HISTORY. The first white explorers of Utah were Spaniards, sent by Coronado (q.v.), who readied the Colorado River in 1540. Two Fran ciscan friars seeking a direct route to the Pacific went from Santa Fe to Utah Lake in 1776. In the winter of 1824-25, James Bridger, a trapper. seeking to determine the course of the Bear River, discovered the Great Salt Lake. Other trappers followed in 1825-26, and established posts in the region. Later immigrants to Oregon and Cali fornia passed through without halting. The real history begins when the Mormons (q.v.), despair ing of peace in Missouri or Illinois, determined in 1846 to move west. The Mexican NN'ar was then in progress, and in June, 1846, while the emigrants were encamped at the site of Council Bluffs. Iowa, a Mormon battalion was raised for the conquest of California, which then included the whole southwestern part of the United States. The march of the Mormon people was slow and painful. On July 21, 1S47, the advance guard reached the present site of Salt Lake City. Other bands rapidly followed, and by 1S52 they num bered 15,000. The United States did not obtain possession of the territory until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. in 1848, and did not im mediately provide for its government. At first the Church officers were the rulers, but with the coming of nou-Mormons in 1849 the State of Deseret was organized, a constitution adopted, and a delegate sent to the United States Con gress asking admission. Congress refused to admit the State. but organized the Territory of Utah (September 9, 1850), with boundaries much more extended than at present, and Brigham Young (q.v.) wf4 appointed Governor. He soon quarreled with the other Territorial officers sent out, and the General Assembly adopted the laws of the State of Deseret. In 1854 and again in 1856 admission to the Union was sought. There was constant wrangling, owing partly to the fact that many officers sent out were incompetent and partly because the authorities of the Church were determined to rule at any cost. In 1857 it was determined that Young should he super seded as Governor, and for this purpose it was considered necessary to make a display of mili tary strength, as Young had defied the authority of the United States. A force under General Harney (afterwards succeeded by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston) started from Fort Leaven worth. Though there was no fighting of conse quence, the Mormons, by burning supply trains, disabling and stampeding teams, setting fire to the grass. etc., prevented the entrance of the troops into Salt Lake City until June, 185S. They found the city deserted and ready to be sot on fire if necessary. For some years troops were kept in garrison here, but the attention of the general Government was oceupied with the Civil War, and little was accomplished, though an act designed to break up polygamy was passed in 1862. Meanwhile the Perpetual Emigration Fund had been organized in 1849 and thousands of proselytes were brought from Europe. The incoming of non-Slormons was viewed with disfavor. See SlouxTmx MEADOWS MASSACRE.
After the Civil War, the opening of the trans continental railroad in 1869 brought more 'gen tiles,' and further efforts to enforce the laws were made by some otlieers, but with little suc cess. The 'Mormon grand juries refused to indict
and the other juries to convict. The death of Young in 1877 apparently made no difference in the condition of affairs. It was finally decided that the only way to break the power of the Church was to deprive its members of political power. The Edmunds Bill in 1882 disfranchised all polygamists, and abolished most of the offices in the Territory. Control was given to a commis sion of five men. Within two years 12,000 were disfranchised and the indignation was so great that troops were sent in 1S85 in fear of an upris ing. Continued agitation for Statehood brought no result, and meanwhile, after it had been held constitutional that juries might consist entirely of non-Mormons, prominent officials were convicted and sent to the penitentiary. A nto•e stringent act was passed in 1887, the corporation of the Mormon Church, and the Perpetual Emigration Fund were abolished, and their property es cheated. By 1890 468 men had been convicted of polygamy, and President Woodruff of the Mor mon Church issued a manifesto declaring that the Church no longer countenanced polygamy, .and his action was approved by a General Con ference of the Church. This was followed in 1891 by the formation of political parties, on national lines, and in 1893 amnesty was declared to all offenders who could show that they had not broken the law- since 1S90. Congress passed an enabling act for Statehood in 1894, a constitution was formed on March 6, 1895, was adopted in November, and the State was admitted January 4, 1896. The Constitution forbids polygamy and allows woman's suffrage. Since admission it has been claimed that the people are going back to their old praetices, and in 1900 Brigham II. Roberts was not allowed to take his seat in the United States House of Representatives, because of a charge of polygamy.
The State has voted in but two Presidential elections. The siltcr question was the sole is sue in 1896, and the vote was east for the Demo cratic Silver candidate. In 1900 by a small majority Republican electors were chosen.
— , UTAH, 1:N1Ni:its:Ty State institution of learning for both sexes at Salt Lake City, rtah, founded in 1850 as the University of the State of Deseret. After ,,,ssion it was discontinued until 1867, owing to lack of funds and patronage. A new charter was secured in 1894, when the present corporate title was assumed. In the same year the nniversity received a grant of 60 acres on the Fort Douglas Reservation and the Legis lature appropriated $300.000 for buildings on the new site. The departments are the School of Arts and Sciences: the State School of Alines, established by the State Legislature in 1901: the State Normal School; and a preparatory de partment. Students are admitted on examination or on certificate front accredited schools. In 1903 the attendance was 745. the teaching force numbered 30, and the library contained 21.300 volumes and 11,500 pamphlets. The value of the university property was estimated at $3.50, 000 and the gross income at $85,000.