The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-03
The Sam Bersardiaao Settle.
nmelnf.

IL - eSuSiallJ hlOWlt 10 our readers
that large and houris'.ing colony of
Mormons have established themselves
in one of the finest portions of South
ern California, and during the past
winter have been actively engaged in
agricultural and mechanical operations
and in laying the foundation Of an ex-
tensive aud important settlement. We
have recently conversed with an intel
ligent gentleman, for many years a
resident of the Southern country, who
paid visit to the San Bernardino set.
tlement not long since, and during his
soJourn among the singular and mis-
guided people who compose the colo
ny, acquired much interesting informa
ton regarding their social relations,
plans and prospects.
The San Bernardino rancho is rep
resented as one ofthc'most fascinating
spots i'll California. 1t comprises a
large tract Of highly arabic land, with
easy access to finely timbered re-
glon and is crossed by thirty never
failing streams Of delicious water.-
The Santa Anna river courses through
The valley, along the entire extent of
the San Bcrnardino tract, which is from
twenty to twenty-five miles in length,
ny SIN miles in breadth. The rancho
is well stocked with horses aud cattle.
and possesses all the varieties of soil
and diversities Of surface, added to the
matchlcSs climate of the South, to
make it the garden spot of that dis
trict Of California.
The Mormons purchased this rancho
last Fail for about seventy thousand
dollars. Amasa Lyman, one of the
twelve, and elder Z. c. Rich, both men
oi great shrcwdness, auh uubounded in.
fiuence among the Saints, acting us the
agents o! their people, in ciitcting the
purchase. The amount paid for the
land was the joint investment of about
live hundred emigrants from Salt Lake,
who entered the Southern country by
the C"jon pass, under the lead of elders
Lyman and Rich, appointed on the
mission by President Young. After
the bargain was. concluded, and the
families had removed to the lands Of
The ranch, about two thousand acres
were set oti, in allotments for each Of
the colonists, in one immense field.
This tract has been ditchcd and
fenced and sown with wheat, each of
the holders OF the land CONSTRUCTING
that amount Of ditchng required to
enclose his field On one side, the whole
live hundred allotments having been
fenced i'll and sown Us one enormous
wheat field. At one corner of the
big field =, as it is called, the Nor
nous erected y large fort, during the
days OF threatened Indian invasion of
the lower Pountry, into which they re-
moved ALI their families and effects,
living in common, in true Fourier
style, and preserving their religious
organizations with unbroken faith, un-
der tho direction Of their presiding
elders.
" hen our informant was among the
San Bernardino settlers, there had been
lur several weeks cessation of labor,
on account ot the unsettled state of
affairs about them, and within them
selves. Their spiritual adviser and
chct director MAS, of course, Elder
Lyman, who was assisted by Elder
Rush. Considerable dissatisfaction ex
istcd among some OF the Mormons at
the manncr'm which quantity of land
belonging to the Rancho had been ap-
portioned ty their rulers. 1t was plain
that Lyman and Rich had appropriated
the most valuable lots in. the division
To themselves, and were preparing TO
set out vineyards on their own account.
A meeting was held to discuss the
matter one Sunday morning. The
saints were collected by the blast of a.
horn, which Was blown by a black
Gabriel III Q most artistic manner, and
when they had assembled in the great
hall, Amasa Lyman arose and put the
company TO the blush for having raised
a question and doubt against the or
dalned of God. lie ended by purcha-
sing quantity of grape cuttings of one
Of The brethren, and cn!isting the free
labor OF fifteen or twenty Of The Saints
to set them out in the fields allotted
to Elder Rich and himself, promising
to repay their services with vines at
the end Of three years! Snch is the
influence which the -ulers have over
the people IN the Church of Latter Day
Saints.
1t IS quite probable that Lyman and
Rich in whose names the San Bcrnan.
din" Ranch was purchased will take
excellent care to manage the affairs of
tie new settlement most wisely TO their
own interest and profit. They are both
men of shrcwdncss and cunning, with
power in their hands to regulate the
social, domestic and pccuniary con-
Germs OF the c""ny rs well as its spirit
ual affairs. They are the appointed
and empowered of Brigham Young and
weld an immense influence among
their church brethren
The San Bernardino settlement at
present numbers about one thousand