Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, a city of Utah, the capital of the State and the county-seat of Salt Lake co. It is on the Great Salt Lake and Hot Springs, and on the Oregon Short Line, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake, the Denver and Rio Grande, the Western Pacific, Union Pacific, and other railroads. It is built at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, and has an altitude of 4,334 feet above sea-level. The valley in which the city is located is famous for its beauty, resources, climate, and health-giving properties. The city has a total area of 51.53 square miles. Its streets are among the widest and best planned in the world. Hundreds of miles of fine roads lead from the city to the beautiful canyons of the Wasatch Mountains. In 1920 an extensive network of boulevards was under construction. The drives around the city are among the most beautiful in America.

The city has over 280 miles of sewers, 161 miles of gas mains, 73 miles of paved streets, 460 miles of graded streets, and 387 miles of water main. Electric light and power are furnished by water power from the mountain streams. There are within the city limits 13 parks, comprising 200 acres.

The school system is unusually efficient. There are 49 public school buildings with 25,000 children in attendance.

Salt Lake City is an important manufacturing center. Its annual product is valued at about $75,000,000. Among the most important industries are its smelters of copper, lead, and zinc, sugar refining, the manufacture of canned goods, candy, and chemicals.

There were in 1920 12 banks, with a capital of 4,850,000, deposits of $71,000,000 and a surplus of $2,120,230. The bank clearings for 1919 amounted to $825,366,260. Among the most notable buildings are the Mormon Tabernacle, the State Capitol, Federal Building, Uni- versity of Utah, and many handsome churches, theaters, and clubs.

The institutions for higher education

include the University of Utah, Latter Day Saints University, and many private and theological institutions. The city was founded by Brigham Young in 1847. Pop. (1900) 53,531; (1910) 92,777; (1920) 118,110.