The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-08
DAILY CRESCENT.
The sam Lake city.

The SAN Lake City.
We take the following description Of the great
oi,r of the Salt Lake from the correspondent Of
the Western Christian Advocate:
mEarlv in April, 1S47, one hundred and forty
three men, two women and two children, started
out as pioneers from Council Bluff, Iowa. These
Mormons made an entire new road the north
side Of the Platte, crossing Elk-horn to Fort La
ramie they then took the Oregon trail to Fort
Bridger, when they commenced new route through
the Rocky Mountains. On the 22d July OF the
same year, they say, the first man-Prolessor Or
son Pratt-entered this valley. On the 23d OF July
the first camp moved into and halted at what is
now called the centre of the city. In the afternoon
of the same day they had three ploughs and one
harrow at work.
menced building the first dam for irrigation. The
next day, Saturday, the oath, they planted five
acres of potatoes. On the 2Sth of the same month
what they style the quorum of the Twelve Apos
ties, assembled and laid off city as follows
Block Of ten each, eight lots to the block an
acre and quarter in each lot: the streets eight
rods wide; the sidewalks twenty feet wide the
sidewalks to be beautifully shaded the blocks to
be surrounded by purling brook, issuing from the
mountains; every house to be built twenty feet
from the front fence No two houses front other
standing IN his own door, every man may not look
into his neighbours door, but into his neighbors
garden. They have four public squares, which are
hereafter to be adorned with trees from the four
quarters OF the globe, and supplied with fountains
OF water.
"On the temple square they intend 10 have 4
garden that will cost at least 100000 at the
mencement. Their Missionaries have already made
arrangements in the Eastern States, in Great Br-
tain, France Italy, Denmark, and the Germanic
States and in the islands OF the sea, gather the
choicest seeds and fruits and every thing that can
beautify and adorn the garden. At first the city
was laid off to contain hundred and thirtyfve
blocks. Since then an addition of sixty-fve blocks
has been made on the East, and sixty on the West
They have laid off one mile square on the east of
the city for university 1t will not be two years
until next October since the first house was built
IN this city, and it numbers at least nine
Thousand. They already have convenient houses
built of dobes-dried brick-and most of the luxu-
ries of life. They expect an emigration of at least
ten thousand of their own people this year.
The only method of cultivation is BY irrigation.
from what they call Getty Creek" Just as this
creek opens in the valley from the snow-capped
mountains it divides into two main branches,
which afterwards subdivide This water from the
mountains to the temple block has an average fall
OF nina inches in a rod for distance of more than
ten miles, with greater fall the farther you advance
into the mountains At one mile and third from
the city is warm sulphur spring, which possesses
great cleansing and purifying properties, and
which, it is affirmed cures most diseases of this
climate. About mile and half farther is hot
sulphur spring. On the South side of the valley is
a hot spring OF pure water. The water Of this
spring is twenty-nine feet and three inches deep.
The city is located about twenty-five miles
Southeast OF the great Salt Lake. This lake is
considered mere saline than the ocean, three gal
ions OF the water making gallon of the purest
whltest, finest salt The valley is about thirty
miles by twenty-five, joining to a valley of about
nifty miles by eight in width From the entire
North to the South these two valleys are studded
with settlers, numbering from fifteen to twenty
thousand. The lieutenant engineer, Mr.. Gunni-
son, estimates these valleys, having explored them
as capable of supporting population of from one
and half to two millions.
" On the South Of this valley lie the Utah valley
and lake, about fifty miles from this CITY, The
name OF their city is Provo, the South side of
the Provo river. The lake is pure water-eipht
miles by four-abounding with fish. About one
hundred miles South OF this they have established
settlement of about one hundred and fftv families
This valley is called San Pete. Here there are
many ruins covered with heroglyphics One
place, in particular is called by the Indians Gods
Temple. Here also many remains of ancient |
pottery, both glazed and unglazed, are found in |
great abundance and here also is a mountain of |
pure rock salt and abundance of bituminous coal
During five months of the year, there can be no
communication with the North, East, or West the
mountains being rendered impossible by the
snow thus city Is situated about latitude 40 deg
80 min. north, and ITO deg. longitude west Of |
Greenwich.
The productiveness of the soil is astonishing.
We are here in the midst Of their harvest, and |
never have we seen such wheat. We will give |
you one out Of many authentic accounts. Mr.. Ho- |
hday, from the south of this place, raised upwards
OF one hundred and eighty five bushels of wheat
from one bushel of the seed, and three hundred |
bushels of potatoes from one bushel of the seed.
" This valley is regarded as one ofthe healthiest
portions of the globe; the air is certainly the
purest ever breathed. Its altitude is four fbou-
sand and three hundred feet above the level of the
sea; and some of the mountains on the east of the
valley are more than mile and quarter high, |
and are covered with perpetual snow, while in The
valley the Thermometer frequently rises above 100 |
degrees |
So much for this city and valley As to the |
moral and other aspects of this people, have not |
at present time or space to write any thing 1t is
due to them 10 say that have not seen any thing
vicious since my arrival. They are very kind and
hospltable to emigrants. The emigrants drop them
thousand commodities for small consideration, |
as they change from the train to the packing me
thod Of accomplishing the remainder Of their iour
ney; while they, in their turn, are greatly accom-
Inodated in obtaining supplies and refreshments, at
this Little more than halfway house over plains
and deserts.''