The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-30
LIFE AMONG THE M0RMONS,
A CORRESPONDENCE DESCRIBES A
VISIT TO SALT LAKE CITY.
The Country of the Mormons--Somc-
thing About Their Chief City--Mor-
mon Wen and women.

distance, and, meeting at last at either
end, form vast amphitheatre, cultivated,
well settled, veritable garden, full of
greenery, and dotted with lakes and
limpid streams. In the north, as one
would see if elevated above the country
In balloon, lies Salt lake, listless, dull
hued, salty; and south of it is Utah lake,
with clear fresh waters, in whose depths
the mountains are mirrored, and from
the shores of which cultivated fields eX-
tend to the very foothills. But all Utah
is not a garden. Mountain ranges and
dry plains predominant, and while care
and labor may evolve enough produce to
render the Territory noted in some de
gree for agriculture, the real wealth
will come from the mines which are
being daily discovered among the giant
hills. Last wear the bullion product
was over $13, 900, 900. and this year it
will be larger. This, too, when the coun-
try is only very impcrfectly prospected.
The first real development was done in
1869, and Utah has only enjoyed in the
last few years any proper facilities for
bringing her ores into market. l met
man yesterday who was well informed
regarding the country. He assured me
that Utah was unusually rich with coal
and mineral, the gold mines of Bingham
being especially productive.
"And what railway facilities has the
Territory ?" asked.
excellent ones" he answered. 'The
Utah Central road runs from Ogden south
ward as far as Frisco, in the Pinto
mining region, and the Denver and Rio
Grande parallels it as far as Provo, nearly
h,,n nrrJo,
and then penetrates the Wasatch range at
q point where large fields of coal are
being worked. The latter road also sends
out feeders to Alta and Bingham, two of
our largest mining camps"
'Is Central Utah, the cultivated por-
ton, increasing its population ~ in
quired.
eyes, but the increase is mostly Nor
mon. The land there is held almost
entirely by the people of the church, and
it is hard for an outsider to buy any
land"
Are the Mormons, as a rule, inclined
to be farmers or minersW
They prefer to be- and in most cases
are, farmers" he answered.
"And yet Utah, hear, will only be-
come rich when her mines are developed
as they should De!"
eyes, her agricultural area must neccs-
sarily be limited"
"Then is not here solution of the
Mormon problem?n asked. Let the
Gentiles conccdc the farm lands to the
Mormons and devote their energies to
the mines. Owning them, they will hold
the greater riches, and consequently the
balance of power"
But my friend was too good Gentle
to be willing to conccde the Mormons
even little power He had seen too
much of them, he said, and was for gov
eminent interference and a war of eXter-
mination.
Salt Lake City is a pretty village, but
just at this time a very muddy one. In
summer the climate is often delightful,
as | well knew, but the winters are not
to be relied upon. 1t is wrong to say
that everything Salt Lake has to make it
attractive has come from the Mormons
Before the advent of the Gentiles the
city was poor and the people poorer
Men sold their potatoes for cloth, and
there was very little money in circula-
ton. And while there are great many
attractive Mormon houses and stores,
thcl1 are several business blocks and
homes owned by Gentiles which are very
handsome. The life of the town is found
pm Temple street, and from this broad
horoughfare, extending down the very
center of the city, radiate whatever
bf life and business there is. 1t
s here that one may discuss Mormonism
% his hearts content. And in fact,
yery few visit Salt Lake without having
heir attention drawn to the subject
The question is one of such interest that
20 two people are ever together for any
ength of time without discussing it.
here is bitter hatred of each other on
both the Gentle and Mormon side.
Falled tonight on Judge Goodwin, the
ditor and now three -tifths owner of the
)aily ITiJune He is the most vigorous
glitter against the Mormons that the
fentiles have, and is, beside, one of
Inc strongest, if not, indeed the strong
st writer for the press west of Chicago.
Direct, clear. logical, he knows nothing
f fear, and is determined to fight Nor
honism to the bitter end. Mormonism
md pOlygamy are two different things.
he first when pure and simple, is as
God creed as many another; the
utter, the polygamous portion, is an in
ovation introduced to cover up heap
sins, the subterfuge of man who
lade promiscuous marriage lawful, be-
Puse it freed him from indiscretions.
ure Mormonism knows nothing of it.
here are to-day in Salt Lake fully a
lousand Mormons known as Josephites
no cling to the old faith, the original
nc, and it is they who are despised a,
Puch as the Gentiles are by the follow
Is of Young. asked some one to-day
the Josephites were growing stronger.
They are increasing in numbers. .
as the answer, but not in influence
hey are mostly poor and can do but
ttle."
"And the apostates," l asked, Gar,
ley increasing -
Eyes"
"Then will not these two classc,
t as wedges to destroy Mormon poly
mistsl"
mo; the ranks are kept too vel
led by the new CONVERSELY thost