Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-11-20
UTAH.

rtbe whole character of The Territory Of Utah is
s;,gnlar lis situation is unlike that of any other
section of North America-ils origin and the manner
If its settlement no less strange. The name Utah is
given now to large extent Of territory bounded by
r,I;cornia, Oregon New Mexico, aud wlla! was for
meriv termed the great Western territory. II is OF
sufficient dmens ions 10 be separated into several
States. provided in future ages lis population shall
warran il. Bu many parts Of il SO Par'ake Ola Pc
cnliar construction render it, for the present al
le,s, uninhahabIe Passes.,hrough precpilons noun
aius. whose tops are covered with snow, anu whose
sides are but rocks, exslt true,hui lhey are mostly
valleys Of the most arid and sterile kind,their
sr,crs covered with incrusa,iohs and bitter salt.
and their whole vegetation giant species ol sage.
of no earthly use but To be consumed AZ iuel-in
the midst of these icy mountains, through which
there is no access by these passes, ard IN summer
and choked with snow for five months OF the year,
lies tract of iand elevated SOME Tour or hve thou
rand fee, above the level Of The sea- called The Great
R,s;n winch furnishes the habable part of the Ter
ri,ory. In different parts of this BASIN the Mormons
have established their homes, probably al frs! with
tho ;,ee that they would be cut offfrom all the
ras, or The world by the natural difficulties Of the
contiguous territory and the peculiarly Of their sit
ua,ion Here they expected to form in secrecy and
in silence The germ Of greab peculiar, religious EN-
Miro. bnt the stream of California emigration d!scoV.
cred their trail and inundated their princpallly, and
,hev are now the open, exposed "haif'"ay house
This basin is some five hundred and sixty miles
:; l;.ms,e-. has It's own system of lakes and rivers,
And Mas no known communication whatever WIN lhe
60. unIess The existence of the wht7o in the Salt
lake which are reported to be lately discovered
shonld nroye an internal communication win the
Pacific. or with some spring or lake IN me row.
pr country In the Northern part ol THIS basin lies
the Grea, Salt Lake. The waters ol This shee' are
shallow. so far as explored; though probably lis CEN
iral narls will be found very deep. It's waters are
intensely salt, more than the ocean-'hree gallons
making one of the purest, whiWsh and finest salt
so,heast OF this lake, shut in by The MOUNTAINS, lies
tho .Normon VALLEY that contains their capai city
bv some called the Great Salt Lake City, by 9th
eys. Mormon City This valley is thirty miles oy
,wen,v.tw.. connected to another valley which IS a.
hon, Gitv miles by eight. These two valleys con
tain the principal body Of he settlers to the number
of ,ven,v thousand. Explorers think that lhey are
eapable OF supporting population OF million
F;nv miles south Of the city is the Otah FAKE ana
Va,1ey Here lies the city of PROVO OH Provo river
The lake is pure water eigh, mites by -Four, and d
honnds in fish. There is still another valley one
hundred miles further soNh, called San fe'e, wherf
there is another settlement; and here we End the H.
eroglyphc ruins, the remains OF glazed po"ery' &C
that ;nd;cstes The former existence oil The outlying
cities OF the Aztec Empire, -.
The soil of all these valleys is as!onishlngly pro
duclye. though requiring constantly artificial irrga
ton from the mountain streams. The climate is ont
of the bea,hest and The air the pures on the cont
nen,. The neighboring mountains rise to 'te heigh
Of mile and half above the valley, and are cover
ed with perpetual show. 49,.
The city is laid out in blocks OF Ten acres eaeh
egh, lots 10 the block an acre and quarter TO IN
oi The STREETS eight rods wide; each TEN Acre oloc
TO he surrounded by stream brought down iron
the mountains. No i,co houses troHt each other s.
that standing in his own door, every man l"ohs NV
his neighbors garden. In the city are four puo"
squares. to he surrounded by shade ireesand supple
with fountains, !,
sucn is the delightful place chosen by one o VI
mos, peculiar religious sects which chrls!ehaoh COL
iains. Remote from the world, from The exercise
external tyranny. and yet connected to our grea' c"
pire. It's peculiar locality will prove OF lmmens
service as stopping place for rest, rereshme''' an
provisions for the army of emgran,s that WILL YET
after wear. sppk California or Oregon by The Sou'her
Pass: and when The great railway Is established
will prove of incaculabe Jsnehis as great static
house on the route.
A correspondent! Of the Western Christa Adv'
cate says -
Early in April, ls47, ens hundred and ferty-'h''