The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-08-10
The far as'est.
Correspondence cfhe Democratic Adroeats,
AMONG THE M0RM0NS.
Entering the city Of the Great Salt Lake
The Great T'd5erHacie, &c.
TOWNSEND House.,
SALT LAKE Cry, Y. +.
,lrIY Jlh. 1872

JuLY 1ih, 1872 }
Messrs. Editors IF You will allow
me space in your valuable columns. |
will say few words about this place
aud people:
Leaving the Union Pacific Railroad
at OgdOn, We take tie Utah Central
Railroad, the only Railroad that enters
the city, In about thirty minutes We
come in sight of the Great Salt Lake,
which bounds the city on the north, a
great high range OF the Rocky Noun
taus bounds it on the east and wes t.
The valley is wide aud beautiful The
distance lrom-Og gdon to the city is for
ty miles. The lake is large; | suppose
it is about sixty miles long, aud half as
wide. The water is very salty, six bar.
rc,a OF Lake water will make one bar.
rel Of salt, consequently no creature eau
live in it, 1t is very healthy aud dc
lightrul to bathe in, 10 danger Of drown
ing, as the body win float upon the sur,
lace without making any effort to swim
The scenery aud surroundings are
M agniicent IN the extreme. Tho valley
as far as the eye can reach, glittcrs
with the golden grain almost ready 10
harvest, whilst the mountain peaks,
apparen y reaeaiug tothe sky are cover.
cd with snow.
Few of your readers that have not
seen it, cun Imagine the beauty of snow
covered mountains, in mid summer.
The city and surroundings, 10 my
nstonislment, number about ninety
thousand inhabitants, ofthis large mum.
Der very few are Gentiles. The streets
are wide aud strait, on the outside Of
each pavement or side walk, is a row Of
beautiful trees, which casts shade
over the walk from end 60 end. this
makes a walk pleasant, even in the heat
of the day. just outside the shade
trees, ou either side Of every street, ruus
beautiful stream Of pure crystal water
which flows from the mountains. These
with many other attractions, make the
city exceedingly beautiful, and as a
tired traveller walks the streets he must
wonder if 10. Smith aud Brigham
Young, while under the influence of the
spirit, were not permitted to glance iuto
Paradise, and from it lay the plan ol
Salt Lake City,
There is nothing very excellent or
beautiful about their private dwellings,
they are built generally of stone or sun.
dried brick brigham continually preach
es against pride aud extravigance in
dress and living.
THE TEMPLE AND TABERNACLE.
The temple, now in course of erection,
is destined to be one of the most costly
buildings on the continent, excepting
the capitol Of the United States. The
foundation walls are only, us yet, about
four feet above the ground, and the cost
has already amounted TO one and a hall
millions Of dollars. The granite used
for the walls is obtained in the mouu
tains near the city, it is polished by ono
hundred workmen aud when placed in
the wall is very beautiful The builder
thinks to complete il, as Brigham
Young wants it. The cost will not fall
short Of twenty millions. The ground
Of the tabernacle occupies one square
and is enclosed by high stone wall
The outer appearance of the building
is very simple aud ordinary, but it is
enormous in size aud must have cost
an immense amount of money. The
dimensions are, two hundred and fifty
fest long, one hundred and City feet
wide aud eighty six feet high. The rool
is oval, aud to view it from the noun
tains, it looks like large turtle, The
interior is exceedingly plain, except the
organ, the seats are benches, they have
no pews, have backs, but no cushions
yet owing to their peculiar shape, they
arc exceedingly easy and comfortable
This building will scat fifteen thousand
sonls. Almost the entire length Of the
building, on either side, are large double
doors that open outward, that in ease
Of FIRE this immense army of people
could leave the building in the shorl
space Of one minute.
THE ORGAN.
have been curious in my travels tC
see the beautiful and exquisite, but ]
must admit that the size, tone and work
manship Of this instrument surpass, by
far, anything ofthe kind, lhayc everseen
The cost OF this magnificent instrument
was one hundred thousand dollars This
alone will convince your readers that il
is superior. 1t may appear singular,
! bu. no stranger tllu rue. that ever.