Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-11-30
MoRMoS,sM AT THE SALT LAKE.

|
the Salt Irrigation of its Soil-The
Population of the Vdlley.
California emigrani, who writes TO the
ST. Louis Inteligencer, in the course of his
overland journey, sojourns some days among
The Mormons of The Salt Lake. Though
evidently embued with prejudices, he is a
keen observer and Writes readily and agree
ably Of the truly wonderous Improvements
which the Mormohs have built upon their
if we may speak of their solation--in
the Desert. For indomiable industry, the
'Laiter Day Sain,sn will hold a 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 community
as there is in the whole Union Such are
the fruits Of unwearied industry.
''Since have known Mormonisn, its pro-
gress has been from bad 10 worse, and now,
as religious sect, their standard of morals is
sunk below the Five Points in the city of
New York. though more order and regularity
is certainly found in Mormondom than about
the POINTS, In the States, the spiritual
wife doctrine was denied by many of the
sect, though admitted by some. Now, poly
gamy is practiced 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 educations,
IN ~, ;,,h, -,
accordance with Gods will Bishop Kim
ball is said to have between thirty and forty
wives. Others have various nnmbers-some
more and some less a man can have as ma
ny as he can support.
Their preaching is now nothing but strong
and bitter denunciation against other people;
more particularly the people and government
of the United States. No moral principles
are urged, explained or inculcated from their
stands: they say themselves that they preach
no longer, they only exchange thoughts and
ideas with one another. On the 4th of July
one of the most reasonable speeches tif it
could be so called was made in their public
greatly ineensed against the United States
1st because Congress would not repay them
for the damage done their property in Mis-.
souri, and Illinois, by the mob5 which drove
them out of those States ; 3D. because Desc
ret has not been given Territorial or State
Government and Sd, probably because no
notice is taken OF them now, by the press of
the country, than though they were one of
the iar-of Indian tripes.
The City of the Great Salt Lake is beaut-
fully laid out within a short distance of the
western slope of the mountain forming the
eastern end of the valley. 1t contains eleven
or twelve thousand inhabitants, who are
mostly engaged in agriculture, though por-
| tion of their time is devoted to mechanical
pursuits, when understood. The streets OF
the city niersect each other at right angles,
and each block is half mile square with an
alley from east 10 west and north to south
Each block is called ward, and has Bsh.
op to preside over lis government, whose du
ties are to act as magistrates tax collector:
and preachers, as well as street commission
ers. 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 per
severance led in every direction. In the city
they flow on each side of the different streets
and their waters are let upon the inhabitants
gardens at regular periods so likewise upol
the extensive fields of grain lying south o
the city. There is a field thirty miles lon!
by six and ten wide, a portion of which j
cultivated by any who desires. This fielt
was moving with wheat, barley and oats
nearly ready for the sickle, when we wer
at the Lake, and finer field of grain neve
grew in any country the berry was large, fu
and plump, and of superior whteness. w
were convinced that no country in the worI
could produce better crops of wheat than th
Valley, or larger amount 10 the acre. Th
system Of irrigation prevents any thing lik
rust or smut striking the crop, TO blast III
expectation of the farmer. The producly
of the toll will always secure him all abul
{ dant crop.
Within the valley, and including three 9th,
settlements of his people in the vicinit
there connot be far from 80, 900 inhabtant
: Forty miles south they have village, at
another 1l0 miles further south, among Il
Utah Indians, II suppose) where fine iores
of all kinds of timber abound, while little
none for mechanical purposes, excepting pin
grows in the vicinity of the valley. T.
character of this people has changed but lt
since their exodus from the States. The le
ders and all appear to be more "Gree al
easy,n and the great body as presevering, i
dustrious and obedent to the higher powe
as ever. Money is very plenty among lher
principally gold, much of which came fro
the California mines. The religious ctara
ter of the whole body degeneraled inio me
amusement, frivolity, &C., not even the ser
| blance of true piety is kept up
a In the vicinity of the city is warm spril
e which has been brought into the city, al