The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-03
The Capital OF Utah.

The city of the Great Salt Lake is beau
tifully laid out, within a short distance of
the mountain, forming the eastern end Of
the valley. It contains eleven or twelve
thousand inhabitants, who are mostly en-
gagged in agriculture, though portion of
their time is devoted to mechanical pur-
suits when understood. The streets of the
city intersect each other at right angles, and
each block il half mile square, with an
alley from east to west and north and south.
Each block is called n ward, and has a bish-
op to preside over its government, whose
duties are to act as magistrates, tax collect
o's, and preachers. MS we'll rs street COM
missioners. The city and all the farming
land are irrigated BY streams of beautiful
water, which flow from the adjacent noun
tains. These streams kave been, with great
labor and perseverance, led in every direc-
ton. In the city they flow on eacl, side of
the different street, and their waters are let
upon the inhabitants gardens at reguluI
periods; SO likewise upon tho extensive
fields of grain lying in the south of the
city.
There is q field thirty miles long by six
and ten wide, portion of which is cuitiy
Ted by any one who desires. This field vi:
moving with wheat, barley, and oats, nearly
ready for the sickle, when we were Mt the
lake. and finer field of wheat never grew
in amy country; the berry WIS large, full,
and plnmp, and of superior. whiteness. We
were convinced that no country in the
world could produce better crops than this
valley, or larger amount to the acre. The
system of irrigation prevents anything like
rust or smut striking the crop, to blast the
expectation of tho farmer. The produc-
tiveness of tile soil will always secure him
an abundant crop. Within the valley, and
including three other settlements of the
people of the vicinity, there cannot be far
from 10000 inhabitants. Forty miles
south they have village, and another 10
miles further south-among the Utah Lndi.
ans, suppose-where fine forests of all
kinds of timber abound, while little or none
tor mechanical purposes, excepting pine,
grow in the vicinity of the valley.
The character of this people has changed
but little since their exodus from the States.
The leaders and all appear more free and
easy" and the great body as perseveringly,
industrious aid obedient to the higher pow
ers rs ever.
Money is very plenty among them.
principally gold-much 6f which came
from the California mines. The religious
character Of the whole body has degenera
ted into mere amusement, &C., not even the
semblance of true pie,y is kept up. In The
vicinity of the city is a warm spring, which
has been brought into the city, and public
baths erected. The water is highly medic
al. Each citizen has building-lot appro-
priated to his Use, but is not the absolute
owner, as he cannot dispose of it to Cen
tile without the consent of the church.
Each member is allowed to take up and
cultivate as much land as he pleases, but he
can only sell such improvements as lie NAV
make upon the land. One-tenth Of the
produce Of the land, or the accumulation Of
each individual, az we'll as one-lenii OF his
time, belongs to the church, and is rieor-
ously axnctpd.
The houses are mostly one story high.
though some Of them are neat little Gotta
ges. They have nearly completed q spa
cious court house, two stories high, and
forty feet square. The first story is bn:lt of
trecstone, and the second Of sun burnt brick.
Houses built of these brick are very warm
i'll the winter and cool in the summer, and
appear we'll adapted to The climate. They
are about to erect n temple and other pub
lie buildings. Elder Kimbalrs house Is a
large two-story stone building, some so feet
by 25 feet; yet it is not large enough to
contain one-lalf of his numerous wives.
The prosperity Of this people is truly as
t"nishing. They have Hocks and herds, and
most of the good things of the earth in A.
bumlanc". We saw about three thousand
of the finest cattle on the island, in the Salt
Lake, that we ever put eyes upon. 8 In the
morning. you may see lads driving hun
drctls of cows from the bounds of the CITY.
to be herded within two or three miles, and
driven buck at night.