Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-08
raom sALT BAKE.
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, Ut,
.:i on,h 1904

win,ry weather has given way to the
balmy, invigorating air Of spring in his
valley, and all nature is robing itself in the
freshest green. This city, at the present
period Of the year, is a garden, and to u
person who for years has dwels among the
sage brush covered sand hills Of Nevada,
it appears like unto the Garden OF Eden.
To your readers who have never visited
the city of the Saints, q brief description
OF It would, no doubt, be interesting. 1t
is situated on the north side Of Jordan
River Valley, and about twenty miles
from the Great Salt Lake. The ground on
which the city stands is a rich alluVial
soil, washed down from the mountains at
the north, and sloping gently towards the
south. A chain Of mountains stand SEN
tinel at the north, to guard it from the
frosty winds, and from their bosom, u
through a deep and tortuous gorge, comes
City Creek, with its never failing supply
Of pure soft water, to give new strength
to the earth, refresh the shrubs and add
new fragrance to the flowers, which other
wise would parch and decay during the
long months Of summer when the clouds
send forth no rain. Here
Where smiling Spring her earliest visits
And parting Summer, lingering blooms de-
layed."
On the Oath day of July, lS47, the Nor
mons rested from their terrible journey
across the Plains, and proceeded to erect
forts and houses, plant such seeds as they
had fortunately preserved in their wander
ings, and lay the foundation Of this, their
city of Zion.
The original plan of the city wal well
designed. and is still adhered to. 1t IS
laid out in squares or blocks, OF ten acres
each, and each block is sub-divided into
nine lots. most Of which are well stocked
with fruit trees, arc highly cultivated n
produce abundantly. The houses are.
almos. withou. exception, constructed
of adobes. and are generally large and well
lighted. Many Of them are succeed over,
and penciled. and present much
the appearance Of the brown stone fronts
Of aristocratic Fifth Avenue mansions.
dwellings usually stand several
yards from the front Of the acre lots, en-
powered with trees Of apple, peach and
honey locust, and are often half covered
with vines, or almost screened behind
of Towering shrubs. The streets,
which run due north and south, or east
and west, are about one hundred feet
wide, Of even grade, Sravelly, bounded on
either side BY broad sidewalks, well
shaded with thrifty cottonwood and honey
trees, At the foot Of which run
laughing brooks of sparkling water, taken
from City creek. which not only gives life
and beauty 10 the broad shady avenues,
but is Of use TO the citizens TO irrigate
their gardens or for domestic purposes
when occasion requires. Spring has
ushered in the charming season here,
which does not depart until the ripe fruit
falls and the green leaves turn into the
sere and yellow. All trees and shrubs
are il a rich bu, scanty dress Of green
the spricots are in full bloom, and the pink
blossom of the peach adds fragrance to
the air of every yard and garden in the
city. A stroll about the city streets is
pleasan. any hour Of the day, but the
most charming hour is just after the last
rays of the sun have hidden good night to
the mountain peaks above Camp Douglas.
Then all is quiet no rough sound rises
up from the workshop; the dust has LETT
air, and the light breeze scarcely turns
the new leaves above your head, and every
watts upon its wings the fra
GRANGE from the petals Of flowers. Lights
glance through the open windows, and
open doorways group the rosy
children F.; happy faces meet and pass by
you like dreams, and ever and anon sweet
strains Of music from some unseen instru-
ment or seraphic voice will swell upon
your ear 4; and ere your stroll Of half an
hour is past. you will be constrained 10
think that you have left the real busting
business world and gone into the fairy
land Of song.
But I must dwell no longer upon the
beauties of this place. Too many Of your
readers have seen them in reality, to make
them interesting on paper. Nevadans at
home would like to know what Nevadans
abroad are doing. There are few Of them
permanently located here. Many pass
through the city, on their way to Mon
tana, and stop q few days "to see Brig
ham" A. L. Greeley was here a few
weeks, and left a week ago True Locke
left last week /; Judge Jones, formerly on
the Supreme Bench Of the Territory OF
Nevada, and lately a partner OF your
Yorkshire Representative in the Legisla-
ture, last Winter, has been stopping here
for sever weeks-he intends going to Mon
a soon /; Mr.. Laird, late Of the Virginia
Union, left for the Northern mines, yester-
day /; and trains, having more or less Gold
Killers and Virginians aboard, arrive and
depart every day. Walter Bray and his
troupe have been performing here nearly
two weeks. Miss Flora has become a
great ~favorite here, as everywhere; Carrie
Chapman is pronounced a most charming
danseu,s, and the comicalities OF Walter
convuise the Mormons, who, above all
others. are tickled by something funny.
Walter has been playing at the Gentle
Thes,er, where Mormons never before
have visited; ; but his jokes drew all Brig.
hams children the first week. Last week
all his (Brigham's) wives-eIcept two,
who were not in a condition to 90 out
closely yelled. and strongly guarded, went
over to see Walter dance his breakdown,
and hear him tell his latest jokes. Brig
ham is now on n%ettles, and wants to go
too. Walter is a. sure to bring him this
week as a mustard plaster is to bring a
blister.
As the hour which I have set apart for
writing has expired, I will now bring this
letter to q close, promising to soon write
you again concerning the strange people
who inhabit this beautiful city.
Yours, &C., - BOISE.
IT is said that Gov. Nye will bring his
family TO Carson, on . visit, this coming
49,