The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-05-21
Letter from Utah.
OGDEN. Utah, Nav 4, 1871

OGDEN, l tab, May 4, 1871.
DEAR WING You will observe we are
writing from new stand point. Well, such
is life in the West. Weknow not what day
may bring forth and as thousand miles
is not regarded as very great distance,
eur standpoint may be even farther West !;
but we mean, in our next letter, to speak
of the City Of the Latter Day Saints more
particularly, at present, we will notice the
doings of the city of Ogden, the present
terminus of the three Naturalization
Pacific, Central Pacific, and Utah Central,
which is virtually Mormon institution,
owned and controlled by them. They have
also telegraph line through the Territory
to Salt Lake City, and thence to Ogden,
which is also Mormon enterprise, and a
source of considerable revenue to the gen
eral fund, of which B. Young is the grand
treasurer. These enterprises cost but little
ready cash, as the residents of Utah Terri
tory, connected with the great Mormon
Church, are taught that it is part of their
religion to assist to the extent of their
ability, in all these works of improvement
to their land of PROMISE They, therefore,
readily, to man, turn out with teams and
men, whenever called on, and furnish ma
terial and labor for such enterprises. They
are as Church almost unit, when their
Bishops OF Elders announce from the Tenn
pie what is required Of them instanter. l
have never witnessed so much unity among
any Church organization.
The idea that they are hostile to the Gen
tile world is denied by their ministers, and
I think is incorrect. They say that which
is very truthful-that they are all Gentiles
themselves until baptised in the manner
prescribed by the Book of Mormon, which
is all that is required to make them Nor
mons and until this is done they are all
Gentiles; and their missionaries are all sent
out to preach the Gospel-which they pro-
fess to espouse as the only true Gospel-to
the Gentle world and to the heathen.-
They have great many missionaries preach
ing to the heather, and what is most re-
markable, they go out without compensa-
ton, OF purse, or scrip, relying on the great
God who calls them to the ministry. And
many of them have had to resort to hard
labor for their bread, in foreign lands, and
yet they continue to preach until they are
called to another field of labor, without
a murmur. There are, and have been, in
stances of the wives Of Mormon mission
aaies supporting themselves and their little
children for three years, by washing, dur
ing the absence of their husbands, such is
their devotion to their Church; and also of
men selling their last horse or cow to pre-
pare suitable outfit before starting on
those missionary tours.
find the Morm6hs generally industrious
and frugal, living within their income, let
it be great or small !; very moral, and purely
self-sustaining people, supporting their
schools without aid from any legislative
enactments, or foreign or domestic contri-
buttons. Their land produces the best of
small grain, aad any amount of the best
vegetables and notwithstanding the noun
tains are mostly covered with snow, the val
leys bring forth the most nutritious grass
es, affording abundant food for stock, which
they find very profitable to raise. l see
lambs now, which seem to be fully half
grown, as far advanced as they would be in
July in the States. Fruit Of almost every
variety grows very finely. Peaches, plums,
strawberries, apples, and various other
kinds Of fruit, look very promising. Peas
are now 10 to 70 inches high, and many
other garden vegetables equally far ad-
vanced. l never saw more healthy locking
fruit trees. Wheat, which is mostly sown
in February OF March, is the purest white
| ever saw, weighing from so to IS lbs. to
the bushel. Oats do very well, producing
good crops. Corn does not do quite SO well,
on account of the shortness of the Summer,
vet in some localities produces very good
crop. But as we promised, we must confine
our remarks more particularly to Ogden
and its vicinity, leaving the other portions
Of territory for future remarks.
After leaving Bear River, east Of Gilmor
most office and station, you will next arrive
at Eyanstown, the first station after enter
ing Utah Territory, on the line of the U
P. Railroad Near this station are the
Evanston coal mines, producing the best
coal for fuel, or almost any other purpose
1 ever saw; not inferior to the British
Canal, or any other coal under the sum-
There are other mines in close proximit!
to the Road, Of almost inexhaustible guam
titles, which are very little inferior to thu
aforementioned but from actual experience
!. L. 49,. 80 Ill for mopthS 7 cannot bu