Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-28
the Latter-Duy Saints.
Los ANGELES, CAL, April II, 1886.

out bv Brigham Young in 1S47 and is 426f feet
above sea level. 1t IS laid ont on magnificent
scale and according to the points of the compass
Every street in the city is 13i feet wide, with
sidewalks On each side 90 feet wide, with
stream of water running on each side CT the
principal Streets and l am told that the city has
lust 100 miles of streets. 1t contains q, 900 in
habitants-90 per cent of which are Mormoas-
and covers an area OF 1000 acres. Each block
contains 10 acres, with lanes running through the
center at right angles. The city of Salt Lake
is governed wholly by the Mormon church.
There are twenty-one wards in the city, each
of which has a bishop and two councillors
to look after the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the Latter-day Saints of their respective
wards, and whose duty 1t is to see that the peo-
pie pay in their tithing to the church. Each
Mormon is required to pay into the church
treasury one-tenth of his earnings, whether ii
is money or produce. Each ward also has
Westinghouse, where they hold Sunday school
in the morning and religious services in the
evening. The Mormon places of worship occu-
ply whole block little north of the center of
business. and are composed of the Assembly
Hall, Tabernacle and Temple. The Assembly
Mormon church except public worship, the
Tabernacle being reserved and dedicated spe-
Eially for this The Assembly Hall is not of large
proportions, but is very neat, substantial
building, the walls of which are built of rough
granite Ashlar, with six minaretS on each end
and side, with very neat cupola in the center
and withal is very tasty building. The Taber-
nacle is an oblong building the walls of which
are BULL of red sand stone from the mountain
just north of the city, and is rooted with dome
of colossal dimensions. 1t has seating capac-
ity of 10000 people, Although 1900 people have
been inside the building on many occasions.
We had the ineXpressible pleasure Of meeting
the Sleeper party here on Saturday, and we all
six worshiped in Zion" on the day following,
eng Sunday. The average congregation is
meeting held at Provo there was probably not
more than $500 within its walls this Sunday.
The Temple was begun in 1853 and begins to
show its grand proportions and early compile
ton, although the late and present unpleasant
ness has rather put damper on their ardor.
The TempleIs LEO feetwide by 200 feet long, and
the side walls 100 feet high, built of smooth
granite Ashlar, hauled by teams distance of
some thirty miles. The walls are nine feet thick
of solid granite masonry. The SIDE walls are
finished, but the three towers on each end are
yet to be built which will be loo feet higher
than the side walls In the front, and some IS
feet above the floor, is the following inscription
in gold letters: holiness 10 the Lord The
House OF the Lord built by tie Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, commenced April 6,
a111 1C,,7rlotad - p;oi,+ $780, ~.
main entrance stands out in bold relief 1.-TWO
right hands joined and 1.-The aE-seeing eye,'
whilst on the plasters on each side of the main
entrance is the beehive" and the SUM- moon
and stars all of which is familiar to soue of
your readers The stones are all finished and
numbered in the quarry, and are sixteen inches
thick by two and one-half feet wide by five feet
long. There were about 1000 OF these stones on
the ground, and we were told that it would take
all these stones to make just one course on the
Temple. We were also told that there was not
one day work of Gentle on the whole build
ing. Three million dollars have been expended
on this magnificent building SO far and 1t is ex-
pected that it will take three millions more to
finish it, and when finished, if ever will be
a grand, imposing edifce. There is museum
connected with the church which contains
many fire specimens of natures mineral from
the Wasatch mountains, and also many other
curiosities, principally from the Utah valley.
The hot springs of Salt Lake City are located
about four miles from the center of the city,
ana while the Sleeper party and father and
were here, we got a conveyance and went out
and bathed in the refreshing waters.
Fort Douglas is within three miles of the city,
and from the intermediate table-lands beauti-
full view is to be had of Salt Lake City and the
entire valley, including Salt lake with its islands
in the distance. Great Salt lake is distant
about twenty miles from the city, and is 4.21s
feet above sea level; it has an average breadth
of forty miles by ninety miles in length.
A few minutes walk from the Mormon Tenn
pie found us in the Immediate vicinity of the
Lion House" Beehive House" and amelia
Palace" these houses were occupied by Brigham
Young and some OF his wives. The Amelia
Palace was occupied by Brigham Youngs fav-
orite wife Amelia, and is now occupied by Pres
fdent John Taylor's family. John Taylor him
self is in Canada, or somewhere else. and Uncle
Sam is after him for having plurality OF wives.
The Eagle Gate is in close proximity to the
Beehive House." In an early day they had
W pay lO1 ~ pass 1IOuSn In1S gate; all the wood
that came to Salt Lake City from the mountains
had to PASS through this gate. Every third load
OF wood that cane through this gate was Brig
ham Young's private property. Brigham
Young's burylng ground is also in the immedi-
ate neighborhood; It slopes gradually toward
the south His last resting place is covered by a
block of granite weighing twenty-one tons and
is surrounded by iron railing. There appears
to be sufficient room i'll the Enclosure for all of
his wives. Three of his wives are buried here
and seem to be buried in rotation, but 1 fail to
see space left for Anna Eliza
The Desert News, edited in the interests of the
Mormons, is located on Main street and occu-
pies quarters in the Tlthing institution. One of
the editors is out on $1,000 bail; cause, too
many wives.
The Mormons DO most of their business under
the head of lions Cooperative Mercantile In
stitution. One Of the buildings located on Main
street has frontage of 200 feet and is SIS feet in
length. We were told that they did business
last yeor there of S., 600, 900. They have branch
stores in most of the towns and cities in Utah
territory. The city is supplied with electric
light, gas water and street railroads. The water
is brought from City Greek Canyon, through the
principal streets, in iron pipes