Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-09-24
News from the Overland Emigran,s.

SALMON TRoUr RIVER, July, 1880.
Messrs. Jermains: Dear SHs:-l con
tinue my notes without Introduction.
Tuesday, Jure e--Entor Suit Lake City.
|, We 90 from the mountain u the plain on
which the city stands through deep and
narrow kanyon, along which cold, clear
rocky, shrub bordered creek, rushes towards
, the Jor6on. As we emerged from the defle
upon the "oenoh'' of the mountain. We see
no city, although it is but three miles distant
Now, evidences of civilization begin 10 ap-
pear. We see away to the socth down on
the plain, few scattering houses We be-
gin TO cross the small trenches conducting
water from Kanyon creek 10 the city and ad-
jscent farms In this manner the Whole val
ley is irrigated. The city is now visible
no towers, no domes nor spires; and only ono
building stands out in relef-the Council
house--a stone ediice now, nearly finished,
occupies the highest ground in The city. We
20 down gentle slope, crossing half
dozeo trenches, and the whole city Of l2,-
900 inhabitants lies before US; and such city
One-story houses of sun dried brick covered
with long shingles held down by cotton wood
poles, with the bark on, and fresh tWigs shoot
ing out from them in every direc ion leach
little house standing ia the midst of the vast
solitude of an acre and quarter Of land, the
smallest dimensions Of city lot; this acre
and q quarter fenced in with straight fence
of cotton wood poles yet growing g-tor they
never die; from five to twenty children half
nak ed, padding about in the trenches which
irrigate the gardens; not sign, not hotel
only one store; not barber shop, nor groce-
l,ry, nor doggery, no liquor, no pluces of public
resort, no noise and bu siness nor manutactu
ring din; no rumbng of carriages, no fops
nor easy gentlemen, nor splendid ladies; no
poor and not any rich, and none without any
gold.
We are quartcred on public square a half
q mile from the Council house. We are sur
rounded and annoyed half out of our wits by
the impertinence of these semi -hcathens.--
"They have no groceries in the city. A hag
of woman. perhaps one of three wives,
wants little tea for che has not tasted any
in month, for which she will give US flour
in exchange at twenty-five cents per pound;
new cheese atthc same; butter at fifty cents.
butter-milk at dime quart, and milk at
twenty cents. or buck7skin mOccaslns al
dollar pair, for they viii be mighty good for
our. poor feet travelling over the mountains"
We listen till she is out of breath, and then
almost break her heart by telling her we have
not leaf of the article. Another wants su-
gar, another Coffee third bacon, fourth oil,
or brandy, or alchoho!, or candles or soap, or
= shoes. or shirts; some we supply and some we
send empty away. They do not beg, for
they have plenty of gold fresh from their
own mint. We shall remain here till Sat
urday.
Friday 7th.-llave Just returned from a
bath in the warm springs. These springs
issue from the mountain side many feet above
the highest point Of The city, and at 4 short
distance of two miles from its centre. At n
trining expense the water might be convey
ed to every house. The spring remains at
a temperature OF about one hundred and five
degrees, Fab (l05 Fuh.) the year round.-
A fourth of a mile farther are the hot salphcr
springs. which would cook eggs in an hour.
Some of the boys tried bathing III the water
through mistake, but left in double quick
time, nearly boiled. The city consists of
seventeen wards-nine blocks in ward, and
ten acres in block. Each block is divided
into eight lots one of which may be occupied
forever, but not owned by citizen. No
ono claims the SOIL but simply tho improve
! ments thereon. The streets arc eight rods
wide, and whenever the creeks or trenches
cross them, decent bridges are constructed.
/ The city is well supplied with cool water
| from the mountains. II has one printing of
! lico mint, Touring mills saw mills. wool
en- factory, sc. A temple is now in process
of construction. IL is To be built of marble
and is designed TO be the most costly cdifcc
on the continent. There are quarres of mar
bic within few milos OF the city; within
a hundred miles are mines of silver and gold.
Stono coal and iron arc also abundant not far
off Salt Lake furnishes iucXhsustable guam
titles OF salt; cement Is found native IN the
neighboring mountains. The city maintains
a small standing army of cavalry, infantry
and artillery. Snow cape mountains wall |
the Palestine of these new lsraelites; and the /,
Jordan rolls solemnly along for hundreds of
miles through one of tho most fertile valleys |
in tho world---the promised aud possessed !
land of the followers &C Joseph lfore everv
thing is patriarchal. 1t is true that polygamy /
is allowed; every man 10 allowed as many /
wivos as he can or viii support. The man
with whom | am stopping has Two wives;
they both call him "Iohu" aud both tell "iOhn Z
To do this or that, and "Jol,n" moves with as
much haste as man gonerallv does who has |
only ono wifo TO obOy. lie seems 10 feel uo ,
preference, though one is twice as handsome
as the other, and the women do not manifest
any jealousy. Polygamy is not enJoined, but
it is not prohibited.
About thousand OF tho MormoUs have
gono to the Mines this spring They pay
one tenth of all thor gains INTO the treasury
for tho improvement Of the city and country,
the same as those who remain At home. The
Mormons are taxed very high. but they pay
without grudging. for they have the means
of knowing that their money - employed for
tho public good. Their taxes this year a
mounted to two per cent, besides the ttheS.
Notwithstanding this apparent onorou5 bur
then of tithes and taxes, they are rapidly in.
croasing in wealth, both individually aud as
community. They are cheerful contcnted
and happy.
Saturday 9h.-One of my horses is miss
ing, my partner has been galloping for two
hours in search of it. ! get glass and
sweep the valley; at length make out tho an
imal, he is fast by the lazo 70 a bush about