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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 29-31, 2020 A-9 The Park Record W Green Tips Build it and they will come through On powder days, treat the slopes with respect AY WE WERE ERIC MOLDENHAUER Recycle Utah After Fort Sumter, Lincoln greenlit America’s railroad DAVID NICHOLAS Park City Museum Researcher The title of this article may remind readers of the movie “Field of Dreams” - a magical story starring Kevin Costner playing Ray Kinsella, a farmer from Iowa. While walking in his cornfield Ray hears voices whispering “build it and he will come” referring to Shoeless Joe Jackson of Chicago Black Sox fame. Ray follows his heart, builds a baseball diamond in the cornfield and Joe and his teammates return for their redemption. The American Film Institute classifies Field of Dreams as a fantasy film. Its story is something that could happen “only in the movies.” But perhaps it has really happened. “Build it and they will come” applies to the birth of Park City. The town owes its existence to the construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad. Before this PARK CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM, BEA KUMMER COLLECTION The Union Pacific and Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built small branch lines, called spurs, down to Park City mostly to transport ore out of town, although they also would have transported other goods, mail and passengers. Park City’s Union Pacific Depot still sits at 201 Heber Ave. Photograph taken in the 1890s. event, Park City did not exist. This situation changed effective May 10, 1869 with the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory. While an army of people contributed to this 19th century “moonshot” in the context of Park City we will discuss three of them - Abraham Lincoln, Brigham Young and Colonel Patrick E. Connor. Before becoming the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln established himself as a brilliant railroad lawyer. In the late 1850s an important client was the Illinois Central Railroad, one of the nation’s largest railroads. Lincoln grasped the transformational potential of the iron horse. By the early 1850s discussions regarding the construction of a railroad to the west began in earnest. In 1853 Congress appropriated funds for a comprehensive survey from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast. The project took five years and identified five potential routes. One of the most promising was the “central route” from Omaha across Nebraska through Salt Lake City to Sacramento. However, any effort to make a decision proved impossible owing to the extreme partisan political environment. The secession of the 11 slave-holding states and subsequent attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, resolved partisan impediments. Unburdened by the obstructionist Southern legislators, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Bill which Lincoln signed on July 1, 1862. Now, which route to select? Relations between the Mormons and the Federal Government could best be described as “frosty” since conclusion of the Mormon War in 1850. With the outbreak of Civil War Brigham Young expressed neutrality concerning the conflict. This neutrality was open to misinterpretation concerning Mormon loyalty to the Union. The federal government was intolerant of separatist activity and mixed sympathies. To counter this Mormon “problem,” Colonel Patrick Connor and 2,500 troops were dispatched to Salt Lake with orders to protect the overland route and keep an eye on the Mormons. Perhaps as a “Union” insurance policy the central route was selected for the first Transcontinental Railroad. Two private companies backed by the financial might of the federal government would construct this modern miracle. Between the Central Pacific and Union Pacific they would build a rail network exceeding 1,700 miles binding the north and west together. Thus was Park City’s fate set in motion. An exhibit on the Transcontinental Railroad opens in the Park City Museum’s Tozer Gallery on Feb. 10. Stay tuned for part two on the Transcontinental Railroad and Park City on March 4th before we host a lecture on the railroad. We all love our winter playground, and it’s time to show it some love and respect. Everyone can take part in making sure that we have a sustainable future with winter sports and our environment all around. Small and simple changes can have the biggest impact and are easy to do. Getting the most out of your gear is a great way to start. Instead of upgrading your jackets, gloves and other clothing, use it for many seasons. It will still be in fashion and you will continue to look good on the slopes. If and when you upgrade your clothing or gear, make sure to donate or resell so that it stays in use and out of the landfill. One persons out of style gear is another’s treasure. Choose an eco-friendly wax for your board or skis. Waxes are essential for us to glide and ride on the snow but some can have harmful chemicals which get into the snow and water- ways. Try to avoid waxes with PFCs (perofluorochemicals), as these can be toxic to local vegetation, wildlife and our own health. Another great option is to cut your carbon footprint with transportation. We all know how limited parking is at the mountain and carpooling or taking public transportation will save emissions and also save you time and money. Utilize the bus or other ride share programs and avoid the traffic and chaos that can come with a powder day. It’s our responsibility to protect the places we play and we all have the power to do so. Think sustainably next time you head up to the mountain so that we can keep enjoying this amazing place we live in. Recycle Utah, your community nonprofit drop off recycling center, provides these weekly tips. Visit their website for more information - www. recycleutah.org. Influenza claims two Utah cadets Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – Two students at a Utah military academy have died of influenza. Weber-Morgan Health Department officials say an epidemiologist confirmed the students tested positive for different strains of flu. The Salt Lake Tribune reports neither the school nor the health department identified the students. A GoFundMe page says an eighth-grader at the military academy came down with flu and pneumonia on Jan. 17 and was doing better until he was hospitalized with breathing difficulties Friday. The website says the boy died later that day. So you have the power to spend time here we’ll keep making it easier © 2020 Rocky Mountain Power here You turn to us at Rocky Mountain Power to make your day better. That’s why we’ve improved our online options and mobile app, and added convenient services like text alerts so you can get the information you want, when you want it. See how you inspire us to go even further at PoweringGreatness.com. 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