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Show ELECTRICIANS DrAmAnfftru . June 1969 UTAH FARM BUREAU NEWS Page 2 On this page are some photos taken as last minute preparations were completed for the May 10 celebration commemorating 100 years to the minute of the driving of the Golden Spike linking the railroad from coast to coast Behind the obvious points related by the speakers at the event, looking at the tremendous accomplishment of the past and predicting greater things for the future, one thing came home to us in analyzing the importance of the railroad. Before the railroad came to Utah, the pioneers had planted crops of potatoes, corn and wheat from seed stock brought in wagons from the Midwest As supplies became sufficient to sustain themselves and to provide a small surplus, they were made available to settlers passing through the valley, who welcomed the chance to replenish their stocks of flour and other goods. This new business made traders in wheat and flour prosperous and early accounts listed flour as selling for as much as $30 a barrel When the railroad was completed it changed the'whole picture. Settlers in Oregon and California were not nearly as interested in purchasing supplies in Utah. Though it was a few years before freight rates on the newly completed railroad even looked reasonable, it's presence had the effect of putting a lid on some of the exorbitant prices charged by dealers ready to profit from the y needs of travelers. The railroad also made the supplying of seed more economical for Mormon settlers sent by Brigham Young to colonize desolate corners of the new land of Deseret Yet the railroad's full potential for moving fat cattle to distant markets, along with grain, processed flour and sugar was still a long way off. Today it's easy to underestimate agribusiness' dependence on the modern railroad. A visit to a supermarket reveals that nearly all of the fresh produce in evidence was shipped in refrigerated cars from fields in California, Arizona and Mexico, and that only during the short growing season are fresh fruits and vegetables available that came from Utah orchards and of the Golden Spike at finish wiring the electrical systems the day before the driving - the Jupiter, the Central Pacific locomotive that steamed into place with U.P.'s 119 on stands overlooking fields green with irrigated hay crops, and agricultural improvement May the railroad made possible. A REPLICA of 10, 1869, trail-wear- Helds. some 2,000 dignitaries stand empty waiting for the onslaught of more than 12,000 who came to watch the driving of the Golden Spike. SEATS for In fact a tour of the store reveals that more than 90', of the food items are shipped in from other states - - at prices not greatly higher than the same items are sold in their states of origin. A visit to the freight office of a railroad will reveal that (with the exception of hay) nearly all of the animal feed consumed in Utah is shipped in from the Midwest by rail and further, that most of the red meat produced in Utah is shipped out to other states by rail. The fact would seem to be that agriculture in Utah is extremely dependent on the railroad, like it or not Without the rail communication we have, Utah farmers would likely be supplying more of the consumer food items than they are presently, but at what cost? Without the railroad, what would it cost to have farm machinery brought into the state? Freight rates for shipping our goods out and bringing the things we need into the state, admittedly could be lower and might ease the strain considerably. Hopefully, we can work these things out because one thing is certain - - we still need the railroad - - that silver thread that linked the Atlantic and Pacific in 1869. WEARING a new coat of glitter, a replica of old 1 19 stands on hand-laifarm implements by rail following the wedding of the rails in 1869. d track like that which brought UTAH FARM BUREAU fT NEWS r , Published each month by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation at Salt Lake City, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 629 East Fourth South, Salt Lake cents per year to mem.City, Utah, 84102. Subscription price of twenty-fiv- e bers Is included in membership fee. Entered as second class matter March 24, 1948 at the Post Office at Salt Lake City, Utah under die act of March 3, 1879. UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICIALS President Elmo W. Hamilton, Riverton Vice President S. Jay Child, Qeafield Mrs. Willis Whitbeck, Bennion Chairman, Farm Bureau Women Executive Secretary V. Allen Olsen Editor Kenneth J. Rice DIRECTORS District One, A. Alton Hoffman; District Two, William Holmes; District Three, Jack Brown; District Four, Don Allen; District Five, Ken Brasher, District Six, Lee Barton; District Seven, Richard Nelson. RIOT GUARDS receive instruction outside the visitor's center near Promontory. National Park Service officials, acting on a tip that activitists may attempt to spark a riot, were prepared to quell the dis: turbance rapidly . if necessary. : |
