Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-26
FROM THE MISSOURI To THE PA.
CHIC.

Began and How They Prospered-
Their Present ,umbe rs-The City
OF the future-The srutt Gardens-
VISIT TO Great salt Lake-Bris hs nm
Young's schooI-His wives. Tempo
raj aud Spirituai-PoIyg bow
the wives xegard ft-How the Pro
bIem vii be solved-A Portrait OF
Brigham.
Prom Special Co-rsspondencs 10 New York Tribune
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, UTAH
Monday June lo. lc65
/, will be eighteen years, OF the 2iih OF july,
since the frs. Mormons arrived in this lonely
region Their prophet killed. themselves .xiles
from Missouri and illinois. after a weary journey
of many months. tbsy reached this basin to srug-
gle for existence with the unkindly soil with
Indians and With MeIicsns They claim that
they left the Missouri river with definite point
of settlement that on the route in q vision, Brig
ham Young saw beautiful, mountain guarded
valley which Heaven assured him vas their
future home: that on coming in view of Ensign
Peak, the Jordan and the Great Salt Lake, be
instantly exclaimed. Here is the spot"
They numbered l43. including four women.
Immediately upon arrival they knelt down and
thanked God for his guidance and protection
The same dav they commenced blowing. An
old trader. the only white man in this region,
declared that he would give thousand dollar.
parched and barren soil. But there is always q
future for settlers who pray and then 60 70 pow
ing. How this strange beginning carries one
back 10 that other despisei band which once
landed at Plymouth dreary December
morning
Snowy winters and rainless summers, hostile
Indians and all-devouring grasshoppers did not
dishesrten the Mormons. They learned this new
agriculture established homes; began to have
thoua.pd httIz. contributed largely
from their lean purses to the Church; sending
missionaries all over the world. The great
deIuge of California migration furnished a mar
ket for their grain and beef Even Johnston =
army, sent out to restrain. and, If neesiul, to
subdue them, purchased their crops and added to
their wealth. Later, the silver mines OF Nevada,
and the gold discoveries OF Colorado, Idaho and
Montana (the last among the richest pl ,cer dig
gings in the world, have contributed vastly 10
their prosperity How can farmers fail ~ grow
rich when -four commands $40 per hundred
throughout the year
Now a population of LOG, 900 is claimed for
Utah and 80 600 for this city Perhs pa the last
figures sre TOO large, but already this is the
most popuous. as IL is the most beautiful. town
between St Louis and San Francisco Daring
the year ending June l. Ben Holladay's Over
land Express took 81. 6l2 $40 g. in gold dust
hence 10 the States-thOugh only small irac-
lion of the gold goes in by express Last year
a single merchant sold upward of 81 900 900
worth of goods, and paid for freight alone from
the Missouri River over $3.50 900 This is the
City of the Future Here is the field OF agri-
culture, the locus OF commerce, the pathway of
empire.
Indeed this treeess desert has been N ado 10
blossom as the rose. The other evening a Nor
mon friend turned loose among his delicious
Strawberries and juicy cherries Apricots,
peaches. rlums, pears and apples were all ripen-
lug upon his trees. Righ' beside them, just be
yond his inclpsnre, the dre,ry sage bush was
growing on the dry. sandy soil: and four years
ago, what II now his garden was an uubroken
desert like the rest In his honse the c,terpil
lars were making silk The linen of his coat
and pantaloons was woven in his own dwelling
from his own flax, and his uudercl0thng was
manufactured in a factory of Brigham Young's
from cotton grown in the southern counties
On Wednesday we visited the Great Salt AXE,
twenty miles hence II is 100 miles long. con-
tanning six or seven islands. all of rugged mOnn-
tains At low water three gallons oil its fluid
will produce one of fine, clear salt The tact
that while four fresh-water rivers flow in, il has
no visible outlet, gives rise to many theories
We found il delightful 10 swim in, though
pleasantly buoyaut. Ii is claimed that one can
not possibly sink. bu, its pregnant waters must
render strapguaton very easy.
The great number of children in these streets
arouses wonder. until one remembers that they are
the only crop which requires irrigation On Fri
day. by invitation. | visited Brigham Young :
school. It's register contains thirty four names.
two or three OF them his grandchildren. the rest
his children There were twenty eight present,
ranging in age from four years upward They
are peculiarly bright looking. intelligent, and
well advanced in study With three OF the older
girls, OF about seventeen. | afterwsrd had some
conversation. Though a little shy. all used good
| language and graceful manners. One ~ 80 pretty
that do not wonder there is great emulation Tor
her smiles among the young men OF the city
Brghsms children exceed fifty, including many
Who married and have sons aud daughters Of
their own. also visited one Of the Ward
schools. Tuition 81 to $40 per quarter; free
schools are unknown. The forehesds we're mar
rover. and the average intelligence lower, though
some cases very good.
| The cordial hospitslites we have enjoyed have
enabled me TO see something OF home and family
| life among tho Mormons With them are no
Misters or Esquires; everybody Is " Brother A, .
or " Sister u !" The brethren all assure me
that tho women acquiescc cheeriully in Poly
gamy-irom religious conviction, not from feel
ng-ircquenty urging their husbands TO take
additional wives l am convinced that this 10
often true--a wonderful triumph Of faith over
nature gut the only Mormon wife With whom
! | conyCrsed alone on the su0lect-a lady OF in.
teligence aud culture-spoke Of IL with earnest,
undsgu ised adherence.
Many. she said. accepted II from sense OF re-
/ ligious duty; but even they regarded IL as sore
trial. To he compensated for only by the happi
ness OF eternity. Two or three sisters often
/ have the same husband: some men are married
| To "a mother and her dsuL hter, aud some am
told TO their own half sisters. When possible
each wife occupies n separate house room
but poverty sometimes compels three or four 10
live IN the same apartments. think they never
bring in the mothers-in-law Even Mormon
grace would hardly suffice for that Not more
than one man IN tour IL a practical Polygamist
| The hr-t wife neatly ALWAYS deems herself su-
| periOr 10 the rest, sometimes refusing 10 speA K
! with them, or to recognize the Legitimacy oi
their marriage. . Are YOU Mr. -s onl,
wife q asked GENTLE lady OF Mormon sister
&" am. was the reply. " though several Other
| women call themselves his wives .
But know one husband whose two spouses
dress precisely alike. 90 out much together. anC
really seem to regard each Other with sIsierly At
/ lection The later wives are a lItle addicted 10
( running away with Gentiies. Our military au-
! thorities receive all Who 20 to them Tor ~ otec
lion. There are nov between forty and fifty re-
| ctntiog Mormon women al the tort Ia many
cases the soldiers marry them. Only yesIerds,
father told Col. George, commanding. that the
Bishops we're urging marriage upon his three
young daughters who were opposed TO Polygamy
aud that he wished TO move his family to the
fort. Here is the ns.utal solution OF the Nor
49, -.