Report of an Expedition to Locate Utah's First Capitol

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 23, 1955, Nos. 1-4

REPORT OF AN EXPEDITION TO LOCATE UTAH'S FIRST CAPITOL

BY EVERETT L. COOLEY

INTRODUCTION

The Organic Act of September 9, 1850, which created the Territory of Utah, reduced considerably the size of the area which the Mormon colonists had included in their Provisional State of Deseret. Under the act, Utah was bounded on the east by the Rocky Mountains, on the west by the Sierra Nevada, on the north by the forty-second parallel of north latitude, and on the south by the thirty-seventh parallel.

In this vast area, settlement had, by 1851, been pretty much confined to the valleys along the western slopes of the Wasatch Mountains. However, the leaders of the Mormon Church had grandiose plans for the settlement of the entire territory, especially along the strategic approaches to the heartland of Mormonism. By 1852, the entire territory had been divided into counties by the legislative assembly of Utah to provide for local civil government.

With the plan for completely colonizing the territory in mind, the leaders preferred a geographically centralized location for their capital. Consequently, on October 4, 1851, a joint resolution of the legislative assembly designated Pauvan Valley as the seat of government for the Territory of Utah. On the same day, by act of the legislative body, Millard County was created, and Fillmore City was named as the site where the capitol was to be built. The same resolution of October 4, also authorized the governor to appoint a committee of not less than two or more than five to proceed to Fillmore and locate the exact site for the construction of the new building.

Subsequently, four men were chosen to perform this function. They were Orson Pratt, Albert Carrington, Jesse W. Fox, and William C. Staines—all prominent men in church and civil affairs. In addition to the four commissioners, the party which went to Fillmore was composed of several other men of high office in church and territorial government. Heading the list was Governor Brigham Young, who drew a salary of $3.00 per day, the rate paid to teamsters, servants, and cooks. Heber C. Kimball, apostle of the Mormon Church and territorial council member, also received the $3.00 rate, as did two other apostles and councilmen, George A. Smith and Daniel H. Wells. Horace S. Eldredge likewise served at the $3.00 rate. The latter's offices included those of territorial marshall, brigadier-general of the militia, member of the legislature, and member of the First Council of Seventies of the church. Others in the official group were less prominent. However, the Deseret News, in its account of the expedition, reported that, "his Honor, Judge Snow, . . . Major Rose, Sub Indian Agent, and several other citizens, left G. S. L. City on a southerly tour, for Pauvan Valley."

Fillmore State House

The party left Salt Lake City on October 21, 1851. They traveled south along the route now generally followed by U. S. Highway 91. It was an uneventful journey for the party until, at the crossing of the Sevier River on October 25, a band of San Pitch Indians was encountered. Although a guard was posted, one horse was stolen by the Indians. The following day, October 26, after crossing the Sevier and passing over the summit into Pauvan Valley, the government party met with two companies of colonists sent out by the leaders of the Mormon Church to settle in the southern part of the territory. The companies were those of Anson Call and John D. Lee "called" to establish settlements in Pauvan Valley and on the Santa Clara (later to become Washington County).

The parties proceeded south to Chalk Creek, in eastern Millard County, where, on October 28, the site for the seat of government for the Territory of Utah was located, and Jesse W. Fox proceeded to lay out the capital city. After participating in the activities of founding the city, some of the government party began the return trip to Salt Lake City on October 30. Surveyor Fox was left behind to complete the survey of the city of Fillmore and adjacent farm lands. Anson Call and company also were left behind and instructed to build their fort "near state house square."

The returning party retraced their steps northward until within a few miles of the ford of the Sevier River. They then turned their course southeastward until reaching the vicinity of present-day Fayette, Sanpete County. Here, after having traveled some fourteen and one-half miles since leaving the Salt Lake road, they crossed the Sevier River and camped. The following day their course led them still in a southeasterly direction until they reached the area of present-day Gunnison. They then crossed San Pete Creek and proceeded to the northeast until they arrived at Manti on November 1.

The following day, Sunday, Governor Young, as president of the church, and Apostles Pratt and Kimball addressed the Saints at Manti. On Monday, Judge Snow "organized the District Court," but there were no cases to be heard. On Tuesday, November 3, the party again began their homeward journey. Their path led them north and westward along the route of present Utah Highway 11, which passes through Moroni, Fountain Green, and Nephi. From Nephi the old Salt Lake City road was followed, and the party arrived back in Salt Lake City the evening of November 7, 1851, having been gone eighteen days.

While the committee appointed to locate the site for the capitol accomplished their task with dispatch, the ultimate achievement of their goal—erection of a capitol building—never was attained. One wing only of the capitol was completed, 17 where but one session (the fifth) of the legislative assembly was held in 1855-56.

REPORT Great Salt Lake City, Utah TerritoryNovember 27th 1851.

To/His Excellency, Brigham Young

Governor of Utah Territory,Sir,

In accordance with an appointment, bearing your signature, and dated, G. S. L. City Oct 18th 1851, we the undersigned, Commissioners for locating the site for the seat of government for the Territory of Utah, left this city, on the 21st of Oct. ult, accompanied by your Excellency; Elders Kimball, & Smith; Bishop J. L. Robinson; Z. Snow, U. S. associate Judge; Major Rose, Indian sub-agent; Genl D. H. Wells; H. S. Eldridge, Marshall; and several others, all well armed, & forming a party which was deemed sufficiently small [strong?], in case we should meet a hostile band of Indians, which we would be very liable to do.

Crossing Lattitude 40° 00' 00", which runs near die South end of Utah Lake, we entered a long narrow valley, called Juab, which is drained by Salt Creek, upon which, about two miles below the mouth of its canon, the city of Nephi is building. Aside from being too far north, inspection soon determined that this valley had not the requisite facilities for building up, and sustaining so large a city, as the seat of government is destined speedily to be.

Passing into the next valley south, which is drained by Chicken Creek, an affluent to the Sevier, or Nicollet River, we find it more central; the outlet of this creek being nearly so geographically, but still less adapted to the desired purpose than Juab valley. We found the same to be the case, to a still greater degree with the Sevier, and the land adjacent. Lake valley, next south from the Sevier, was far too small.

Continuing our examinations, we reached Nu-quin (Chalk Creek) in Pauvan Valley. Nu-quin is a beautiful stream, 14 feet wide by 1 foot deep, with a swift current, & pebbly bed, & afford a great quantity of pure water, even at its present low stage.

Pauvan is a very large, fertile valley, reaching northwesterly across the Sevier, & Southeasterly to the Canon of Corn Creek, and bounded Northeasterly & Southwesterly by ranges of Mountains apparently from 50 to 60 miles apart. This large area presents a rich & picturesquely diversified landscape; the table lands, & their rounded points being thickly studed with cedar, & the beauty of the valley proper increased by low, short ranges of hills, & isolated mounds, with the dark shade of their cedars ever richly contrasting with the lighter green of the summer, or the paler hue of the Autumn grass that waves so abundantly & luxuriantly over the remaining level, & very fertile portions; the whole bounded by mountain ranges, here lifting high their lone peaks & serrated crests, flanked by bold, & rocky precipices, there sweeping gracefully around on eidier hand at a lower elevation, with more wooded summits, & anon blending witii the long western curvature, richly mellowed by the blue haze of the distance; the continuous outline of the vast circumference clearly defined in the pure sky of this altitude. South of the Nu-quin there are four goodly sized streams; the most southerly, or Corn Creek, (distance some fifteen miles by the road) affording abundance of water for irrigating the thousands of Acres of rich level soil laying adjacent.

Inexhaustible beds of excellent limestone & sandstone crop out, at many easily accessible points, along the western base of the mountain range that forms the northeastern boundary of this valley.

Having made all the observations, & taken into account all the considerations in the case, that our judgment allowed, we located the site for the seat of government of the Territory of Utah on the east side of Pauvan valley, on both sides of the Nu-quin, about one mile East of the present ford, some four, or five miles from the mouth of Nu-quin Canon, near the western terminus of the table lands, in Lattitude 38° 58' 40" N; barometric altitude 4789 feet; & 151 1/2 miles (odometer measure) from G. S. L. City.

Counting on the parrallels of lattitude & longitude, this location is as nearly central as the nature of the country will admit; and your Excellency is perfectly aware that our most populous settlements are, & of necessity will be made in the chain of vallies stretching along the western base of the Wasatch Mountains, from lattitude 42° north, to lattitude 37°, which will make our capitol nearly, or quite central as to population; for though we have a few settlers on the Salmon Trout River, near our western border, it is presumable, that 'ere long, we will have an equal or greater number at the rich coal & iron ore beds on the waters of Bitter Creek near our eastern border; & the same may be said of other localities at corresponding distances, & in opposite directions within our Territorial boundaries.

At the suggestion of your Excellency, the seat of government that we have located, as above, is called "Fillmore City," & the county in which it is located, "Millard"; & in the survey of the City, agreeably to your request, a square block of 10 acres, near the west brow of the table land, with a beautiful lone cedar upon it, is reserved for the State House, & its ornamental grounds, & the inhabitants have passed a law that no green tree shall be cut in the city, nor within two miles of it. *

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