THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



more nearly to the ideal of a self-supporting community 

 than either of its neighbors. The bulk of its population 

 has been trained in the policy of industrial independence 

 from the time of its earliest settlement. We have seen 

 how this was accomplished with little capital except that 

 which was taken from the soil. The fortunate results 

 may now be observed in an industrial life which is re- 

 markably diversified for a community so new and remote. 



Very much the larger portion of the population may be 

 seen in a railroad ride of two hours, from Provo through 

 Salt Lake City to Ogden. This ride takes the traveller 

 through Utah, Salt Lake, and Weber valleys, which were 

 the first to be reclaimed, and must always contain the 

 densest population. The original advantage of this now 

 splendid district was its abund ant water supply, ilowiug 

 in numerous streams from high mountains near at hand. 

 To this advantage later development added the presence 

 of important railroad system sand the proximity of rich 

 mines of precious metals. The growth of other portions 

 of the State, which must be large and constant, can only 

 confirm the supremacy of the communities which have 

 grown up near the shores of the Great Salt Lake. These 

 are alike the commercial, political, and religious centres 

 of Utah, to which all the sources of material wealth must 

 be tributary. 



The natural resources of Utah, as in the case of all the 

 States of the mountain region, are wonderfully diverse, 

 though in the infancy of development. The annual out- 

 put of gold, silver, copper, and lead is now about ten 

 million dollars, and is constantly increasing. The min- 

 ing industry is thus a large contributor to local wealth, 

 supplying employment to thousands of laborers, furnish- 



ir.r, 



