The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-10
MiseeiiaQeops.
The n6oruaons and their Increase.

From an intelligent gentleman who
has spent the past summer at Salt Lake
City, along the mail route from there to
Independence, and in the portion of Kan
sas and Nebraska which that route ira
verses, we have derived few items of
information which we think win be in
teresting to our readers. In the eastern
section of our country, we have generally
entertained the opinion that the settle
ment at Salt Lake was ephemeral in its
character, and would either scatter ere
long, or become to an extent homogene-
Gus with the rest of our Republic. But
our informant, who is neither Mormon
nor sympathizer in their views, is Of a
contrary opinion.
The Mormon population in the valley
of the Great Salt Lake amounted, In the
spring of 1853, to about forty thousand.
The emigration across the plains during
the last fall reached six thousand, and
would have been much larger had there
been means of transporting those who
were desirous of migrating to Salt Lake.
In the month of August last the popula-
ton of Salt Lake City was aboak seven
thousand, and the residue of the peo-
pie are distributed among small villages
through the valley, two hundred miles in
extent.
The attention of the people is mainly
devoted to agriculture. The land is pro-
ductive, but requires irrigation, and yields
wheat, barley, potatoes, oats, and some
corn. Our informant, who is posted up
in agricultural matters, states that, with
the exception of corn, the articles above
enumerated are greater in quantity and
better in quality than any similar products
which he has elsewhere seen. There are
several nurseries where trees are raised
from seedlings, and the peaches and ap-
pies are of excellent flavor. The beets
which are there raised are of superior
quality, and the Mormons are making
preparations to convert them into sugar.
Their earlier machinery for this purpose
did not work well; but they have since
imported mills similar to those used in
France for this purpose, and now bid fair
to produce what sugar they consume, for
which they now pay from 80 to 90 cents
per pound.
In Salt Lake City, a very magnificent
and extensive temple is in progress of
construction. It will be much larger
than the celebrated Nsuvoo structure.
will require ten years to complete it, and
will cost, when completed, several mil
lions of dollars. Brigham Young is
building two large and beautiful houses
on the square adjoining that which he
now occupies, in order to accommodate
his Increasing family. The President, as
he is styled. rejoices in the possession of
between fifty and sixty wives, and fur
uishes to private school from forty-6ve
to Fifty of his offspring. But still, the
President is not the leader in the multi
plicity of wives, for Elder Kimmell, one
of the apostles, has between sixty and
seventy censorts.
During the past season, quite num-
Der of fine business houses have been
erected in Salt Lake City, and are fast
filling up with tenants. The merchants,
with two or three exceptions, are Gentiles,
Is the Normons call those who do not
adopt their creed. These are principally
from upper Missouri, great number of
whom, after two or three years labor,
hsre retired from the country with hand
some fortunes. But the time for max
ing money thus rapidly in the Territory
is coming TO close; for the Mormons
are now engaging in trade themselves,
and the people. being instructed through
the Deseret News. the Mormon organ, to
give a preference to their own sect, viii
soon purchase their goods chiefly of their
own people.
The Mormons have hitherto been COM
pelIed to tolerate Gentle traders because
they had not sufficient capital to carry on
business, but they have recently opened
a large store with q vast supply of mer-
chandise, and many others are preparing
to embark in merchandising. The Gen.
tiles have always occupied an unenviable
social position in the Territory. They
are avoided as much as possible. and ex-
ciuded from the domestic circles OF the
Mormoas, and the latter propose TO ex-
eiude them from the Territory as soon as
they shall be able to supply their own
wants themselves
The Mormon women are engaged in
no other avocation than household en-
ployments but the care of children de-
volyes exclusively upon them, the men
deycting themselves entirely to out door
OCCUPATIONS. MANY of the men who re-