The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-20

Utah.
A correspondent Of TIE st. Louis Dem
ocrat, who has lived and traded among
the Mormons, to correct many misstate,
ments in circulation in regard to the
people of Utah, gives number Of inter-
esting details of their condition and
habits.
lie thinks, from personal observation, that
the following Is a pretty good estimate OF
their strength: Great Salt Lake City con
tains from $4,000 to $4,000 inhabisants; Pro-
70, 60ov to 1000; Ogden, $500; Annti, Nephi,
Cedar, Harrington, GraGtsville and Fillmore
will average about 1000 Inhabitants each;
besides which there are some twenty minor
settlements, and numbers of isolated faims.
The total population OF the territory, includ-
in- the CARSON Valley and San Barnardino
Mornlons, all of which are now ordered to
Salt Lake, would reach near IS 900 or SC, 600.
Out Of this population, it 10 possible to raise
twelve or fifteen thousand tolerable militia,
who, though not so vol equipped as the u.
:. army, are nevertheless, as = rule, pretty
good shots. and gels oily AZ home and expert
in mountaineering.
Tic existing government Of Utah is The
ocracy, and is conducted rs follows: Salt
Lake City is divided into twenty wards, each
ward las bishop and two councillors, who
report TO the presiding bishop Of the church.
\ ward consists of some twelve 10 twenty
blocks, and over each block are two teachers
or spies, " hose business it is To report every
thing they can pry out, at weekly council
meeting. In enc of these meetings il was
reported that family OF Gentilcs were liv-
ing in the Eleventh ward. The next morn
m hair hnnSa
bishops Instructions, and the poor Gentiles
had to camp in snow three feet deep, or risk
. reputation OF this treatment This is a fact;
j heard the case brought up in the meeting.
The Judgment was passed by Bishop l.. w &.
hardy's first councillor. Tho next morning
saw the house pulled down. This is only
one case out of some dozen familiar Cases
that occurred in the winter of 1857.
There are several small distilleries in Utah.
The article produced Is generally from bad
Vegetables and it is wretchcd trash, but sells
readily at six and eight dollars per gallon
Ii is the only thing besides cash, cattle, aud
butter, that will purchase groceries and dry
goods.
In every settlement If any size there is q
theatcr. The one in Salt Lake City is the
best. The stock company, who arc all anna
teurs, are generally better up in their parts
than in many places OF greater pretensionN.
| Theaters in Utah are conducted on an i'm
| proved and entirely novel principle. The
! actors find their own dresses &C., and get
nothing whatever in the shape Of pay. The
| best actor, the one that ',docs" Nirginius,
Othello, DC, "A star Of questionable brIllian-
cy, gets one benefit during the scason.. With
this exception, the gross receipts of the
house go to the church (Brigham's) Golfers,
and the actors take ii as high privilege to
be allowed to play.
| The population is generally supported by
agriculture. There being no rains oil conse
! quence, the land has to be irrigated 10y tho
( mountain streams, which, in the spring, af-
! fordi copious supply of water. There are
many good mechanics; but, as general
rule, they do not fnd any suitable employ
ment, or, il they do, find il extremely diff
cult to get their pay. There is no specie in
circulation, and the only money is the terri
torial and city scrIp. The former goes at
! par, and tho latter at a depreciation of AZ
| per cent. There are some factories for the
| manufacture OF wollen cloth, similar arli-
Gle to Kentucky jeans.
Groceries arc out Of the reach of all the
classes; tea. 81 per pound; coffee, Acc; can
dies, 50c; dried fruit, soc; aud on with
every article, and only cash or cattle, will
buy them; aud these things but few of them
have. Their main subsistence Is -four. corn
meal nnd NcSetaoics, ana not always enough
| Of them. The grist mills are driven by
water power, and owned by the authorities
who grind for onc-tenth. Tie church also
takes one-tenth Oh what a man makes or
onc-tenth of his time. Add to this the
heavy property tax. even If the person 5
! property be not worth i!ty dollars-a watch
y gun. a stove, n COW, hog-all taxed Sc
! parately; and when all these demands are
paid, as well as the free oftrin5s they are
obliged to make, there is but small margin
| for man to support cae wife and family.
Fuel is very scarce NJ the preseat time, and
every year getting worse. The canons OF
mountain gorgcs, are fast getting cleared
out. Quite poor wood sells readily at SIC
| per cord.
There is no iron produced in the country
and it is all Brought from the States.
have seen some pigs OF lead, said TO be
made in the southern part of the territory
IL is poor article and there is bat little of it
| Co al has been found III San Pete aud Iron
couDtics. 1t is poor article and scarce. -
| Springs are Numerous, at nll temperatures
from ice cold to boilisg hot. There is I
very large boiling spring, one mile north o.
the city, which supplies range OF batl
| houses.