The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-09-02
LETTER FROM UTAH.
CENTRAL CITY, LITTLE CoTToNwooD,
Utah, August 18th, 1871.


Here opposite Central City is the high
est peak $50 I'm informed) in Utah-about
from 1000 to $4,000 feet above the level
of the sea. On its summit one can see
over great scope of country, where peak
beyond peak rises as far as the eye can
reach-where the horizon and earth ap-
pear to embrace each other-amid which
are valleys wherein are Mormon settlements.
There they cultivate the soil and irrigate
it with mountain streams, for rain seldom
falls here in summer; consequently from
Spring to Winter here is one clear, uncloud-
ed sky, and the air is so rarified and pure
that Mr.. Richardson is induced to believe
that West of the Rocky Mountains man
kinds days will eventually shorten or
decrease owing to the thin air which causes
too rapid oscillation of the heart. 1t is
true that the heart beats faster; yet this
does not induce me to believe such, for
here the air is lighter, more rarified, con-
sequently it has lighter load to life and can
therefore afford to work faster with less
wear W Iue HdCulueIy.
Since have been in this Watash Range
| have traversed a considerable portion Of
the Mining region, some places going over
ridges on one side almost vertical for 8, 900
to 1000 feet. I have seen masses of rock,
enough to build Londons, and for great
distance presenting an appearance as if all
Nature had vented its fury against those
places-not a vestige of vegetation
naught but a rugged mass of fallen rocks;
and looking down those heights ones head
begins to whirl and grow dizzy; on the
other side may be seen stunted pines, yet
lower down flowers of every hue and gigan-
tic pines and cottonwood trees flourish: In
some parts up 8 900 feet have seen several
lakes with water clear as crystal and in
some are fish. Some of those lakes are
great depth, and are probably the relics of
some great outburst of Nature. The very
peak bears token of some internal disturb
ance, some places the granite rises up in
mountain masses, at other places it spreads
out in an undulating floor or basis, and
not unfrequently breaks through the un-
stratified rocks in veins of the most fantas-
tic forms. Also at some places the calcar-
eous, .siliceous, and granite formations
look like one conglomeration-all indica-
tive that in past ages, from the Rocky
Mountains to the Pacific coast, the whole
country was visited by subterraneous forces.
There are several new mines opening up in
this Range. In American Fork the "Pio-
neer" the Pittsburgh" &C., are creating
an excitement. And in this little Cotton
wood canon) the mines are prospering.-
Also in Big Cottonwood wherein is situat-
cd Silver City, little city of log shanties
with beautiful stream of water running
through it, where close by is Silver Fork,
wherein are several good mines.
For sometime we have had the small pox
among US and all who caught it "have
gathered up their feet" therefore the
majority of us were vaccinated and are
going about with sore arms; but now
are clear of it in this canon.
Last Monday was' election day, three
parties running. One Liberal, Republi-
CAM one Democratic and one Mormon
party. The former won; and an Irishman
shot Democrat.
1t is very singular how sure footed the
Mustang pony will take man over those
mountains where man is almost afraid to
walk. Those animals will jog along with
blood-red nostrlls, putting like a steam
engine. The Mustang is like the ''heathen
Chinee," very peculiar for as was riding
one full speed gave him slight pull with
the bride and he, unlike the American
horse, stopped all of a sudden, and, sir, OBJ
serve the horse and his rider, especially the
latter. 1 remembered Bayard Taylor
Arizona is creating some excitement and
many lad in this region is thirsting for
the anticipated fortunes to oe made there
and many are going thither this fall.
More anon. THos. STEPHENS.
One evening as l was sitting by Het-
ty, and had worked myself up to the point
of popping the question, SEE "Hetty, if a
Teller was to ask you to marry him, what
would you say?" Then she laughed, an
SEE she. "That would depend on who ask
ed me-" Then SEE I, "Suppose it was
Ned Willis?" SEE she, cpd tell Ned Will
lis, but not YOU" That kinder staggart
me, but 1 was too cute to lose the oppor-
tunity, and so sez l agen, "Suppose it wus
me?" And then you ought to see her
pout up her lip. SEE she, 81 don't take
no supposes. Well now you see, there
was nothing for me to do but to touch the
trigger and let the gun go off. So bang it
went. SEE I, "Lor,' Hetty, it's me
Won't you say yes ?" And then there was
such hullabaloo in my head don't know