The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-28
EDITORIAL Correspondence.l

Of the Mormon faltn ana us luAu-
snces. but at the risk Of repeating |
what has already appeared in the |
JOURNAL and been seen By our read
ers repeatedly in other papers, l will
write you Of some of the things | have
seen and heard, and the impressions l
have received in my brief visit to this
What first impresses the traveller,
In his ride down the east side OF the
valley of Great Salt Lake and in this
city. is the wonderful transformation
which has taken place on the face of
nature since the Mormons entered
the Territory. In 1S47, when the
first colony Of Mormon pioneer ex-
plorers. led by Brigham Young,
reached this region, the whole valley
was a desert waste, with no civilized
settlements, (being then a part of the
Republic of Aiexico), and only sparse
" Inhabited by rowing bands of In
dians. On the dry, sandy plain moth
ing but sage-brush aud scattering
tufts of grass grew, and the soil was
considered untillable and sterile. Bat
these Mormon refugees, who had
been driven from their homes IN the
civilized States of Illinois and Mis-
souri, by infuriated mobs, were willing
to accept even this barren waste,
washed by the briny waters of the
Salt Sea, as their home, ii perchance
they should be permitted to enjoy it
in peace, and build up in this desolate
region their Church and peculiar in
stitutions. The Pilgrim Fathers, In
their prosecutions, Punishment and
Driyations, have ELECTED the admira-
ton Of the world for their fortitude
and devotion to their Faith, but the
history Of the Mormon immigration
and settlement of this far off Western
desert certainly parallels it In priva-
ton, heroic endurance, and IN the
wonderful success of their mission.
BY indomitable perseverance, patient
industry, and unquestloned obedience
TO the guidance and commands OF their
leader, whom they regard as the an
nointed Prophet Of the Lord, they
have literally made the desert to
blossom as the rose. In our ride from
the railroad at Uintah along the valley
for more than thirty miles we could
sec what had been accomplished.
Very evidently the soil was not natu-
rally deep or fruitful, but by plentiful
irrigation and faithful cultivation they
have raised its productive capacity so
that we saw along the road bountiiul
stacks and barns of wheat, oats and
other small grains already harvested,
felds or corn equal 10 our Indiana up
lands, broad meadows and great stacks
of hay, plentiful piles of potatoes and
squash pumpkins, large orchards and
gardens, grouped around almost every
farm house with trees and vines bent
almost to the ground with their heavy
loads of fruit, and herds of cattle
and immense droves of sheep grazing
on the plateaus and hillsides, And
scattered along every few miles were
neat villages, with the usual accom-
paniment of a church and sometimes
q school house, tavern, stores, black
smith shop &c. The farms were gem
orally small and evidently cultivated
by the single owner and his family.
The houses were usually rude and
contracted, adobe or matched, bearing
evidence of the occupants poverty
and the scarcity of building materials;
but we passed several houses of burnt
brick and frame of good, even large,
proportions; and taken altogether, l
believe there was about as much OF
the appearance of comfort, air of neat
ness, and general intelligence as one
would see in an average thirty miles
ride ic Southern Indiana and Illinois
or Western Kentucky. And all this
accomplished in twenty years, on a
desert soil, nearly two thousand miles
k,rrk hn krnwratn1 f-1v,, .st~or.I-
with savage Indians and unfriendly
white men to oppose them.
The portion of territory passed
over IN coming to this city from the
railroad is said to be not the most feI-
tile section. For near three hundred
miles to the south the Mormon
settlements extend and along the
valley of the River Jordan, and Utah
Lake, which the river drains, for
fifty miles or more to the south of
this city is the garden spot of the
territory. Along the banks Of the
Jordan, and up its little tributaries
where fertile but narrow canyons ex-
tend up into the mountains, and
around Utah Lake are fertile farms
and hourishing villages and settle
ments. The close proximity of the
mountains and the narroWness of the
valleys make irrigation easy, as the
streams coming down from the snow
clad heights are numerous and never
failing. Since the valleys have be-
come more thickly settled and cult
waited, of late years there have been
more Summer rains, but they are not
certain and reliable, and irrigation
still continues the dependence for
tillage, though it is not necessarily so
frequently used.
Almost all the productions of the
middle belt of the States flourish
here. In the extreme southern set
Elements the cultivation of cotton has
proved successful, and considerable
quantities are being annually pro-
duced and manufactured into yarns
and coarse cloths. The great want of
the territory is wood and coal. The
metals of all kinds are found In
greater or less abundance, and iron,
especially, is very plentiful. Expert
menting is now going on in silk cul-
ture, and it is thought will prove
highly successful.
The Utah Central Railroad, from
Ogden to Salt Lake City, is now in
rapid course of construction. As we
rode along the valley yesterday, we
saw the work being done upon it.
The grading can be easily finished in
two or three weeks, as the work is
hight; the ties are seen piled up
along the track, and the iron and roll
ing stock are said to be all purchased;
and with no unforeseen delays the
road Will be completed to this citv
before the Winter sets in
The description of Salt Lake Citv
is familiar to our readers onS 4
would be superhuous in me to re~oat
it in detail. The location. on t Ile
bank of the river Jordan, IA ro-
maDtic one, running back on 10 the
beach OF upland, from whence the
Great Salt Lake can be seen in the