New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-02
The Mormon Refuge.

We have already spoken Of the new place Of
refuge chosen by the people known as Mormous,
near tie Utah Lake near the routes TO California
aud Orecon, IN the basin OF the Great Salt Lake,
among the Southern spurs Of the Rocky Noun
tains. The following is an extract from a letter
written last October by young New Enylander
since deceased, whose letters have been recently
received by his friends. 1t gives the best idea OF
the country we have met with. We do hope tina,
the Mormons VIII not be molested in this new pos.
session ami that their brethren who are still de.
tanned by poverty on the banks OF the Missouri
and throughout the West will be speedily enabled
10 Join them.
S,Lr LAZY VALLEY Great Rssin Oct L. l~g7
Since my last have gone throg n places and
such mountains would make the heart OF Bosto
nian quake he 10 come upon them and
cxpccted-such canyons where the water has quilted
away the mountains for ages. leaving the banks either
size nearly pcrpcndic ar 10 the hight OF 100 feet for %
miles in extent and only space al the bottom wide
enough 10 admit our wagons in single hle and small
brook which we had 10 frequently with great dit
iculry and danger The place called the south Pass Is
imply place whore two ranges OF mountains seem ID
terminate or change their course. The Wind River
mountains can be seen ON the north west about - miles
Oh with their tops at all seasons OF the year,
and another range the southeast about 100 miles OF
the same range, think form the eastern boundary of
this valley.
II YOU we're 10 enter this plsce with no more ex.
perence than you now have OF the Western country,
you would think AZ hrst Il about 1--WE miles
long and three broad-wth timber water sufficient
unless you should spy the Salt Lske the north ives
tern boundary but by examining and measuring you
would ud 10 be about ~ miles broad aud from 70 20
100 miles IN length and the canyons In the mountains
the side supply abundance OF tmbsrihe pm.
cipa ia mr. which Il the same As you use tor Ornsnen
tails in Massachusetts, but they grow great hight
her ma he frehe i Tho ffr
there slso some sugar maple and OAK the young
saplngs OF which 10 be preserved 20 set out for
shades and ornament and the others 10 be sparns
y used for purposes that the mr. VIII not answer There
are many small OF the latter kind sprnsing up
and if had been for the res that sweep the valleys
and mountains yearly this would have been undoubted
Is thick mDered valley There is quite large stream
Of water running from the Utah Lake from the south
northward directly through the center of the valley
and emptyng ITSELF into the salt Lake ri the north west
call il the Jordan. Implying into II there are very
many brooks which are formed by the melting Of the
snow and ice in the mountains. and also from tue
springs which abound IN tho valley as well as IN the
canyons
There is no wild fruit here save mountain currsn,s
serviceberTes and elder berries. ThCre ,s no ram
hare d and the land is ws;ered by simple process
OF ir CATION, by turning the of the creeks or
brooks "a YOU desire the water how which is very
easily done with hoe or shovel The soil Is rich
mellow loam resembling ashes. and can be a easily
worked. We shall need no icehouses tor we are set
tied on the east side about four miles from the noun
ains and the owwaer does rot get warm before we
get il ~ our doors and also by digging foot or two
you form spring IN some places near The man
springs Among the curiOsites il the salt Lake p miles
off even salt that It is impossible for man 10 sink
himself above his pits, aud after bathing there
awh e and drying himself one may rattle the salt cut OF
his hair quite ssthis head will be white with H. Also
the hot springs and the warm springs the former are
boiling no; all the time. The spring or hole u Issues
from in the mountain is big barrel and the water
pours out horizontally The latter are not so large
quite but they resemble the former both IN color bue
and smell OF the water which is Ike birthstone but
very clear they about two miles from this loca
ton and the people resort thher 10 bathe ia the warm
springs which are blood warm.
There il red and white clay, also limestone and
many other kinds Of stone in the mountains.
For our safety from the Indians arc building an
neosure or fort 1879 rods long, and 80 broad to live In
this Winter aud are aso inclosing portion of land
sufficient 70 put in the Fall wheat Our outbuldngs
SC are to be built OF unbaked brickthe old California
name Is adobe" They arc mixed like mortar and
formed in boxes about the size OF four common bricks
and lrisd sui when MAKES them very durable
They say in South California the people build chiefly in
this way, and they lat commonly one hundred years
All the houses in Santa Fe are OF this kind.