The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-07
SALT LAKE Cry, Dec. 81, 1870.

SALT LAKE Cry, Dec. 81, 1870.
To The Editor of the State Journal'
am very agreeably disappointed in tbs
appearance of this country and city. From
the city of Ogden, at which place the
Union Pacific railroad ends aud the Gen.
trail Pacific begins, and the point, also
that we take the Utah Central, running tc
Salt Lake City, we pass through valley
of exceeding beauty. The road lays most
of the distance (40 miles, about midway
between the Wahsatch mountains and
Salt Lake, sometimes skirting the base of
the mountains, and sometimes approach
ing near the banks of the lake. The
valley is dotted with farm-houses, and with
herds of cattle, horses or mules upon the
different ranches, gives it an interesting
| appearance. The base of the mountains
are lined with villages, containing
many handsome dwellings built of brick,
"adobes" or wood, churches, school houses,
&c. The land is irrigated by the streams
from the mountains, and is mostly rich and
very productive. They have pasture the
year round. .es ls
This city is handsomely laid out, with
very wide streets running at right angles,
with equal squares of forty rods, or one
eighth of mile each. The business part
of the city is built up solid with sub
stantial buildings. The residences are
generally set back from the street, sur
rounded with a lot of ground filled with
fruit trees of various kinds, shrubbery,
&C., which must give it very beautiful
appearance in summertime. Along every
street is a running stream of water, by
which the various lots or gardens are irri-
gated. Here are some of the most mag
nifcent residences that have seen in any
city, amongst the most conspicuous is that
of Mr.. Jennings. President B. Young's
principal residence is fine establishment,
built more for convenience and comfort
than show.
The Tabernacle is the great building of
the city, and is calculated to accommodate
5000 persons 1t is 250 feet long by l5O
wide. The ceiling is 65 feet high, with an
oval or tortoise-shaped roof, without
column inside or any support to sustain
this immense covering but the sides of the
building. The organ is one Of the largest
in the world. 1t is not yet entirely COM
pleted. 1t is 40 feet high, 80 feet wide
and 30 feet deep. 1t is made of native |
wood from the mountains, and all manu-
factured here, except the metal and pipes
1t will, when finished, contain 5000 pipes
and require four men to "raise the wind"
The Temple" when finished, will be
an imposing structure. The foundation
only is completed. 1t is 1856 feet by. 90, 1t |
will be 100 feet high with three towers at
each end the centre ones to be 200 feet |
high. 1t is being constructed of beautiful
granite obtained at Cotton Wood, canon
twenty miles distant. 1t is estimated to
cost, when finished, three millions of dol
lars. ..r.
The theatre is handsome stone build
ing, and will accommodate 5000 persons.
The council house, city hall and city pris-
on, are all credit to the place. In the
suburbs are the celebrated Warm Springs.sl
The temperature is 102F. There is bath
house divided into convenient bathrooms,
which is well supported by citizens and
invalids, and separate building in which
are two large pools for plunge baths, one
for males and one for females. Two miles
from this are the hot Springs. The water
boils out at the foot of a rock and forms
stream several feet wide and six or eight
inches deep. This water is boiling hot,
aud the stream, as it comes in contact with
the cold air, is very dense for a considera-
BILE distance from the spring. 1t feeds
lake of some size between the railroad and
Salt Lake, which is called the Hot Springs
Lake. I
The museum, under the superintendency
of Prof. Barfoot, possesses considerable in
terest, although the present building is not
large enough to exhibit the varied collection
to advantage; new building, however,
will soon be erected, designed especially
for the purpose. The curiosties from the
ancient Indian mounds, and the specimens
of manufacture by the citizens of the city,
attracted my attention the most. The
water-pots from Arizona, and some from
the ancient mounds of this valley, besides
other relics, is conclusive evidence of the
existence of civilized people inhabiting
this country many, many centuries ago
The pomegranates, figs, raisins, and other
fruits from the southern part of this terri
tory we're well cured, and equal to any that
/ have seen in market from any country.
The fossil corals. found on the tops of the.
will furnish a study for geolo-
gists. The elevation of this place above
tide water is about 1000 feet, and these
fossils are found on mountains from 500
to 1000 feet higher than the city,
A gentleman who has resided here
for 2S years tells me, the snow has never
been OFF of some of them during that time.
The fabrics produced here are very credit
able, such as goods of woollen, cotton,
silk, &C., all raised and manufactured by
The Mormons in this territory. They are
turning considerable attention to silk
culture.
1t is somewhat astonishing to find here
avery kind of an artizan who are experts
ia their professions, and also men of deep
knowledge. The development
Of various mines around the city has ad-
led fresh impetus to business here, and
mills are erected for the crushing ofquartz,
and number OF assayists are doing a
thriving business. Howland & Co., as
sayists, have had silver ore from Sham
rock mine which yielded six thousand
nine hundred and sixty four dollars to the
ton. More anon. Essex
SINGULAR ACCIDENT. = The Marion
uaroIJ eavs H Mrs Rachal Handerlite. |