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Show W Years Ago TDdlaiy Mormon practices arouse indignation in Park Record reader by Bettina Moench Dooley It had been 20 years since the first bit of silver ore was discovered in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Thousands of prospectors had flooded the territory, and over the years built solid communities in an area that once had been a Mormon stronghold. But despite the invasion of these "gentiles," the Mormons Mor-mons still proved to be a vexing problem to the federal government, which had had little success in controlling con-trolling them. The rest of the Union looked with scorn upon Utah and the Mormons, who persisted with such practices as polygamy. The Morman question grew so heated that it became a presidential campaign issue, as well as the major topic of conversation among non-Mormons. non-Mormons. In the June 14, 1884 edition of the Park Mining Record, a letter appeared that seemed to sum up the attitude about this strange group. The letter, let-ter, written by a California woman, criticized the government for its apathy in bringing the Mormons into the mainstream of American life. "I see that hundreds are coming in from Europe and spreading out through the center of our continent, as a huge serpent folds itself around the body of its victim," vic-tim," she raved. "Other colonies cluster in bodies, but the policy of this seems to be to form a line of frontage fron-tage which some time may prove imprenetrable. And yet our great government plays on with its Chinese and its tariff and its soldier question, while this monster is quietly and steadily wrapping wrap-ping its coils around the vitals of the country. Alas, that our government should be so slow to move against error." It was evident from 1 another item in the i newspaper that Park City people not only were opposed ' to the Mormons, but also i their practice of disdaining the use of alcohol. The Record noted that during the Community Council meeting that week, a committee of liquor dealers complained that the license fee of $75 was too high. The committee, however, magnanimously agreed to pay this exorbitant fee, "provided they were not held strictly to the letter of their bonds." The Record reported that "to this Mayor Hayt made answer for himself him-self and the Council that they would agree to nothing of the sort." Mayor Hayt apparently wanted to make clear that the city's new government was not about to enter into any deals or show favoritism to any group. Perhaps that is why the next few items of Council business included the adoption of an ordinance on crime and punishment, appointment of two police officers, of-ficers, and a discussion on the creation of a city jail. Spirits must have been boosted when readers learned learn-ed from the Record that the ore shipments from local mines were above average and growing larger. Production Produc-tion had slowed for a while during the muddy spring when the roads from the mines to the sampling works were impassable. But the roads were clear now, and the Crescent and Sampson mines in particular were booming. The Record noted that the Sampson "can from this time be reckoned a standby for the camp. New developments brighten materially the prospects for that company, as the deeper they get the stronger the prospects for permanency. The Sampson may now be said to have a true fissure vein second only to the great Ontario." Such optimism offered residents a sense of security, and allowed them the freedom to occasionally forego hard work for fun and entertainment. The whole town was looking forward to the appearance of the Segrist, Howe & Co. Circus at Echo. According to the Record, the circus was con-; sidered by the press and public to be the "most complete com-plete amusement organization organi-zation ever presented under one large pavillion." The seating capacity at the Echo pavillion guaranteed that 5,000 spectators would be able to watch the "male and female riders, gymnasts, gym-nasts, acrobats, trapezists, barrists, clowns, hindoo . juglars, performing horses, birds, dogs, monkeys, a band of skilled musicisans, and living curiosities," This fantastic fan-tastic exhibition could be viewed, pointed out the Record, thanks to electric light chandeliers that would brilliantly illuminate the mammoth pavillion. With an admission price of only fifty cents, the Record encouraged the town to indulge in-dulge in an evenine of Dure fun watching this "largest, best and greatest of all tent shows." |