The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1869-08-07

belOW VIII De 1Ouuu an ln-
teresting letter from Mr.. John
w. Underwood, late of this
parish. Though not intended
for publication, we are induced
to give our readers the benefit
of the writer's experience:
OGDEN CITY, UTAH,
July 18th, 1869,
W. Ell. SCANLAND, Esq
Dear Friend-I promised,
when last saw you in Shreveport,
that / would write, and, having
an excellent opportunity, I hasten
to make good that promise. As
a matter of course, you are we'll
posted in regard to the country
East of the Missouri river, / will
therefore give you sketch of Ne
braska. Omaha is on the west
bank of the Missouri, where the
first lick was struck on the q. p.
r. r.. 1t is fiOurishing city of
trade and commerce; the surround
ing country is beautiful, composed
of rolling prairieS, with a greater
scarcity of timber than farther
East. The farms, in connection
| with the crops and grazing facili-
| ties, far exceed those of Red river.
The settlers tell me that the win
tiers are cold.
Now for DakOtah and Wyom-
ing Territories. They are broken
and rugged, in every sense Of the
words; no timber scarcely at all;
the water is pregnated with aka
lies, and nothing gives enehant
ment to the weary traveller, save
the patches of salaratus, where
one may shovel up a wagon load
in a few moments, prickly pear
beds and prairie dog villages
The climate is very cold. ] came
very near freezing on the night of
the 9th inst; and on the morning
of the eth, near South Pass, on
the Rocky Mountains. l saw as
heavy a frost as you ever saw in
| the dead of winter in the Sunny
South. The tops of the mountains
were covered with perpetual
SHOWS and glaciers. AS far as
am concerned, / would not give a
pair of Texas bulls for the whole
of it.
Now for Utah. / have been
among the Mormons for the last
eight days, and, as regards the
country, | like it; but it is not SO
luxurious as one would like, after
leaving the far sunny South
This country is surrounded By
high mountains, and even in these
hot days | can see snow glisten-
| ing like immense masses of silver,
and noble rivers flowing majesti.
cally from the mountain heights,
making the scenery sublimely
beautiful and picturesque. Some
of our talented artists might spend
some of their leisure moments to
| good advantage in these parts.
Ogden City is situated in q beau
tiful portion of Salt Lake valley
with fine streams of water bub-
bling by the sidewalks, where
magnificent shade trees are grow
ling. Salt Lake City is 40 miles
south of this place, and / really
think it is the prettiest place in
the world, taking into considera,
ton the short period that the
Mormons nave been here. 1t is
visited by the nobility of the
world. Since the U. p. r. Il. has
been raining through this coan-
try, everything is more plentiful
than in former days. 30
| AS for the MormonS, | am well
pleased with them, as a people.
They have always treated me well.
In Salt Lake City they have a
place of worship which the saints
call the tabernacle. 1t will hold
10000 people, and has the best
organ in the Unitod States. 1t is
the most finished piece of work.
manship | ever saw, and as fol-
tone, it cannot be beat. 10 was
made entirely in this country
The next place of note is the thea
tire. 1t is certainly beauty, and
is conducted in a mastery man
ner. They play nothing but what
would suit the most refined taste
It is elegantly fitted up, contain.
ing one of the finest stages / ever
saw, and the scenery is absolutely
magnificent. They have a com
plete dramatic company, com
posed entirely of Mormons, and
4 =