Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-24

- 4u hIouuClln SIDES, Washing down
Inc debris into the rivers below. filling I'D
the upper valley with rocks and gravel.
whiie the muddy floods of fine material
pass along. depositing its sediments and
raising up the river beds until they often
overflow and overrun the rich valley lands
IN their course, we see the necessity of
the dykes which are so often seen on the
river banks. The matter of deposits and
overflow of these rivers is not local, but is
ielt the entire length of the rivers from
the foothills to the bay of San Francisco,
and IS the occasion of great expense and
apprehension. The matter is the occasion
OF litigation, and has been carried up to
the higher courts, but as yet without sat
iSfactory results.
L left French Corral O3tober 25l, at
10 A. NJ, for San Juan. six miles east.
from here took the stage fifteen miles to
Nevada City, and from Nevada took
Nevada narrow gauge railroad via Grass
Valley to ColfaX on the overland roal.
From here. October 23d. P. NJ, ! took
passage on the overland for Ogden, the
connecting point between Union and Cen
tral Pacific railroads, also the junction of
the Utah Central. On arriving at that
place on Saturday, October 2jth, at A.
n, decided TO 90 to Salt Lake CITY 10
spend the Sabbath. At 1890 A. NJ, |
took Utah Central cars, which make con-
nection with the overland for the CITY.
The city is thirty-five miles from Ogden,
Our course is southerly, with the Wasatch
mountains in the east, at the base of which
| the railroad runs much OF the way to the
city. From the car window on the right
| l,.,l l.,,l 8 Al . -.
Lake. which is one hundred and twenty
five miles long and forty-fve wide. ut
is said that the lake has no outlet for the
waters continually flowing into it from
Bear, Jordan, Weber and other rivers.
Evaporation absorbs the vast volume, but
it is noticeable fact and one worthy of
consideration that since the settlements
have been made in this Territory the
waters of the lake have risen steadily and
are now twelve feet higher than they
We're twenty years ago" Fences which
once enclosed fine meadow lands are now
just peering above the flood. The waters
of the lake are very salt; so much so that
salt in crude state may be found along
its shores. The tract of country between
the base of the mountains and the lake
and that part which can be irrigated
shows signs of thrifty farming, while
above that line, and on all the lands out
side of irrigation, no vegetation is to be
seen except the dry tufts of sage brush
which prevails 50 extensively in the aka
line regions. On our way we pass a num-
Der of thrifty towns, said to be made up
of Mormons. Before we arrive 1T the
city the lake is left in the rear, and we
pass Hot Springs on the left. The spring
is remarkable for the volume and heat OF
its waters. said to be so hot as to cook an
egg in three minutes. It's location may
be seen ut Il distance from the volume of
steam continuously rising from it. Near
these springs are located bathing build
ings, where the hot spring water is utilized
for medicinal and bathing purposes. The
spring is situated one mile from the city,
and is easy of access by street cars which
run to and FROM the spring every thirty
minutes. They are largely patronized.
both for health and pleasure.
At noon we are ut the city, take street
cars to the hotel and stop at the Valley
House, kept by woman. The city is the
capital of the Territory and has a popula-
tion OF twenty-five thousand. 1t lies On
The westerly slope OF the Wasatch noun
tains, facing Salt Lake valley, which
stretches fifty miles TO the south and ten to
the west. The city is regularly laid out
with broad streets and walks, bordered
with numerous shade trees, and flowing
on either side of the streets are streams OF
clear ripping water, which add much to
the beauty and healthfulness of the city.
The city wears the appearance Of business
not rivaled by other towns of its size. 1t
contains several manufactures, consisting
of foundries, boiler works, Touring mills,
one wooden mill, marble works, etc. The
place not only commands the business of
the large Salt Lake valley, but draws
heavily upon the already thirty organized
mining districts in the Territory. 1t con-
tains fine public buildings, business blocks
and private residences, including the
churches of the various denominations.
The public buildings of the Mormons are
located in the easterly part of the city,
well up to the base OF the mountains and
| inclosed BY a high stone wall laid in NOR
tar The Tabernacle, lions Church and
the Temple are in one enclosure, while
the tithe buildings, treasury, secretary 5
and general officers buildings are in
another. The Tabernacle is an immense
building and one of the first to be seen on
entering the city. Ii is oblong, oval in
shape having Il length Of two hundred
| and fifty feet from east 10 west and one
hundred and fifty in width. The roof is
supported by furty-siX columns of cut
sandstone. which, with the spaces between
used for windows and doors, constitute
the walls. In the end of this oval. shaped
structure is the organ, and the building
with Il galleries which extend on either
| side-will seat twelve thousand people.
| The Temple, which has now been fifteen
wears in process of building, is not COM
! pleled. 1t is a massive granite structure,
and is being erected on the easterly half
of the same block with the Tabernacle.
| To the east are located the 1.-THE buildings,
| in which are collected and stored the one
tenth OF all the products and earnings,
which the Mormons arc required 10 pay
into the treasury for the support of Zion 5
cause. MUrmons also are required not to
purchase goods OF have any deal with any
/ other than their own people, and that
they might more fully carry out this plan
/ of cooperation. a company has beed
| formed, called lions Co operative Nor
monte Institution. This company have
erected one of the finest and largest
buildings in the City. 1t is three hundred
and eighteen feet long, iifty-three feet
wide, three stories high and is built OF
brick. In this building is classified and
kept every class of merchandise to accom-
modate the Mormon demand.
The Mormons hold but one service at
the Tabernacle on Sunday, and that is at
2P.M. Preparatory to this service, at
O'Clock, the gate through the defensive
walls are thrown open, and soon may be
seen the crowds, going and accumulating
between the Tabernacle walls. At P. NJ
the house was comfortably filled, and
service began by singing and prayer. fol
lowed by sermon and communion. The
sermon was by Orison Pratt, who is at
present their chief spokesman. His speech
is decided and positive, to which his infat-
uated followers listen with marked at
tention. Mr.. Pratt is tall and command
ing. has white hair and white flowing
beard, is apparently from sixty-live to
seventy years of age, full OF life and vigor,
and well calculated to lead and guide this