The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-08
BRIGHAAI,S LAND.
Graphic Description of the Country and
the PeoPle-Ag riculturai and Mineral
AdvaHtages-The Prophet and His
Movements The Women of Utah.

SALT LAKE CRY, January 30.-Ar-
irving here as I did in mid-winter, 1
had at first but faint idea of the beau
ties of this peculiar country Even
now the gradual approach of spring has
so changed the whole scene as to rem
der it difficult to Judge what the beau
ties may be under the more attractive
and invigorating influences of the sum-
mer. As 1 stand here at the base of
the mountain there is a full view OF the
extensive and beautiful valley stretch
ing out far away until lost in the hills
by which it is surrounded. To the
south are large mountains which are
almost continually covered with snow,
and whose abrupt peaks tower far
above the clouds, standing like senti-
nels as a guard over the "City OF
Zion" The scene is impressive, grand,
majestic!
The fertile valley gives forth fruit OF
many varieties and of the very perfec-
ton of size and flavor, and in season
the poisoning orchards that every
where surround the houses of the poorer
classes of Mormons present a refresh
ing picture. These homes, thanked with
long rows of fruit-trees, are very SINH
lar in appearance, but the regularity is
not in any degree monotonous. The
revenue from fruit is considerable. The
houses are mostly adobe, cool in sum-
mer and warm in winter. Their own
ers are English, Scandinavian or Swed-
ish emigrants, all Industrious and fru-
gal. Many of them, after few years.
residence, are able to send for their
parents or other relatives.
The population of this city is now
estimated at little over 10000. The
city is laid out in squares seven to a
mile. Many of the streets, which are
1872 feet in width, are fringed with
double rows of trees on either side,
affording a charming promenade in the
warmer seasons. The famous Salt
Lake is IS miles westward, and the high
altitude-5,000 feet above the level of
the sea-enables one to enjoy the view
for great distance, which only dies
away in the blue of the mountain tops.
When the atmosphere is hazy, which is
frequent occurrence, the existence of
these mountains is only matter Of
memory. In the immediate vicinity the
mountains are barren, but their illu-
minated peaks, glittering in the sun
shine through the floating clouds-some
of them 5000 feet above the sea-level
form grand panorama.
Brigham, the prophet and ruler, and
Amelia, his favorite wife, are spending
the winter in St. George, where they
will remain until the April Conference.
The " Beehive" his residence when
here, is large and peculiar but by no
means grand old-fashioned house, sur
rounded by an adobe wall, through
which the Eagle Gateway is the mesns
of ingress and egress. This gateway
is surmountcd by figure of the nation
al bird, with outstretched wings, en-
blematic here of ambition. There is q
private school-house for the education of
the Prophets children, but he makes
no appropriation for the education of
others. Nearly opposite the Beehive"
a new structure of the modern style of
custom-house architecture is nearly
complete, which is intended for some
part of the prophets numerous family,
and little distance from this is Ann
Eliza's cottage, which, although more
aristocratic in appearance than the
generality of cottages here, did not sat
isfy the ambition of that parsonage.
Here, too, near by is high wall in
closing the Church property-an en-
dowment house, tabernacle and tenn
pie. Looking from beyond the wall the
tabernacle has fiat and squatty APP
pearance, but not so when viewed from
its interior. It's dimensions are 250 feet
by $50 feet, with self-supporting roof
seventy feet high, and it has a seating
capacity for $4,000 people. The seats
slope gradually toward the pulpit, and
an organ of grand volume, built by
Mormons out of the native red pine
from the mountains, looms up fifty-eight
feet in height behind the vast accom-
modatiOns in the rear of the pulpit; in
the center of the church is an elaborate
fountain. The foundation for the new
temple is approaching completion.
This is built from sixteen feet be-
low the surface of the ground, and is to
be go feet long and 100 feet wide, of
light gray granite mixed with black
from the Cottonwood quarry, eighteen
miles distant. r.t
Forty years ago this place of palatial
residences was a wilderness of sage
bush. Among the finest houses are
those of George Q. Cannon, the Nor
mon delegate to Congress; Mr.. Jen-
nings, wealthy gentleman resident;
Mayor Little, the Walker brothers (the
last named are now apostates), and the
Townsend House. James Townsend,
the proprietor of this famous resort,
left his calling of driving lumber
team from Baxter, York County, Me-,
his native place, to the Saeo River and
Portland, and Joined the Mormons in
1888, and, after various experiences and
three months journey with ox-teams
over the plains from the Indian Terri
tory, landed here. He is a Christian,
however, outside of the adobe walls of
Brigham's saints
Even here the blighting tongue of
scandal now and then will wag. Aease
of recent occurrence which fell to
pieces also illustrates the noble charac
ter of some of the quondam backwoods-
men-and women-who are now count
ed among the substantial members of
Gen lie society. A gentleman of this
n