Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-11
Letter from San Francisco.
IcoRRrsroxDrNcr OF THE DAILY srr.I


/
SAN Francisco, CAL, June 1, 1872.
We reached this city a week since, and think
speak the voice of those who were in our i'm
mediate Companionshp comprising halldozen
from Worcester), when say it was a delightful
trip. In the absence Of dust and oppressive
heat two great baneS OF travelling, we were for
tunate Understanding leisurely, stopping at
Niagara long enough to pay the homage that is
always due to that great natural wonder, we
reach Chicago, giving day to its ruins and its
restoration, each marvellous in extent proving
the energy and elasticity that she has always
| claimed distinguished her from the rest Of the
world
Entering a Pullman palace car, after tea, upon
the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis railway, we
have nights sleep so quiet that you question,
yourselves, ii you are in motion. The stops and
the startingS are SO gentle and so noiselesS as TO
be almost impcrceptbe, and we are shown what
comfort TO travellers proper construction of
car and road bed, with an artist at the throt-
tie valve, may be made. Notwithstanding the
delay in crossing the river at St. Louis, which
is soon to be obviated, we are enabled to take
not a lale breakfast in that city
Almost at the geographical centre of the
country, with streets and avenues and surround
Ing country beautiful as any in the land, re-
ceivng to itself the rich tributes of iron, lead and
coal that the magnificent state of Missouri
brings to it for distribution and consumption,
with a growth in population and all the
industries rarely cXamplcd, and with
wealth, old and inherited, that few cities
mi nv ets, hot ],
made Chicago what she is, predict for st. Louis
a growth in the future, vigorous and healthy as
the air of the mountains that lie between us.
Passing Kansas City in the night, we ride all
day upon the plains of western Kansas, dividing
our attention with the buffalo, the antelope and
the prairie dog, the rife of our friend C-s
giving them many friendly salute. The plains
were stTewn with the carcasses of the buff
falo, indiscriminately killed, some for pleas
ure, some for the hide, worth two or
three dollars, and some by the Indians for
a small part of the meat. We experienced, per
haps got up fol- our special benefit, a storm upon
| the plains. The wind blew a hurricane, and the
rain came in torrents. 1t came with such force
as to drive into Pullman car from end TO end,
also stopping us for the night, it not being safe
to proceed. We reach Denver, Colorado, eight
hours behind time, while the train back Of us
came in twcnty-four hours behind, in conse-
| quence of the storm. Denver is a city of 10 900
or IL 900 inhabitants, comparatively new, pleas
antly situated, and likely not only to retain its
present importance, but larger growth is in
sured by its proximity to mines rapidly being
developed, and for a long time no place in the
territory likely TO take its trade.
| Two days more bring us to Salt Lake City.
| The seat of one Of the greatest anomalies that
ever appeared in the history of religions. A
community bearing persecution and contumely
for years, driven a thousand miles from home
| into a wilderness, yet counting it all gain, rec
| ognizing the Bible and appealing to it for sup
port, the great mass honest and sincere as were
our puritan fathers, preserving themselves and
their community from indiscriminate lcentious-
ness, from drunkenness, profanity and disorder
as no other community in the land could have
done, and yet liyingin plain violation Of one o.
the most clear, and important ordinances, anC
duties of the whole scriptures, in violation Of
law that shocks the civilized world, debasing
man and woman alike. 1t is a strange fanati
| Nloul llldt NdIiUl GOHtlilut IL HIS COUllHutu
thus far because they were in the Businesses OF
the mountains, but now the railroad
has come to their city, the Gentiles
are pouring in upon them, the noun
tains round about them are showing the world
the riches that lie within them, and they will nc
longer be their silent defenders. That great
element in American life that has been sharp
ened and hardened by the mineral discoveries o.
this western continent, will come down upon
them, trampling their institutions and customs
and cutting them down with as little compunc
ton as they trample the virgin soil and Gu
down the rocks of their mountains. Artei
Brigham Young, and he is past his seventy
years, there will be no mild blue eye, no mag
netic power potent enough TO hold these people
together, or Withstand these new forces thai
come in to undermine and overthrow.
We met Brigham Young and his first counsel
Tor, George A. Smith, and had few moment
conversation with them. We found more thai
a willingness TO talk about their faith and dc
fend it. They feel that they are prosecuted il
the action of the general government, instigate
by men in their midst and that it is only by III
grace of God that they are enabled to submit
and not visit upon these instigators instan
death. They are prudent but if in an evil hou
their prudence should give way under the pres
sure that is upon it, then am sure that it woulC
be the blast that would scatter them from thei
beautiful valley and stop forever the work upor
their temple, of which 10 years has only com
pleted the foundation, and which contemplatet
an expenditure of SO, 900 900.
"a little more than two days brought us tC
this city. The ascent to the high table lands Of
the Rocky mountains, our passage through the
rich valleys, and over the Alkali plains, auc
through and around and over the snow capped
Sierras, and our descent of their western slope
through the rich Sacramento valley, were full o
incident and pleasure. The thoughtful care o
our friend and your neighbor j. NJ, who hat
preceded us on the trip, had rooms engaged anC
awaiting us in ten minutes after our arrival
We felt at home in this great city, crowded anC
busting with life, more exuberant than thai
Of any city in the world esd.