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Show HISTORY OF SANPETE COUNTY. 77 sealed in the embraces of deep, impenetrable snowbanks; the food supply was very limited, with no prospect of any aid except from Salt Lake City, and the icebound walls of Salt ('reck canyon would soon bo locked against the ox trains, their only means of transportation. Seth Taft looked about him to the north and the south and diseouragingly remarked: "This valley is only a long, narrow canyon, and not even a jackrabbit can exist on its desert soil." Me proved the sincerity of his thoughts by leaving the following spring, under the impression that the colonists would soon starve. The refirst winter, the facts concerning which have been corded in the county history, was certainly a most discouraging season, and the late spring was almost enough evidence that Taft had spoken the truth concerning Sanpete Valley. But the summer was favorable, houses were constructed of logs, stones and dugouts and crops were grown in the field then held as common propAfter one year's residence the conditions were erty. more pleasing, the provisions plentiful, the weather very much modified and homes more comfortable. The Legislature recognized the value of a city organ- ization for Manti, and on February 6, 1851, a bill was passed and approved by the Governor incorporating the The area then included ten miles, extending from city. Six -Mile Creek on the south to Willow Creek on the north, and from Sanpitch river on the west to the Wasatch mountains on the east. In April, 1851, the first city election was held and all "free white male inhabitants of the age of eighteen years" were permitted to vote. The officers elected were: Dan Jones, Mayor; Jezreel Shomaker, Phineas VV. Cook, O. S. ('ox and dames Whiting, C. Brown, Aldermen; John I>. Chase, Edwin Abram Washburn, George P. Billings, Isaac Morley, Jr., Jr., and |
