The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-06
Sal. Luke city and IL. Surroundings.

the following interesting account, under
date of Salt Lake City, August Is, 1871:
EDITOR CoNsTITUTIoNAL1sT: This city
is Que Of the most attractive places in
the West, and, since the completion of
large number Of people from different
parts of the world, who are brought here
either by curiosity or business. The
Mormon leaders certainly exercised
great skill in the selection of tho spot for
their future home, after being compelled
to leave their last ''abiding place." The
situation Of the city is said to have been
indicated to Brigham Young by nm
| angel, who, some assert, was the spirit
of Joseph Smith. the father of Mormon
ism. 1t lies in an angle Of the Wahsatch
Mountains. close to the foot Of the
Northern hills, and the valley is one Of
the most beautiful the mind can con-
ceive, being surrounded by scenery bold
and impressive. with the rugged peaks
OF tbs Wahsatch range, forming baok-
ground, their beads lifted ubove tile
clouds and the gorges filed with snow
which the sunlight cannot melt The
city, ut present, has twenty blocks, con-
tanning ten acres each, the streets run
Mug at right angles to each other, aud
beautifully shaded with locust and other
varieties of trees. The squares abound
in orchards of peaches, apples, pears
and other fruits, while flowers are to be
seen in some of them as rich and fra
grant as those Of more sunny olime.
The temple, tho great ''sdnctun. sancso.
rum. is just above the ground, although,
as President Young informs us, they
have been more than ten years engaged
in its construction. It is to be built OF
beautiful light-colored granite which
is brought sixteen miles by wagon
When complete, it will be 1867 feet
from East to West, and 90 feet from
North to South; will have three towers
at each end, two of which will be 225
feet in height. The building is not to
be used for purposes Of public Worship,
but for the rites and ceremonies of the
&c. No time has been fixed for it's COM
pletion, and from present appearance ces
years will roll by before it assumes its
contemplated shape and form.
The tabernacle is one of the most
wonderful buildings have ever SEEN
Its roof is egg-shaped, and is covered
with 100000 shingles. It is $50 feet
long, by $50 wide. and when full will
hold about 1000 people. The single
span roof is said to be the largest in the
world, and certainly nothing in this
country begins to approach it in size.
The walls consist of forty.six columns of
out sandstone, from which the roof
springs with it's unbroken arch. In an
ordinary tone of voice, speaker can be
distinctly heard at the extreme end Of
the building, 30 f1ne are its acoustics.
The organ was built by Mormon arti-
6cers, out of material obtained here, ex-
cepting the pipes, aad is the third
largest in the United States-the Boston
organ and the one at Beecher's church
being larger; but both of these, I be-
iieve, were brought from Europe. The
tones are full. round and very perfect.
and the Sunday we attended church
added much to the impressiveness Of the
service.
There is theatre here, something on
the Dorio style of architecture. which
will hold about 1000 people. We went
there to hear three negroes, two girls and
q man. sing operatic pieces, with which
they made perfect failures, but never
theless received much applause from the
audience, consisting OF few husbands,
many wives and countless children, who
brought to mind Artemas Wards style
OF complimentary ticket after he had
been once imposed upon: admit the
bearer and one ,oDe only"
The city hall is quite fine edifice,
and cost 10000. Brigham Young's re-
sidence, called the Lion House, from
the carved figure of lion in front, is
one of the finest buildings in the city.
and is connected with the tithing. tele.
graph and private Offices, 80 that every
thing is under his own eye. The Nor
mons have many elegant stores here,
where everything con be purchased,
| from the rarest luxuries to the articles of
prime necessity. They are all branches
of one parent store, and belong to an
association Of which Brigham Young is
President. Each store is controlled by
o superintendent. and the profits of the
business are divided ont every quarter,
and We were told amounted to about
twenty five per cent. net per annum.
Over each of these stores sign Gun be
seen, consisting Of an eye surrounded
by rays. and the words, holiness to
the Lord. Lions Cooperative Mercan-
tile Institution" The Mormons are di-
rected to trade with each other. and to
let tho ''Gentiles" alone, which direction
many OF them obey. and thereby inour