New-York tribune., 1878-07-10
TILE CITY OF THE GEN1ILES.


CORINNE, ITS RISE, FALL AND REVIVAL.
TIE CURSE OF THE PROPHET BRIGHAM on TIE
UTAH CIrY-How 1T HAS FALLEN FROM WHAT
III WAS, AND WHAT IT PROMISED TO BE-A POS
sIBLE RESTORATION.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
CoRINNE, Utah, July 3.-In the days OF
Cornne early prosperity Of the poets thus sang Oh
her:
Named in lovely maidens honor, tits our own belovd
Corinne, ,,,
May ITS glory, waning gain increase with added
And perpetuate the praises of its early pioneers.
But the OF the city Affords. perhaps one
OF the remarkable chapters In the history Of the
West Ii probably the only town In America that mas
In recent years the object Of religious persecution
and the material interests Of which have been made to
suffer through religious intolerance. Started as Gen.
tile settlement 1869 In the very heart OF Mormonsm,
it has carefully preserved Its original character ana
its respect Its pluck even while they
openly detested its Gentilesm" Opposition to 1t began
at an early day. Brigham Young standing upon the
railroad bridge the to the town. and lifting
his arms alot to Heaven called down the vengeance OF
the Almighty upon the Gentle enterprise Judging
from present appearances II must be confessed that
the Prophets prayer seems to have been more eecai
than the poets invocation. For though we have not
yet witnessed the day fondy predicted by the Saints
when the coyote should howl IN deserted streets,
and our ruined buildings typfy the fate OF all enter
pses undertaken in opposition 10 the true church. yet
the young Is undergoing its third period OF com
mercal prosratiOn, and confidently declared by the
Saints to be in its death throes The curse of the
Prophet Is being fulfilled.
The need OF town free from the restraints OF silly
superstition had long felt by the intelligent
citizens Utah. Genteism the increase, and IL
was hoped that this settlement the Bear River would
supply the want IL moreover once fondly believed
that the Pacific Railroads would make their juno
ton here Gentle business town in preference to one
under the thraldom OF an ignorant and polygamous
priesthood. 1t owing to these circumstances that
the town received first impetus. Tho final adoption
OF the Mormon town Of Ogden as the connecting point
was great blow Corinnc and the Gentle but
signal triumph for the Saints. Instead OF great ra-
dating point Cornne then seemed doomed to the posi-
ton OF a way station OF the Central Pacific
In the meantime the faithful had received strict
ders from Brigham Young hold no intercourse what
ever with the citizens OF a" Hell as the non-MormOn
town politely caled except to extort money from
them pious The town continued to grow, how
ever In spite Of ophec anathema and prie5tly male
dction. Situated at the head Of navigation OF Bear
River seemed by its position destined to command the
commerce Of the Great Salt Lake Its advantages as
shipping point for Montana freight became mani
fest and the settlement shortly became busy, bustlng
burg Its business men made legitimate fortunes in
short time and air Of general prosperity settled
over the place. steamboat Duilt Dy the cluzehs
was run from hero down the lake, thus bringing
the city into easy communication with Southern Utah.
Here was the terminus OF the Montana stage line.
branch track Of the Utah Northern Railroad was built
to Corinne from the main line few miles east OF the
town. affordng direct communication by rail with Idaho,
and eventually. 1t believed, with Montana. The
Portland Dales and Salt Lake Railroad, opening up
vast gions In Idaho and Oregon pro-
jected from this pon, its eastern terminus where
was 10 connect with the Central Pacific; and the pre-
lmnary work was even started here. The prospects
seemed bright for C0rnnes rapidly becoming OF the
great railroad centres OF the West The place boasted
of It's mills and smelling works, water works. forward
ing houses and daily newspapers. The Gentle and
apostate population Of the Territory looked TO this city
AZ possible business metropolis and visionary enthus
asts prophesed the removal OF the capital TO the banks
OF the Bear.
Genteism and apostaey however, were not to achieve
an easy victory. The Utah Northern under Mormon
control, and opportunity connected, to be sure,
with trining self-sacrce, seemed at hand to strike
blow for the good OF the church COrnne was at that
time probably the best paying station the road Yet
IL was antMormon. This sufficient excuse for any
breach faith. without notice. the inspired au
thorties up the branch track completely severng
connection with the main line Of the Northern.
Protestations and appeals self interest in van
The answer from the sanity managers substan-
TALLY that the built for local traffic. and really
in interest OF the Oh urch which for obvious reasons
could regard Cornne with very friendly feelings
The steamboat the pride OF the town, has passed
into the hands tie MOrmOns. who keep 1t idle nj Lake
Point preference to its rcvsing the city OF the Gen
tiles. The rapid extension into Idaho Of the Utah
Northern has caused the freigbne interest mere 10 de-
cline while the Portland. Dales and salt Lake Railroad
still remains proposed" Many of the leading business
firms have removed to the present terminus of the
Northern follow the freightng interest. Montana
ST. the principal business thoroughfare OF COrnne,
which few years ago scene OF busy activity, ls
now oppressyey silent. The Saints are inDilant, and
openly that tnefnal blow tOGentielsnln Utah Will
be inflicted by the next Territorial legislature In 1880
Empty threats, however, await little. For nine
| Corinne has had overwhelming power TO contend
against Its in overcoming apparently insuper-
able has gained for 10 the designation OF tho
pluekiest town l. the West" Its inhabitants remain
hopeful and confident and brighter day already seems
| dawning. A business enterprise with capital and
energy behind IT, has been started which Will doubtless
prove "a lasting benefit than tie now almost de-
parted freighting interest. In addition 10 ths the
inarkably successful agricultural experiments made
this year are expected to stimulate immigration hither
The construction OF the rrgatng canal from Bear
River will bring 100000 additional acres 0f arabic
land under cultivation. From hfy to seyenty-flve bush
the finest wheat reported 10 have been raised
! 70 the In the neigbbOIhoOd The "Cily OF the
Genties" may yet come out triumphant as the centre
OF one the ourishing agricultural regions Of the
West The climate Is Unsurpassed. An elevation OF
1000 feet iusures air and cool nights sum-
mer, while the Winters are mder than those OF New
York. Though the leyersh haste that once character
lied the has disappeared t Is stl believed that
being deprived OF its former advenlous aids and hay
ing settled down 10 normal growth, CoTnne Is even
entering OF unprecedented prosperity that
her best days yet to come. No better opportunity
lands OF the rches quality may be obtained at nominal
prices In the influx OF GENTLE coloniss and the de-
yelopmrnt OF this beautiful valley, Will be found Of
the efeotuaf clements In the solution OF the
II 49,.