Immigration was systematically carried on by the Latter-day Saints, intent upon their ideal of gathering scattered Israel from the nations. The Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, or ganized in the autumn of 1849, sent annually to the frontier 500 wagons to bring the poor to Utah. Those aided by, were expected to reim burse, the fund, thus making it perpetual. Many of these immigrants, men, women and children, walked the entire distance from the Missouri River, some of them pulling handcarts over burning plains and storm-swept mountains. During the season of 1856 many perished. Vari ous classes of people— farmers, laborers, tradesmen, mechanics, merchants, manufactur ers and business men, with a liberal sprinkling of artists, musicians, writers and other profes sionals, were to be found in these wagon trains. The newcomers, wherever possible, would prac tise their trades or professions, but all were en couraged to take up land and build permanent homes. Small holdings were the rule. There was neither land nor water for speculative pur poses. Utah has at the present time 23,000 farms, averaging about 150 acres each. Nearly half a million acres have been entered for cul tivation under dry-farm methods, requiring no irrigation.
Wherever settlements sprang up, they were upon soil claimed by the Indians and acquired by the United States at the close of its war with Mexico. The nation was expected to deal with the Indians, and in due time with the set tlers, but until it took steps in this direction, the people could obtain no title to their homes. Much anxiety was felt by them in consequence. Twenty-one years passed after the settlement of Salt Lake Valley before the United States land laws were extended over this region. While waiting for the national government to dispose of the soil, the provisional government made temporary grants to its citizens of the lands they occupied.
Toward the close of Governor Young's see and term there was some friction between Utah and the general government, caused by reports of a rebellion in this Territory. Investigation proved the rumors groundless, and a peaceable adjustment followed. The troops sent to put down the supposed insurrection were com manded by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who afterward led a Confederate army and fell at the battle of Shiloh, 6 April 1862. As the com mander of the Utah Expedition (1857-58) Johnston was opposed by the Utah militia un der Gen. Daniel H. Wells, acting under orders from Governor Young, who had proclaimed Utah under martial law. No blood was shed but Johnston's army passed the winter outside of Salt Lake Valley. Spring brought peace commissioners from Washington, and the trou ble was soon over. The Hon. Alfred Cum ming, Utah's first Gentile executive, was wel comed to Salt Lake City, and it was he who reported to the government that the United States court records, which the Mormons had been accused of burning, were found intact and in a state of complete preservation. General
Johnston founded Camp Floyd, 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, and there the troops re mained until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the post was abandoned.
An event of great importance to Utah was the establishment of the Pacific telegraph line, built from both east and west and completed to Salt Lake City in October 1861. Up to. that time the fastest means of communication be tween the Missouri and the Pacific were the stage-coach and the pony express, superseding ox team and pack mule. The first message that went over the wire from Salt Lake City was signed by Brigham Young and contained the significant words: "Utah has not seceded." This telegram was to President J. H. Wade, of the Pacific Telegraph Company, Cleveland, Ohio. A similar message was sent to President Lincoln by Acting-Governor Frank Fuller. Lin coln answered, congratulating the Territory and its people. In April 1862, he requested ex Governor Young to raise, arm and equip a com pany of cavalry to protect the overland mail route and telegraph line against Indians and other enemies of the government. The re sponse was hearty and immediate. Neverthe less a suspicion that Utah was disloyal induced Secretary of War Stanton to establish a mili tary post in the vicinity of the Utah capital, ostensibly to hold the Indians in check, in real ity "to keep an eye on Brigham Young and the Morinons.D Colonel Connor and the California and Nevada Volunteers, who had enlisted for service in the East, were assigned, much to their chagrin, to this needless vedette duty. It was October 1862 when they founded Fort Douglas, already mentioned. These troops made themselves useful in subduing hostile In dians, and for his gallant service in this direc tion, Connor was given a brigadier-general ship.
The Pacific Railroad, pushing from Omaha westward and from Sacramento eastward, found the Mormon settlements directly in its path, and was promptly aided by Utah men, who came torward with their means and helped to con struct the great highway. Brigham Young, who was a Union Pacific director, took a contract from that company and built nearly 100 miles of its roadbed through the Wasatch Mountains.
The Central (now Southern) Pacific also had Utah contractors. And thus was exploded the popular fallacy that the Mormon people were opposed to this mighty enterprise. As a mat ter of fact, the governor and legislature of the Territory had petitioned Congress for the con struction of such a railroad as early as March 1852. When Utah's delegate presented this memorial in the House of Representatives at Washington, he was told that he was 100 years ahead of the age. In reply he invited the mem bers of Congress to come over the road when completed and visit him at his home in Salt Lake City. Twenty years later some of them actually did so.