In This Issue

Public education, especially its funding, often generates controversy in Utah. Some readers may recall the media coverage J. Bracken Lee and George D. Clyde received decades ago when they grappled, in quite different ways, with this thorny subject An earlier governor, John C Cutler, found himself at the center of a debate during 1905-7 over the future of the Agricultural College of Utah in Logan. Along with many legislators and citizens concerned about the lack of high schools in some rural areas, he believed the ACU was wasting scarce state funds by duplicating courses available at the University of Utah Others feared that the ACU was losing sight of its agricultural mission as its curriculum continued to expand under the leadership of William J. Kerr whose vision embraced the traditional university. The consolidation controversy detailed in the first article affected the careers of several key players and provided political drama as it moved toward resolution.

The following two articles take us to the small towns of Hurricane and Keetley and the challenges of building communities in Washington and Wasatch counties respectively The first study analyzes demographic data, while the second weaves its narrative from personal recollections. Both include dramatic episodes and remarkable individuals struggling to survive economically.

Next we see how the Civilian Conservation Corps shaped the lives of the unemployed who left home and family behind to work on various projects on the public lands in Utah. Although the CCC camps provided adventure of a sort for city boys, that aspect of the experience was only incidental to their work, training, and achievements But adventure for adventure's sake was the goal of the two young men whose trek through the San Juan back country in the summer of 1923 is chronicled in the final article. In overcoming unforeseen difficulties, though, they too gained a priceless sense of accomplishment.