The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-22
SALE LAKE CITY.
The See of Mermondom-Where Every Pros
pect Pleases and Only Man Is Vile.

Hiresome can be imagined than the face of
the country as seen from the car windows in
"a journey west across the great plains. At
ethe base of the Rocky mountains, and for a
short distance about Cheyenne, is bit
natural beauty-pleasant fields and FARMS
with background of mountains, which,
however, from this point are not especially
picturesque or interesting Thence west
kwith a slight break at the Laramie plains)
there is little to gladden. the eye
lor expand the soul. A weary,
.desolate succession of low sand hills
destitute of trees, the nearest approach to
vegetation being the scattered patches of sage
grass, scarcely brighter in color than the
soil around. After riding for twenty-four
hours through this weary desert the train
enters grand canon with wonders of Gods
masonry on either side, amid the terrific
grandeur of the Wasatch mountains Along
a strong rushing and limpid stream that
dashes headlong and recklessly over huge
powders and against sharp iutting points,
the ponderous train rolls along until sudden
ly, while you are in the midst of admiration
of the majesty of upheaved nature, burst
upon the view the beautiful and fer
tile valley of Utah. In a little while
the train is meandering the coast of the great
American Dead Sea, on the other side
scene of fruitful orchards wide meadows,
and lin season) waving fields of grain. The
whole a great garden set within vast am
phitheater, in which Salt Lake City sits the
center and heart, with, here and there
throughout the valley. bright, fresh towns
and villages lying nearly hidden amid foliage
oil, 10 lrv 10
grateful relief from the barren desert and
verdureless mountains that surround it
every where
The River Jordan pursues it's winding way
from the beautiful Utah lake to the Great
Salt lake, and from the banks is reflected
unto its waters glorious profusion of love-
illness. Terrace upon terrace, covered with
Etree-em powered homes and lovely groves,
the sterility of the mountains behind soft
ened by transparent wells of illumined
Vapor, and fading away by imperceptibe
kgradatiOns into the most varied and delicious
pearly tones, still fading in the hollows of
the hills into pure ether. The mountains
rise to height of eight thousand feet from
where you stand, straight up into
the clouds into which they melt
and disappear, while here and
there the sun, lighting up the pure
snow brings out in strong relief the rugged
grandeur of outline at the SUBMITS Nature
mas made amends for the surrounding desc
lation, and seems TO have delighted in mass
lng here her grandest work and most bril-
liant and ETHEREAL hues. The glow of the set
ting sun, tintipg in excuisitely- dedicate rose
ate hues the soft snow which seems scarcely
to press harder upon the mountain peaks
than the clouds which melt into and soften
their outline.
In such place the site of Salt Lake City
has been chosen-a veritable garden of Eden,
into which business blocks have obtrusiyelv
and dan ,osr
picturesquely-ugf adobe houses harmonic
IN their cool quiet tones with the extensive
gardens of fruit trees and flowers which sur
round them. May the day be far distant
when these shall be supplanted by so called
handsome modern, con ventional residences
IS the thought of all artists. Back upon
"bench," and several hundred feet above the
city, is Fort Douglas, the flag of the republic
standing out in bright relief against the
Wasatch. The buildings, partly covered
with and surrounded by trees while the sun
lights up in glinting sparkles of gold, the
polished cannon that stand on guard. In
this place it has no warlike look, and the
picture would miss an interesting and bright
feature were it removed.
Strong and rapid mountain streams come
rushing through the canons and are led into
the city where the clear, cold limpid waters
sing pleasant song as they sport and play
along the sides of the streets where they are
conducted through the entire city. The
Oquifr mountains shut in the valley to the
west, the great Salt lake, twenty miles
away. glimmerng in the sunlight like q
stream of silver. During the season bathing
trains are run several times day conveying
hundreds of people TO the luxury of bath
in this wonderful lake in which it is mpos-
slble to sink and on which a person may lie
extended like plank. There is renewed
health and strength in every moment spent
in its waters,
IF al
desires completely filled. Game is exceed
ingly abundant Jack rabbits leave their
foot marks thiekly clustered for miles, even
into the very limits of the city while the
borders of the numerous lakes are alive with
aquatic BIRDS Rivers, lakes and mountain
streams abound in fish, while back among
the mountains and in the canons game of the
noblest kind awaits the rifle of the ambitious
Himrod. Utah, therefore, possesses many
rihemen and enthusiastic sportsmen.
Very little rain falls in the valley at any
time. In fact, not nearly enough to supply
the farmer with sufficient moisture for his
crops without irrigation; but as the snow on
the mountains, melting in the July sum-
comes racing down into the valley in streams
and rivulets of clear pure water, simple
pathway for it, formed with the spade, not
only supplies him with all the moisture he
wants, but makes a failure in crops
an impossibility. The climate is nearer
perfect, perhaps, than anywhere
else The elevation of the valley
$4,000 feet) is sufficient to cause
that healthful IMMIGRATION pecu-
liar to the West and without the difficulty
in breathing felt by many in higher alti-
tudes, as in Denver and in Leadville. Severe
wind storms are unknown and impossible
The winters are short and mild-in severe
weather often twenty degrees warmer than
in Nevada and in the surrounding Territories,
while the summer nights are at all times de-
lightfully cool and bracing. And here liveth
and regneth the church of the Latter Day
Saints. HENRY c. TRYoN.
The Botanic Gardens at Cambridge.
Written for the indianapolis Journal.
1t may seem out of place to write about