UTAH

inland western state, U.S. among western ridges of Rocky Mts.; bounded n. by Idaho, Wyoming, nu. by roughly n. and s., reach height of pr. 13,000 ft., and the Uintah range in n.n. rises in highest point to c. 14,000 ft., in n.w. is the Great Salt Lake; watered by Colorado R., with the Green, Grand, Fremont, San Juan, and other tributaries, and by the Sevier and other streams. Climate is subject to great extremes in mountainous districts, healthy and temperate in val.eys;rain fail very small and irreguiar. See map vu.s. Utah was transferred from Mexico to the U.S. in 1848, and was settled by the Mormons under Brigham Young; organized as a terr. (1850); admitted to the Union (1896). Executive power is vested in a governor, who is a isted by five officers of state; legislature consists of a senate of 18 members and house of representatives of 45 members, elected respectively for four and two years by popular vote. For purposes of local administration the state is divided into 27 counties. The chief towns are Salt Lake City culture is succe fully carried on in the fertile regions where water is obtainable; chief crops, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay; corn, barley, and rye are also cultivated, and sugar-beet is an important product. Various fruits and vegetables are grown, and horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs are raised. Minerals include silver, copper, lead, gold, coal, asphalt, salt. Industries of importance are copper refining, fiour milling, fruit canning, and the manufacture of bcots and shoes, sugar, cheese, and butter. Railway mileage in 1910 was 1,986. Education is free and obligatory for children between the ages of eight and sixteen. Salt Lake City is seat of state univ., and there are Mormon universities or colleges at Logan, Provo, and Salt Lake City. The principal religion is Mormonism, which is profe ed by about three-fourths of the entire population; other creeds are 84,990 sq. miles; pop. (1920) 449,396.