| OCR Text |
Show DO HISTORY OF SANPETE COUNTY. leading financial addition to the commerce of central and southern Utah. April 24, 1877, the site for the Manti Temple was dedicated and work began on one of the most imposing buildings of the State. This was erected chiefly by the donations of the generous citizens of this county, and is a monument to eleven years prosperity enjoyed by the people, while it was being constructed. On July 4, 1877, Sanpete stake of Zion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized, with Canute Peterson president and Henry Beal and John B. Maiben counsellors. This marked the beginning of a better era of cooperation and union, as nearly all the people were members of that church, and every effort possible was advanced for the building up of a colonial granary the equal of which could not be found within the confines of a similar sized mountain-walled valley throughout the great new West. During the years of 1890-91 the Rio Grande Western railway was extended through the entire county from north to south, connecting all of the prominent cities and towns, and adding over sixty miles to the railroad track- age in the county. Two years later the Sanpete Valley to Morrison and made a standard gauge. These roads furnished employment to many citizens and opened a market for ties and timbers, thus stimulating the lumber-making industry until the vast forests of the canyons were partially utilized in the rapid accumulation of homes and property for which the county is noted far and near, wherever its people are known. The railroads opened the dormant channels of trade, established new was extended service and express delivery, and placed every colony of the county on the great highway of commercial prosperity. telegraphic The political history of Sanpete in early days is the |
