Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-24
UTAH AND THE MORMoNS.
NAsnvIInr, April 20, Is

scfpuoH VI Tue CUuntry, us uiinefai anu oSiiCui
tura resources, the habits, manners and customs
of the Mormons, who constitute nineteeu-twen-
tieths of the population, may not be uninterest-
ing to your numerous readers
Great Salt Lake valley proper, is 100 miles long,
by from s to 80 miles in width, though there is a
succession of valleys South from which it is only
separated by low ranges Of mountains, passabe at
all seasons for wagons and carriages, which to-
gether are four hundred miles long. The soil of
all these valleys is unsurpassed for fertility; it is
not uncommon to gather so bushels of wheat to
the acre, and from 800 to 500 bushels of potatoes
to the acre. l saw an Irish potato which was
grown in the valley, that weighed four and half
pounds, and it is very common to raise cabbage
weighing 80 pounds.
The summer is oShort and dry to raise corn to
advantage; it has to be irrigated still there is
raised, and could be bought in January at 81 rs
per bushel. Flour was only worth 81 per hum
bred pounds; potatoes so to 75c per bushel. 1t is
also fine grazing country, and Notwithstanding
the severity of the winters, cattle and horses re-
quire no feeding from the fact that the grass grows
very tall, and there being no rain from May to
November it cures up like hay; indeed, it is more
nutritious than any hay have ever seen in the
States
The mountains with which the valleys are sur.
rounded, are rich in almost every kind of minerals;
the iron mines particularly very rich, some of
them yielding $50 per cent pure metal" l was
informed that some very rich gold and silver mines
had been found in the mountains near Great Salt
Lake City, but Gov. You've, who is also President
of the Church and rules bis people with as Euch
despotism as ever NICHOLAS did the serfs of Rus
sia, will not permit them to be worked; alleging,
and very Justly, that in their isolated position,
separated by hundreds of miles from all means of
supply from the States they are far better off and
happier as an agricultural people than mining
though am inclined to the opinion that selfish
ness AID love of power has IS much to do with
his restrictions as love of his people, as he knows
tina. if the mines were successfully worked it would
invite the emigration of large numbers Of Genties
AS they call!all who do not believe in their pecu-
liar religion-into the Territory and his power
would be destroyed.
Salt Lake Vaey-as are all the valleys-is COM
pletely shut in by mountains, some of which are
| of immense altitude, and are covered the entire
year with snow. Great Salt Lake is an inland sea,
about 60 miles in length, by from to Is miles in
width, and as its name indicates, is very bracksh
indeed, more so than the water of either the At
lantic or Pacific ocean; thousands of bushels of
pure white salt are shovelled up on its banks by
the people.
In many places it is deep enough to float ships
of the largest burthen but owing to the scarcity
of building timber, and the difficulty of getting
machinery from the States-everything they get
| from the States is hauled in wagons from the Mis-
souri, river, distance of 1900 miles-it has never
been navigated. 1t is perfect anomaly IN nature,
being 800 miles from the Pacific, the nearest ocean,
without any visible or known outlet, and Though
it is continually fed by g vast number of streams
emptying into it, some of which are nearly as large
as the Cumberland river, yet it does not rise any
nor is its salty character in the least changed.
The greatest obstacle to the growth and pros
perity of the valleys is the scarcity of wood, all
of which has to be got off of the mountains, and
out of Kanyans; in many places they have to haul
their wood II and Is miles over almost perpendicu-
lar mountains 1t is worth Sl5a cord in Great Salt
Lake City, though in some of the Southern valleys
wood is more abundant and of course not so dear.
The people are very industrious, and considering
their isolated position have made wonderful i'm
provements; they have some as fine Touring
mills as can be found anywhere, they have also
wheat thrsshers founderies, sugar and molasses
factories--they make sugar from beets which grow
in great aoundance-also cardng factories and one
woollen factory.
Their houses are generally built of Adobes,
sun-dried brick, and some of them are very neat
| Great Salt Lake City is their principal city-here
their Territorial officers live-itis situated at the
foot of the mountains in three miles from the Lake,
and is one of the most handsomely laid off cities
have ever seen the streets running at right angles
and 90 feet in width, with ditch of pure noun
tain water on each side of every street. In this
city they are erecting Temple to the Lord; it is
to be 300 feet long by $50 wide built of polished
red stone, a most beautiful stone which they pro-
cure from the mountains 1t will take five years to
complete it when finished it will compare fayora-
bly, with any building in the States. 1t is to be
| closed by double wall, the inner of Adobes, the
outer of red stone Is feet thick and Is feet high
with space of 20 feet between the walls, the out
er wall to be mounted with cannon of the heaviest
calibre. 1t is intended q refuge for the Saints
in case of war; the population of the city is about
$4,000 and rapidly increasing they have free
schools in every ward.
The entire population of the Territory is abcu
| $4,000 The chief officers of the Territory are
Brigham Young, Governor and Indian agent, salary
$500; Babbitt, of Illinois, Secretary, salary
$500; Hon. John F. Kinney, of Iowa, Chief JUS
tice, salary $1,000; Shaffer, of ---, salary
$500; Gen. HOLMAN, of Maryland, Attorney
General salary $500.
| President PIERCE has appointed Col. STEpToE
Governor--Y oUNGs time having expired last Octo-
Der. know Col STEPToE well, and have no idea
that he will accept the appointment. First be-
cause he has been raised in the army and has a
good deal of military pride and ambition, secondly
because he detest the customs of the people, thirdly
though he would have no trouble in taking the
rens of government, Gov. You've being man of
too much and patriotism to resist him, still
be would be only nominally Governor as the peo-
pie would only submit to his government by the
orders of their PRESIDENT mean President of
their Church-and think Col. STEPToE a man of
too much nrida and calf aooavt on