New-York tribune., 1867-07-17
THE MORMONS.

CIVIL PoLrrY or THE sAISTs-THE MORMON SET
ELEMENTS BEYOND SALT LAKE CIrr-FRoM
UTAH INTO IDAHO.
From Our Special COnesponden.
SNAKE RIVER, Idaho Territory June 2i, 1867.
We had delightful journey from Salt Lake
northward to this point The weather was pleasant,
the roads were good. the teams spirited and the
country beautiful. The tourist weares OF the
study of the industrial system of the Mormons.
doubt whether any other association ever attained
such degree Of perfection in the division, govern
ment and success of labor In the remotest parts OF
Utah the same system, industry. and thrift prevail,
and whether scattered III settlements or crowded IN
cities the MormOns are subject to the same peculiar
laws and they are enforced with scrupulous
care. No Mormon rs IN any sense his own master,
unless he Is one of the very few who belong 10 the
governing class j heard Brigham Young say to
5000 of his people in u sermon, that without some
one to dictate 10 them how 10 manage their AZ
fairs both temporal and spiritual. they would soon
be scattered TO the four winds Of Heaven and he did
not forget 10 add that we the chosen oraccs OF the
Lord must dictate 10 the inithiul This doctrine
he nforccs rclcntlcssy In salt Lake City the Saints
dare not sell their own houses without the consent
of the President and in the rural settlements the
rule has no exception. save when the IRON yoke pe-
comes intOlerabe and apostacy Is preferred TO sub
mission.
When emigrants are landed in Utah they arc
brought to Salt Lake, and an inventory taken OF
their cash, stock, and worldly goods in general
taken and the men examined "a To the particular
branch Of industry for which they are best fitted.
The church ediiice has record OF the condition of
every settlement of the number of acres still uncu
tivated that can be irrigated, and OF the wants OF
each community respecting all kinds OF labor; The
emgrants then directed where TO go and what to
do IL they have means, they are instructed how
and where TO invest and If they are destitute, they
are directed to the proper Bishop for start III the
world. Each void, in every city, and each
settlement however small, has a Bishop, whose
duty it is to dictate TO the saints in all things
spiritual and temporal, and especially 70 see that
lhs.l1 ~ nf fInm
the church. When an enigrant reaches the place
to which he is assigned, ho reports TO the Bishop
and obeys orders. If destitute the Bishop assigns
him two five or ten acres of Uncle Sans land, sells
him yoke of cattle, wagon and seeds takes his
note and puts him to ditching and planting. Each
year the new settler reports his products 10 the
of ALL one-tenth is taken for the church, portion
is allowed for the family another portion for seed
debt for the outfit until all is paid with interest.
Over this fund into which the tithing Is gathered,
the Bishops have immediate r., control, put report
when the necessity is imperative, but never fail to
demand restitution If it can be recovered even years
afterward One of the first duties required when
new farm il opened, is the planting of all kinds of
fruits and the result Is that IN every settlement the
houses first recognized by the cluster OF green
foliage or fragrant blossoms which surround them
AS an industrial system the Mormon church is pos
tive success and challenges the admiration of tho
most embittered foes OF this peculiar religious faith
did not "a single home OF a Mormon where there
were signs of dilapdatiOn or decay Ii is forbidden
by their faith and the Bishops see that no sluggards
bring reproach upon their religion In nearly 100
miles south of Salt Lake City there are numerous
Mormon settlements nesting between the Great
Lake and the Wasatch range, and they dot the earth
with frutfullness and beauty. The wild flowers are
thick on every side, and climb over every home how
ever humble. AT one place saw a beautlfnl hedge
of the wild rose carefully trimmed, and blooming in
profIson. On the route there are several towns or
cities of note Ogden contains population of over
1000 and has excellent buildings stores and gardens
Two of Bishop Vests eight wives lthe second
and eighth keep the hotel in the city in
most creditable manner. =, His other six live
on his farms, at his mills, &c, while he ro-
tates. around generally among them; He
bar, manufactures their grain into flour and whisky,
breaches on Sunday, and sees that every tenth egg
the Ogden chickens lay Is properly returned to his
tithing- house. Brigham City is another Mormon
village of over 900 inhabitants and bears the many
evidences of weldirected industry which character
ize all the residences of the Saints, The strip of
praires from TO 20 miles in width. is one of
the most beautiful sections of Utah; From
every settlement the Lake is visible, and
while the prairie and the fields are green with ver
dnre and yaregated with every hue OF the rose the
Wasatch and the Lake Mountains are capped with
snow. Some of the mountain islands seem to be en-
tirey bare of grass or timber, and the sun gives
them pale pink color, which is reflected in the
shadows of the lake, and with the deep lines OF blue
which encircle the island and the white crowns OF
the waves represent the various c0l0rs OF the Ialn
bow. AS we came near to Bear River tho land be-
came more sterile and the settlements were not so
frequent But even where the soil seemed 10 Iepci
the settler the prairie abounded IN eyery>Varety Oh
Wild flowers The cactus was in full bloom present
ing almost every shade in its Hover, from lts iayoI
lite pale yellow TO the brightest PINK ana Iiag,ea
with 1t were countless varieties OF Nature &
TO beautify the plain from the huge suniiower nown
to the modest little daisy that shelters ITS decate
tints among the sage and grass. 7.
Bear River is the end OF Mormon settlements. ~
cuts its way through the Wasatch range leaving al.
most perpendicular walls hundreds OF feet III higDt
on either sde aud has washed out deep bed In inc