The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-30
SAN Francisco, DEC. "A, 1869

SAN Francisco, DEC. "A, 1869.
DEAR DEMOCRAT:
The ghost of a promise to write a
squib or two for the perusal ofyour gen
tlereaders, has been haunting our dreams
for many nights past; and that We may
regain our wonted tranquility, We
will give YOU brief account of our trip
and a few items wise and otherwise, that
we have jotted down in the hooks and
erannies of our memory Oar mutual
friend. ORLANDO NJ. PACKARD, so
graphically described through your
columns some months ago, the Pacific
Rail Road and the sights to be seen on
the line. that there is not much left to
tell. We lett Plymouth on the morn
ing of Nov 10th, and arrived at Prom
ontory lat that time the junction of the
Union and Central Pacific roads] at 6
p. H., Of the l45h. Here We met our
OLD FRIENDS
and former fellow-townsfolk, Mr.. and
and Mrs S. r. EDWARDS, and the Wig
orous shaking which our hand received.
testified that the climate of Utah terri
tory gives more strength to ones grip
than do the agueish m arshes of Mar
shall county. Mr.. EDWARDS is the
agent at the western terminal station of
the Union Pacific r. R., and is loca-
ted at Ogden. With the single excep-
ticn of Omaha, Ogden is the most I'M
portant station on the road, as it is the
point where the freight is transferred
from one road to the other. By the as
sistance of his excellent lady, Mr.. E.
keeps the best eating house on the line
of the road.
Monday morning found EDWARDS
and your correspondent aboard the
cars bound on a flying visit to
SALT LAKE CITY,
which is distant from Promontory about
% miles Getting off at Uintah, 60
miles east of Promontory,-we took pas
sage in one of Wells, Fargo & Cos sta
Ses, and after humping for 80 miles
along the foot of the Uintah mountains
up pc hilland down yc dale" through
driving storm of snow aud rain, We found
ourselves in the 'city of the saints"
and were soon snuely ensconced at the
Revere House-the only Gentle hotel
in the place. The stage was late-ar-
irving at ) p. m.-and as We started
homeward at 9 clock the next morn
ING. our observations were necessarily
limited.
The first thing that particularly at
tractcd our attention, was
TIE TABERNACLE,
a great. barn-like building, possessing
no architectural beauty whatever. 1t is
circular in form; lis walls are about 20
feet high; the roof, ar 1ome. impressed
us as resembling huge, old fashioned
bell-crowned hat. with the Tim torn off.
We did rot get an inside view OF the
tabernacle, but were informed that it is
very plainly finished. 1t is capable OF
seating 10000 people, at present, but
arrangements are being made to put In
galleries. charging its capacity to 49,
000 The foundations are laid, adjOin-
ing the tabernacle, for a magnificent
temple estimated to cost 81 500, 900,
but Gentiles are of the opinion that the
building will never be completed.
TIE STREETS
are of uniform width, $50 feet. Fifteen
feet on either side for sidewalks and
shade trees. and 100 feet for the street
proper Where the grade is established,
streams of water flow on both sides of
the street,-a healthy, and certainly very
pleasant arrangement in the summer
sea.on
The
BUSINESS BLOCKS
are principally built of wood and brick;
but occasionally there is a stone or an
adobe building. There are few elc-
CANT
PRIVATE RESIDENCES,
but the majority are plain and make no
Enlightened pretentions. There is a
suJstantial look about the buildings and
Improvements in the city, that is pleas
ant to look upon.
THE INHABITANTS
number about 22 900, Of which only
about 175 are Gentiies. A more qsiet
or orderly town we never saw, and if
some of our eastern cities would initiate
the strictness with which the Mormons
enforce and obey their laws, they would
do themselves no discredif