Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-30
From The Hartford courant.


The whole character of the Territory of
Etnh Is singular. Its situation is unlike that
Of any other section of North Anierica-its
origin and the manner of its settlement no less
strange.-The name UTAH is given now to
large extent of territory bounded by California
Oregon, New Mexico, and what was formerly
termed the great Western territory. 1t is of
sufficient dimensions to be separated into sew
eral States, provided in future ages its popu-
lation shall warrant il But many parts of ii
SO partake of a peculiar construction as to rem
der It, for the present at least, unnhabitable.
Passes through precipitous mountains. whose
tops are covered with snow, and whose sides
are but rocks. exist it is true, but they are
mostly harrow valleys Of the most arid ard
steril kind, their surfaecs covered with incrus-
tations Of bitter salt, and their whole vegita-
ton giant species of sage, of no earthly use
but to be consumed as fuel In the midst of
these icy mountains through which there is
no access but by these passes, arid in summer
and choked with snow for five months of the
year, lies a tract of land, elevated some four or
five thousand feet above the level of the sea,
called the Great Basin, which furnishes the
hahitable part Of the territory. In different
parts Of this Basin the Mormans have estab-
hshed their home, probably at first with the
idea that they would he cut off from all the
rest of the world by the natural difficulties of
the contiguous territory and the popularity of
their situation. Here they expected to form,
in secrecy and in silence, the germs of great,
peculiar, religious empire; but the stream Of
California emigration discovered their trail and
inundated their principally. and they are now
the open, exposed half way house to the
Pacific
This basin is some FIVE hundred and sixty
miles in diameter, has its own system Of lakes
and rivers, and has no known communication
whatever with the sea, unless the existence of
the whirlpools in the Salt Lake which are re-
ported to be lately discovered should prove an
internal communication with the Pacific, or
with some spring or lake in the lower country.
In the Northern part of this basin lies the
Great Salt Lake The waters of this sheet
are shallow, so far as explored though proba-
bly, its central parts will be found very deep
Its waters are intensely salt, more so than the
ocean--three gallons making one gallon of the
purest, whitest, and finest salt Southeast of
this lake, shut in by the mountains, lies the
Mormon Valley that contains their capital
tity, by some called the Great Salt Lake City,
by others, Mormon City This valley is thir-
fy miles by twenty-five, connected to another
valley which is about fifty miles by eight
These two valleys contain the principal body
of the settlers, to the number of twenty thou
sand Explorers think that they are capable
Of supporting apopulation of million.
Fifty miles south of the city is the Utah
Lake and Valley Here lies the city of Pro
20. on the Provo river. The lake is pure water,
eight miles by four, and abounds in fish
There is still another valley one hundred miles
further south, called San Pete, where there is
another settlement; and here we find the HE
roglyphic ruins, the remains Of glazed pottery,
dc, that indicates the former existence of the
outIaying cities of the Aztec Empire.
The soil of all these valleys is astonishingly
productive, though requiring constantly artif-
cial irrigation from the mountain streams
The climate is one of the healthiest and the
air the purest on the continent The neigh
boring mountains rise to the height of a mile
and half above the valley, and are covered
with perpetual snow.
The city is laid out in blocks of ten acres
each; eight lots to the block; an acre and a
quarter to the lot; the streets eight rods wide
each ten acre block to be surrounded by a
sream brought down from the mountains No
f0o houses front each other; SO that, standing
IN his own door, every man looks into his
neigbor's garden. In the city are four public
squares. to be surrounded by shade trees, and
supplied with fountains.
Such is the delightful place chosen by one
Of the most peculiar religious sects which
christendoul contains Remote from the world,
from the exercise of external tyranny, and yet
connected to our great empire. Its peculiar
locality viii prove Of immense service as stop
ping place for rest. refreshment, and provisions
for the army of emigrants that will, year after
year, seek California or Oregon by the South
ern Pass; and when the great railway is es-
tabIished, twill prove Of incalcuiable benefit
as a great station house on the route.