Events of the Month

EVENTS
OF THE
MONTH. Local. — December, 1903. Domestic Organization. — The Brigham Young University, Provo,. has established a domestic organization among the students to enable the faculty to supervise their actions outside of the school. The plan is to organize the students into stakes, corresponding as near as may be to the stakes of the Church, and holding the name of the stakes from which the students come. Presidencies, aids, teachers and other officers are chosen from among them, whose duties are to visit and inquire into the manner of living of the students under their charge. A conference was held on the 15th, attended and addressed by President Anthon H. Lund and Apostle Hyrum M. Smith. On the same day, the grounds for the new intermediate and missionary building were dedicated, President Lund offering the dedicatory prayer. Ul-AH Clubs. — There are at least four clubs in Utah, which may be called leaders: Alta, Weber, Commercial and University. The last named has recently finished a magnificent home on Brigham street, and has a present total membership of 184 college men. The first and last named are social clubs, while the Weber, of Ogden, and Commercial, of Salt Lake, are primarily business. The latter two held a banquet on the 14th, when 200 business men, 30 of whom were from Ogden, enjoyed a banquet, and speeches from leading members. William J. Lynch, Chief of Police. — For nearly a year, owing to a dispute between the City Council and Mayor, Salt Lake City has been without a chief of police. At the Council meeting of the 14th, Mayor Ezra Thompson nominated William J. Lynch to the place, and he was confirmed by a vote of 10 to 4. Mr. Lynch is well acquainted with the work of the police, and the general opinion is that he will make a good officer. Benjamin Cluff Resigns. — After a faithful service of
twelve

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 313 years as President of the Brigham Young University, Prove, Benjamin Cluff has resigned, his resignation to take effect on the 23rd. It was accepted on the 15th, by the board of trustees, and Dr. George H. Brim- hall was chosen acting president. Mr. Cluff will engage in the rubber business, in Mexico, as manager of the Utah-Mexico Rubber Co. Death of John W. Hess.— A noted pioneer, a member of the Mormon Battalion, and a man of unflinching integrity, was President John W. Hess, of Davis Stake, who died in Farmington, on the morning of the '16th. He was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Foutz Hess, and was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, August 24, lb24. He was baptized into the Church with his father's family, in March, 1834, in Richmond County, Ohio, whither the family had removed in 1832. Then came removals with the Saints to Ray and Caldwell Counties, Missouri, and later to Illinois, and then again to Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, Elder Hess bearing the blunt of the trials, the burdens of the family, and caring for his partly paralyzed father, whose health failed owing to the severe hardships which he passed through. On July 10, 1846, he and his wife having arrived at Council Bluffs, on their westward journey, his father's family remaining in Mt. Pisgah, he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, in Company E, Captain Daniel C. Davis, his wife Emmeline Bigler whom he had married in Nauvoo, November 2, 1845, also enlisting as one of the four women to accompany each company as laundresses. After his return, in 1843, to Mt. Pisgah, he found his father had died June 22, 1846. In the spring of 1849, he arranged for the westward journey, taking with him his father's family, and arriving in Salt Lake Valley July 27, settling shortly thereafter in Farmington. In March, 1865, he was ordained a bishop serving in this capacity for 27 years, un- til he was ordained, September 22, 1882, counselor to President W. R. Smith, upon whose death he was made president, January 15, 1894. This position he held until death. He served three terms in the Terri- torial legislature, in 1858, 1860, 1876; was commander of the Davis County militia for many years, and a delegate in 1895 to the Omaha Trans-Mississippi Congress. He filled a mission to the Lamanites and to Pennsylvania. On February 8, 1900, he was ordained a patriarch by Elder Francis M. Lyman, and remained an active worker in his callings to the day of his going to rest. Lehi Divided. — On the 20th, a quarterly conference of the Lehi ward was held. Bishop Thomas R. Cutler, having removed to Salt Lake, was honorably released, after having served the people as bishop from September 5, 1873, at which time he succeeded David Evans who

314 IMPROVEMENT ERA. was the first Bishop oi; the ward. All the priesthood of the ward were present at the forenoon meeting, when it was agreed that the ward would be divided into four, and when the boundaries of each ward were fixed. Officers were also chosen and unanimously sustained, on the nom- ination of Elder John Henry Smith, who, with Elder George Teas- dale, represented the First Presidency. The following bishops and counselors were chosen, the action of the priesthood meeting being ratified by the people in the afternoon meeting: First ward — Andrew Field, bishop; John B. Whipple, George Schow, counselors. Second ward — James H. Gardner, ^bishop; A. C. Pearson, William F. Gurney, counselors. Third ward — Henry Lewis, bishop; George Glover, Jackson Wanless, counselors. Fourth ward — John Stoker, bishop, Samuel A. Smith, James Clark, counselors. Bishop Cutler was born in Sheffield Yorkshire, England, June 2, 1844, and came to Utah in 1865. The people of Lehi, as a unit, extend him their best will in parting, recogniz- ing his many good qualities as a man and officer. The Coal Mine Strike. — On the 17th the situation in the coal camps was such that the officials were confident that the critical time had passed. Many of the strikers had departed, including Demolli, the agitator. For the first time since the strike, Nov. 9th, the normal num- ber of men, 477, only 73 of whom were Italians, were at work in the Sunnyside mine. There are still one hundred union Italian families in camp. On the 21st the Castle Gate mines opened without trouble, and every mine in the county is now in operation, and the strike is practic- ally at an end. On the 2ord the gradual recall of the State troops from Carbon county began by the return of Company H to Salt Lake. The strike up to the end of the year, has cost the state about $25,000. On the 27th, President Angus M. Cannon gave notice in the tabernacle that men could find employment in the mines, from which, on the day follow- ing, certain labor leaders inferred that the Church was fighting the labor unions, and announced that they would fight the seating of Senator Smoot. It is emphatically denied that the officers of the Church in- tended to mix in the affair at all. The notice was read on request, just as such notices for work frequently are. Died. — In Preston, Idaho, 12th, Hannah Mary Merrill, born Weber county, Nov. 22, 1868, and daughter of Robert and Jane Baird. — In Salt Lake City, Thursday, 17th, Thomas Corless. lie was one of the pioneers of 1848, a Salmon River missionary, and held many Church positions in the 4th ward. He was born in England in 1832. —Monroe, 18th, James H. McCarty, born in Kentucky, May 9, 1831, and came to Utah in

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 315 1854. He was the father of Justice Wm. M. McCarty of the Utah Su- preme Court. — In Willai-d, 19th, Charles W. Hubbard, born Mass.,Feb. 7, 1810, first bishop of Willard and pioneer of 1848.— In Mill Creek, 20th Susannah Halford, born England, January 1, 1825, emigrated to Utah with the first P. E. Fund company, in 1852.— In Coalville, 22nd, Alpheus Franklin, age 74, an early settler of Summit county and a skilled me- chanic.— In Salt Lake, 24th, William Rigby, born England, Aug. 8, 1838, a pioneer of 1848, and an Indian war veteran. — Wm. D. Owen, in Salt Lake City, 23rd, born in London, England, June 14, 1810, one of the old- est residents of the city.— Elizabeth H. Watts, born Mississippi, Dec. 8, 1815, on the 25th., in South Weber. — George Woodward, one of the orig- inal 143 pioneers, in St. George, Utah. — Seth Dustin, born October 25, 1825, in New York, a Nauvoo veteran, on the 23rd, in Garden City, Rich county. — In Farmers Ward, Salt Lake county, 28th, Annie C. Anderson a pioneer of Sanpete Valley. — Parley P. Prophet, an old resident of South Weber, died suddenly, 28th, after preaching a funeral sermon over Eliza- beth H. Watts. — Martin Harrow, born England, an old resident of Salt Lake, 30th. — In Ogden, 31st, Susan Parry, wife of Hon. Joseph Parry, born in Connecticut, 1843, came to Utah in 1852. Ore for St. Louis. — If careful work is to place Utah mines in their true light before the nations, at the great St. Louis Exposition, in 1904, Don Maguire, who has that subject in charge, is determined that this shall be done. On the 22nd, he finished his visits to the Silver King where he collected from this, one of the world's greatest mines, twelve cases of specimens weighing in all 3000 pounds. One of the most re- markable of these is a rock weighing 800 pounds, a blend of galena car- bonate and copper ores. Other properties, the Ontario, Daly-West, Daly- Judge, and in fact, all the leading mines of Park City, are likewise being explored for specimens, which will be carefully boxed and forwarded to S. T. Whitaker, Ogden, for transmission to St. Louis. A piece of coal weighing 2800 pounds is to be among the exhibits. The Prophet Joseph Smith's Birthday. — Among the many celebrar tions in honor of the Prophet's birthday, 23rd, was one given by the Daughters of the Pioneers, in the Barratt Hall. A large audience en- joyed the program, consisting in part of an address by President Joseph F. Smith on "Messengers to the World, and the first Fruits of the Mes- sage;" an address by Hon. W. H. King, on "Joseph Smith;" a song, "The S"er," by Charles Kent; and "Brigham, the Friend of the Prophet," by Mrs. Maria Y. Dougall.

816 IMPROVEMENT ERA, New Electric Light. — Springville, Utah county, celebrated the completion, on the 29th, of the new electric light plant, erected by the city at a cost $30,000. The principal streets were lighted at 5 o'clock, when the citizens were out in great numbers, and the brass band played in honor of the event. The Iroquois Theatre Fire. — On the 30th in Chicago, nearly six hundred people were killed by fire, suffocation, and being trampled to ieath, in the Iroquois theatre. It is one of the worst holocausts in the his- tory of our country. Lulu P. Alexander of Springville, wife of Dr. Alexan- der, with her daughter, aged 8, and lier son, aged 4, were among the victims, which brings the horror home to Utah. Utah Light and Railway Co. — On the 31st a consolidation of the Utah Light & Power Co., and the Consolidated Street Railway Co. of Salt Lake went into effect. The new company is capitalized for $10,000,000. President Joseph F. Smith was chosen president of the new consolidation, with W. S. McCornick, L. S. Hills, W. J. Curtis, J. R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund, A. W. McCune, Joseph S. Wells, and W. P. Reed, directors; R. S. Campbell secretary and manager. January, 1904. Election of Power and Light Officers. — The Utah Light & Rail- way Co. elected officers on Januany 2. President Joseph F. Smith was chosen president, L. S. Hills treasurer, R. S. Campbell secretary and gen- eral manager. The systems of power, light and transportation will be improved, and to these ends more than a million dollars will be spent in the next five years. The consolidation is generally approved by the public. Patti in SALf Lake. — Patti sang to an audience of about five thousand in Salt Lake, 'after an absence of twenty years. Her voice was a disappointment to those who heard her on her former visit, but she sang well for a woman of 61 years. The Smoot Case.— On the 9th, Senator Reed Smoot replied to the petitions and charges against him, presenting through Senator Burrows his reply in printed form to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. He denies that he is a polygamist, and declares that polygamy is not sanctioned by the Church, and denies that he is one of the alleged "self- perpetuating body of fifteen men" who control the temporal and spirit- ual, civil and religious, affairs of the Church, or that there^is such a body.
Arguments in the case will be heard on the 17th. Joseph Bull Passes Away. -One of the oldest printers in the

, EVENTS OF THE MOUTH. 317 Church, who earned the title of "The Mormon Newspaper Man," Joseph Bull, died at his home in Salt Lake on the 11th. With the exception of hirf missions, to Europe, in 1860, four years, and in 1877, two years, and two years in California with the Western Standard, and a short period as a laborer in the Salt Lake Temple, he was in the employ of the Deseret News, in various capacities, for half a century. He was born in Leicester, England, January 25, 183ii!, became a printer's apprentice at the age of fourteen years; left Liverpool January, 1851; arrived in Salt Lake in September, and in January, the following year, began work on the News. He held many positions in Church work, and was ordained a Seventy in 1858. He married Emma Green, October 28, 1854, who died October 24, 1895, and he married Zina 0. Hyde, January 7, 1897. Only a few days before his death, he gave the Era his portrait and matter for a sketch of his life, to be printed in our series, "Public Workers," which will appear in the March number. He was a man of push and energy, rich in experience and faith. Utah Lake Project. — The report of Prof. Swendsen, local engineer in charge of the U. S. Geological Survey, shows the practicability of the Utah Lake reservoir project, and demonstrates that when the lake is properly improved, it may be depended upon to yield 1000 second feet of water daily for the entire irrigation period of 152 days. The report sets forth all the facts, plans, and estimate of costs, and makes a strong recommendation to State Engineer Doremus that the Lake be selected as the first project to receive national aid. The execution of the work will depend entirely upon the land owners who, if the work is done, must re- imburse the government for the outlay, as there is practically no gov- ernment land to be benefitted. The project has been presented to the interested owners, and to Chief Hydrographer Newell, of the govern- ment service, with all indications that the experiment will be tried. The result of a successful ending of the enterprise will place 20,000 acres additional land under cultivation in the Salt Lake valley, besides supply- ing present canals with surplus water. Miscellaneous Events.— On the 2nd, Dr. H. Talbot, of Portland, Oregon, was named to succeed Rev. J. L. Leilich, as superintendent of the Methodist church of Utah. — Major Hey wood, of Bountiful, in charge of the detachment of troops at Seofield, and a member of the state militia for seven years, resigned on the 3rd. — On the 4th, Frank J. Hewlett was chosen president of the Salt Lake city council; and Thomas H. Carr, of the Ogden city council; Sherman Fargo, of Park City coun- cil; Marion Snow,
of Provo council. — Horace
G.
Burt, on the 2nd,

318 IMPRO VE MEN T EKa . handed in his resignation as president of the Union Pacific railway — On the 6th, Amassa Gleason and Thomas Brighton, motorman and con- ductor of a street car, were fatally shot, at 11:45 p.m., by a hold-up, who was afterward arrested, and later confessed to the foul deed. His name is ("Jack") John M. Shockley. Both his victims are dead. — A snow storm was general throughout Utah on the 11th, New Book on Utah. — Hons. Geo. E. Blair and R. W. Sloan have in press The Mountain Empire — Utah, a book upon the resources of the State. It is to be a valuable compendium of information to be distributed at St. Louis during the Exposition. Death of Bishop Tingey.— On the 10th, in Salt Lake City, Bishop John Tingey died. He was a man who proved faithful in all his work to the end, and who passed through many hardships in early Utah, where he arrived with his wife, Phebe Stafford, in September, 1852. He was born in England, December 27, 1821, and joined the Church March 11, 1845. In 1857, he took part the Echo Canyon expedition, was a ward teacher for twenty years; ordained a Seventy February 16, 1853; a high Priest April 20, 1876; a Bishop November 6. 1880; a Patriarch September 13, 1896. He was the fifth bishop of the Seventeenth Ward, serving in that capacity for sixteen years. His surviving children are faithful members of the Church. Domestic— December, 1903. Islands in Great Number. — The Philippine Commission have rec- ommended that the navigation laws be not applied to the islands until a sufficient number of American vessels ask for such action. Only very few such vessels are now employed either between the numerous islands, or the islands and the states. Speaking of the number of islands, it has been ascertained by the coast survey, in lively action during December that the archipelago contains 3000, 1700 of which bear names. National Convention. — It is decided December 12, by the Repub- lican National Committee to hold the National Convention in Chicago, beginning June 21, 1904. The Purchase of Friar's Lands. — In the last days of December, the prolonged negotiations for the purchase of the lands of the religious ord- ers, or friars, in the Philippines, were ended when an agreement was reached for the sale of the property to the island government. There are 403,000 acres, and the sum to be paid is $7,239,784. The Pope agreed

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 319 to the transaction, and said when he heard the news: "This is the best Christmas box I could have had." The sum will be spent mostly for the support of the Catholic Church in the islands. The lands will be sold to present tenants on easy terms. The Franciscan monks or friars will leave the islands; the Recollects will remain, about 100 in number; the Dominicans will be cared for by their university; and the Augustinians will again occupy their building in Iloilo, taken, and now occupied, by government troops. Bonds will be issued to pay for the lands, four per cents, due in thirty years, and will be as valid as regular government bonds, hence as valuable. Governor Taft. — Governor Taft sailed from Manila, December 24, and will visit the Emperor of Japan on his way home. His departure ex- cited universal regret, and a procession of 15,000 soldiers, sailors, con- stables, and labor unions escorted him to the Luneta where he reviewed it. There has been great progress in the islands, and only time for edu- cation and raising crops is needed to cause great prosperity and prog- ress. The Iroquois Theatre Fire. — If the fire at the ring theatre in Vienna, in 1881, when 875 lives were lost, and the burning of Lehman's Theatre, in St. Petersburg, in which between six and seven hundred per- sons perished, are excepted, the fire and panic at the Iroquois Theatre, Chicago, December 30, at which 585 lives were lost, and 142 persons in- jured— are the most appaling in history. The fire was started by a de- fective electric-light wire. The Iroquois was considered one of the safest theatres in the world, it cost $500,000 and was opened November 23, 1903. The fire escapes were not in position, and the alleged fire-proof asbestos curtain was totally destroyed, — serious defects. The loss to the owners was $20,000. New Year's day was observed throughout Chicago as a day of mourning, and as a result of the fearful holocaust the thea- tres and their safety, for the public have been looked into not only in Chicago, but in all the large cities of the nation, and even in Europe. January, 1904. Porto Ricans Not Aliens. — The Supreme Court at Washington has decided by unanimous vote that citizens of Porto Rico are not aliens within the meaning of our emigration laws, because they owe no allegi- ance to a foreign power, but are governed by the Congress and execu- tive officers of the United States. While the court declined to say whether they are citizens, it is only one step more to recognizing their
citizenship,
and from that to the fact
that they may become

320 IMPROVEMENT ERA an organized territory. They are now entitled to admission into this coun- try without obstruction. Death of James Longstreet. — A veteran of the Mexican, Indian and Civil Wars, James Longstreet, died on January 2, aged 83 years. He held the rank of Lieutenant General in the Confederate service, was at one time minister to Turkey, and since 1897 has served as U. S. Commis- sioner of Pacific railroads. Foreign. — December, 1903. Big Money. — On the 18th, Cardinal Gotti is reported to have given the Pope nine million dollars which had been bequeathed to the Cardinal in trust by Pope Leo; and two millions was found in a wall of the late Pope's room. President Diaz. — It is generally believed that President Diaz, of Mexico will lay down his office some time before the expiration of his term as president, December 1, 1904. His age and his desire to visit Europe lend belief to this. The only two successors named are J. V. Limantour, Minister of Finance, and General Reyes, a military hero of Indian descent. Affairs in the Congo. — A steady stream of evidence keeps flowing in, charging that most unspeakable brutalities are still being practiced in the Congo Free State, and this, too, with the connivance of King Leo- pold. The latest testimony comes from Roger Casement, a British Con- sul in the Congo State. He has just made a 1,000 mile tour of investi- gation at the instigation of the British Government, and he fully con- firms the worst reports of the slavery and barbarism perpetrated on the natives. New Railway. — A very interesting report has just been published by the Congo Free State Government concerning the railway now being built from the Upper Congo to the Great Central African Lakes. This railway will bring Stanleyville into communication with Ponthierville by winding about the great falls, and it will open up to traffic and civiliza- tion one of the ricliest tracts of land ir the world. Stanleyville will then doubtless become the commercial center of the district. Added to this report is annexed an account giving information relative to big game shooting in the State. The elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, hippota- mus, leopard, giraffe, zebra and all sorts of deer still abound, especially about the station of Kiro, in Lados.