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Show IN LOVE WITlTlHXIET I 1)1!. WILLIAM Y INTllKOl' liK'l'TS. OF SAL T LAKK CITY, TALKS TO THE FDITOI! OF Tll! r a iM-.it about Dixit: AM) ITS I'OSSI- lni.rn ics. Dr. Wm. Winthrop Betts, of Salt Lake City, arrived here with Hon. Thomas Judd on the 11th inst., seeking a much needed rest from the fatigues of active practice in our glorious climate clim-ate of perpetual sunshine and balmy breezes. He is a guest of the Snow house, and expects to remain here two or three weeks longer. A representative represen-tative of this paper called on the Dr. Thursday when he expressed himself as follows: 'Doctor, this is not your first visit to Dixie, I understand, what do you think of our country and its people':"' "No, I visited St. George three years ago in company with Mr. Iglehart, now manager of the Salt Lake Herald. We made an extensive trip through southern south-ern Utah and the Kaibob plateau as far south as the grand canyon of the Colorado, Colo-rado, At that time I was greatly impressed with St. George and its wonderful possibilities, and with the impetus that railroad facilities would give I wonder now, as I did then, why-it why-it had been delayed so long. This year the Utah & Pacific brings us within 50 miles of Modena, and the prospects are that in the near future the Rio Grande Western railroad will bring us still nearer, and, if you please, make St. George a suburb of Salt Lake City with all the advantages that would accrue to both. "Just look out on that lawn; look on those trees in their vivid summer dress, the flowering shrubs, and blooming-roses, blooming-roses, then let your reflections carry you to Salt Lake City; you find the buds scarcely started and the trees still gray, as yet there is very little vegetation. vegeta-tion. In the market you find vegetables shipped from California, stale by three days transportation. Don't you see it would be possible with a railroad to furnish early vegetables for the Salt Lake and northern markets. This industry in-dustry alone would not only be a great advantage to Salt Lake City, but a boon to St. George. "You ask about the people. As I ride over these mountains and plains, subject to the conditions which have left only a geological waste, and note what energy and perseverance must have been displayed in reclaiming the valley of the Virgin from the desert, by a most complete system of irrigation, my admiration for such energy becomes unbounded, and as I listen to the stories of struggle and hardship endured by the older settlers I cannot help thinking think-ing that the Dixie pioneers anticipated the settlement, of this country by several generations. My return to St. George after three years absence is evidence of what I think of its people. In a true sense I have been given the 'open door,' the latch-string is out, and I have been made to feel at home on all sides and greeted as a friend. "You ask my opinion, as a doctor, of the climate. In reply I can truly say that I am simply fascinated by it. You see, St. George is situated in what is known as the extreme dry area of the United States, with a moderate high altitude of about 2-300 feet, perhaps at times a little too dry for agriculture, but an admirable place for pulmonary invalids." "As many people have spent the winter win-ter here with benefit, what is your opinion of a sanatorium for this country, coun-try, doctor?" "In my opinion, a sanatorium will be established in Washington county in the near future. You see so little is known to the outside world of the climatic advantages of southern Utah that it will take some time to bring it to the public notice. For instance, in a recent work on medical climatology this section was not mentioned, only aboutapage being devoted to Utah, and that to Salt Lake City, while fifteen to twenty pages were devoted to other Western states. I am sure there Was no intention of the author to slight Utah, but almost nothing is known outside out-side of the wonderful climatic advantages advan-tages of Washington county," "It is rumored that you think La Verkin ranch would be a favorable place to establish a sanatorium?" "I believe La Verkin with its hot saline sulphur springs would be a most favorable location for a sanatorium on the cottage plan. Besides the springs there is 1300 acres of productive product-ive land, plenty of water for irrigation, atid a good water power can be developed. de-veloped. The springs have already gained a local reputation for the cure i of rheumatism, but my object is to de-! de-! velop the cottage sanatorium plan, and I establish a home for consumptives. and I am gathering facts and data in regard to climate with that object in ! view, " |