Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-18
From the National Intelligencer of Friday
Corresponding Sec'ry,

The Country OF the Mormons.
We find in the Chicago Daily Times, of the
7th instant, communication to the editor of that
journal, dated at Fillmore City, Utah Territory,
on the 25th of August, and bearing the signature
of w. w. Drummond. Having taken the lib
erty of abridgng and adapting it to our pur-
poses, we here append it for the perusal of the
readers of the Intelligencer:
BY the virtue of law am assigned to this the
judicial district. My headquarters are at Fill
ment of this Territory. At Fillmore City there is
now being erected splendid State-house, built
of superior quality Of stone of reddish cast,
and no doubt very durable. One wing is nearly
completed, and will be in readiness by the second
| Monday in December, at which time the Legs-
lature meets This city is one hundred and sixty
miles south of Great Salt Lake City, and about
two hundred and fifteen miles south of the line
dividing Utah and Oregon Territories, and is CEN
trally located in the Territory. Great Salt Lake
is the largest city in the Territory, and contains
fifteen thousand inhabitants. In it number
of fine stone hotels, school-houses, sc. A large
majority Of the population of the city of for
eign birth, mostly English. The next city of i'm
portance is Provo, on the Provo river, about fifty
miles south of Salt Lake City. Provo is a beau
tiful place, containing factories, mills, &c., with
| three thousand inhabitants, about equally divided
i
south there are number Of villages and settle
ments all the way down until you reach the Cali
fornia line. Much Of the land is quite produc-
tive in all kinds Of grain.
| In the county of Iron is to be found mex
haustible quantity of stone coal, well
| tensive quantities of iron ore. FORCES and fur
naces are in operation in the county of Iron for
| the manufacture of iron, which is soon destined,
| in the ordinary of things, to become
source of great profit. Copper, lead, chalk,
plaster of Paris, as well gold, are to be found
in great abundance in different parts Of the Ter
ritory. In the lake, of which you have heard so
much, is to be found salt in the greatest abund-
ance, which can be obtained simply by driving
| wagon into the edge of the lake, and with COM
mon shovel filling it to its utmost capacity, at no
| other cost or expense, and is free Tor Jew and
| Gentle, saint and sinner. Among the grains
| cultivated here with success are to be found
wheat, rye, Indian corn, barley, and oats.
Among the vegetable kingdom are potatoes,
| onions, tomatoes, beets, cabbage, lettuce, rad
ishes as well as peas and beans in great abund
ance. Peaches cultivated to some extent,
but no apples as yet. There are many fine nur-
series in different parts of the Territory, which in
| few years will yield full supply of fruit.
Wild fruit of different kinds is quite abundant,
and is good substitute. Owing to the long
continued dry weather and the plague of grass
hoppers last spring, grain grass and all kinds OF
vegetation is very scarce, and much fear is felt
and who will suffer unless aided by some new
seen hand.
Not single hive of bees is to be found in the
Territory. 1t is said that number of years since
| u deep snow fell in these mountain valleys and
| caused all the buffalo on the west of the Rocky
| Mountains to die of starvation. There
west of the mountains at this time. Among the
wild animals you will find the black and grizzly
bear, wolves of different kinds, two or three
different kinds of deer, elk, mountain sheep, and
different kinds of bare and rabbits. There are of
the feathered tribe the sage-hen, prarie-hen wild
duck, and geese quite abundant, but no quails.
| Geese, turkeys, and the common hen are quite
abundant. Horses, both wild and tame, mules,
cattle, and sheep grow finely, and live mostly the
year round on grass, and are said to be in better
order in the winter than summer, there being no
flies in winter.
The institution of negro and Indian slavery ex-
lists in this Territory, there being quite a number
of Southern men here who brought their slaves
with them. The Indians sold into slavery by
one another and subject to perpetual bondage
and make good, active, ready, and obedient SER
wants.
The prevailing religion is that of the Latter
Day Saints, although occasional sermon is de-
livered by persons Of different persuasons. The
population Of the Territory is variously estimated
at from sixty to one hundred thousand, the most
of whom are active and industrious. No bust
ness man in this country performs more bodily
The Surveyor General, Gen. ID. ii. Burr, Of
Washington, is here, and has opened Office in
Salt Lake City and entered upon the duties of his
Office, two parties of surveyors being at work led
by Mr.. Joseph Traskalawski. Gen. Burr is q
mild, gentlemanly, pleasant man, popular in his
Office and firm in all his efforts. A splendid man
sion is being built by Gov. Young, said to be
nearly capacious enough to hold his whole fam-
ly. fine dwelling is being built by Col. A. w.
Babbtt, the Secretary of this Territory, and whose
name is well known to the Democracy Of Illinois.
Mills and factories of all kinds demanded in a
new country are in successful operation through
out the whole Territory where settlements are
made. Great credit is due TO the Mormons for
their efforts in common schools in all the settle
ments; a schoo-house is the first good building
erected. They are the most industrious comrnu-
| nifty ever saw. Strongly devoted TO their reli-
gious faith many Of them are of the best men and
women, while far too many are basely corrupt.
So far | have been most kindly and cordially
treated by all citizens and inhabitants Of this val
ley and Territory.
An apparently miraculous crop Of sugar is be-
ing made from the honey dew, which falls on the
leaves of the cottonwood exclusively. II is made
, by soaking the leaves in water, and then, after
taking out the leaves, pursuing the same course
which is taken in the manufacture of the ordinary
, maple sugar. A, sample of this sugar send by
this mail to our esteemed Senator, Hon. s. A.
Douglas.
APPEARANCE OF Dr.. KANE, THE GREAT
, ARCTIC ExPLoRER-His grey hairs and fur.
rowed face plainly tell the story of his hard
ships and suferings. His appearance indi.
Gates two score and ten; in reality he has Just
entered his thirty-6 fifth year. His form and
physique are not what is generally fancied to
be in keeping with dauntess spirit, daring
exploits, and herculean undertakings. He is
below the medium height, with spare delicate
frame.
n6A- A Midshipman asked Priest to tel
the difference between Priest and Jackass
The Priest gave It up.
zone wears a cross on his back and the
other on his breast said the Midshipman
"Now," said the Priest, "tell me the differ
| onoo hot paen a Midsb;pmon and n JooLas,o