The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-10-31
THE M0RM0NS.
A Glance at the Chief Architect
ural Feature of the City of
Latter Day SAINTS.
The Theatre and the Newspapers, and
the Brighter Side OF Mormon
Life Generally.

4
the Brighter Side OF Mormon
Life Generally.
From the Pionee Press.
In my last letter gave you an account
of how the Morlnons are replenishine
this part of the earth with the refuse Of
all Europe, a class of people whom they
are not willing to associate with in this
city, but whom they stow away in the
neighboring states for political purposes
well knowing that the church can COM
mand their influence, as it does their
tithes, ever afterwards. I shall open
this letter with a few pen pictures OF
Salt Lake City and its people, endeavor-
ing to take up for the most part details
that are not noticed by every traveller.
To begin with, the streets here are as a
rule wider than those in any other city
that I ever visited. Each city has an
occasional broad boulevard, but here the
streets are all remarkably wide. Indeed,
they are too wide on certain accounts.
The center strip through some of them
actually grasses over from disuse, and
when sand-storm takes the city in, life
is indeed burden. The elevated wires
on main street are strung on poles run
ming down the middle of the street. The
first thing which strangers visits is, of
course, Temple block, full square sur
rounded by high adobe wall, containing
the tabernacle, Assembly hall and the
unfinished temple. Calling at the super
lntendent's Office for permission to in
spect the brildinss and grounds, he read
lily consented and accompanied me. as
indeed he does in the case of the humb-
lest visitor at any time of the day. 1t is
not absolutely necessary to see him for
the privilege, either. 1t must be admit
ted that these Mormons are very courte-
GUS to strangers; whether through policy
or not, cannot say. The tabernacle is
really wonderful building in several
respects. With weary automatic sort
ofaction the guide begun to rattle off the
dimensions and qualities Of the building.
1 was not specially interested until he
said:
"This room is the most wonderful
whispering gallery in the world. When
everybody is quiet the faintest whisper
is audible in the remotest part of the
house. You can literally hear pin fall.
Try it once"
So went to the further end of the
room, 250 feet away, and standing on the
speakers platform, he addressed me in
a whisper. had no difficulty in under
standing, and replied also in a whisper.
Then he took a pin and dropped it into
his straw hat. I was going to say the
repart was like that produced when a
crowbar falls over a washboller. Ger
tainly the noise was very distinct. 1t
was a matter of keen regret to me that l
could not hear the great organ played
upon, knowing that it was inferior only
to the Cincinnati and Boston instru-
ments. Suddenly the guide turned and
observed in a doubtful sort of wav,
"But you have not asked how great a
seating capacity the building has"
NO." answered, fervently. II do
not profess to be perfect, but 1 will never
tempt man to lie in that wav."
He thanked me warmly, and then re-
marked:
"Since you will excuse me from the
customary lies to the effect that this will
seat 10000 people and is full every Sum
day, don't mind saying that there are
about 5000 seats in the house, and that
the galleries are only thrown open in
times of conferences. There is no meth
cd of heating the building or of lighting
it save by the introduction of electric
lights, which was done in the case of
Theodore Thomas last season. In winter,
Mormon general services are held in the
assembly room, which will seat about
one-third as many people as the taberna-
cle. can hold up my head and boldly
announce that this is the largest self
supporting roof ever constructed by
human ingenuity, and you will doubtless
assent to that proposition. This festoon-
ing has been here some of it. eight and
some of it ten years."
Twas interested in these decorations
that have stood the test of time so re-
markably. The elaborate center piece
over the fountain must have occupied 9
good deal of time in its construction.
Proceeding to the temple, of which sc
| much is said bv travellers, l experienced
a disappointment. The building is mes
siye, and constructed as far as finished il
first-class style. But l can see no rea
son why such building should have no
been constructed in three or four year
at the outside. Begun thirty years ago
it has been labored on off and on eve
since. The Mormons say-that is, tn
officials say-that 1t has already cos
$lO,OOO,OOO, and that $5,O00,0OO will b
needed to finish the work. Many peopl
who are without sympathy for Mormon
institutions, but who are in the way o
knowing, say that the building has neve
begun to cost the sum represented. In
deed, Boston architect lately agreed
for $500, 900, to commence and complet
an exact duplicate of the temple, as
will be when completed, and to do
!. right away on short notice. Said on
man:
"The Mormon temple is great draw
ing card for the Mormon church. TIL
mass of Mormons are secretly out {
patience with the delay and alleged cos
and it is in Difference to them that tn
officers of the church now promise
finish the whole building in five or 81
years. But they won't do it. They wi
never finish it. They must have SOM
thing to beg for, and this is a real SUI
cess as a source of revenue"
J. Think of building, the walls Of whic
are Of solid granite, nine feet and mir
inches in thickness. There is no shodd
work about it. II is needlessly substal
~ l.