The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-03-06
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA. THURSDAY MARCH 6, 1878
FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.


We have been furnished with the follow
ing private letter, from former resident o
this county written to a citizen OF Stauntoa
Its perasal will doubtless prove interesting t
some o or readers.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, I
Feb. 18th, 1879.
Dear Friend: soeas belize ~
| supo Sc you have concluded that
have forgot en- the promise made TO 70,
last Spring. that would write TO jou after
got to this far off western country. Bat s'ici
is not the case. often think OF you ant
how particularly; YOU requested me not t.
fail to write to you. and my only excuse il
that have had many letters to write and no.
much time to write them in, or | should have
writtcn sooner.
Salt Lake City is beautiful city. consld.
ering tina, % years ago its site was waste
desert noinhabitcd save by Il few roan,ss ln
dams Now there are s 'ma % O0'' ln'iabl-
tants in this city Wilhelm the Territory there
are about 125 000. The soil, When culnya-
ted and irrigated by the mountain streams, is
extremely fertile, equal to the best OF land IN
Virginia. The mining interests Of Utah are
very extensive and soue very rich deposits o.
silver, lead, iron and coal are found in various
parts of the country. A good many eastern
ca ptaiists have Invested in the mining tote
IT sts Of Utah.
The people Of Utah are alive aud moving
in all the public improvements Of this pro-
utrai T.
Railroad crosses the Territory from Fast
to West, while there is a railroad running
North and Soutl, for about 100 miles. aud
still being extended both North aud South,
and several other lines have been surveyed
and are now being constructed, aud still 9TH
eys are proposed. While the telegraph wires
are stretched to almost every settlement III
the Territory ard brius the news of the day
from almost al parts OF the world.
There are Furnishing schools ia all parts OF
the Territory, the people taking lively ID
te.cst 10 having their children educated The
mercantile business of this city and others is
generally 10 Furnishing condition, mostly
carried on on the cooperative principle. The
capital being furnished by number OF stock
holders, holding shares Of $25 or $50 or M re
EACH The principal co operative store pays
30 per cent. per aunum Oh the capital invess-
cd ia storchouse and merchandise. Mooey
brings high rate of interest. the usual lnte-
rest being about per cent. per month =
Wages are good, common laborers get about
81 so per day. While mechanics and trades
uea get from So to S. per day. Produce,
groceries, dry goods: &c, are pretty much the
same as in the East.
The climate 10 this country is favorable to
health. It gets quite warm in summer, the
mercury frequently getting up to 100 degrees
in the shade. But The air seems to be pure
and there is almost a constant mountain
breeze stirring which prevents that snfioca-
ting heat We have in Virginia and the nights
are generally cool and pleasant. There is bat
little rain here durng the summer months.
There has been great deal of rain and sno"
this winter suppose there has been from
3 TO feet of snow fallen in the vai!eys.whi!e
in the mountains there is in some places from
10 to IS feet Of snow. There is snow to b,
seen in the tops Of the highest mountali
peaks during the whole summer.
The people are generally pcaceab'e, sociabl'
and industrious. And they have been yer,
much m;srepresented by the outside wor. :
Some Of their peculiar institutions which art
so odious in the eyes Of many il viewed iron
an appropriated stand point would lose muel
If their udium. | might write much about
many things. but my letter is getting lengthy
already. and perhaps will tire you to reai it
| will Sand You several pamphlets which i
you w.ll take the time to read them will ,siv'
you more information as to what this peopi'
believe in ;han could give You in many let
ters. After rea.ling the pamph cts yoa Cal
dispos: OF them as you see fiji. and then ii yo'
wish any more information CONCERNING thl
people you could gan great deal BY TAXI"
cne Of our city papers awhile. Aud wi
just make proposition to you. that If 70
desire one Of the papers published here tina
if you will go to the EuNey Tryinittn Of
fee and pay for my subscription - the VI,
yiaiun and send receipt to me | will pay IL
Que of the city papers here to the san'
amount and have it sent to you. My sn!
scsiption for the Ftryiatnu will expire on I'll
1st Of May, so that if you will take my PROV
ositiou please have it renewed before i; e'
pircs so that will not miss any numbers
I shall be glad to hare you acknowlede
the receipt of this letter, aaa to hear an
news Of interest you may have to conmua
cate, and shall remain as ever your VIC
wishing friend, most respectfully:
2. S. My wife wishes to be renIambere'
to you, and says she is we'll pleased with til
country and People 10 this country.