The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-15
Correspondence Of the St. Louis Republican.
From Salt Lake.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY,

GREAT SALT LAKE CRY,
TERRITORY OF UTAH, Feb, 1855
The Mormons at present. exhibit more
enthusiasm or fan atheism, or whatever you
may please TO- call it than, any other sect
in existence. During the coming season
they anticipate an addition Of ten or twelve
thousand to their community, to be made
up Of converts in Great Britain. The
most Of these are expected TO- be taken
around Cape Horn, and landed at San
Diego, in California. From San Diego TO
Great Salt Lake is chain of Mormon
settlements, which renders that route less
tedious than from the Missouri. Whether
the anticipations of so large an emigra
ton will be fully realized is very question
able. It is a singular fact in regard to
Mormon converts that not more than one
third Of them come into the church-the
rest fall off. This was told me by an in
telligent Mormon, and have no doubt of
the fact. The open promulgation Of the
polygamy system will increase the amour,
Of this waste. Great numbers, too, be-
come discontinued, either on account Of
the proximity Of the gold mines or other
causes. and 60 away never to return, and
| Il
actual emigration will much more than
make up this loss. Great efforts are now
making to prevent removals from the val
Icy. A new impulse has lately been given
in regard to building the temple; the ground
was broken on the - instant, under i'm
posing ceremonies, and large numbers are
now excavating, preparatory to laying the
corner-stone on the first of April. In ad-
di,ion to this, the president and his coun-
Gil have published, in the Deseret Ne,os. a
kind Of theological ukase, in which strong
effort is made to strengthen the allegiance
of the discontinued and wavering.
The Mormons are now making some
experiments in the manufacture of sugar
from beets. The machinery for this pur-
pose was brought through in October and
public works, and some incipient steps
taken, such as grinding the beet, pressing
out the liquor. and making molssses and
some sugar. Ltis crude article, and has
an acid taste. more like currant jelly than
molasses. One difficulty in the produc.
lion Of good article has become quite
manifest. The soil here is strongly i'm
pregnated with saferatus, and the beet
being a very Juicy root, absorbs large
quantity Of this salt. Until some methot
of separating this from the syrup is dis
covered, a good article cannot be made
1t is said, however, that the beets in Utal
county are not so much impregnated will
salts; if this, as is to be hoped. should turr
on, 10 be well founded, the difficulty vii
be surmounted. Beets are raised here o
enormous size, and are full Of saccharin'
; matter. This machinery has been brough
from Europe at an immense expense, ant
it is extremely doubtful whether the com
pany who own ii will ever get the interes
OF their money. The high price OF suga
here, however, operates as tariff in !hei
t favor. and may ultimately make the bust
, ness profitable.
: There is at present great want OF cap
ital to develope the resources Of the terri
? tory. The Mormons generally are poor
!. and, in my judgment. their peculiar chnrcl
government tends to keep them so. Thei
} system of ,i,hing and Of turning over thei
f surplus property for the building Of churcl
edifices and the support of the prizes thood
, is a constant drain, end effectually pre-
. vents the accumulation of wealth among
individuals.
They are at work upon the temple, and
from its intended magnitude and finish,
Judge that it cannot cost less than mil
/ lion.