--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 2 published: 1904-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph F. Smith, "Events of the Month," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 2 (December 1904): 154–160.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0802unse 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: improvementera0802unse start_page: 154 end_page: 160 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0802unse publication_year: 1904 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 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events of the Month — EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR. Local, October, 1904. Utah at the World's Fair. —Director-General Samuel T. Whitaker, of the Utah Exhibit, at St. Louis, announced the following awards for Utah, up to October 12: Mines and Metallurgy Building. —Grand prize for the general collective exhibitand installation; gold medal for concentrating plant, Utah Commission; gold medal assayers balances, Salt Lake Hardware Co.; silver medal for coal exhibit, Utah Fuel Co.; silver medal for iron ores, Utah Commission; bronze medal for mineral wax, Culmer & Brother; gold medal for collaborator on model mill, Samuel Newhouse; designs and installation, gold medal collaborator S. T. Whitaker. Palace of Agriculture. — Grand prize on exhibit irrigated land with products, Utah Commission; grand prize for grains, grasses, etc., Utah Commission; gold medal for collaborator on cyclorama, S. T. Whitaker. Educational Palace. —Utah schools for Deaf, Dumb and Blind, grand prize; Salt Lake elementary schools, gold medal; Salt Lake High Schools, silver medal; general school exhibit as a whole, silver medal; State Normal school, bronze medal; Utah county schools, bronze medal; Indian Industrial school, bronze medal; Normal Training school, not an. nounced; Agricultural College, experiment station, for a collective dis- play of shopwork, grand prize. On the 11th of November, Governor Wells received word from Director General Whitaker, that complaint had been made against Utah by some of the competitors who were dissatisfied with the awards given this State. The result was that Mr. Whitaker was called before the International Jury of Awards and the subject of Utah's success was discussed in detail. After a session of two hours the jury affirmed the EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 155 former decision and the members declared that the concentrating mill in the Mining building, merited a grand prize, but on account of it being a part of the Collective exhibit which had taken a grand prize, nothing more than a gold medal could be given. The decision in Utah's favor is an important one and will be filed in the archives of the United States government and those of twenty-seven foreign nations. Twenty additional prizes were also awarded to Utah, including gold medals for honey and silk. It was declared by the jury that some of these would have been entitled to a grand prize had they been separate exhibits, but being a part of the grand prize exhibit, like the mill, gold medals were the highest awards possible for them to receive. Founders' Day, B. Y. University. — On Monday, 24th, this day (Oct. 15, 1875) was celebrated by the students, faculty and friends of the Brigham Young University, at Provo. Many of the business houses closed, and the city had a holiday appearance. Students of the school paraded through the principal streets of the city, preceded by standard bearers carrying the American flag and the school banner of white and blue. Services, which were under the direction of President George H. Brimhall, were held in the tabernacle where Elder Reed Smoot delivered the Founders' day address. Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund, the Utah Stake presidency and others, also delivered short addresses, or took part in the exercises, which were pronounced most successful and entertaining. After the close of the services, at the tabernacle, a new school building for the department of Domestic Science, preparatory and missionary schools, was dedicated by President David Johnof the Utah Stake. Utah Japanese Called Home. — On Friday, 25th, E. D. Hashimoto, local Japanese labor agent, received a cablegram from Tokio, requesting him to notify the second reserve men, under his jurisdiction in Utah, Idaho and Nevada, to return at once to Japan to assist the government in its struggle against Russia, the government of Japan paying the ex- penses of their return journey. Birth-day Celebration. — On Tuesday, 25th, Bishop Robert T. Burton celebrated his eighty-third birthday anniversary, at the family residence, in Salt Lake City, which is built upon the spot where the bishop and his wife camped. August 16, 1849, after crossing the plains. There was a large number of his descendants present even to the fourth generation, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Taber Ward Organized.— On Sunday, 2nd, the Taber ward, in the — 156 IMPROVEMENT ERA Taylor stake, Canada, was organized with Rans Van Orman, bishop, Thomas Hull and L. Lindsay counselors. New Ward Officers.— Elder Christian J. Christenson was chosen, Oct. 9th, and set apart as a counselor to Bishop W. P. Lindsay in the Bryan ward, Blackfoot stake. On the evening of Sunday, 80th, Frank B. Piatt was unanimously sustained by the people of the Thirteenth ward, Salt Lake City, as bishop to succeed the late Bishop Nelson A. Empey. Charles A. Johnson and Samuel M. Taylor were sustained as first and second counselors. On the same day, Elder George A. Sims was chosen and sustained as second counselor to Bishop Oscar F. Hunter o'f the Eighth ward, Salt Lake City, vice Elder George F. Richards who removed to Tooele stake. Missionaries in the Salt Lake Stake.— On Sunday, 30th, about thirty missionaries were set apart to labor in the Salt Lake stake, under the direction of the Presidency of the stake, for the purpose of preaching the gospel to the wayward, and to those who have not embraced the truth. A systematic labor will be carried on, in the nature of house to house visits among people of all classes and religious persuasions. Died. —Tuesday, 4th, in Raymond, Canada, Henry Fairbanks, a pioneer of Utah county, and a High Priest in the Alberta stake. —In Preston, Idaho, 5th, Jos. Clayton, born England, Oct. 5, 1847, came to Utah in 1855. —Friday David, Arizona, Olive Martin Fisher, born 7th, in St. April 18, 1821. —Tuesday 11th, Bountiful, Charles Burns. in He was born in Nottinghamshire, England, Dec. 3, 1831, and joined the Church in his youth. — On the same day, in Charleston,Wasatch, while on a visit, Louisa Allen, a pioneer resident of Draper, Salt Lake county. —In Nephi, 11th, Gus Henriod, born Havre, France. He came to Salt Lake, October, 1853, and was first clerk of the first U. S. Marshal of Utah, he also assisted in inaugurating the "Deseret Alphabet." — Wednesday, 12th, in Salt — Lake City, Alexander Stiefel, aged 77 years. Thursday, 13th, in Richfield, Ruth H. Hayward, age 90 years and 6 months, the oldest resident of that place, a native of England and pioneer of 1853. On the — same day in Logan, Peter Hansen, a native of Norway, of old age. Fri- — day, 14th, in Centerfield, Sanpete, Christian L. Hansen, a veteran of the — Blackhawk war, born Denmark, Dec. 27, 1820. Saturday, 15th, in Salt Lake City, David Hilton, one of the oldest residents, who immigrated — from Lancashire, England, in 1855. Sunday, 16th, in Deseret, Millard, Mary Ann Barton, a pioneer of southern Utah, aged 75 years. Monday, — 17th, in Salt Lake City, Richard W. McAllister, aged 80 years. Tuesday, 18th, in Arizona, Thomas G. Webster, of Graham county. — On the same day, in Big Cottonwood, Santa Anna Casto, bishop — EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 157 of Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake county, born in Kane county, Iowa, May 7, 1850, while his parents were on their way to Utah. For twentythree years he was a counselor in the bishopric, and for the past four years, bishop. — Wednesday, 18th, in Pleasant Green, Janet Y. Cahoon, born August 25, 1820, and a pioneer of 1848. — On the same day in Ogden, William Brown, born Davis Co., 111., Aug. 22, 1836, a pioneer of Utah. Friday, 2 1st, in Nephi, Charles Read, who crossed the plains in Captain Edward Martin's handcart company of 1856, and a pioneer of Juab county, aged 63 years. — Friday, 21st, in Thurber, Wayne county, James Heath, a — Utah pioneer, born March 26, 1814. On the same day in Bountiful, Phebe C. Atkinson, who came to Utah in 1853, born Canada, — October 9, 1809, and had 460 living descendants. Monday, 24th, in Salt Lake City, William Timras, born Berkshire, England, baptized Feb. 16, 1845; presided over the Macclesfield conference in 1847, a faithful elder of the Church. — Friday, 28th, in Payson, John P. Wimmer; one of the oldest residents of that place.— Sunday, 30th, in Salt Lake City, Henry A. Lewis of Georgetown, Idaho, for many years Bishop of the George- — town ward, from the effects of an accident. On the same day, on the Lucin Cut-off, George Pidcock, of Ogden, was accidentally killed on the — Southern Pacific, R. R. Sunday, 30th, funeral services were held over the remains of Elder J. J. Mabey, a High Councilor in the Cassia stake of Zion. — In Spanish Fork, 31st, Sarah Banks, born England, January 22, 1826, and came to Utah in 1856. — On September Sunday, Karanema 11, Hapuku of Te Houke, New Zealand, a prominent chief and staunch member of the Church, died. November, 1904. Fire at Payson.— On Saturday, 5th, the Payson tabernacle, Nebo stake, was burned to the ground. The building was an adobe structure erected in 1855. The seating capacity was about 1,200. The origin of the fire is unknown. Died. —Wednesday, 2nd, in Monroe, Sevier county, Ole C. Anderson, a pioneer of Monroe, born June 26, 1840. —Friday, 4th, in Salt Lake City, Amanda Gheen Kimball, widow of President Heber C. Kimball, born January 18, 1830, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, a pioneer of 1848, and an active worker in the Relief Society, and the Salt Lake Temple. — Tuesday, 8th, in Tooele City, John Taylor, a High Priest and one of the pioneers of that place, born in Warwickshire, England, April 9, 1823. — On Tuesday, 8th, in Peterson, Morgan county, Mary Boyden, aged 82. — Wednesday, 9th, in Logan, Sylvia S. Hatch, wife of Patriarch Lorenzo H. Hatch, and a pioneer of 1848. She was born in Windham 1 58 IMPRO VEMENT ERA. county, Vt., Nov. 4, 1826.—Sunday, 18th, in Park City, of heart failure, Morris Sommer, an active lawyer and business man of Salt Lake City. He was born in Frankfort, Germany, and came to America in 1880. He had acted as United States Commissioner, and served as a justice of the peace for two years in the second precinct, Salt Lake City. He was a candidate in 1904, on the Democratic ticket, for City judge. —In Salt Lake City, of small-pox, 13th, Alfred C. Myer, an elder in the Church. Domestic, October, 1904. Railroad Wrecks in October. — On Monday, 10th, twenty-seven persons were killed and thirty injured in a head-on collision on the Missouri Pacific R. R., near Warrensburg, Missouri. On Saturday, 15th, the eastbound Denver and Rio Grande California limited train collided with a westbound freight train, at Beaver Creek, twenty-eight miles west of Pueblo. Two persons were fatally injured and thirteen others seriously. On the same day a Pullman sleeper, attached to the overland train, broke loose near Roseburg, Oregon, plunged over a 15 foot embankment into Crow Creek, while the train was running at a rapid speed. Several of the occupants of the car were severely injured. On Thursday, 20th, Passenger train No. 3, the westbound express on the Southern Pacific collided with a stock train near Yuba, California. Considerable damage was done, but no one was fatally injured. However, Superintendent Laws, of the Sacramento division, who was on the train died from heart trouble shortly after the accident. On Sunday, 30th, three persons were killed and twenty-three injured in a collision on the Missouri Pacific at Tiptop, Missouri. Flashlight Signal. — On Tuesday, 13th, the modern flashlight signal adopted by railroads was placed on trial on the Denver and Rio Grande road. The light can be flooded across the sky giving warning of the approach of a train. The object of this system is to signal a warning in canyons, and on sharp curves, where trains cannot be seen for a safe distance. Report on the Slootm Investigation. — On Sunday, 16th, the re- port of the United States Commission of investigation on the disaster of the steamship General Slocum was made public. President Roosevelt, to whom the report was submitted, wrote a letter to Secretary Metcalf, of the department of Commerce and Labor, directing him to carry into effect the recommendations of the commission. As a result, on the 17th, Robert S. Rodie, head of the steamboat service in New York, was removed, and Ira Harris appointed to succeed him. Later, James EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 159 A. Dumont and Thomas H. Barrett, inspectors, were also removed for negligence of duty. Protestant Episcopal Convention. — The Triennial Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church was held in Boston during the month. The Archbishop of Canterbury was in attendance, and more than eighty bishops from all parts of the world took part in the proceedings, marching in pomp and ceremony in their full canonical robes to the opening service of the convention, in Trinity Church. Many important church matters, and questions of moment, were discussed, including that of divorce, this subject occupying the attention of the convention for a whole week. During the convention, on the 18th, the House of Bishops appointed Rev. Franklin Spencer Spaulding, of Erie, Pa., bishop for the district of Salt Lake City. Anniversary of the Purchase of Alaska. — On Tuesday, 13th, the thirty-seventh anniversary of the purchase of Alaska by the United States government was celebrated at the St. Louis fair. One of the features of the occasion was the unveiling, in the Alaska pavilion, of the bust of William Henry Seward, Secretary of State when the purchase was made. Agitator Demoli Imprisoned. — On Friday, 25th, Charles Demoli, labor agitator, who caused considerable trouble during the coal miners strike in Carbon county, Utah, a year ago, was sentenced in Pueblo, Colorado, to two years in prison for sending obscene printed matter through the mails. Miscellaneous Events. — On Thursday, 25th, the State Department sent out an invitation to the powers to take part in a second International peace conference. On Thursday, 25th, an airship constructed by Captain Thomas S. Baldwin, of California, made a successful journey of ten miles at the World's Fair at St. Louis. Several other successful flights were also made subsequently. November, 1904. The General Election.— In the general election, held on the 8th, the Republican National ticket was successful. Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks the nominees of that party for President and Vice-President, respectively, were chosen by the largest plurality ever given candidates for those offices. It was estimated, shortly after the election, that their popular vote would be 2,000,000 above the vote of the Democratic candidates, Alton B. Parker and Henry G. Davis, and that in the electoral college they would have 336 votes, a majority of 160 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 196. The Democrats carried the "Solid South" with the exception of Missouri, while the vote of Maryland was divided, the Democrats getting seven out of the eight electoral votes. The Republican ticket in Utah was also successful, all the candidates on the State ticket being elected with exceptionally large majorities, and the National ticket carried the state by at least 30,000 plurality. Battleship "New Jersey."— On Thursday, 10th, the battleship New Jersey, built for the United States government was successfully launched. Foreign, November, 1904. Election in Canada. —In the general election in Canada held on the 3rd, the Liberal government with the present Premier, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, was returned to power, and will have a majority of more than seventy in the next parliament, having increased from 54. The House of Commons which has 214 members will stand almost exactly two to one in favor of the Liberal Party and policy. The leading issue was the Grand Trunk Pacific, a new transcontinental railway, projected by the Liberals, and which the Conservatives opposed, saying that a greater part of its 3,600 miles in length, from Moncton, N. B. to Port Simpson on the Pacific, is not needed and can not be profitable. The cost of the entire line may be $150,000,000. The election result is not regarded as favorable to the fiscal policies of Mr. Chamberlain. The Baltic Fleet Agreement. — Russia and Britain have agreed on the main provisions of the convention touching the responsibility of the attack on the English fishing fleet in the North Sea: — "First The commission is to consist of five members — namely, officers of Great Britain, Russia, the United States and France these to — select a fifth; if they cannot agree upon a choice the selection is to be intrusted to the sovereign of some country to be chosen by Great Britain and Russia. — "Second The commission to report on all the circumstances relating to the disaster and to establish the responsibility. — "Third The commission to have the power to settle all questions of procedure. — "Fourth The parties to bind themselves to supply the commission with all the necessary information, facilities, etc. — "Fifth The commission to meet in Paris as soon as possible after the signature. — "Sixth The report of the commission to be officially communicated to the respective governments."