Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-11-08
mormonism at the salt Lake.

1 --1TlGSLS SNUTH " tHE CiOpS-- A nc tUG " INC
Land-1'he focks ,oorthy ofthe children Of Israel
| in The land If GoShen.-A California emigrant,
who writes to the ST. Louis InteIligencer, in the
course Of his overland journey, sojourns some
DAYS among the Mormons Of the Salt Lake
Though evidently imbned with prejudices, he is
a keen observer, and writes readily and agreea-
bly, of the truly wondrous Improvements which
the Mormons have built ON their Ise--if we may
so speak Of their issolation-in the Desert
For indomitabe industry, the Latter day SAINTS
will hold marked place in the worlds history.
When they were driven from Illinois, starvation
seemed inevitable; but three years have elapsed,
and they are already as prosperous commune
ty as there is in the whole Union Such are the
fruits of unweared industry.
4 Since have known Mormonsm. its progress
has been from bad to worse, and now as reli-
gious sect, their standard of morals is sunk be-
low the Five Points in the city of New York,
though NOR order and regularity is certainly
found in Mormondom than about the I" Points"
In the States, the spiritual wife doctrine was de-
MED by many of the sect, though admitted by
some. Now, polygamy is pracliced, and openly
avowed to be by divine command even ladies'
who have been raised in the States in the first
circles, and received moral and religious educa-
tons, said to me they considered it all right and
III dCCOI Will OOl Will. DiSfOp hllllUIll
is said to have between thirty and forty wives -.
Others have various numbers--some more and
some less man cia have many as he can
support. Their preaching is now nothing but
strong and bitter denunciatons against other peo-
pie, more particularly the people and govern
ment of the United States. No moral principles
are nrged, explained, or incalclated from their
stands they say themselves that they preach
no longer that they only exchange thoughts and
ideas with one another On the 4th of July,
one of the most reasonable speeches Gift coud,
so be caled) was made in their public building
: that we ever listened to- They are greatly in
censed against the United States--lst because
Congress would not reray them for the damages
done their property in Missouri add Illinois, by
} the mobs which drove them ont Of those States
I'd, because Deseret has not been given Terri
toria or State government; and Sd, probably
because no more notice is taken of them now, by
the press of the country than though they wore
one of the far off Indian tribes.
The Cry OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE is
beautifully laid out within short distance of the
; western slope Of the mountain forming the east
ern end of the valley. 1t contains eleven or
twelve thousand Inhabitants who are mostly en-
Jagged in agriculture, though portion Of their
time is devoted to mechanical pursuits, when
understood. The streets OF the city ntersect
each other at right angles, and each block is
half nile square, with an alley from east to
west and north to south. Each block is called
a ward and has Bishop to preside over It's gov
eminent, whose duties are to act as magistrates
tax collectors and preachers, as we'll as street
commissioners. The city and all the farming
lands are irrigated by streams Of beautiful water
which flow from the adjacent mountains. These
streams have been with great labor and perse-
verance led in every direction In the city, they
flow each side Of the different streets, and
their waters are let upon the inhabitants gar
dens at regular periods so likewise upon the
extensive fields of grain lying to the south Of the
city. There is a field thirty miles long by six
: and ten wide, a portion Of which is cultivated by
any who desire This field was moving with
wheat, barley and oats, nearly ready for the sick
lie, when we Were al the Lake, and finer fielc
of grain never grew in any country the berry
: was large, full and plump, and of superior
Wilderness. We were convinced that no cou9
| try 10 the world could produce better crops oil
wheat than this Valley, or large ame unit to tic
/ acre. The system OF irrigation prevents any
thing like rust or smut striking the crop, bias
the expectation ofthe farmer. The productive
ness Of the soil will always secure him an abun
dant crop.
Mormon Populations within the valley, ar
.
this vicinity. there cannot be far from 80 600 in
habitans. Forty miles south they have vii
lage, and another 10 miles further south among
the Utah Indians, q suppose) where fine forests
of all kinds oftimber abound, where little or none
for mechanical purposes, excepting pine, grows
/ IN the vicinity of the valley. The character OF
THE people has changed but little Stree their ex-
odus from the states. The leaders all appear to
be more g free and easy" and the great body as
perseveringly industrious aud obedient to the
higher powers as ever. Money is as plenty
among them, principally gold, much of which
came from the California mines. The religious
character of the whole body has degenerated in
10 mere amusement, frivohty, dc, not even the
semblance of true piety is keptup
In the vicinity of the city is warm spring
| which has been brought into the city, and public
baths erected The water is highly medicinal.
Each citizen has building let appropriated to
his use, but is not the absolute owner as he can
not dispose of it to Gentle without the consent
of the church, neither can a Mormon move
away without the consent of the church. Each
, member is allowed 10 take up and cultivate as
, much land as he pleases, but he can only sell
such improvements as he may make upon the
/ land. One-tenth of the produce of the land, or
the accumulation of each individual, as well as
> one-tenth of his time, belongs to the church. and
Is vigorously exacted. The houses are mostly
one story high, though some of them are neat lit
tie cottages. They have nearly completed a
spacious Court House two stories high, 40 feet
square. The first story is built of free stone,
and the second of sunburnt brick /; houses built
of these brick are called adobe houses after
they are finished. They are very warm in WIN
ter and cool in summer, and appear we'll adapted
TO the climate. They are about to erect a tenn
pie and other public buildings. Eber Kimball's
house is large two-story stone building some
50 it, by 25 it,, yetit is not large enough to con-
tain one-half of his numerous wives. The pros
perity of this people is truly astonishing. They
have focks and herds and most of the good
things of earth in abundance. We saw about
5000 of the finest, latest cattle Oh an Island in
the Salt Lake that we ever put eye upon. In
the morning you may see lads driving hundreds
OF cows from the bounds of the city to be herd
ed within two three miles, and then driven
back a. night. The regulations of the valley in
regard to stock are, that it shall be fenced while
the gardens and fields are left with slight pro-
lection in the way of fence. Brigam Young is
the Alpha and Omega of this sect; his word is law
He is emphatically the thinking, breathing organ
of this whole people; and yet he is an ordinary
minded man, without the hard horse sense oil
Joe Smith many of those who surround him