Connecticut western news., 1873-05-23
Om the Pacific Railroad.
[Continued.l SAN FRANCISCO, April 2d, 1878.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 2d, 1873.
 My last letter gave full account of our journey up to the time of reaching Ogden. Leaving Ogden we took the Utah Central R. R., of which Brigham Young is Pres. dent aud largest stockholder, and ran down the shores of Great Salt Lake, the snow clad peaks of the Wahsatch range lying on our right, seemingly not more than one or two miles distant, though in reality ten or twelve miles away. Distances here are ex ceedingly deceptive, the clear air of the ta- hle lands bringing far off objects apparent ly within very short range of vision. The approach to Salt Lake City is through valley hemmed in with mountains, from whose tops the snow is never absent. The silvery peaks glitter in the brightosunlight and found great delight in this, my first ex- perlenee of Alpine scenery. Far to the north lay the Wintah range, stretching along the railroad over which we had just passed; to the east the Wahsatch range; to the west across Salt Lake the ragged masses of the Promontory mountains. and yet other more remote ranges whose names 1 do not knows Thcse mountains arc perfectly bare of tim Der, covered ut the top with snow, and towering to the height of eight or ten tn ousand feet above you. never before realized the effect of light and shade. The sunlight illuminated the white summit with glory inconceivable, while the sides of the ravines and canyons which were not touched by these rays, afforded every vari- ety ot changeful shadows. cannot de- scribe the rare beauty of the scene, nor are you to imagine that we were in the midst of any chilliness. The windows of the car were open, the grass green and fresh, birds were chirping and the air 5almy and redo lent of spring. It was late when we reached the Walker Housa. good hotel, and sup per discussed we went to bed, and dreams of home. The faint dawn entering my window found me awake; and breakfast over, we drove around the city of the Lat ter Day Saints-not calling on Brigham Young, as we learned he was ill and woult not receive us. We visited the Mormon temple, 8 large edifice with roof like { metal dish cover, capable of seating 20, ,0ot people, and often filled to it's entire capaci ty. In the temple is an organ in process o construction, by Mormon organ builder second only to the great organ in Boston It will not be completed for year, but i so far advanced that they use it. Iva told, although did not hear it, that it ha very sweet tone, and is magnificent in slrument Leaving the temple we rode t' the top of one of the high hills near tn town and had a fine view of the city, tn valley of the Jordan and the Great Sal Lake. The city has no very striking speci mems of architecture, but it's location i beautiful. Stretching from the valley ia up the foot hills of the Wahsatch range are the Mormon farms, the houses univer- sally poor and mean, but the land givln, evidence of thrift. The saints have irri gated, thoroughly, the whole valley, ant what was once an arid desert now bios sons as the rose. Fruit trees of every kind are fourishing now where 20 year ago nothing larger than the sage bush grew The apples raised in Salt Lake are the fines have eyer seen, and the peal, peach, plum and cherry grow vigorously. All this i accomplished by means of irrigation. Or either side of every street in Utah, along side the foot-walk, flows little stream o cool, sparkling water. This is brough from City creek, which the Mormons hay carried, by good engineering, upon the sid of hill and thence distributed over tn valley below.
 lConcluded next week.