudence with the Mexican laws and customs guaranteed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. T h e background of Spanish law and Mexican law is wellsummarized in this explanation of the actions of ayuntamientos and alcaldes as they had operated prior to 1846. American alcaldes in the 1846-50 period, of course, ran into some pretty difficult legal questions. However, it should have been mentioned that American courts accepted appeals from their decisions, and that this served to reduce the extensive and arbitrary powers of the alcaldes. Commodore Sloat's excellent proclamation of July 7, 1846, is given practically in full. In handling the controversy over authority between Commodore Stockton and Colonel Kearny, the author completely ignores the important fact that as of this time there had never before been a situation in which a genuine interservice rivalry over precedence, rank, authority, and prestige had occurred in territory conquered from a foreign nation. The acquisition of Louisiana and Florida had been accomplished by the State Department without war and without conquest. Certainly Commodore Stockton in California had many reasons to believe that by virtue of prior action and superior rank, plus the inherent logic that the vast distances of the wastelands of the Southwest and the intermountain plateaus resembled an ocean in terms of transportation problems, the navy would
163
be charged with the administration of California until Congress could provide for civil government. The author takes the position that anyone who argued with Kearny about anything is guilty of a combination of insubordination, ineptitude, poor judgment, and lack of patriotism. It is a rather tawdry hero on whom he attempts to confer charisma by fiat. The lackluster commander who reported the battle of San Pascual as a triumphant victory is truly distinguished neither in the annals of the U.S. Army, nor in the chronicles of California. The fact that the top level decision in Washington to put the army in charge in California was made on the basis of territorial contiguity, and had nothing to do with events in the conquest of California nor the relative rank of navy and army officers, is never mentioned in this account. The Bibliography is impressive and extensive. The only surprise is that no study whatsoever was made of the court martial trial of J o h n C. Fremont â&#x20AC;&#x201D; neither in the original published transcript nor in the neat exposition included in the book on Fremont by Irving Stone. This court martial record is the best source of information on the KearnyStockton controversy in which Fremont was embroiled. Similarly, the military operations of Fremont in California, which have been so brilliantly narrated by Robert Glass Cleland in A Place Called Sespe, were never examined. The over-all judgment which seems to be in order is that the author does well whenever he is unearthing some obscure dispatch from the War D e p a r t m e n t which arrived in California months after the action it directed had already been taken, but does not concern himself with the true alternative choices of policy, nor with the significance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Nowhere in this book is there any analysis of that treaty, although casual mention is made of it from time-to-time, such as the arrival in
UTAH HISTORICAL
164 California of news it h a d been signed (p. 1 9 9 ) . Yet the Supreme C o u r t of t h e U n i t e d States decided t h a t t h e whole body of Mexican law, insofar as it did n o t conflict with t h e U . S . Constitution or the laws of the U n i t e d States, remain applicable in California until it w a s officially replaced by t h e Constitution of the State of California a n d laws enacted by the l e g i s l a t u r e s of C a l i f o r n i a f u n c t i o n i n g u n d e r the California State Constitution. This applies to the years examined in this book, 1846-50. I n other words, the author has faithfully explicated all the routine dispatches between t h e W a r D e p a r t m e n t a n d subordinates in California, b u t omitted the only truly pivotal doctrine involved, namely, the guarantees of the T r e a t y of G u a d a l u p e Hidalgo. T h e best p a r t of the book is t h e pictures. T h e r e are excellent pictures of Claiborne, Stockton, Sloat, Kearny, H a l leck, Riley, Mason, Colton, Burnett, a n d Field. Noteworthy is the omission of l o h n C. Fremont.
_
J
R O L F W. ORDAL
... ~
Fresno City
College
Great Day in the West: Forts, Posts, and Rendezvous Beyond the Mississippi. By K E N T R U T H .
( N o r m a n : Univer-
sity of O k l a h o m a Press, 1963. xv + 308 p p . $12.50) An illustrated presentation of western frontier sites—early frontier for the most part—Great Day in the West covers 147 points of interest in 21 states. Military a n d fur t r a d e localities predominate. Some 36 army posts a n d about 30 fur trade ventures are included. A dozen or more each of Spanish, M o r m o n , mission, a n d m i n i n g a t t r a c t i o n s also appear. Places associated with exploration (especially Lewis a n d Clark) a n d with western trails, along with a sprinkling of farms, ranches, a n d transportation enterprises, comprise most of the rest. Several i m p o r t a n t I n d i a n sites — only one of
QUARTERLY
which (Little Big H o r n ) is a battleground — are represented. This book is notable, in fact, for intelligent a n d judicious treatment of Indian-white relations in the early days of the West. Selected for their interest, importance, a n d pictorial possibilities from a massive n u m b e r of potential choices, all 147 m a y be defended as "among the most imp o r t a n t in the West." Each site receives a two-page t r e a t m e n t : a descriptive page of text explains historic background, a n d a facing page — generally of two pictures — contrasts early appearance with a present-day view. Some of the places included (San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Denver, Kansas City, a n d Salt L a k e City, for example) have retained their early i m p o r t a n c e ; others have disappeared. A strict limit on the number of pictures a n d on the length of the text sharpens the impression given each subject. Extensive use of early day quotations enlivens the text a n d matches the " t h e n " a n d " n o w " effect of the pictures. A book such as this one cannot afford to be dull. But in the interest of accuracy, the a u t h o r h a s gone to great care to avoid extravagant claims which so often distort literature concerning places of early importance. Y e t a few errors got by. Silver production listed for the Cornstock (p. 152) more t h a n doubles the actual recovery of gold a n d silver combined. Population estimates for Leadville in 1880 arc given as ranging from 25,000 to 40,000 (p. 4 8 ) , although the census for that year showed only 14,820. A n d the population ascribed to Silver City (p. 63) is proportionately still more excessive. This compilation h a d to dep e n d largely upon material provided by historical agencies a n d western specialists : so long as such sources disseminate misinformation of this kind, errors are likely to result. Explanations of the pictures also come in considerable measure from the institutions which provided them. Whatever misidentification there m a y be (such as t h e confusion in the
165
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS Lapwai mission picture [p. 59] of the original Spalding cabin with a later one on the 1838 site) generally derives from the agencies from which the material was assembled. Most of t h e sites, at least, m a y be identified without too m u c h controversy. But an i m p o r t a n t exception is Francis Drake's 1579 California landing place. Although Drake's brass plate (now in the Bancroft Library) is pictured faithfully enough, it was not found at Drake's Bay, which is pictured with m o d e r n view. Past confusions regarding the location of Drake's landing are alluded to. But since Drake's plate is pictured, the wrong " D r a k e ' s B a y " scarcely ought to be shown without a clear explanation of the discrepancy. Errors, however, generally detract b u t very little from this handsome volume. T h e pictures are good ones, the text is entertaining, a n d tourists w h o cover the West will find that awareness of the sites illustrated in it will be rewarding. MERLE WELLS
Gold Camp:
Idaho Historical
Society
Alder Gulch and
Virginia
City, Montana.
By LARRY B A R S N E S S .
(New Y o r k : Hastings House, 1962. x + 312 p p . $5.95) Gold Camp is a delightful chronicle of the way of life in M o n t a n a ' s Alder Gulch, in which Virginia City a n d several other settlements mushroomed in 1863 a n d 1864. This is a social history. Good detail is supplied concerning the economic exploitation of the fabulously rich placer sands, a n d equally fantastic profits in varied business enterprises; b u t Barsness is interested in these primarily as they affect the attitudes a n d interaction of the people. Generalizations are quickly supported by rich specific illustrations of time, place, person, a n d incident. Color, noise, smell, action, wealth, abject poverty, life lived to the fullest by the "b'hoys" of the c a m p , and, all too
often, sudden death, are all woven vividly together to portray the intimate development of one of the richest mining camps in the world's history. T h e time extends from discovery in 1863 through t h e major years of placer gold production to about 1875. Virginia City was only one in a remarkable group of adjacent, regionally i m p o r t a n t mining camps of the time â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bannack, Helena, Butte. Another book or two will be necessary to assess the basic significance of Virginia City in this complex of bonanza camps a n d of their combined influence upon the region a n d nation. However, considerable heretofore widely scattered information, important in this interpretative approach, is brought together in s u c h c h a p t e r s as " T o l l R o a d s a n d Freighters," " T h e Stage Lines," a n d "Rivers to H i d e . " C h a p t e r headings such as " T h e I n nocents," "Saints a n d Sinners," "Prize Fighters and Thespians," and " T h e H e a t h e n C h i n e e " suggest segmentation, b u t an easy transition a n d a binding of more broadly interpretive chapters provide a smooth, rapidly moving narrative. Prolonged research is evident on t h e p a r t of the author, w h o has directed the Virginia City Players for many summers a n d has assisted with state legislative sessions in H e l e n a in o d d - n u m b e r e d y e a r s , snatching occasional hours for research in the M o n t a n a Historical Society files. Facts, many facts, a n d many terse quotations are woven unobtrusively into the story to present brief, b u t illuminating, sketches of persons a n d incidents a n d an understanding of the main currents a n d cross currents of the time. T h e writing has p u n g e n t qualities a p propriate to the subject matter, b u t the book has more than color a n d dash. I t has solid value as an historical narrative which has long needed writing, a n d the style makes t h e reading an adventure second only to being there a h u n d r e d M E R R I L L G. B U R L I N G A M E
Montana
State
College
166
UTAH HISTORICAL
Tom Horn, Man of the West. By LAURAN PAINE. (Massachusetts: Barre Publishing C o m p a n y , 1963. v i + 1 8 6 p p . $3.95)
popular conception of a n Oregon Trail of covered wagons, m u d , thirst, scorching heat, vast plains, a n d rugged m o u n tains. Only approximately one-third of the book deals with this aspect of the Oregon Trail which h a s been so widely popularized in fiction a n d motion pictures. " T h e story of the Oregon Trail," states the author, "begins in one very real sense with C o l u m b u s " (p. 3 ) . I t was a culmination of the centuries-old myth that somewhere to the west there was a passage or a "River of the West" which would provide a " n e w r o a d " to man's old hopes, the "wealth of the O r i e n t " (p. 3 ) . I n addition adventure, wanderlust, vanity, profit, a n d the desire to escape social a n d economic pressures in the states also played a part in the evolution of the O r e g o n Trail. However, it was the result of something more, something not so easy to p u t into words. A prominent factor was man's age-old a n d persistent urge to migrate toward the setting sun. " M o s t of the other highways of the nation," maintains the author, " h a v e been responses to specific conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to gold in California or to the liberated trade of Santa Fe. In a large sense the O r e g o n T r a i l was also a route to a material goal, to the lush farmlands along the Willamette River. But it was more. I t was Manifest Destiny m a d e possible in wheel tracks. I t was, as T h o r eau recognized, a culmination of occidental man's age-old instinct to follow the setting sun to the blessed isles, to the gardens of the Hesperides" (p. 2 7 ) . I t is this latter drive which the author has a t t e m p t e d to m i r r o r a n d from whence, n o doubt, stems t h e Westward Vision portion of his title.
For anyone not familiar with western history, this book would be a n interesting biography of t h e m a n w h o was wellknown as a hired killer of cattle rustlers. It is well-written a n d r a t h e r complete. But the same reader could read the entire book without suspecting that T o m H o r n h a d ever been heard of before being discovered by this writer. T h e r e is not a single reference to any previously p u b lished material. As a m a t t e r of fact, the whole story is bodily lifted from T o m H o r n ' s own autobiography a n d scores of other early sources. So far as I can discover, it does n o t contain a single parag r a p h of original research. T h e r e are also a n u m b e r of errors. T h e author states t h a t n o one ever found out w h o paid T o m H o r n for his killings. Actually everyone in Wyoming knew t h a t he was paid by the Wyoming Cattlemen's Association. H e is also mixed u p in his geography when he says that Brown's Hole is located at t h e junction of Bear River a n d Green River. H e says t h a t Josie Bassett was the sweetheart of M a t t Rash, one of t h e rustlers H o r n killed, while the fact is t h a t A n n Bassett was Rash's girl friend. T h e a u t h o r describes A n n , " Q u e e n of the Rustlers," as a tall girl, whereas she was only five feet four inches. T h e r e is n o Bibliography a n d n o I n dex, a fault which makes any historical book almost completely worthless. CHARLES KELLY
Salt Lake Westward
City
Vision: The Story of the Ore-
gon Trail. By DAVID LAVENDER.
Amer-
ican Trails Series, V . ( N e w York: M c G r a w - H i l l Book C o m p a n y , 1963. 424 p p . $8.95) This volume, the fifth in the American Trails Series, is m u c h more than the
QUARTERLY
T h e book contains 20 chapters, arranged into four major sections. I n these the a u t h o r discusses the activities of the early fur traders w h o probed westward largely from C a n a d a ; t h e western m o u n tain m e n a n d fur trappers, the rugged individualists w h o actually blazed the O r e -
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS gon Trail; and the missionaries, the emigrants and their wives whose wagon wheels gouged the deep ruts and dotted its sides with the graves of those whose dreams were unfulfilled. The general Bibliography is arranged topically, with additional, and more specific, references listed by chapter and topic. The illustrations preceding each of the four sections are well-adapted to the material discussed and are attractively drawn. The three, two-page maps are clear and easy to follow, although there may be some readers who will feel that this is an insufficient number for a work of this nature and scope. The book is written in a clear, readable style. Although scores of individuals who contributed to the making of the Oregon Trail are discussed, the author makes the transition from one to another with facility and without impairing the unity of the central theme. In the opinion of the reviewer, the last three sections of the book are particularly well-done. This volume should prove a worthy and widely read addition to the American Trails Series. . _. _. ALTON B. OVIATT
Montana State College Fifty Years on the Trail: A True Story of Western Life. The Adventures of John Young Nelson as described to Harrington O'Reilly. Foreword by DONALD E. WORCESTER. New Edition.
(Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1963. xix + 291pp. $2.00) Here is the story of a man who traded, hunted, and fought through the most significant half-century of Indian resistance to the encroachments of whites on the Great Plains. From 1840 to 1890 Nelson rode the trails of the Indian lands. He lived with the Brule Sioux under the great Chief Spotted Tail long enough to marry a succession of nine Indian wives, eight of whom he lost through the common Indian practice of wife-stealing. He spoke the Sioux lan-
167
guage fluently; trapped beaver; killed buffalo commercially; carried mail for the Pony Express; served as government scout, guide, and interpreter on Indian campaigns; fleeced emigrants and soldiers on the Oregon Trail with his whiskey and gambling dives; "guided" the Mormons to the Salt Lake Valley; and kept the law as police chief in Sidney during the wild days of the gold rush in the Black Hills. He lived, one might say, with his hand on a gun and his foot in the stirrup. All this amounts to a heap big adventure story â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if only one knew how much of it to believe. Unfortunately, the book abounds in statements which are patently inaccurate. "The Indian," Nelson says, "is essentially lazy. The only redeeming trait about the Indian is his religion." One might expect an individual who had spent many years in tepees with Indian wives in the heart of Indian camps to recognize at least some excellence in Indian arts and crafts if not a great deal more about the Indian way of life. But flaws in judgment are not confined to such sweeping statements. The famous Mountain Meadows, which he claims to have visited with soldiers, lay, according to his estimate, "eighty miles south of Camp Floyd." He missed by well over 200 miles. He also claims to have felt a Christian obligation to accept Brigham Young's offer of $40 a month to guide his party of pioneers to Fort Laramie and beyond, for the Mormons seemed to him like "children lost on the plains" and ahead of them lay "nothing but an unbroken vista of solitude where the foot of man had never before fallen." Visualize Brigham, with his maps of the Fremont expedition and his instruments for determining latitude, longitude, and altitude, not to mention his clear course which lay parallel to the well-traveled Oregon Trail, paying precious dollars to a youth not yet 21 years old. The real value of Nelson's account I find in what must have been common-
168
U T A H HISTORICAL
place details of the life he led: freighting trade goods into remote I n d i a n country, smuggling " t a r a n t u l a juice" onto the reservations, describing the host of ways in which I n d i a n agents a n d other officials defrauded Indians of supplies a n d money intended for t h e m by the government. A n d always there is the springheeled, profligate recklessness of a brassy m o u n t a i n m a n , smart enough to stay alive, b u t always living on t h e thin surface of life, never sensing its subtler values. O n e might call his the odyssey, not of a Ulysses, b u t of a Thersites. KARL YOUNG
Brigham
Young
University
"I Will Fight No More Forever": Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War. By M E R R I L L D . BEAL. ( S e a t t l e : Univer-
sity of Washington Press, 1963. xvii + 366 p p . $6.00) T h e portrait of Chief Joseph reproduced in this definitive story of his life shows a wide, beautiful m o u t h a n d sensitive face. I t is good to know t h a t the most admirable of all American I n d i a n chiefs looked the part. Everything which M r . Beal relates of Joseph fits the picture, too. T h e familiar story of a friendly, proud, wronged tribe, w h o were forced into w a r a n d , after fighting a gallant r u n n i n g rear-guard action almost to the C a n a d i a n border where they hoped to escape to freedom from the unfeeling American white m a n , were defeated a n d compelled to the surrender which evoked the poetic utterance from Chief Joseph that gives this book its title, gains fresh poignancy in the careful research of the author. M r . Beal has been particularly painstaking in correlating American soldiers' letters a n d accounts with t h e military side of Chief Joseph's tragedy. Even so, his Bibliography is not exhaustive: one omitted item t h a t comes to mind is S. P. Jocelyn's Mostly Alkali. T h e scholarship, however, compels admiration.
QUARTERLY
T h e major fault of this book is simply t h a t it is written in a most pedestrian style. H e r e unfolds one of the West's superbly tragic d r a m a s with new scenes added by the author's studies a n d with a w a r m sympathy for the chief protagonist obviously felt by M r . Beal, b u t the result is bareboned prose. P H I L I P C. STURGES
University
of Utah
Navahos Have Five Fingers. By A L L E N . The Civilization of the ican Indian Series, L X V I I I . m a n : University of O k l a h o m a 1963. xiv + 2 4 9 p p . $4.95)
T. D. Amer(NorPress,
A reader w h o picks u p this volume expecting to find reflected in it the scholarship, research, a n d field experience characteristic of other books in The Civilization of the American Indian Series will perhaps be disappointed. However, he will find a delightfully written story of a couple who h a d the privilege of spending a few months on the Navajo Reservation under circumstances which would give t h e m an enviable entree to the "People" such as would n o t be available to casual visitors. T h e y were to occupy the quarters of a mission nurse during her absence a n d deal as best they could with any situation that might arise â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from handingout a n d taking-in the basketball, to dressing wounds a n d rushing expectant mothers to the hospital. T h e jacket tells us that " T . D . Allen is the corporate n a m e of a husband-andwife t e a m , " a n d t h e P r e f a c e , signed " T e r r y a n d D o n Allen," thus amplifies the explanation: " W e were both in this together a n d are both doing the telling." But Terry a n d D o n are obviously not casual visitors; over a period of something like 25 years they have m a d e forays into the reservation, a n d they have little in common with t h e pert, professional or a m a t e u r writers w h o visit a mission, take innumerable pictures, ask innumerable questions, a n d then determine to "write
169
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS a book about these fascinating Indians." O n the other h a n d the Aliens tell us "we are not anthropologists"; although they admit having "read virtually all the voluminous e t h n i c studies m a d e a m o n g these Indians." T h e y h a d the humility to submit their manuscript to T h e l m a Poncel a n d Robert Young. After reading this, your reviewer abandoned any thought of a scrutiny for mistakes. If there are ethnological errors in a book after Bob Young checked the text, they must have been slipped in by the printer! T h e title of the book is, a n d is obviously intended to be, arresting. As most people know nowadays, the Navajo word for Navajo is n o t Navajo, b u t Dine, a n d Dine means People, the People. As contrasted to the word for w o m a n , Dine means m a n ; as contrasted to the word for a member of any other ethnic group as Anglo, U t e , H o p i , etc., it means Navajo. But in contrast to other sentient creatures, Dine means mankind only if modified by a term meaning "earth-surface" — which distinguishes h i m also from those supernaturals w h o are still under the earth, the not yet emerged people — a n d this identifies m a n as m a n , in ordinary colloquial use. I n ceremonial language "Five-fingered" served the purpose. T h e title of the book then is designed to a n n o u n c e that Navajos are h u m a n beings after all, brothers under the skin. T h e authors do a good job in bringing this out in a w a r m , sympathetic, a n d never patronizing m a n n e r . T h e thoughts on laughter as a means of communication are especially well-presented. A n d this reviewer liked greatly the authors readiness to " m a k e - d o " in the clinic with whatever might be available; to see in Navajo ways w h a t might well be an improvement over ours (e.g., shredded cedar bark diapers) ; to recognize the f a i l u r e of a s u p e r f i c i a l c o n t a c t w i t h school a n d army to fit a m a n for family life (immaculately clean clothes on p a p a , dirty nipple a n d bottle for baby) ; a n d not only the disclaimer of their own
omniscience, b u t above all the author's readiness to understand the Navajos' refusal to see in all white m e n the apotheosis of wisdom, judgment, a n d competence. Refreshing also is the Aliens' keen perception of the fact t h a t Navajo religion is not only just one particular expression of w h a t all religions are aiming at, b u t t h a t it is definitely polytheistic. W e find no "Gitchee M a n i t o u is G o d " equation. " I n the Navajo religion, no one supernatural being is more i m p o r t a n t all the time than any other" (p. 1 3 1 ) . Your reviewer cannot go along with the authors in their statement that "Navajos who have been steeped for generations in taboos against contact with the dead are not ready for the Easter story." Christianity came into the world not as a set of stories or of maxims leading to a better life, b u t as a preaching of the resurrection of Christ — of grace a n d forgiveness leading to eternal life. As such, it won the p a g a n R o m a n Empire which also hated a n d feared death b u t was hungry, as are Navajos, for eternal life. H e r e is a book you will not w a n t to lay down. I t is a book to own, to love, to lend, and to give.
H
. B. LIEBLER
Saint Christopher's The Place No One Knew: on
the
Colorado.
Glen
Mission Canyon
By E L I O T P O R T E R .
E d i t e d by DAVID BROWER.
(San Fran-
cisco: Sierra Club, 1963. 170 p p . $25.00) This book is intended as a requiem for Glen Canyon which, to the Sierra Club, died on J a n u a r y 21, 1963, w h e n the gates on a great d a m closed a n d Lake Powell began to form. N a m e d by J o h n Wesley Powell, whose historic river trips in 1869, 1871-72, have been the subject of imp o r t a n t publications by the U t a h State Historical Society, Glen Canyon of the Colorado extends 170 miles upstream from historic Lee's Ferry. T h e d a m is 15 miles above Lee's Ferry. Lake Powell
170
will also inundate Narrow Canyon and over half of Cataract Canyon. The lake will extend upstream 32 miles beyond Glen Canyon, which ends at the mouth of the Dirty Devil River. Done in a grand manner, this book is a thing of beauty. A tall folio (in the exhibition format of the Sierra Club's other distinguished titles including Eliot Porter's In Wilderness is the Preservation of the World) and hard-bound in canyon-country red buckram, it has endpaper maps of Glen Canyon with 105 scenic features located, including many side canyons. As you open the book your eyes will feast on 72 color plates — breath-taking photographs from Porter's camera printed with extraordinary brightness and fidelity, one to a page. The photographs are what one man, an artist, saw — close-ups, small parts, segments, vignettes, the microscopic. The titles indicate this: "River's Edge," "Dried Seeps," "Wall Detail," "Plunge Pool," "Lichen Detail," "Pool and Reflection," "Spring," "Cobbles," "Flood Ripples Sand," "Sand and Stones," etc. No person appears. (It is probably quite accidental that human footprints in wet sand do show up in a couple of the plates. The "Heron Tracks"—plate 3—are labeled.) Only two or three photographs place the canyon in anything like its natural perspective. The Glen Canyon Dam was a mistake — this is the position taken by David Brower, executive director of the Sierra Club, in the foreword. It "was a major mistake to learn from, and our purpose here is to help the world remember these things lost." Without entering the argument let us see how the purposes have been served. Eliot Porter introduces the book with a stirring interpretation of Glen Canyon, "The Living Canyon." Following is the first section of photographs entitled "The Place." An attempt is made to show us what Glen Canyon was like — its feel, its unique qualities, its wilderness character.
U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Forty-one of Porter's great photographs are matched in mood by quotations from the works of those who have (and those who have not) seen Glen Canyon. The second part, "The Idea," develops the idea of wilderness: 31 photographs of Glen Canyon with quotations on facing pages by Krutch, Douglas, Leopold, Mumford, Sears, Eiseley, Stegner, and others. The point of the book is that man has destroyed; it goes on to say that man can save something of the world's remaining wilderness if he wishes, or he can go ahead and blindly continue to blot out "the geography of hope." The Sierra Club published this book because it feels that the people at large did not know what the choices were; had they known — had this book been published a few years ago, the Club believes—there probably would have been no Glen Canyon Dam today. This book is an eloquent brief for preservation of the pristine natural scene. It could have been a stronger case, in this reviewer's mind, by the portrayal of the canyon's sweep and majesty. As it is, we are asked to remember the stone not the cliff, the rill not the river, the part not the whole. But Glen Canyon and the canyon country surrounding it have long suffered from the segmented view. It is the most historic of the great canyons of the Colorado. Within it prehistoric Indians built houses and irrigated land; Spanish friars, Mexican traders, and Rocky M o u n t a i n trappers visited it; Mormon scouts, settlers, and stockmen saw it, crossed it, exploited it; a gold rush in the 1890's carried men into every side canyon; outlaws, white and Indian, hid in it. River trippers, notably since the 1930's, have enjoyed its waters. It was a place that everyone knew, really, but no one knew it all or could get hold of it in such a way as to create anything but a segmented image. With all of its eloquent prose and beautiful photography, this book is in the tradi-
REVIEWS AND
PUBLICATIONS
tion of Glen Canyon literature — and this is an imposing a n d distinguished literature dating back to 1776 — for it gives us the partial view. I t tells us of p a r t of the losses. G r a n d Canyon downstream has been more fortunate. F r o m the beginning m e n tried to size it u p as a whole. If we were to lose it tomorrow, the whole picture would remain. T h e Glen Canyon country somehow has been h a r d e r to manaee. „ „ „ C
GREGORY C R A M P T O N
University
of
Utah
The Jackson's Hole Story: An historical novel set in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming. By J O S E P H I N E C. FABIAN. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1963. x i i i + 1 9 2 p p . $2.95) Those w h o wish the story of America preserved in its detail find the growing interest in local history very heartening. The Jackson's Hole Story, written by a continuous summer resident of the T e t o n country, is a valued addition to local history. F r o m an historian's viewpoint the Prologue, which deals with the visit of U n i t e d S t a t e s P r e s i d e n t C h e s t e r A. A r t h u r in August 1833, casts the most factual light on the party t h a t has yet been published. T h e sources are few. Only one copy of a Journey Through Yellowstone Park and Northwest Wyoming, 1883 remains. T h e Coe Collection, Yale University, owns this copy, which includes some photographs of the party en route. T h e Haynes Studio, Incorporated, and James and Charles Moore of Dubois, Wyoming, were sources of other excellent photographs. A detective-historian will recognize the G r a n d Tetons as authentic background a n d the staked tents, puttees, mustachios, and mule teams in the foreground as genuine 1883. T h e military escort possibly outshines M r . A r t h u r for romantic interest. General Philip H . Sheridan (with the Civil
171 W a r 20 years behind him) c o m m a n d e d the full-mounted troop of the U . S . 5th Cavalry as the official escort. T h e governor of M o n t a n a Territory, J o h n Schuyler Crosby was there. Robert T . Lincoln, secretary of war, a n d George G. Vest, U . S . senator from Missouri, were also in attendance. T h e major p a r t of the book is a fictionalized account of the lives of famous Indians, renegades, and visitors with the locale in Jackson Hole. T h e discipline of writing either history or fiction is exacting a n d laborious. W e are grateful to Mrs. Fabian for her research in p a m p h lets, diaries, a n d pictures which help to fill in certain missing parts of a very imp o r t a n t and exciting local history. I L E N E H.
Utah
to the Oregon
Coun-
By F R A N K C. R O B E R T S O N .
(New
Fort Hall: Gateway try.
KINGSBURY
Salt Lake City,
York: Hastings House, 1963. 318 p p . $5.95) T h e subtitle, . . . to the Oregon Country, is a m u c h more accurate description of this ably presented narrative. Readers w h o expect a detailed account of the building of Fort Hall, of its daily activities, or of descriptions of it as left by travelers, will be disappointed. But those devotees of F r a n k Robertson w h o await with anticipation each new work by him will thrill with the colorful m o v e m e n t of this book which tells in cineramic fashion the story of the exploration, settlement, a n d conquest of the Oregon country by t h e M a n i f e s t D e s t i n y p i o n e e r s of America. Dr. J o h n McLoughlin emerges almost as the American hero of the d r a m a . T h e "White-headed Eagle" has an able defender in M r . Robertson w h o pictures the British fur trader as having been too long painted by American writers as the villian of the Oregon story. In any synthesis of such a complex and involved history, a few errors will inevitably appear. T h e generalization which
UTAH HISTORICAL
172 places the Bannock Indians instead of the Shoshoni as the warriors w h o fought the Battle of Bear River in 1863 a n d the inaccuracy which has the Bannock I n dian W a r of 1878 occurring at the same time and in conjunction with the Nez Perce W a r of 1877 — these can be forgiven as minor mistakes in a sweeping narrative which carries the reader along the Oregon Trail, through Fort Hall, to the land of promise in the Willamette Valley. T h e story is well-told a n d the flashes of personal involvement by the a u t h o r intrigue the reader to wish t h a t M r . Robertson would sometime give us a second installment of his superlative A Ram in the Thicket. „ _ , , BRIGHAM D.
MADSEN
Utah State
University
Nevada's Key Pittman. By F R E D L . ISRAEL. (Lincoln: University of N e b r a s k a P r e s s , 1 9 6 3 . viii + 210 p p . $5.00) Key Pittman was a distinguished a p pearing N e v a d a n w h o served his state as a U n i t e d States senator for 28 years. This long senatorial career has attracted the pen of Fred L. Israel, w h o is a professor of history in N e w York City College. But this study has been m a d e for none of the usual reasons for doing a biography. Neither admiration nor respect motivated Dr. Israel's work; rather, he hoped that his "interpretation of the Senator will cause readers to reflect about the structure of our political system which enabled h i m to obtain high office" (p. v i i ) . T w o developments, one broad a n d the other very narrow, m a r k the course of the essay. T h e larger theme simply notes the national personalities a n d the major events in the period between 1912 a n d 1940, and relates Key P i t t m a n to them. T h e westerner was a party regular and fancied himself as a wise counselor to those who held high office. I n reality, he was lightly regarded by national leaders
QUARTERLY
and was himself indifferent to important issues except as they affected his state. For example, he requested membership on the Foreign Relations Committee, not because of his interest in foreign affairs —for he h a d little—but to secure a larger measure of prestige to aid his re-election in 1916. T h r o u g h seniority, Senator Pittm a n became chairman of t h a t powerful committee in the tragic years after 1933 when wisdom was so desperately needed. His willingness to t h w a r t his own administration's efforts in foreign policy until the Silver-ites were granted higher prices, his addiction to alcohol which rendered himself and the Foreign Relations Committee ineffective, a n d his penchant for h u n t i n g headlines with ill-conceived and ill-timed p r o n o u n c e m e n t s are related with sorrow. T h e second and m o r e narrow theme involves Key Pittman's interest in silver. Most of his energy and his capability in the legislative arena (and he was tenacious a n d skillful when he wished to be) were devoted to Nevada's well-being, and this turned mainly on silver. Senator Pittm a n was fabulously successful in achieving shocking privileges in price and purchase of silver by the U n i t e d States government. H e played a major role in achieving the T h o m a s A m e n d m e n t of 1933, the London Agreement of 1933, the P i t t m a n A m e n d m e n t to the Gold Reserve Act, and the Silver Purchase Act of 1934. All were victories for silver. T h i s biographical essay is mainly concerned with Pittman the senator, for it covers Pittman's life before becoming a senator — 40 years — in less than two dozen pages. T h e a u t h o r is generally clear, a n d his work is solidly based upon the sources. T w o minor puzzles emerge: first, just when Mrs. Pittman's health permitted her to be with her husband is unclear. T h e i r correspondence seems to indicate t h a t illness kept them apart most of their lives. Secondly, what does the author mean? H e writes of the Davis nomination in
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS 1924 saying "the Democracy had found a candidate" (p. 56) and of the Smith failure in the election of 1928 saying "the Democracy suffered a humiliating defeat" (p. 67). As written, the reader might substitute "the Nation" in each instance. „ „ _, ORDE S. PINCKNEY
Central Oregon College NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS The A. B. Gray Report, Survey of a Route on the 32nd Parallel for the Texas Western Railroad, 1854, and including the reminiscences of Peter R. Brady who accompanied the expedition. Edited, with introduction and notes by L. R. BAILEY. (LOS Angeles: Westernlore Press, 1963. xix + 240 pp. $7.95) Legends and Tales of the Old West. By members of the Western Writers of America. Edited by S. OMAR BARKER. (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1962. xv + 408 pp. $4.50) They Called Him, Wild Bill: The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok. By JOSEPH ROSA. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964. xvii + 278pp. $5.95) ARTICLES OF INTEREST Arizona Highways—-XL, January 1964: "Page, Arizona, The Town a Dam Built," by JEAN D U F F Y , 2ff.; "Glen Canyon D a m , An American T r i umph," by W. L. R U S H O , 6-13; "Lake Powell, America's Newest Playg r o u n d , " by J O Y C E
ROCKWOOD
16-37; "With My Camera on Lake Powell," by JOSEPH M U E N C H , 38-41; "Glen Canyon National RecMUENCH,
reation Area," by JEAN DUFFY, 4 2 -
43; "Art Greene, A Friend by the Side of the Road [riverrunner]," by JOYCE ROCKWOOD M U E N C H , 44-47. The Bulletin [Missouri Historical Society]—XX, January 1964: "The Private Journal of Robert Campbell
173
[continued from October 1963 issue]," by GEORGE R. BROOKS, 107-18.
The California Historical Society Quarterly — XLII, December 1963: "The Diet of the Mountain Men," by W I L LIAM E. HOLSTON, 301-8. The Denver Westerners Monthly Roundup — XIX, November 1963: "A Capsule History of the Julesburg Area," by BYRON G. HOOPER, JR., 3ff. — December 1963: "John Moss and Parrott City [Mountain Meadows Massacre]," by ROBERT L. BROWN, 3ff. Desert, Magazine of the Southwest •—• XXVII, January 1964: "The Treasures of Treasure Mountain [Park City]," by RAYE PRICE, 28-29.
El Palacio, A Journal of Anthropology— LXX, Autumn 1963: "Navajo and Apache Relationships West of the Rio Grande," by ALBERT W. SCHROEDER,
5-23; "Alfred Vincent Kidder, Sr., 1885-1963," 36-39. Michigan History — XLVII, December 1963: "Wingfield Watson: The Loyal Disciple of James J. Strang," by JOHN CUMMING, 312-20. The Western Economic Journal — I, Summer 1963: "Comparisons of Income Changes in the Western States, 1929-1960," by LEONARD J. ARRINGTON and GEORGE JENSEN, 205-17.
The Western Political Quarterly—XVI, September 1963: "The Wackacobi: Extremists of Our Own Times," by ROY V. PEEL, 569-97 — Supplement to the Western Political Quarterly — XVI, September 1963: "Political Slander in Election Campaigns," by FRANK H. JONAS, 15-20; "The Repeal of Council-Manager Home Rule in Provo, Utah," by STEWART L. GROW, 23-24; "The Development of Political Parties in U t a h , " by STEWART L. GROW, 39-40.
I1EUI5 U T A H STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY STUDY COMMITTEE
An event of great moment in the history of the Society took place on the afternoon of March 6, 1964. A citizens study committee assembled at the Society Mansion to lay plans for the study and evaluation of the Utah State Historical Society. While the Board of Trustees is a representative body of the citizenry of Utah, it was felt that perhaps both the board and staff are sometimes too close to the trees to see the forest â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that perhaps "outsiders" might be able to take a more objective view of the Society's program and offer suggestions for improvement. Approximately 25 persons who have shown an interest in Utah history and the Society were asked to serve on the study committee. Of these, 23 have responded favorably. They are men and women with varied interests and specialities. It is hoped that these wide interests and experiences can be drawn upon to help chart a course for the Society to follow in years to come. The Society is honored that the following individuals have chosen to work with the Society in making it a better agency for the preservation and publication of Utah history: Professor Roger Bailey, Mr. James Beless, Mr. Robert L. Bliss, Mrs. Helen H . Brown, Dr. S. George Ellsworth, Mrs. Harold P. Fabian, Mr. Stanley S. Ivins, Mrs. Ilene Kingsbury, Professor Gustive O. Larson, Dr. T. Edgar Lyon, Dr. Milton R. Merrill, Mr. Leonard W. McDonald, Mr. James D. Moyle, Mr. James Oswald, Mrs. Helen Z. Papanikolas, Colonel Howard C. Price, Mr. William M. Purdy, Mrs. R i c h a r d K. Reuling, Professor Reuben Reynolds, Mr. Miles P. Romney, Mr. Ward J. Roylance, Mr. William B. Smart, and Mr. Arnold R. Standing. The whole committee was divided into subcommittees corresponding with the
standing committees of the Board of Trustees. The subcommittees and standing committees will work hand in hand and will call upon the staff to provide them with detailed and technical information. The areas of study are: (1) effectiveness of the Society's present program. (2) adequacy of the law governing the Society. (3) deficiencies in the present program of the Society. (4) enlargement of functions of the Society. It was agreed that a program with priorities should be worked out. Those areas needing immediate attention should be placed highest on the list. The halting of widespread destruction of historic buildings was considered one of the high priority items. Others include a crash program for the collection of historic documents still in private possession, and the taping of interviews with remaining first generation persons of some communities. Considerable attention was paid to the collection of relics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; looking forward to the day when a state museum will be created where they might be displayed. Before the year is over, the committee plans to compile and write a summary report of recommendations. GIFTS TO T H E SOCIETY
The Utah State Historical Society has been, over the years, the recipient of many outstanding gifts. These take many forms, but are all gratefully accepted. The library, the Mansion, the whole Society have all benefitted greatly from the kindnesses of Society members. To those who have displayed such generosity, we are eternally grateful. While names of all donors are printed in the Newsletter, occasionally gifts are of such value or so extraordinary that special attention is called to them. One such gift is a lovely oil painting by H. L. A. Culmer (1854-1941), pre-
NEWS AND
COMMENTS
sented to the Society by his heirs. Entitled " T h e Mystery of the Desert," the painting is strikingly colorful. It depicts a scene of some of U t a h ' s unique m o n o liths of the southeast corner of the state. I n 1905 Henry Culmer under sponsorship of the Salt Lake Commercial Club and Colonel Edwin F. Holmes, undertook an expedition into U t a h ' s red rock and natural bridge country. While traveling between T h o m p s o n Springs a n d M o a b , Culmer came upon a scene which inspired him to paint w h a t is generally considered his masterpiece, " T h e Mystery of the Deseret." F o r a time the painting h u n g in Colonel Holmes' gallery at the G a r d o House. I t was later reclaimed by the family a n d loaned to the Salt Lake Elks Club. T h e painting has at last found a p e r m a n e n t h o m e at the Society. T h e H . L. A. Culmer family presented it to the Society to become part of its p e r m a n e n t collection. " T h e Mystery of the Desert" is the second painting of considerable worth which has come to the Society within a year. Last M a r c h ( 1 9 6 3 ) , the H e n r y O . H e a t h family presented the Society with a painting, "Haying T i m e , " by Lorus Pratt ( 1 8 5 6 - 1 9 2 4 ) . I n the words of a prominent art critic, "Haying T i m e " is Pratt's finest piece of work. Aside from the artistic qualities of the painting, "Haying T i m e " has considerable historical interest, for it depicts an agricultural scene in w h a t is now the center of Salt Lake City's business district. I n the backg r o u n d c a n b e seen t h e n e w l y c o n structed joint Salt Lake City and County Courthouse. Both paintings have received places of prominence in the Mansion. H e r e they can be viewed a n d appreciated by visitors to the Society. Items of importance which have come into the library in the past few months are additional photographs and movie films which belonged to Dr. A. L. I n glesby. These albums and movies depict the wide range of interest which moved
175 " D o c " Inglesby to travel and exploration. T h e Society is indebted to Mrs. R u t h W a l d o for the Inglesby photographs. T h e family of George H . Taylor donated to the library the diary of their grandfather. I t has special m e a n i n g to those who have interest in the polygamy crusade of the 1880's. T h e diary consists primarily of George H . Taylor's prison experiences â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an imprisonment which he endured for his practice of a n d belief in polygamy. M r . J. Cecil Alter's n u m e r o u s gifts to the U t a h State Historical Society have been noted in the past. I t was donations from his personal library which formed the nucleus for the Society's present library. Although not associated with the Society in any administrative capacity for many years, M r . Alter has, nevertheless, retained a strong a t t a c h m e n t to the organization he served so long as editor and secretary. Over the past few months, J. Cecil Alter has m a d e available to the Society more t h a n a h u n d r e d volumes from his library. I n addition he presented the notes a n d manuscript of his Jim Bridger book and other items. Mr. Charles Kelly, a friend and associate of M r . Alter's, is another long-time benefactor of the Society. Over the years he has presented many books, photographs, pamphlets, etc., to the Society. Recently, he donated to the library m a n uscript material from some of his books â&#x20AC;&#x201D; notably his Outlaw Trail. Dr. Joel E. Ricks, board m e m b e r a n d former president of the Board of T r u s tees of the Society, m a d e a significant gift to the Society in the form of microfilms of some 175 journals, autobiographies, biographies, reminiscenses, historical sketches â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mostly concerning Cache Valley, U t a h . These are a treasure house of information for researchers dealing wyith this area of U t a h . T o these individuals the U t a h State Historical Society is eternally indebted.
176 W i t h o u t the generosity and interest of such persons, the Society would n o t be able to live u p to its responsibilities. So publicly, the thanks of the board, staff, a n d users of these materials go o u t to these donors. M a y they find repayment in the knowledge t h a t they are serving well the cause of history. A m o n g the U t a h State Archives acquisitions of recent m o n t h s are 229 rolls of microfilm of Salt L a k e County records, deeds, mortgages, liens, a n d leases which were presented to the Archives by T . H a r o l d Jacobsen, state archivist. T h e minutes of the Salt Lake County Commission from 1897â&#x20AC;&#x201D;1930, including the Index, were t u r n e d over to the Archives by Salt L a k e County Clerk Alvin Keddington. Researchers in the field of education in U t a h may now use the valuable educational file at the Archives which has been catalogued a n d arranged. At present it comprises 26 cubic feet (103 docum e n t cases a n d 12 large v o l u m e s ) , with more material yet to be a d d e d from the D e p a r t m e n t of Public Instruction. T h e file includes the administrative correspondence of State Superintendents J o h n R. Park (1896-1900) a n d A. C. Nelson (1901â&#x20AC;&#x201D;1913). Correspondence to a n d from Mrs. E m m a J. McVicker, the seco n d state superintendent w h o served from 1900 to 1901 is missing. O t h e r material includes the territorial school reports, certification requirements a n d samples of certificates, state school reports until the present, directories, courses of study, textbook studies, statistical records, educational television, reports, and informational publications from the various educational departments. Supplementing the material from the D e p a r t m e n t of Public Instruction is a large file from the school survey a n d educational committees which have been u n d e r the direction of the U t a h State Legislative Council a n d the governors at various times, as well as a published history of the U t a h Education Association a n d a file of their publications.
UTAH HISTORICAL IN
QUARTERLY
MEMORIAM
UNITED STATES STEEL
Paul Sullivan
(1911-1964)
O n T h u r s d a y , February 13, M r . Paul Sullivan died of a sudden illness in a Los Angeles hospital. At the time of his death, he was district director of United States Steel Corporation with offices in Los Angeles. M r . Sullivan was a native of U t a h , having been born in O g d e n , M a y 10, 1911. H e attended schools in U t a h and California before g r a d u a t i n g from the University of U t a h in 1934. H e was affiliated with several businesses before his last assignment. H e h a d a long record of public service in Salt L a k e City as well as other cities where he resided. I n 1953, he was appointed to the Board of Control of the U t a h State Historical Society and served in t h a t position until 1954 when his employment drew h i m to Los Angeles. Although serving b u t a short time, he is r e m e m b e r e d by the Society as a devoted b o a r d m e m b e r w h o suggested many ideas concerning the operation of the Society.
UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Membership in the Utah State Historical Society is open to all individuals and institutions who are interested in Utah history. We invite everyone to join this one official agency of state government charged by law with the collection, preservation, and publication of materials on Utah and related history. Through the pages of the Utah Historical Quarterly, the Society is able to fulfill part of its legal responsibility. Your membership dues provide the means for publication of the Quarterly. So, we earnestly encourage present members to interest their friends in joining them in furthering the cause of Utah history. Membership brings with it the Utah Historical Quarterly, the bimonthly Newsletter, and special prices on publications of the Society. The different classes of membership are: Student
$
3.00
Annual
$
5.00
Life
$100.00
For those individuals and business firms who wish to support special projects of the Society, they may do so through making tax-exempt donations on the following membership basis: Sustaining
$ 250.00
Patron
$ 500.00
Benefactor
$1,000.00
Your interest and support are most welcome.
'
