Show r r Spike Centennial Was Short Changed Short Short-Ch The Golden Spike centennial oh ob observance servance has been short And the culprit 1 Is the dhe he 1967 Utah legislature which appropriated a toke coke n to stage the historic commemoration in 1969 Frankly its it's been difficult for us to to believe that the law making body could be so sh sighted lore so unappreciative of the historical and economic importance of the centen centennial nl al THE CENTENNIAL commission n requested and outlined plans for an att exposition traveling exhibits and sponsorship of various arious sporting sport ing events among other activities Administration alone was e estimated stirn to cost An observer on capitol hill confided to us that plans were not definite enough that the appropriations committee was not sufficiently impressed by the centennial sales pitch Certainly there was room to question plans for forthe forthe forthe the exposition which hinged binged on ion the completion and availability of Salt Lake C City's ky's controversial Salt Palace Granted there was a lack of definitiveness among other proposed activities ties YET WITHOUT any plans or preparations on which to base a case the Golden Spike centennial is worth a substantially greater reater financial tion don By contrast some 13 1 3 million was appropriated for the state centennial fm fin In 1947 when a dollar was worth a dollar Every s 5 tate Mate can lay claim to a birthday as a member of the Union BUT Bur ONLY UTA ur UTAH AH H has the Golden Spike centennial centennial centennial cen cen- tennial with its inter national appeal and obvious visitor drawing power r. r. r Already the Utah Travel council is planning to ti's ft key its 1969 campaign on the spike theme And why not The old right way right way of-way and location where the nations nation's fi first transcontinental railroad was completed have ben been declared a national historic site A SUPERINTENDENT historian and ranger have been assign ed to the site by the US U.S. Park ser sere service vice which envisions construction of a visitor center and restoration I of vintage locomotives and other historical features feat in time for the May 10 1969 com com- Local s' s supporters have proved their enthusiasm over the ars yeats Yf ars by pers in good weather and bad with the traditional Golden Spike pageant Senator Sena or Frank E. E E Moss has introduced a proposal proposal proposal pro pro- to create a national Golden Spike centennial commis' commis commission i on and all aU members of Utah's congressional delegation have requested a commemorative stamp f Y THERE HAS been a ground groundswell groundswell swell of of interest except in the Utah legislature re financial prudence has diluted good judge judge- me tit nt The alternative now appears clear Box Elder c c its cities and towns chambers of commerce service clubs and other organizations must take the initiative After all with Golden Spike National Historic site in our own backyard we have the most to gain from its development and exploitation Now is the time to begin planning A limited exposition parades exhibits queen contest tours festivals yesteryear day promotions etc should be considered With travel council promotion stimulating nation nationwide na tion wide tion-wide wide interest Box Elder county can become the tourist capitol of Utah in 1969 Box Box Elder News |