New-York daily tribune., 1854-07-15
NEW PUBLICAII IIONS.

UTAH AND THE MONMONS BY BENJAMIN q. FERRIS. l2no'
pp 3f7 Harper Brothers
The value of ths work arses from s being record of
personal experience. Mr. Ferris appointed Secretary
OF the Territory of Utah in the Of 1852. He
after took up his residence in the Valley OF the Great Salt
Lake where he remained for about six months His book
contains little speculation, and many facts. As the latest
authentic report the condition of the Mormons and the
influence of their peculiar institutions cannot fail to
command attention We make few miscellaneous ex-
tracts showing the descriptive talent of the writer, and
enbodying curious facts:
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY.
Great Salt Lake City presents very singular appear
20 the eye of stranger II is built of adobe sun
dried bricks and Is OF uniform lead color with the single
exception othe house of Brigham Young the prophet and
which white, and standing the most prominent
point in the city may be seen at great distance Ihe
se cts are eight rods wide and each other at right
angles Each block contains acres and divided into
eight lots of and quarter TO lot or course me
S .i.t,ered over verv large area II is built partly on
the slope the lowest mountain bench at point where
the asatch range turns to the north after running six or
seven miles westerly, and is twenty-five miles east from
the lake. mountain stream, called City Creek orig
nay through the center Of the town. but by numer
ous bitches its distributed through almost every
street, according 10 the inclination ofhe land. The build
ngs very ordinary in their style OF construction gen
eraly one story and many of them mere uts Ii
If not uncommon TO see long, low building, with from
half dozen entrances which sure indication
that the owner the husband of sundy wives after the
fashion of the prophet Joseph There few dwellings
q
those OF Brigham Young already mentioned, Heber C..
Knbal Porley p. Plat Ezra l. Benson, and other dig
bitaries Of the Mormon hierarchy.
The public buildings fewthe Courcil-iouse, where
the legislative Assembly and Courts held: the Th-
ing Office where thes received, in a room of which
is the Post-Oice; the Social Hail, where theatrical per-
formancos are had and in which the Saints
dated with conyeniences for dancing and social parties
and The Tabernacle along low building Temple Block,
the Mormon place OF worship very large on the ground
and capable Of seating audience of three thousand
Temple Block contains the usual complement OF eight
acres and besides the Tabernacle has range of work
shops belonging the church. in which various mechanl-
cal employrnens carried wall is being built
around the whole block and excavations were commenced
in the spring of 1888 for the erection OF temple when
to be the future glory and pride of all Mormondom IL
designed be hundred and twenty fee; long by one
hundred and fifty wide, with walls six feet thick. The
excavation in the for baptisma font IL twenty feet
deep This grand structure is building all credaou.
Mormons believe. after plan revealed to the prophet
Brghsm from heaven, and is TO consist OF three parts
corresponding 10 the SUM- moon and starr which are the
three goes degrees OF salvation in store for all true
Latterdny Saints.
HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.
From its great elevation and pure and bracng atmos
phere any reasoning from natural causes would ex
pect find the Valley of Salt Lake Of the healtest
regions in the world The very reverse however seems
10 be the case. Sickness is very common and mortality
great The report of the Superintendent of the Census
for December 1880 p 40 exhibits Utah the very lowest
in the list of comparative health of all the States and Ter
rtories except louisiana That such result cannot be
owing the prvaon and suffering incident 10 settle
by emigration is evident from the fact that while
death occurred in A GlO0 in the population Of Utah
for the year ending June l. 1850 only in 232 s2-l0O
occurred in Oregon Whether is the fault of the climate
and the qualities Of the soil, OF the peculiar
habits Of the people remains be tested by further
observation All these causes may have their agency in
the Iesuit
The alkaline properties of the soil are with good reason
supposed TO promote eryspeas and scrofuous diseases
The gross sensuoities originating in poygamy, coupled
with parental neglect of offspring occasion great mortality
among children To these may be added inemperaace in
drirk king very generally dihused and which finds its
qualification in miserable article of whisky and beer
manufactured in great quantities.
THE TRUE MORMON.
Tie true follower of Smith form no idea of earthly
and heavenly happiness except what proceeds from is
in some way connected with the pleasures of the bodily
senses He knows nothing of spiritual ideas or pleasures
Dnterested beneyoeuce has place in the storehouse
OF his religious treasures Every thing with him is
ter and mind nothing here and hereafter except
Is made up Of and connected with matter. He is in the
sirlcst sense OF the term materialst this he not ONLY
openly but srenuously contend that msteriais
furnishes the only key TO happiness He of the earth
earthly and earthly he desires and expect to be through
aiicoming fuurty His future eternity merely eon-
general cohntgraon in all the pomp of deied royalty
ana IN the qualification of every bodily lust. His supren
est felicity to consist in acting the gluon and the de-
lauchte free from bodily irmes and a sense Of sa-
uy lie expects TO live fast without wearing The fires
OF hn Unsuitable dppetites always to be supplied with
fuel without consuming him. His body is not elevated
INTO mental sphere and made subservient 10 the
oates OF pure, regenerated, spiritual master but his
hind is brought down into the filthy uss Of the body
and there wallows in the mre OF sesuaty His religion
resides only in the natural degree of his mind aud in the
most sensual portion Of such degree Spiritual ideas are
consequently above his comprehension lie can neither
sme touch taste hear see them and therefore they
have existence in his universe. His intellectual Is the
bat Of evening" he knows nothing of the eagle tower
ing in his pride Of place. His residence is in the base
ment story Of humanity and the universal prevalence of
his system would drag the mind down into low plane
restore the reign OF panthesm the dance of sa.yrs ami
the dallanees OF syrens.
With regard to TIE nstitutono OF roygamy the author