--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Sundwall, John collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 4 number: 8 published: 1901-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John Sundwall, "Some Opportunities for the Young Men of Utah," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 8 (June 1901): 602–607.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0408unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0408unse start_page: 602 end_page: 607 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0408unse publication_year: 1901 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Some Opportunities for the Young Men of Utah SOME OPPORTUNITffiS FOR THE YOUNG MEN OF UTAH, ANSWERING THE QUESTION: WHAT AVENUES ARE OPEN IN WHICH TO GAIN A LIVING? BY JOHN SUNDWALL, PH. B. It was one of those dry, dusty days, characteristic of Sep- tember, when a wagon, drawn by two horses, stopped at a water- ing place in one of our northern Utah towns. My curiosity was somewhat aroused by the inmates thereof. Upon investigation, I found it to be one of our usual emigrant wagons on its way to Canada. The driver was a young man, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six years old. With a young wife and a handsome babe, he was on his way to the north country. During the few moments of his brief stopping, the following conversation took place. I first began by asking, "Why .are you leaving friends and home in Utah, and going into a far-off country? Are you not satisfied with Utah?" "Yes," came the prompt reply, "I am satisfied with Utah. I love her. I was born and raised within her beautiful vales. I have many friends, and a kind mother and father whom I regret to leave, but I am compelled to go and seek a new home, for I can see no opportunities for young men in Utah." Such was the substance of our brief conversation. The end- ing sentence of his reply, "I can see no opportunities for young men in Utah," is the remark that impells me to write. Little SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN. 603 did this young man realize the error of these thoughts and words. His case is only a fair example of thousands of young men growing up in Utah, who also allow these words to fall from their lips — young men, who, wasting their prime of life in vainly waiting for some unforeseen event to grasp and carry them on to prosperity, arrive at that age in life when they must settle down with a fam- ily, and thenmust emigrate from home, because Utah has presented no opportunities for them to earn a livelihood. It is my purpose to point out to these complaining young men a few of the hundred opportunities that Utah boys should grasp. If taken advantage of properly, with a fair preparation, they will bring large incomes, if not fortunes, to the young men who grapple with them. The present cry is, that Utah today is over-crowded in all the vocations. Trades and professions are filled, and the only solution is to seek a home in some far-off, unsettled country. When we consider the vast resources of our state, in the earth and on its surface —when we consider the numerous oppor- tunities in agriculture, mining and manufacturing, we may readily conclude that Utah could support thrice the population that she has today, and still afford opportunities for her sons. Before proceeding with the discussion, I will voice the senti- ments and thoughts of some of our most successful business men from whom I have received many valuable suggestions. The three great industries that offer opportunities are min- ing, agriculture, and manufacture. We have hardly begun the de- velopment of these great industries; and, ere long, thousands of op- portunities will present themselves therein to our young men who are prepared to make use of them. Let us first examine the mining conditions. No state in the union affords better opportunities in mining than Utah. As our mines develop, there will be a constant demand for mining engin- eers. Skilled engineers are now in demand, here and throughout the west. We have a few in Utah at present, but very few of them are Utah's sons. Who of the young men of this state are Very few. grasping the opportunities in that line? There good opportunities for young are, indeed, some very men in mining and civil engineering. In connection with mines 604 IMPROVEMENT ERA. that are to be developed in Iron county, and other parts of the state, there will be a demand for civil engineers, as also in the construction of grades, bridges, and railroads soon to form a net- work over the state. I have been informed that the government of the United States fails to get the quota of engineersfrom Utah. A few of our young men, who have become skilled in these professions, are serving our nation in different parts of the world at large salaries. Let more prepare themselves. Treatment of low-grade ore must be, and will be, a mighty factor in the future development of Utah's resources. When are we to look for the practical demonstration of this problem? The young men of Utah must answer. If they are not prepared, we must send east for skilled persons. Which shall it be? The coming motive power is electricity. The time is not far- distant when there will be a great demand for electricians. "In- deed," says one of Utah's most successful men, * 'one of the best opportunities for young men is in turning their attention to questions of long distance, high tension, electrical transmission. Electricity is the coming motive power, and, I believe, within ten years will be applied to railroads. I am educating one of my sons in that line of industry. I can see great opportunities in this line of business." Electrical engineering is within the reach of all young men who have determination and ambition. Who will become our future electrical engineers? Eastern men or Utah's sons? Which? What about agriculture? Not one half of the lands of Utah are cultivated. We have thousands of acres of arid land in south- ern Utah, that can be made as productive as any other land in the world. How are we to reclaim these barren, unproductive areas? By the building of reservoirs, which is a coming factor in this state. Would it not be profitable for some of our young men to turn their attention to the science and art of reclaiming our arid lands? In addition to cereal raising, our profits will come from the raising^ of beets, tomatoes, and fruits. Sugar and canning factories form a great industry in this state. We have abundance of acreage under cultivation now to en- gage our sons at home. The trouble lies in the fact that we are not making our farms yield what they should under good manage- — SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN. 605 ment. Many farmers in northern Utah realize from $100 to $150 profit from one acre of tomatoes. Chinese gardeners, in the sub- urbs of Salt Lake City, realize more from one acre than many of our farmers get from fifty acres. I take pleasure in quoting the words of one of our great political economists, on the subject of the use of lands in Utah : "Last week, a young married man called into the office and discussed some points in his farm work in northern Utah. He has a twenty-five acre farm. The few cows he keeps return him from $4 to $5 per ^onth each. Sugar beets and other crops, I found, run his yearly income to $700 or $800. Another farmer three miles north of here (Logan) is selling us milk. His farm contains thirty-acres. His milk account is close to $300 a year. One hundred stands of bees, a year ago, brought in $500. Small fruits and other products brought the yearly income to $1000 $600 being clear profit, which goes to the bank." The products of small farms, may be increased proportionately on large farms. Hence, we may readily conclude that there are now many oppor- tunities for the young men of Utah, whose desires are to become farmers. One of the best positions that a young man could qualify him- self for would be that of agricultural superintendent. Speaking of the sugar-beet industry, there seems to be a wide field for the employment of men who thoroughly understand beet-raising in all its branches, particularly as applied to irrigation. Remarks one: "We have at present about one dozen men who have been educated in this line; and who are eagerly sought for in every state in the Union, where people are engaged in beet-sugar culture." Utah and other states need a great many beet-field superintend- ents. The salaries given these men are large. Another excellent opportunity for Utah boys who have no trade or profession. Opportunities offered in manufacturing are numerous. Our greatest manufactories today, perhaps, are our woollen mills. They have been in operation about thirty years, and today we have not had a Utah man to fill the position of dyer and finisher. I have been informed that when there is a change to be made, the man- agers are compelled to send east for men to fill these positions. Think of it! Sending east for men to fill our positions in the man- ufacturing of cloth; and, at the same time, the sons of Utah are . 606 IMPBO VEMENT ERA forced to leave the land of their birth, because of a dearth of em- ployment. How long will v/e allow this condition to continue? Utah will grow in this industry. More woollen mills will be estab- lished, and the sons of Utah should fill these positions. In northern Utah, a number of tomato canning factories have been established. Canning tomatoes has become a very profitable in- dustry to both the owner and the producer. More canneries are soon to be established. The few that we have are mostly managed by imported men. Why not some of the sons of Utah prepare themselves as skillful managers of canning factories? Another profitable industry, in the manufacturing line, is the creamery business. This, without question, can be classed among the greatest coming industries of this state. quoteI will again the words of one who is interested in the future welfare of our state. He says, "We have a great many creameries in Utah now, and I listened the other day to an expert who had visited many of our plants, and he reported to me that it was a shame to see the loss occasioned by the ignorance of some of the so-called mana- gers." He insisted that it would pay the companies to employ a practical man, and give him twice the amount of wages; the re- sults would be better to the companies.- It would be money in their pockets. Let us have some of our boys prepare themselves for practical overseers of creameries, and be able to make the best butter at the lowest cost; let them be able to make cheese that is not like leather, that will not have to be sold within a month for fear of its spoiling. "There are a great many openings in the creamery business," remarks an authority on this subject, "but like everything else, the returns are governed by the cost of the investment, not in — money, merely, but rather in experience in learning thoroughly all about the business. Successful men must begin at the bottom and years, not months, must be spent in climbing. Sometimes, many years of patient and intelligent endeavor must elapse. The best way- to learn the creamery business is to work at it. Use every opportunity that your locality or state affords." There is one other opportunity that some of our young men should take hold of. Utah is not supplying her quota of young men in the civil service, especially in the railway mail service. SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN. 607 One of our Utah boys within the past year passed the examination, and within three months received an appointment from the Govern- ment as a mail clerk. He is now working at a salary of $75 per month with an excellent opportunity for an increase of wages. It would be well for some of the young men of this state to prepare for the civil service. New railroads will soon be in operation. There will be a great demand for operators and agents. How many of the young men are learning telegraphy? Who has determined to master this profession? Good agents and operators are always in demand. I have now occupied more space than I should have done in enumerating some of the opportunities that the young men in Utah should grasp. There are hundreds of others that will come to those who prepare themselves. Think of those that will come in manufacturing, such as the packing and canning of meats, the mak- ing of soap, furniture, chemicals, etc! These few of the many, are opportunities that the young men of Utah should seize as they pass! Nothing is more to be regretted than opportunity lost. The young men of Utah have allowed too many advantages to slip by. As a result, present industries, requiring skillful labor, are oper- ated by eastern men. "Nothing slips by more easily," says Thayer, "than opportunity; and once gone, it is gone forever. The same opportunity comes but once in a life time. If not improved, when it appears, it becomes a lost opportunity, leaving disappointment and pain behind, as a loss always does. Never was there such an op- portunity to compete for prizes as there is today. There never was so much room for the best as now. The field of exploits stretches beyond the Father of Waters to the shores of the Pacific; from the Hudson Bay, on the north, to the Gulf of Mexico, on the south; and Providence invites every young man to this vast arena of action extending from sea to sea." young man In conclusion, let me say, it is the duty of every to prepare himself, so that he may be able to seize some one of the many opportunities that glide past every moment. So shall we pride ourselves of great industries, managed and operated by the sons of Utah.