Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-16
UTAH.

singular. Its situation is unlike that of any other
section of North America-its origin and the man.
ner ofsits 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 terri
tory. 1t is of sufficient dimensions to be separated
into several States provided in future ages its po
pulation shall warrant il. But many parts of it so
partake of peculiar construction render it, for the pre-
least, unnhabable Passes, through PERCEPTIONS
mountains whose tops covered with snow and whose
sides but rocks, exist is true, but they mostly
valleys of the most arid and sterile kind their surfaces
covered with ncrustaons Of bitter salt and their whole
taon giant species Of sage, Of earthly but to be
sumed fuel In the midst Of these icy mountains through
which there but these passes arid in
and choked with for five months of the year, lies
of land elevated four five thousand feet above
the level Of the called the GREAr BASIN, which fur
nishes the habitabe part of the territory In different parts
of this Basin the Mormons have established their home pro-
baby first with the idea that they would be off from all
the Of the world by the natural difficulties of the
tguous territory and the peculay Of their situation. Here
they expected to FORM in secrecy and in silence the
Of great peculiar, religious empires but the stream of
California emigration discovered their trail and inundated
their pncpsly, and they the open exposed half
way house, TO the Pacific.
This basin some five hundred and sixty miles in dame
ter has its own system of lakes and rivers and has known
communication whatever with the sea- unless the existence
Of the whpoos in the Salt Lake which reported to be
lately discovered should prove internal communication
with the Pacific, with spring lake in the lower
country In the Northern part Of this basin lies the GaEAr
SALT LAKE The of this sheet shallow far
explored though probably its central parts will be found
very deep. It's intensely salt, than the
oceanhree gallons making gallon of the puest whtes
and finest salt Southeast of this lake, shut in by the
tains lies the Mormon Valley that contains their capital city,
by called the Great SaA Lake City, by others, Nor
mon City, This valley is thirty miles by twenty-five,
nected another valley which is about fifty miles by eight
These valleys contain the principal body of the settlers
to the number Of twenty thousand Explorers think that
they capable of supporting population Of million
Fifty miles south Of the city the Utah Lake and Valley.
Here lies the city of ProUo the Provo river The lake
is pure water, eight miles by four and abounds in fish,
There is still another valley hundred miles further SOUTH
called San Pete where there another settlement and here
find the herogyphc ruins the remains Of glazed pottery,
&c. that indicates the former existence Of the outlying cities
Of the Aztec Empire.
The soil Of all these valleys ssonshingy productive,
though requiring constantly artificial irrigation from the
The climate is one Of the heahiest and the
air the pures on the conunent ne negnDorng mountains
rise to the height of mile and half above the valley and
covered with perpetual snow.
Theci is laid ont in blocks Of each eight lots
to the block and quarter to the lot the streets
eight rods wide each block be surrounded by
stream brought down from the mountains No t,Oo houses
front each oter; that standing in his door, every
looks into his neghbos garden. In the city four
public squares to be surrounded by shade trees and supplied
with fountains.
Such the delightful place chosen by Of the most pc
cuiar religious secs which christendom contains Remote
from the world from the exercise of external tyranny and
yet connected to great empire. Its peculiar locality will
prove Of immense service stopping place for rest refresh
men and provisions for the army Of emgsns that will year
after year. seek California Oregon by the Southern Pass
and when the great railway established it will prove of
calculabe benefit great station house the
Hartford Cot.ranf.