State Board of Accountants. --Among other new laws passed by the seventh legislature was one creating a Board to examine all public accountants, and issue permits to individuals or corporations to engage in that business. On May 14 this Board was named by Governor Cutler: Douglas A. Swan, Salt Lake; Ralph E. Hoag, Ogden: W. J. Bateman, Salt Lake. "Adriatic."-This new, latest and longest, Atlantic liner of the White Star Company has just completed its maiden trip over the ocean. It is 725 feet and 9 inches long; 75 feet, six inches beam; and about 50 feet deep; tonnage 25,000 and a displacement of 40,000 tons. It has accommodations for 3,000 persons on its nine steel decks. Some of the special features included in her construction are a fully equipped gymnasium, a turkish bath, and an electric elevator operating through four decks. The main dining saloon on the upper deck is fitted with small tables accommodating 370 persons. It has a lounging room on the boat deck, 35 feet above the water; also a luxurious drawing-room on the same deck. The Big "U."-Reverend E. I. Goshen has condemned the big 100x100 foot "U" which the students have planted on the mountainside near the University of Utah buildings. He said it disfigured nature. The students have recently rebuilt it of concrete at a great cost of labor and money. At chapel exercises, Friday, May 17, President Kingsbury took issue with the idea that the "U" was placed on the hillside in defiance of the laws of the land and of nature, and maintained that "there is more than mere cold stone and cement on the hill. There is loyalty and faithfuless behind every shovel of dirt. The 'U' is not a monument of commercialism, but is a monument for the expression of love, sincerity, unity, and devotion to our Alma Mater." We think there will be few who will not agree with President Kingsbury. Richard W. Young, Jr., has been selected president of the student body to succeed President Stayner Richards who graduates. President Richards reported on the material and work on the "U." He stated that during the three days that the students were working at it, there were 1,200 wheel-barrows of concrete used, 200 sacks of cement, 400 wagon loads of gravel, and 73 loads of sand. The boys in putting it on walked 93 miles. The cost of the material which included only sand and cement was $350, of this amount the boys have succeed in raising $230. by subscription. The sides of the "U" are each about 16 feet wide, and the ground enclosed, about 65 feet in diameter. The following verse and refrain was written by Mrs. Guy Sterling, and Prof. Squire Coop will set the words to music: Old Utah has a husky lot of lads to do her will. She bade them write her autograph upon the eastern hill. They met with shovel and pick, too, with concrete, sand and lime, And set on high to greet the eye, a mark defying time. REFRAIN. The "U" upon the hill shall gleam majestic till Old Utah's head is hoary, her annals crowned with glory. IMPROVEMENT ERA. VOL. X. JULY, 1907. No. 9 "AWAY, AWAY, TO THE MOUNTAIN DELL.” During the year 1861, about four thousand Saints crossed the plains, in various companies, and at different periods, from June to September. The fourth company (an independent one) was organized near Florence, Nebraska, June 23, Homer Duncan, captain; H. Talbot, chaplain; Thomas George Odell, secretary. The company comprised two hundred and seventy-four souls, forty-seven wagons, one cart, two hundred and fourteen yoked oxen, eightynine loose cattle, and fifteen horses and mules. Thomas George Odell, father of Hon. George T. Odell, was the third recorder of Ogden City, and for years foreman of its pioneer paper-the Ogden Junction. He wrote a striking wordpicture of a "Mormon" emigration train and life on the plains, in those days. The following extracts quoted from Edward H. Anderson's manuscript History and Departed Builders of Weber County, will be interesting to the present generation. Mr. Odell says, writing to his father in England: This company started from near Florence, Nebraska, on the 25th of June, 1861, at eleven o'clock, and camped at Little Papillon at four o'clock. This was but a short distance, and served as a trial journey, giving an opportunity, if anything had been forgotten, to procure it before we left the abodes of civilization to cross a desert twelve hundred miles in extent, a journey occupying three months. During the encampment at this place the male portion were called together and addressed by the captain. A resolution was passed that this company sustain and help each other in case of sickness, distress, accident, attack from Indians or other disaster, till their arrival in Great Salt Lake City. Firearms and other weapons of defense were examined and the company ordered to prepare for an early start in the morning. The duty of the captain was to guide the company across the desert and the rivers, and to find places for camping where wood, water and grass could be easily got. The captains of tens were to overlook those under their charge, and to see them safely through difficult places. to appoint the guard and see that they were at their posts. of two men from each ten, every man in the company taking his turn as his name appeared on the roll. The first guard was from eight p. m. till eleven p. m.; the next from eleven till two a. m., and the next from two a. m. till five a. m. He had also to appoint two men from each ten wagons to drive up the cattle in the morning. The chaplain's duty was to call the camp to prayer every night and morning the secretary's to record the events of the day's journey. The sergeant had The guard consisted * * * I shall content myself with describing one day's journey together with any interesting events that occurred on the route. At daybreak on the 26th the camp was astir, fires were lighted, breakfast made, tents struck, and every one was busy, for we had orders for an early start. In this, we were disappointed. The rain which had been falling all night still continued, and the grass being so high that in many places it reached to the waist, made everything wet and comfortless. Some of the cattle which had been fed for some weeks past at farms, a few miles distant, had strayed. After hunting for some time the missing cattle were brought back, and the start was made. The country in this part was very hilly and muddy, and the cattle having been idle for some weeks, were stubborn and awkward, and but few of us being acquainted with driving ox teams, rendered the day's travel very trying to the patience of all concerned. We got through without any accident of consequence, and camped at four o'clock, lighted the camp-fires, made our coffee, and chatted over the events of the day. I do not know any sight more imposing than to see fifty wagons, some with eight, some with six, and others with four oxen attached, and here and there a horse and mule team, forming a line more than a mile in length, journeying across these desert plains; with men, women and children walking by the side, some riding in the wagons, others on horseback, and the loose cattle bringing up the rear. The camp at night is formed by driving the wagons up in a circle, leaving about a yard between each. This answers several purposes-it provides a corral to drive the cattle into in the morning for yoking up, it renders the company more compact in case of an attack, and is more convenient for communication. The letter then gives in daily detail the leading events of the journey. We have only space for a few samples: On the 27th of June the team belonging to the cart stampeded, upsetting it |