Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-05-02
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The city Of the Great Salt Lake is beautifully laid
out within short distance of the noun tain forming
the eastern end of the valley 1t contains eleven or
twelve thousand inhabitants, who are mostly enga-
ged in agriculture, though portion of their time is
devoted to mechanical pursuits when understood
The streets of the city ntersect each other at right
angles, and each block is half mile square, with an
alley from east to west and north to south. Each
block is called ward, and has bishop to preside
over its government, whose duties to act mag
istrates tax collectors, and preachers well as
street commissioners. The city and all the farming
land are irrigated by streams of beautiful water,
which flow from the adjacent mountains. These
streams have BEEN with great labor and persever-
ance, led in every direction. In the city they flow
each side of the different streets, and their waters
are let upon the inhabitants gardens at regular pc
RODS likewise upon the extensive fields of grain
lying in the south of the city.
There is a field thirty miles long by six and ten
wide portion of which is cultivated by any one
who desires. This field waving with wheat, bar
ley, and OATS nearly ready for the sickle when We
were at the lake, and finer field of wheat never
grew in any country; the berry was large, full and
plump, and of superior whiteness. We were convin-
ced that country in the world could produce bet
ter crops than this valley larger amount to the
acre. The system of irrigation prevents anything
like rust or smut striking the CROP to blast the ex
pectation of the farmer The productiveness of the
soil will always secure him an abundant crop With
in the valley and including three other settlements
of the people in the vicinity, there cannot he far
from 80, 900 inhabitants. Forty miles south they
have village, and another ITO miles further
south-among the Utah Indians suppose-where
fine forests of all kinds of timber abound, while little
or none for mechanical purposes, excepting pine
grows in the vicinity of the valley
The character of this people has changed but lit
tie since their exodus from the States The leaders
and all appear more free and easy" and the great
body as perseveringly industrious and obedlent tt
the higher powers ever
Money is very plenty among them-principally
gold-much of which came from the California min
es. The religious character of the whole body has
degenerated into amusement, &c; not even the
semblance of true piety is kept up In the vicinity
of the city is warm spring, which has been brought
into the city, and public baths erected. The water
is highly medical. Each citizen has building lo
appropriated to his use but is not the absolute
er, he cannot dispose of it to a GENTLE withou
the consent of the church. Each member is allow
ed to take up and cultivate much land he pleas
es but he only sell such improvements as h
may make upon the land. One tenty Of tn
produce of the land or the accumulation of eacl
individual as we'll as one tenth of his time, belong
to the church, and is rigovously exacted.
The houses are mostly story high, though
some of Thorn neat little cottages. They have
nearly completed a spacious court house. two stor;
es high forty feet square The first story is bull
of freestone and the second of sun-burnt brick
Houses built of these brick are very warm in thu
winter and cool in the summer, and appear vel
adapted to the climate. They are about to erect
temple and other public buildings Elder Kmball'
house is large two-story stone building, some 81
feet by IS feet yet it is not large enough to contain
one-half of his numerous wives
The prosperity of this people is truly astonishing
They have focks and herds, and most of tn
good things of the earth in abundance. We saw
about three thousand of the finest cattle on tn
island in the Salt Lake that we put eyes upon
In the morning you may see lads driving hundred
, of cows from the bounds of the city, to be herde
within two or three miles and driven back at nigh
Exchange Paper.