Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-06-24


RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT.
Standing in Salt Lake City and seeing what
has already been done by the Mormons In the
way Of railroad building, without government
subsidy OF any outside aid whatever, N sounds
strangely enough 20 read that an effort Is being
made 70 rush through the Senate without refer
ence TO either Of the proper committees a bin
to Incorporate a company 90 build a railroad
from Salt Lake City TO the Colorado river. some
three hundred miles in length, with authOritg q
issue SO go Of bonds PER mile,-this 90 be
followed in due time, doubtless, by another bin
giVtnE Z Igrge grants of public lands and an
has already been and Is stiff being done by the
people o. Utah In this direction, the schemers
who are making such an effort must have iron
clad cheeks Under the lead and counsel Of
Brigham Young, who seems 10 show even mere
ssGacity and foresight In comprehending and
Developing the material resources Of the terri
tory than ia spiritual affairs, the inhabitants Of
the city and valley have already surveyed and
are now engaged in building a road (the Utah
M over almost the Identical route that
one on Putt Snilt ~ me contemplated company would
sho,r .wenty- i've miles of the line some tffy
ADDITIONAL nri.-s are traded and nearly readyfor
the iron, and they hope to have the cars run
ming over about one hundred miles in ell before
next winter sets in. AS In the case OF the Utah
Central rosd, from Ogden 20 Salt Lake Cty0
all this has been done and Is being done, not
only witht ut goyerhment subsidy OF LANDS
and actub lily without having first obtained
the right Of way through the government do
main. III sse facts must place the Mormons in
new light before the people Of the country.
Charged v it'll being marrow, and opposed TO
every form Of public improvement ana progress,
II viii b S en- that they are, Of their own mo-
ton and their own expense, engaged in de-
veloping q cir country and building railroads
at a rate ,onsiderably in advance, all things
considered of the people Of almost any other
territory. Indeed, so anxious do they appear TO
be TO push forward these works, that, as init
mated above, they have not waited to procure
the iorma right Of way from Congress. This
course wa pursued In regard 20 the road from
Ogden To Sal. Lake City, and the right OF way
was subsequently granted; the men who are en-
| gagged in building the new road have faith,
therefore, that after they have invested their
money anu done so much TO develop and i'm
| prove the country the representatives of the
/ people viii not refuse the customary privilege
| granted t. all other roads, even before a dollar
Il invested or a shovel full of earth turned over
Is il too m och TO say that in this expectation
L they will not be Disappointed?
| And what is said here 10 regard 20 the Utah
Southern road applies with nearly equal force
| to the Utah Northern. This is a marrow
L three-foot gauge line, which is now being built
| from point on the Central Pacific road west OF
Ogden up Bear River Valley TO Idaho Springs,
in the northern part Of the territory, and TO be
the future Interests and reouirements Of tbst
section of the country may demand. The con-
structioI OF this road is in the hands Of one of
energy and enterprise, and the work is TO be
pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Its COM
pletion is looked forward to with much interest
by the people of Utah, as IL viii bring into COM
munication with the valley a portion OF the ter
ritory now practically separated from il, and at
the same time aid materially i'm developing a
1 region believed 70 be remarkably rich in min
eral and agricultural resources.
IL is quite the custom for visitors 20 Salt Lake
City, who usually arrive one day and leave the
next, TO thoroughly comprehend the general
condition of Utah affairs, and TO solve in q very
short time and of hand manner the difficult
problem which the Mormon question presents.
hnw- ..l.
Utah than the average traveller, but do not
think am yet equal TO this undertaking, and
shall not attempt IL. After careful observation
and hearing more or less Of both sides OF the
subject believe have had, one wsy and
another, pretty fair insight into Utah affairs.
but 10 discuss them properly would require
and more space than The STAR eau well afford.
Ii in certain, however, and it needs to be said.
that the territory is cursed with a.
VICIOUS A SET OF CARPRr BAeGERs
as ever infested any southern state. Some o.
these in OFF csl position, Others business
Adventures while still others belong to that class
Of social iackals who infest the outskirts Of de-
| cent society TO snap mp and snarl over the
scraps left by their superiOrs 10 position intel
hgence. As their profit lies III disturbed con
diton OF affairs, the business of most of them is
TO stir up disseEslon and strife by misrepresen-
tatioI End intermeddling. The natural result
Of this is that bad feeling and sometimes quar-
/ res are engendered. out OF these often grow
Il
Il way to the government Offices TO eastern
papers, and hence both public men and private
| citizens frequently entertain erroneous and un-
just impressions on the subject OF Utah affairs,
which a visit TO the territory a careful study
of the whole subject would quickly dspel.
There is much in their code OF religion which
does not commend itself 10 my judgment, and
| there is that in the relations existing between
the people Of Utah and the general government
which may well vex the statesman aud puzzle
the political economist; but I.cannot help think
ing that on the whole the Normons have been
| more sinned against than SHINING. IL IL beyond
| disIute that as a community they are not only
industrious and frugal in their habits, hospitsble
| and polite in their manners, but scrupulously
| honest in their transactions not only between
| They are also moral and upright in their deport-
| Inent, and N the highest degree devotional and
religious il sentiment and practice. There NAV
| be, and doubtless are, as IN al communities and
| some OF them, and ssme tenets of their religious
faith are obnoxious 70 our moral sense; but the
| more one sees and knows OF them, the less does
an intelligent and fair minded person find TO
object 20 or condemn,-the doctrine and practice
of polygamy always excepted.
TIE MoRMoNs MIsREPRFsENTED.
Then, again, the Mormons have been grossly
misrepresepted In the matters Of alleged intol-
erance aud prescription. 1t is well known that
| preachers of all denominations can have the
free use e the tabernacle,-a courtesy that how
many OF item stand ready to return? When
| other doctrines are being preached in the city,
| the leader Of the church does not hesitate to
advise his people to 20 and hear for themselves,
| telling them he has no fear for the result. But
| Mr.. Young's tolerance often assumes a more
positive ami creditable form than mere pas
| sivism. He contributed gratis the lot upon
l which the lately erected Catholic church is
| built, and toward building the very handsome
| Episcopal church, which has been erected since
my last visit, he gave i've hundred dollars in
1 money.
1 And not only this, but am assured by re-
liable genti'e authority, entirely competent 70
judge, that there is no prescription practicsd
| toward strangers who visit the cits either
temporarily or to engage In business Any
person who comes with good feeling in his heart
| and Who deports himself and minds his own
business alone, as he would be required to do i'm
| any other community, is sure not orly OF =
l warm welcome but Of social attention, and of
sympathy and assistance AZ well in csee of
| need. think that every casual visitor 30 the
city can confirm this testimony 20 far - 4,
applies to his oWn -experience. There d much
OF interest 10 Be seen In and about the city Vhib
would be Lost 70 the stranger except for infor-
nation snd advice which can only Be PANIED
from some one fhmilr with the place md in
suzroundinss There are no paid guides here.
e. In most localities e. rah:c s>.zf. 20 that the
sole reliance of yisitors in this respecf ,...s
be upqn Old cttiseps Of tie No. ~
r a 49, -