Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-21
A,notsg the Latter Day SAINTS.

SALT LAKE CITY, April Sd, 1886.
Editor Repuolican:-In my last communica-
ton Ileft you at the entrance of "Grand Can
yop," at Canen Station. or rather Canyon City,
Al miles west of Pueblo. Here, the penitentiary
Is located, and we saw the United States mar
shall march off three culprits hand-cutfed to-
yether In few minutes after leaving Canyon
City Station, we enter the Royal Gorge. In
going up Clear Creek Canyon two day before
thought the scenery was fine, but if 1 had seen
the Royal Gorge before seeing Clear Creek Can
yon scenery would not have considered the
latter worthy of opening my eyes to look at.
The Royal Gorge is not only wonderful, but it
is magniicenfly stupendous, SO much so. that
any language 1 can bring to bear on it. can give
only very faint description of 1t. Here, the
wonders of nature and art seem to be perfect,
and are SO far ahead of anything that ever saw
or read of, that was completely astounded.
The Gorge proper is nearly five miles long, with
the river rushing down through it Il was told) at
the rate of seven miles an hour, with the rail-
road close to the water, and just barely room
enough for both. Father and took our stand
on the platform of the rear coach, SO we could
see all that could be SEEM In looking up. there
was metimes no sky to be seen, the walls Of
granite TO ~ering up almost Perpendicular on
each side, from fifteen hundred TO three thons-
and feet above Us, and not only perpendicular,
but sometimes projecting over US. Never before
in my life time, was so impressed with mans
insignifcance and the vastness ofthe supreme
Architect of the universe" We emerge from
Grand Canyon to climb Mount Montgomery by
a very ciIcuitous route 1t is twenty-five miles
from the base of the mountain, by railroad, to
what is called MARSHALL pass" but ! think it
can't be more than nine or ten miles, las the
crow flies" but this is merely conjecture. as no
one told me how far it was in a straight line.
When nearing Marshall Pass" we looked
down the mountain side, and could see the
track in four different places, which we had Just
run over, In running this twenty-five miles, I
counted "a snow sheds from, say 500 feet to
quarter of mile each in length. Our train con-
sisted of five coaches, drawn by two engines,
and in going round the curves, we could often
see both of the engines and one of the coaches
ahead of US. When we got to the crest of the
pass, we could see the bald, snowy head of the
M )untain, several thousand feet above US.
Marshall Pass is IL, $50 feet above sea level. We
had now to descend about 5000 feet, conse-
quently one of our engine had to do, was TO hold
back the train.
1t was now past o'clock, and we were soon
comfortably. We passed through Black Canyon
about midnight, so Of course we missed seeing
that scenery.
got up next morning at day-break, expecting
to be still in the mountains, but found that we
had entered the Great American desert, and
surely it is desert enough. For least 40 miles
it is dreary, barren waste, devoid of vegeta-
ton, except an occasional ghost of a wild sage
plant struggling for existence. However, it is
quite a relief to the eye to look off north or
outh to the mountains, distant from so to leo
miles, with their snow-capped peaks towering
among the clouds. All the signs of animal life
which we saw in this desert region, was few
crows two mountain rabbits and an antelope,
and l almost think that they came down from
the mountains to find out if the strikers in
the East had resumed.work. The soil all thro'
this vast solitary region is certainly deep enough,
and to all appearance rich enough, and am not
going to tell you how this arid territory seems
to be the want of moisture. aud the surface is
covered with a white crust. which shows that
4
did not see drop of water nor crossed a run
ming stream for at least 80 miles, but the ground
was cracked and literalls packed it seemed. AT
last we got out of this monotony and entered
Utah Valley, Springvilie being the first station,
and really it seemed like a feast for our eyes to
look upon. Springville is the first Mormon set
Element that the ''Gentile" encounters travelling
from the East. and is beautifully located and
pleasant village of about twelve hundred in
and with the exception of Denver
City, was the first sign or approach to thrift and
we had seen since we crossed the Mis-
sissippi. Leaving Springville, we were soon run
ming along the banks of Utah Lake where we
passed several villages, all of which showed the
Lake is beautiful sheet of water some 80 miles
long, with an average breadth of 10 miles. From
here the view is magnificent, the Wasatch range
towers up against the eastern sky, while to the
west the Squirrel Mountains send upward tall
spires that seem to pierce the clouds. The river
Jordan connects Utah Lake with the Great Salt
Lake, and is quite a river for this part of the
country. which we cross several times before
we get to Salt Lake City, ergo, father and have
passed over JoIdon." Utah Territory has an
estimated population of two hundred thousand
ninety per cent. of which belong to the Mormon
Church.
When we get within ten miles of Salt Lake
City we have fine view of the capital of the
Territory. 1t is built Upon an undulating plain,
gently sloping towards the south, and is distant
about twelve miles east of Great Salt Lake, but
we have just met the Sleeper party here on their
way home, and we have too much to tell each
other about to give you any more at present
We all intend to worship with the Saints" IN
their tabernacle tomorrow Sunday and if
can find ''leisure hour" will give you a short
description of this city and its peculiar people,
in my next. Yours &C.,
]. G. FORD.
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