Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-02-24
FROM the Occidental independence Messenger.
GREAT SALT LAKE CsTY, Nov. 20.

| 8ASAE SALT LAKE Nov w.
Friend Patton: The mail from ths States,
Oct. lst, arrived yesterday. bringing. me Sic Of
the Occidental Messenger frOm.tie z,h Of A pril
10 the 28th Of September, for whs tacknowl-
edge myself indebted toyou, assuFSHgou It @ss
great treat ia me here in thisserlb ssaiieg;
isolated from the world, sepstated kgp thoie
early associations / have 50 foH1lE zsei, Il MAS
received like long absfpt;f ftienS{ a. vhs1s I
expected to hear ,eysfy thing ihaS 81 6sse6i6
iny abteiire. na14 lie 10 8 Is s9d e5liif a.
:ailes sfesiiy "a s dis civ, 6tft
the shortness d Tine before The departure Of the
[mail will not per1na. = will siy, however, and
give yotfsche of the ouilines. In the FIRST place,
the population OF the Mormon church is suppos-
ed. from the best information, TO be about thirty
thousand. The census has not been taken this
season. but the leaders have pretty correct idea
Of what the migration has been this wear. The
city is laid of with neatness and regularity, in
squares or wards, and it covers abont two miles
square. The buildings are of adobes, or sun
brick, and look very neat and comfortable. They
have completed, apd are now constructing some
flne buildings, among which may be mentioned
the State or council house and tiihine Office
Some Of them are three stories high, and
would be respectable in our eastern cities
These public edifces are built by the tiihine or
church tax, which is levied on the members at
the rate of ten per centum on all they possess
when they join the church, and the same per
centum annually on what they make and by the
duties on merchandise, fines, &c.
The inhabitants are very hnspitable, indus
triOus and enterprising people; and notwirkstand-
ing the strong prejudices existing in many of the
A. aroip.N sk.,, =.
which they are worthy OF imitation by other com.
munities. All this is required for man 10 get
along well with them, is TO attend strictly to their
own business and lettheirs entirely alone. They
are constantly making new settlements. They
extend 300 miles south, and in the spring they
intend to establish colony on the coast in Cali
fornia. near Williams Ranch, which point is
situated nearly due south of this, 66O miles on
a route that 10 travelled in the winter BY many
that are going to the mines.
Money has been very plenty here, but it 10
getting uery scarce now, owing to the immense
amount taken away by the merchants; still !
think there is a suticiency for all business pur-
poses.
There is not, at this time, public house in
the city, but it is in contemplation to have sew
eral in readiness for the coming season, which
will add greatly 10 the comfort of the trav eller
and stranger.
There are many peculiarities abou, this ploee
as well Is among IFS inhabitants. In the first
place. the streams that drain the surrounding
mountains all empty into the great Lake Of Salt,
and there sink in the sands, and. as the Mormons
say, like Themselves, mingle not with any other
on The earth. Then, there are many warm and
hot springs; one in the city is well fitted up for
bathing. 1t is very warm and consists of white
sulphur. There is another very large boiling
spring four miles from here, Of the same nature.
A party from California arrived in this city on
the 18th inst, having left Sacramento CITY Sept.
2Sih. Prospects in California are very unIavor-
able for the miners. ! shall write you again by
first opportunity.
Respectfully Yours, P.