Butte record., 1854-06-17
LIFE AMONG THE E1oRMoNs.

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Gently visited at their stronghold IN the
county Of San Bernatdiuo, in this State.
Outsiders who are possessed with any
thing ike spirit Of candor. universally
give them the name Of having the best
regulated, enerr tie, and honest commit
ties that exist in any county, with the
exception perhaps, Of one practice Of very
doubtful morality, winch is allowed, and
by some Of The more fauaucal amonr
them, even encouraged. Those who
bave had The misery Of being put through
a course Of sprouts b. some Of those ia
genlous instruments oftorture, San Fran
cisco lawyers and Courts, viii fully an
rreciate the good sense and sound iaar-
ment they display in starving such insii.
tutions out Of their midst this alone
should excuse any amount Of folly thev
might be guilty Of in other respects.
1t is 10, three years since the Nor
mons settled in San Bernardino. Then
it was a mere range for cattle; but bv
organized Industry and well directed Ia
Dor, Il has nuw become one Of the most
important aud fruitful portions Of the
State. And the system which prevails
among them, in political matters. Of vot-
ing one wag-of utterIng their senfi-
ments as By the voice OF one man, Will,
with their increasing numbers, give them
great power. They are neither Wings
aor Democrats, and their practice is to
for their frieads BY their unity in this
respect, they are destined, in close con-
tests, to control elections.
\ ter first visit among them, one is
struck with stiffness and apparent dull
ness Of the place but this arises from
The order to labor, Which their system
imposes upon every member. There are
no idlers. Every one must produce ac-
cording to his capacity. Aud all their
labors 20 on in the most Systematic man
ner. Some are ditching for the irriga-
lion Of the land some are cutting m
Der in the mountains others are aanHne
1t to the plain some are looking after
stock; some are building some are trad
ing. Every one doing something, with
view to permanent utility. Thei1 prop
IS not held in common, but the Church
and each individual is benefited bv the
labors Of all the rest. So far as Industry
IN the development Of the resources Of
their LANDS i concerned, there Is not a
community in the State that can compete
with them.
The ranch is situated at The mouth Of
the Cajon Pass, and all the travel hence
to Salt Lake passes through the city
In the Caion there is abundance of wa
Ter for mills and fo- irrigation, and it IS
carried over the bottom lands in every
street of the new city.
Tire cid fort, with It's ungainlv pro-
portions, will soon be abandoned. The
new cIty, which IS located a httie to the
cas-. Of it, Is surveyed, and the lots are
nov offered for sale at an average price
pi one hundred dollars. There are al
ready two Or three handsome buildings
erected and several more are in prog.
ress Bishop Crosby is about erecting a
large hotel, which he means shall be an
ornament to the city.
Their wheat crop at present is in fine
condition, and if the season continues
favorable, they will be able to supply a
large portion Of the -four needed IN this
market. Last year they lost much of
their wheat from rust, but their faith is
strong that the blight viii not come near
them
The Mormons never 60 to Law, and it
IS very evident that they do not wish anv
outsiders, to come among them for that
purpose. They have an aversion for
awyers as stirrers up of litigation. No
case has ever yet come before the State
courts, IN which the Mormons were par
lies. All their differences are settled in
the Bishops Court, where each party
chooses a referee, and their decision is E
nal They have no Jail, and when lhev
find criminal, they put him in chains
and set him to diiching or some other
public improvement. It does a man no
good, they say, TO eonhae him besides,
confinement Is an expense to the commu-
nity, and they cannot afford to support
any man IN idleness. The term OF the
District Court was he'd there on Non
day; but the clerk being absent, and the
deputy excusing himself on the ground Of
sickness, the docket was transferred
bodily to Los Angeles county.
The impression Of some Of the parties