The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-11-04
Letter from Utah.

CENTRAL Cry, LITTLE CoTroNwooD, !
UTAH, October 8, 1871.
Mr.. EDIToR:-There are many famili es
in the East, in almost every vicinity, con :
templating seeking homes in the West, but
who know not at what point to direct their
course, because the extent before them is
too large; and per chance having but little
means, are therefore obliged to apply to
some land agent, whose replies are that the
climate is unequaled, being in the same lat
itude as New York, Philadelphia, and Bal
timore, or some such noted place. "Oh,'
says the inquirer, "that is the very belt l
DESIRE" He straightway scrutinizes the
map, to see that it coroborates the asser-
ton of the agent. So certainly all is true,
and nothing but travel can obliterate it
from his mind. But how different are the
real observations from the fancied; for two
places of the same latitude may be as diff
ferent in climate as day and night. For
instance, system of lines passing round
the earth from E. to W., will each pass
through regions of various tempera lures,
or lines made to follow the same tempera-
ture, would have to make various curves
and contortions; which variations are caused
by the proximity of the ocean, of snow
clad mountains, or arid plains. Perhaps
where the map represents beautiful situ:l-
top, there rain may but seldom fall, owir
to its being too far from any source to
produce sufficient humidity to create it, or
it might be an elevated table land. Son ne
scientific men assign 1000 feet of elevatio
to be equivalent to 60 80, of n. latitude :;
but fear this is too much The celebrated
Platte Valley gradually rises from 1000 to-
5000 feet above the level of the sea. So,
judging from the above hypothesis, vege-
tation which t1ourishes in the same latitude
at the level of the sea, would scarcely ger
inmate at that point; notwithstanding in
valles far to the north of it, not being ele-
waited, and having no rain from Spring to
Winter, yet supplied with copious streams
of water, which flow from some snow clad
mountains in Summer, and in Winter is
held in reserve as supernatural reservoirs,
until nature needs it-then the sun, like an
obedient servant, performs his desired duty,
melts the snow, which goes trickling down
the mountain sides-dowp into the vallies
through the matted heritage, clothing it
with vernal delight. Such are the locali-
ties wherein are situated the Greeley col
ony, Colorado, Salt Lake Valley, Utah.
and many others so highly spoken of; and
in such climates are generated no miasims
from swamps, &C., causing chills, fevers,
&C., facilitating the inhabitants thereof
No, but the air is pure and exhilerating,
inasmuch that any person can be out of
doors for a third of the year, without it
being prejudicial to his health. There the
sun rises unobscured and sets without a
cloud for most of the year, and the aged
forget their bereavements and pain, which
they were heir to in the East. At certain
places South, even in the tropics, may be
found locations, where the climate, like a
perpetual Spring, is cool, salubrious, and
health-giving; but it must be elevated SIM
liar to Quito. Therefore it is plain that
mate, and should be one of the princip al
objects of inquiry. Suppose for Instance,
a person were to fix his min d, after viewing
the map of the L. s., on this point w.
longitude, and 400 49, N. latitude, what
would be his surprise Wien he gets here,
to find it on the summit of the Wasatch
Mountains, 10000 to IL, 900 feet high p
Yet any one looking over the map might
do SO, for seldom find map showing
mountain range close each side of the Salt
and Utah lakes, We. sue h is the case. On
the west of the Wasatcll is the Provo Val
ley, aud between ranges similar to this, for
hundreds OF miles, are beautiful valleys,
many of which are uninhabited, having a
climate and landscape unsurpassed. Ard
here it must be Q bserved, that il instead of
those mountains, this very region was a
vast plain, thcs valleys which now bring
forth the tender grass and flowers of eve ~
hue, the clustering vines and trees with
luscious fruits, would be sandy deseI t.,
on account of its reL1oteness from the Sc /;
and there would be no lakes where now
their waters sparkle in the golden sunlight.
There are unimpeacb able evidences here
in Salt Lake Valley, that in days gone / y,
this great inland sea embraced the who lie
valley, like the Poto mac and Shenandoa h
did formerly the great Shenandoah Vale y
hence its fertility. West of the Cascad .
Mountains, owing to the proximity of the
ocean, rain falls n sufficient quantity, as
in the Eastern States, consequently the
heritage needs no. the Intervention of noun
tains; but east o the Sierra Nevada and
Cascades, rain Ills only in given quantities
SO far east as the Missouri OF Central part
of the U. s.; and how fortunate for that
region, that tie Creator formed those two
great water courses, the Missouri and
Mississippi, to traverse through the very
heart of this great continent, creating
humidity efficient for the we'll being of the
inhabitants thereof. Hence it is obvious
to the more simple minded, that elevation,
praires, or sea, has the greatest influence
on climate imaginable. For instance, Eng
land, although situated so FAR North, owes
its moist and mild climate to the Gulf
Stream, wb CHI comes from the warm tropics
and beats necessarily again st hor wave
worn shores; otherwise her inhabitants
would be clothed like Lapland, ITS, and shake
with the cold like an agued ;outherner.-
l have also observed in my wa udering. that
where ice and snow abount in Winter
unless it be in the extreme) S preferable
for agricultural pursuits, to lines where
it never occurs: for in the bel t, where ice
and snow present themselves, there is less
sickness, more activity, INTEL igence and
wealth, than in warm climates: for as GER
tain as any person settles in warm eli
mate, in short time, in spite OF the most
determined resolutions, indolenct will creel
over him. labor becomes irksome, and stud,
dread,-the authenticity of viii ,h is obvi
GUS from 800 N. to 800 S.