Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-08-06
Interesting Description of Salt Lake City.

!
reached Salt Lake CITY, among them correspondent of
the newspapers who describes the march, and the ap-
pearance OF the city, with the fortifcation in Echo
Canon The New York Herald has letter, giving the
following account of places often mentioned heretofore
in the Saints sermons but with full descrip-
ton
SALT LAKE CrY-ITs ApPEARANcE-Imagine a
perfectly level plain apparently twenty miles wide and
one hundred long, almost surrounded by mountains
Near 10 the mountains the east OF the plain conceive
section of land six miles square, laid out as city, the
streets all of which much wider than Broadway re-
gulary laid out and running exactly at right angles to
each other either due North and South due East and
West they are 130 feet wide the sidewalks are 20
feet wlde the blocks very large often containing
ten acres of land The city has fifteen streets in one d.
rection and eighteen in the other they are unpaved
and If much ramped during wet weather must be very
muddy. The site of the city gradually slopes from the
North to the South at the present time there is fresh
stream of water running down the sides of every street
lying North and South water from these streams is
conveyed into almost every garden in the city, for irr
eating purposes. Cotton wood and other trees have
been set out along every street their bright green
dure and shade give peculiar charm to the smooth and
regular thoroughares Small foot bridges have been
built the streams where they ntersect the sidewalks
The town very sparse covered with houses in the
major part OF 1T there only two three little hibita
tions square block, and it will be remembered that
the blocks very large The houses built close to
the sides OF the blocks the rest of the ten being
titled gardens and fields thus the city present
tans numerous small fields of wheat and some very fine
gardens.
The houses are all built of adobe sundried brick they
about inches wide, 10 inches long and inches
thick they made Of superior quality of clay for
building purposes and to form very substantial
structures. The color of the buildings is sort of slate
white, and though with individual house it is not
very agreeable, yet gives to the tout ensemble of the
city very lively and pleasant appearance. The build
ings look neat and comfortable they generally small
modest structures laying claim to architectural beau
ty their style is variegaed but not remarkably
Probably other city in the world of this size pre-
sents to the eye of the approaching Uoyage magni
cent prospect the exact space it occupies the streets
SET it were, jewel Of ripping brooks, which gs-
ten brght silver in the sunlight their breadth and
regularity the of young verdant trees that border
upon them the lively color of the houses the beautiful
gardens and orchards, with the small fields thick covered
with Towering wheat, give to it an aspect snguarly
attractive especially when it is contrased with the bor
derng bleak and barren mountains This city, so beau
tu isolated from the rest of the world at present
full of interest to the world, with its pleasant orchards
and gardens the work of but ten years. and that too
in barren valley without spontaneous vegetation high
er than willow BUSH There about 10000 in
habants in the city before it dpopuated by order
of Brigham.
In coming into the city yesterday morning, we were
particularly struck by its quleness There was none OF
the hum and stir of business that characterize Gentle
towns The streets were deserted the houses were de-
serted the city was deserted Though surrounded by
houses nevertheless in place OF desert lone
The quietness of the grave prevailed where ii
seemed that throngng thousands and rushing commerce
ought to pour their tides along The windows had been
taken out of the major part Of the houses the doors
were locked everything had been made ready for burn
ing, the Mormons tell peace had not been achev
ed before the arrival of the troops. So much for the
city in general for the great and marvellous build
ings First they are:
BRIGHAM's LION HOUSE AND HIS MANs1oN-The,
are the first prominent specific objects that attract thu
travellers eye descending from the mountains; they
the centre of the city, the square adjoining
the city, and with it occupy the best sites in town.
Brgham's home is in the most densey populated par
Of the city, occupies square containing ten acres
land The entire square is surrounded by stone wal
ten feet high two feet wide at the top and four five
feet broad at the bottom At either side of all the gates
and at short distances along the WALL columns bull
up They rounded and extend one foot beyond tht
wall They also built two feet higher than the wall
The wall is very substantial. 1t is built of cut and
cObbe stones, with mortar and sand. 1t must have
been constructed at immense expenditure OF time anC
labor. One in looking at it, could not help asking fol
what on earth was such great wall erected? An an
swer suggests itself: Brigham did not know but that
at some time there might be movement of the people
against him; he determined to strongly tortity him
self against such emergency. He might also consid
er the wall good safeguard against the escape OF ar
outraged, indignant revolving wife 1t keeps secret
the dark or secret things that ranspire within None
can see through or it enter and none
escape but whom when and how the Prophet wills.
asked one of the faithful why the wall built He
replied estingy, there many in there; it il
to prevent such Genes you from getting at them.
He may have told me more truth than he intended to
for his remark fairly translated means is to keep Brig
hams women from escaping, for Gentes would not
dream of entering the lions den to seduce them.
Passing east from Temple block came, by cross
ing the street. to the southwest corner of Brighams
block A tithng-house stands there, in which every
man pay the tenth part of his possessions and income t.
the church. and is in that and other ways annually rob
bed OF one-ftth of what pertains to him. Continuing
east to the centre of the block come to Brig
hams Lion House 1t is two stories high about twen
vye feet in front Ond one hundred feet deep it is bull
in the Gothic style, with peaked gable, and narrow
pointed windows projecting from the steep roof The
high stone wall in front of it, completely obstruced my
view of the lower part of the house. The first story
built believe, of stone, the ridge of which, from
is wel-sculptured lion, resting, but watchful" This
is understood to indicate the character of Brigham fo
he is known among the Saints " the Lion of the
Lord" The house is said to have cost over 100000
and would have cost much more, but for Brighams pc
cuar method Of completing it, which is thus described
bysan apostate.
alt (the housel Was completed and ready for shng
ling in l845 the shing lies ready and waiting. A
a Sunday meeting of the TabernaceSBrgham announ
ced that he had mission for all the carpenters and de
manded if they would accept OF It, They raised thel
hands, and were then cooy commanded to shinge th
Lion House, in the name OF the Lord and by the au
thority of the holy priesthood. So Brighams Lio
House shngled, for although the carpenters gru
bled, still they obeyed"
Close by the east side of the Lion House there is
small structure which contains Brig hams Office and hi
clerks rooms. The building resembles gentleman
summer house. only it is smaller It makes preension
to considerable architectural beauty and justfaby toe
Close to the east side of the Office stands Brig ham
5 mansion. The three NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lion House
office and manson-probably are connected at the sid