, 1867-02-01
Journal OF an Overland Trip 10 the Atlantic
States,
SALT LAKE CfrY, o. T., /
IanuarV lat. Ia67

in the stage, winding around over the
spurs of the mountains, we have, through the
clear frosty atmosphere, . most magnificent
view Of Salt Lake, and the valley, and the city
Of the Saints, resting quietly al the base Of the
lofty and rugged mountains.
This singular town covers an area OF about
nine square miles-that is, three miles each way.
1t is one of the most beautifully laid out cities
in the world. The streets are very wide, with
water running through nearly every one of them.
Every block is surrounded with beautiful shade-
trees, and almost every house has itS neat little
orchard Of apple, peach, apricot and cherry
trees. In fact, the whole nine square miles is
almost one continuous orchard. The town is
nearly self supporting from the amount Of vege-
tables, buckwheAt and corn that they raise in
their little lots. The buildings are Of very in
ferior kind, being mostly made of inferior
adobss. A slight earthquake (which is liable
to occur here at any time) would level seven
tsntbs Of the buildings of Salt Lake valley and
city to the ground. There are few very fine
and substantial stone and brick buildings here,
but they are exceptions. The tabernacle, which
Is nearly completed, is one Of the euriosities of
the American continent. It is two hundred and
fifty feet long, by one hundred and fifty feet
wide. The building, which is one complete trel-
lis work of lumber and iron bolts, is supported
on forty-four colums Of red sandstone, laid in
lime mortar, Of sold masonry, three feet by nine
on the ground, and eighteen feet high, and are
eleven feet apart. The building, ia the centre,
is siItyfvs feet high, and is one immense oblong
dome, with single support in the centre. It's
the largest building in the world without q coll
umn, and is but few feet smaller than the cele.
brated equestrian theatre in ST. Petersburg, and
built on the same plan, excepting that building
has large column in the centre. The spring
Of the arch is forty eight feet, and in the roof
there is one million feet Of lumber, and three
hundred and twenty-five thousand shingles. Be-
tween the forty>four columns will be folding
DOORS and above these doors will be one hun
building will be lathsd and Plaster'd inside, and
will be one immense whispering gallery.
They are building an organ in it, which for
size, is the second in the United States. The
stand will be in the west end, and the seats will
rise to the east, as an amphithsatre. 1t will seat
ten thousand persons, and will be completed by
the lst of October, 1867, and will cost about
one million dollars. Mr.. Henry Grow, OF Phila-
delphia, is the architect and builder.
Another immense structure which the Mormon
Church is erecting is the temple This, with the
tabernacle is enclosed in what is known as tenn
IL wh oh {. oda
ten acres of ground, and all surrounded BY a
wall fourteen feet high. The temple covers an
area Of twenty -one thousand, eight hundred and
fifty feet, and is one solid pile OF masonry, being
built of beautifully cut granite, laid in lime ce-
ment. The wall, nrs eight feet thick. The build
ing is ninety feet vide, By one huAdrsd and eigh-
= '-o-~' -" 'v"g'", "Hu, Oe-
lieve, one hundred and sighiy-siI high. There
are four towers on the four corners. These are
cylindrical, being nineteen feet in diameter inS
side, with a winding stairs ascending around a
solid column Of granite, four feet in diameter,
allowing landings at the various sectioa' of the
building. If the building 10 ever completed it
will stand the wear of time for a thousand years.
They are building canal, some ten or twelve
miles 10 length, to the foot Of the mountains,
where the grand quarries are, to float down the
rock for the temple. Some blocks will weigh
tons.
No despot on earth wields more tyranical POW.
sr over subjects than Brigham Young does over
the Mormous, yet they all love and reverence him.
When Brigham Young dies Mormouism in Utah
dies with him.
Polygany has become so odious to the better
informed class, that bright, intelligent girls pre-
fer leaving the church with, to them, all its
dreadful consequences, rather than become the
second wife Of some old Mormon. They are
taught from infancy that no woman can be saved
out of the Mormon church. Brigham Young has
twelve women married to him, and sixty eight
women sealed to him, and he has eighty chill,
dres.
Another source Of ofdissatisfaetion, is the tith
ing system, which is so burdensome that Nor
mons in business can hardly compete with the
Gentiles in the same business. For instance, a
prosperous firm here felt the taxes rather severe
| ly and made some complaint, the next season.
Brigham, in order to assert his power, levied
their tax at S25 90, aud they refused to pay it.
The next regular meeting he excommunicated
them, and to use his classic and favorite term,
"sent them to hell, cross lots" after giving
them a severe castigation before the whole
church. Such is MormoniSm as it now stands
on very insecure foundation in Utah. Salt
Lake City has q population Of about sixteen
tho1sand Mormons, and two thousand Gentiles.
After leaving Salt Lake Valley, we passed over
a great deal Of very worthless country. Indeed,
nearly the entire distance to Denver (SiX hun.
dred and fifty miles) is a barren waste, q fact
that will be Of great advantage to the northern
railroad over this Ioute, that passes over good
country all the way. The stage road is in splen ,
did condition at present, We having made the
trip, in coaches and sleighs, to this place, 10
Eve and half days aud nights, including all
stoppAges. The trip was rather monotonous,
particularly the long nights; but we managed to
pass them OF the best way could. Somtimes
va would have a candle and read until after
midnight. Al other times we would go TO sleep
at eight or nine o'clock and nothing would dis.
turo US until after daylight, excepting every few
hours the shril notes Of the drivers bugle, as
they vibrated through the clear frosty air, among
eraggs, rocks aud peaks Of the lonesome nouns
tAins, as he called the stock tender up TO have
| Ne I'll af ~ aaaA nd