Popular History of Utah

BY ORSON F. WHITNEY

Complete in One Volume

ILLUSTRATED

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
THE DESERET NEWS

1916

F 8R6 W593 1916

Copy!

Preface

It has fallen to my lot to prepare for publication three histories of Utah. The earliest and largest, consisting of four volumes, published in elegant and expensive style, had of necessity but a limited circulation. Nevertheless it may be found in many homes throughout the State, and upon the shelves of leading libraries in various parts of the land.

The second history was written at the request of local educators, for use in the grammar grades of the public schools. Prepared in haste to meet an urgent demand, "The Making of a State" did not aim to give a complete presentation of the subject, though all salient points, social, political and industrial, were touched upon in its pages. Controversial matters were purposely omitted, for the sake of good feeling between "Mormon" and "Gentile" children attending those schools.

The work now issued represents the realization of a desire to produce a history of Utah complete in a single volume, one that could be sold at such a figure as to place it within the reach of all. Moreover, it was my wish to make clearer certain points imperfectly presented in my first production. The period during which it was compiled-that of the anti-polygamy crusade-was one of strife and turmoil; books and documents had been confiscated or were scattered; and sources of information were not accessible nor so plentiful as they are at the present time. Consequently I labored at a great disadvantage.

The difficulty of writing contemporaneous history, amid the heat and stress of happenings involved in the narrative, is one recognized by all intelligent minds. That I have experienced this difficulty, I admit. Never at any time, however, have I purposely misrepresented anybody or anything. I write from the "Mormon" viewpoint, but not as an Anti-"Gentile." I have none but friendly feelings toward all the people of Utah, regardless of sect, party, color, or creed. This is the story of my native State-a record of the facts as I behold them; and "with malice toward none," and "with charity for all," I send it forth upon its mission.

Salt Lake City, October, 1916.

ORSON F. WHITNEY.