Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-27
RICHMOND WING.
SATURDAY MoRNING...MAY 81, 1885.
Great SALT LAKE CITY.


right angles; it is situated on gentle de-
clivi.y, sloping towards the South "En-
Al M mountain lies in the immediate rear,
with still lOfIier mountains behind ti the
w asatch, snow-capped even In midsummer
over which We had lust come climbing laoo-
riously upward and then plunging downWards
through = narrow and rugged "ritt IN the
mountains called the "DeyiPs Gap, towers
high aUove the plain, which stretches lar out
before you to the South and through which,
At no great distance, amidst the nelds OF bar
lev ana wheat, wind the waters OF the ''Jor-
dam on their way 10 Salt Lake, twenty
miles away. The Lake itself is 2, 900 square
mics IN extent, and over its glmmering bo-
som rise two mountainous Islands, barren
aud bleak, the result OF volcanic action, the
evidence Tor when is most AbunC ant through
out Tue whole extent Of the Great American
Basin.
Tue city is said to contain H. 900 inhabi-
tants, ana is in the best possible sanitary
even without any Intervention OF
the authorities, for the atmosphere Is so dry
that there can 0e no rapid decomposition,
and the city Was originally lad cut on 30
large a scale that every householder might
have several ceres Of ground, which, in most
instances, except on tue principal business
street, Is suu undivided. Streams Of pure
cold water from the mountains run down on
each side OF the principal streets, cooling,
picturesque, novel and pleasant. At the
corners Of the streets, because there is no
rain In the summer months, there are simple
flrng,. through which the water is directed
into different wards by municipal regula-
tion, turning . portion into every mans
Enclosure, say two hours every ten days,
for the purposes Of irrigation. Whether
the influx OF water comes by night or
day, II is necessary tor the owner 10
give proper attention TO 1t, and with the
hoe, OF hand or loot, direct IL 10 the gar
den, TO tgeeS, grass, or shrubbery, 8 the ne
cesslties OF each may demand. Vegetation
IS therefore very thrifty. AL vegetables
used in cookery were Of the first quality,
the TT eS, green and healthy, grew rapidly,
and were loaded with fruit. Apples, pears,
peaches, aprIcOts, plans, aud the smaller
fruits, grapes, currants, rGSnberries, goose
berries anc strawberries are found in great
prOiusion. No blight" or - mildew," or
ssbOrer," or "blAck-knot," or other pests OF
Eastern fruitgrOWers, seem ever 70 have in
yaded the regions OF Salt Lake; but there IS
a freshness and vigOr TO all the forms Of
vegetable growth mat 1t is cheering 10 be-
ho,d. especially after the long stretches OF
barreuuess one must pass over In reaching
the place. The privilege Of passing through
the grounds of Brigham Young was given
me. which are very spacious, and kept with
great care, and there Was . great abundance
of the fruits have just named, and of the
hest qualities. Wherever / went through
the civ the houses, in many instances, were
surrounded with fruit trees and flowers, and
the gardens, well titled, were filed with all
the common vegetables that load our East
ern tables.
The buildings Of the city are mostly plain
and simple. A great number are small and
made Of adobe or sunburnt bricks, which, in
so dry a climate, can be made not only quite
but durable, ifWel protected by
projecting roof, in the rainy season, and when
vel. plastered without and within make resi-
dences not to be deSpised. The better class
of houses, however, are Of wood, though
some Of the prosperous business firms are
building of stone, Of which there is an excel
lent quality for the purpose in the me GntAins
near By. There is An air Of roominess, free
dom, cheerfulness, and comfort about many
OF the dwellings.
In the best and most conspicuous part Of
the city are two or three large enclosures sur
rounded by high, tight stone wall; the en-
frances are secured by close double boarded
massive gates, opened and shut by guard
ike the gates OF a prison. The roofs of nu-
merous buildings are visible from the street.
Here is the residence of President Young,
and know not how many, certainly not all,
of his wives and children. These gates are
watched, and these buildings guarded every
night, il is said, by an armed force Of faith.
full Mormons. In these buildings are the
public offices Of the Presidency, the tithing
house, toe public storehouses, the Office Of
the President, aud the school-house where he
educates his numerous offspring, and in the
rear well .appointed and Eell-illed stables.
Directly across the Main street is another
close-walled Enclosure, which contains the
sacred bui dings Of the Mormon church.
NOIhing had / desired more 70 see than
the Mormon Temple. / found nearly every
traveller animated with a like desire. The
smigrant, travel-stsined, foot-sore and
weary, would leave the train, and his family
perhaps, TO catch a passing view of that
which is supposed to be As much the glory
of the MormOns IS SolomCn'S Temple was
Of the Jews. Alas for oil such eXpectS-
tions. There is no Mormon Temple. There
are only foundations for such . structure,
aud even they are incomplete. The theatre
has been in uIe for years, but the Temple,
though begun seventeen years agO-the sub
iect Of numerous revelations, the theme of
many harangues-lacks many = stone before
even the foundations shall be complete
But Justice demands that | should say that
as far as the fOundAtiOdS are complete they
are very massive and strong, and laid with
great architectural skill, as would be neces-
sary 10 sustain the walls Of so large . build
ing. The material is ola gray granite quar-
ried from the mountains, and with pillars
and towers such as the plan eontemplates,
if the building should be completed in the
proportions OF good taste, il will be q most
imposing structure.
Many think the temple will never be com
pIeted. The idea seems 10 have originated
in desire TO initiate the Jews and Solomon;
but as the diSpensation Of sacrifices is done
away, what will be its use For IL is not in
tended as the place Of ordinary worship, and
will be In demand only on grand OccAsions,
which the Mormons, on the sober second
thought, may think too few 20 authorize 50
great an expense. At all events, if their
minds had been fully made up, and they had
counted the cost Of the enterprise, which
must be enormous, and we're fred with zeal,
IL seems strange that they have not accom-
plished more. Brigham Young, with his
usual sagacity, pereeiving how expensive It
must be, proposed at one time that The build
ing should be Of adobe, but his architects At
once assured him that walls Of adobe so long
and high could never be trusted, especially
to sustain so heavy dome or roof as such a
building would demand. When the people
could not find employment OF bread, and were
sure to rouse the spirit Of discomfort among
the people, which has not been the case
lately, they have cen employed to work on
the temple at the public expense. But it is