Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-02
THE MORMONS.
Great Salt Lake Valley Described as Ter
restrial Pardise.-The Polygamic HER
archy Yielding to the March of Progress

Great Salt Lake Valley Described as a Ter
restrial Pardise.-The Polygamic HER
archy Yielding to the March of Progress
ISalt Lake Letter to Chicago Eews.l
The early Mormons must have had a
good deal of poetry in their natures, or
otherwise they would never have selected
the present site of the city from which I
write. The Salt lake valley, at the extreme
northern end of which Salt lake is stu
ated. is one of the grandest natural amphi-
theaters in the world. On the east, and
circling round to the north and south, are
the Wasatch mountains, forming chain
of high, sno- covered peaks. TO the
west tower the Oquirrh mountains, that
rise abruptly from the valley and cast
| their shadows on the surface of Salt lake,
| which here extends an arm down from the
north. The inclosed valley, having
length of some thirty miles ard width of
twenty s"A.is the farmers paradise. Pro
tected by the hig.'., ranges en- all sides, and
watered by the river Jordan, It's farms are
capable OF producing every known fruit
and cereal, and all farmer has to do is to
tickle the soil with his hoe, and gather his
/ hargests.
THE CITY ITSELF,
the celebrated Mormon town, lies partly IN
the valley, and extends far up slopiDg
bench that runs down from the northern
| protecting mountains. Its streets and
| people, its homes and public buildings,are
| already described in every letter CORE
spondent ever has written, but I believe
few have ever climbed Ensign peak that
rises just back of the city, and enjoyed
! the view which is obtained from that
elevation. pulled myself upthe steep and
slippery sides to-day, and felt repaid two
fold for my pains. The view from the
peaks summit is grand beyond descrip-
ton. The entire length of the valley is re-
vealed, the mountains gain new beauties
when looked upon from a height nearly
equal to their own, and one may gaze up
on the city and out upon the farms beyond
and upon the great, calm, sleepy, lifeless
lake at the same moment. At my very
feet to-day there was second Acadian
valley, without its Evangeline, but with
its broad fields and orchards, its sea and
it's river. Under the brow of the peak on
which I stood nestled the city, with it's
shaded Streets and public squares. Over
in the west reposed the lake, with its tive
immense but lonely islands, its pulseless
waters, and barren shores. A softening
haze enveloped the valley and mountains,
and the only sounds we're those from the
busy engines as they pulled along their
way. And if a Mormon we're to stand on
Ensign peak, and have good honest con-
sultation with himself, / am inclined to
believe he would acknowledge that Utah
is standing
ON THE VERGE OF NEW ERA.
The time is not far distant when that civ
ilization which has marched 80 steadily
onward will cross the mountains that the
Mormons once thought would protect
them and their valley from the outside
t world, and descend upon Utah and push
to the wall the repulsive religion which
? has existed here so long. It will be bright
day for the territory when Mormonism, or
at least polygamy, is suppressed and
buried. Utah has not made the progress
which other Western countries have be-
cause of two reasons, one of which is that
her natural situation was in itself for
, midable barrier to progress. Distant from
either ocean, the territory was like ar
island in some great sea. Men looked al
the country with distrastful eyes and
passed it by for years. Even the railway
across the continent ran to the north of 1t
The other reason why Utah grew slowly il
we'll known. There existed within the
> borders class of people who had relig
] ion at variance with the generally accepted
one, and who were opposed to all new com
! ers, except those who were, like themselves
- e.
that an exodus il constantly going or
| and that room must be made some
, where for the thousands who wander west
ward for their fortunes, doubt if Utah
would ever have reached the position she
holds to-day. But gradually the territory
became known as rich country, capable
i of producing much mineral and one able
| to grow an immense quantity of natural
, products.
Men gradually settled here, railroads
were built and the truth concerning this
, Mormon land was waftsd far and near by
the farmer, the miner, and the tourist. And
, to-day Utah has the first sight of her new
era. Capital is daily seeking Investment
here, new mines are being opened, barren
, fields are being irrigated, coal fields are be-
ing worked at profit, and if one will visit
| Salt Lake ne Will S66 bnAG Inc CITY ID
SHOWING SIGNS OF AN ACTIVITY
it never had before. Its people are awake
to the fact, as indeed are those who live in
other portions of the territory, that to
progress and to succeed, polygamy must
90, and the Mormons must seek another
home if they desire to openly defy the
laws of the United States. And as this
fact becomes more and more apparent, q
greater interest attaches itself to the
buildings erected by the slatter-day saints v
and before the tabernacle goes the way OF
its builders let me study its architecture
and its interior. The tabernacle will seat
some $4,000 people. It has length OF
$50 feet, and width of $50, and height
from floor to ceiling of seventy feet, and
yet @ man at one end whispering to a
listener placed as far opposite him as it is
possible for him to be placed, can be dis
tinctly heard. A pin dropped can be
heard $50 feet away, and the slightest
sound is carried distinctly into every por.
ton of the room.
The main floor raises slightly from the
first pulpit so that every seat commands q
, full view of the platform. The supports
, to the gallery. seventy two in number, are