The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-01


to Rexburg, the principal settlement of TIT
Bannock stake.
| On Thursday, the Goth, we held meeting!
at MILFORD and Teton. On the following
| day our party, consisting of F. M. Lyman
Thomas E. Kicks, William F. Rigby, Axe
| 0. +. Nelson, Arsa Hinckley, Jesse Clark
wife and myself, drove to the Teton basin OF
valley which is situated east of the Snake
River valley. From Teton ward we wen
a distance of about thirty-five miles tt
Pratt's ranch, which is situated about eight
miles south from the north end of Tetor
valley. On Thursday, the 22d, we held {
meeting at the house of Mathoni w. Pratt
and number of those present expressing {
desire to have a ward organized, the organ
ization was effected as follows:
MATHoNI W. PRATT, BISHOP;
! Thomas r. Wilson, first counselor; Apollos
2. briggs, second counselor: Don c. briggs
George H. Wallace, Edlei Edlefsen anC
Edwin S. Little, teachers. Before oul
meeting we took a ride of several miles east
OF the Pratt ranch, so as to get a good idea
of the country; and in the afternoon we
drove to the mouth of Teton creek and
then to the south end of the valley. On
the following day we returned from the
south end of the valley stopping with Ed
win S. Little at the ranch of Spencer
ClaWson and next day returned to ReXburg.
TETON VALLEY
is about ten or twelve miles from east to
west by twenty-five miles from north to
south. There is as fine land in the valley
as any that have ever visited; but, with
the exception of Trail creek, we crossed no
running water in any of the principal
creeks which heretofore fed the Teton
river. The water sinks shortly after
leaving the mountains. We learned from
those who had visited the valley during the
month of August in years past, that creeks
which were now found dry We're then large
streams and that fording them was a dan
gerouS matter.
There has been little or no farming done
in this vicinity, as it is generally supposed
to be too cold to mature small grain. We
saw some patches of grain and vegetables
grown simply as test, that were in very
good condition, and had not, up to the time
of our visit, been bitten by frost
We were told that the fishing in some of
the steams was first class, but we did not
take the time to indulge in the sport. We
saw number of prairie chickens, and
am convinced that they are tanner than the
ordinary chicken, as 1 succeeded in killing
a number myself.
Coming from the south end OF the valley,
we called at the ranch of Young Bros,
and had the pleasure of meeting there Mrs
Katie S. Young, son and daughters, of this
city.
IN June. 1884, had the privilege of visit
ing the Bannock stake and was wonder
fully surprised on my recent trip to dis
GOV er the many improvements which had
been made. The statistical report ending
April 30, 1884, read at the conference
showed that there were S75 souls in the
stake. The report ending July /, 1889,
which was read at the recent conference
showed that there were 8, 422 souls in the
stake. In addition to this number there
were two wards that were not reported and
a number of small branches. l am con-
WINGED that there ara fully 1000 souls
in the Bannock stake at the present time.
Upon my pl eyious visit we had to cross
the Teton river on raft, and it was con-
sidered somewhat dangerous. At the
present time all of the water of the Teton
river is taken out by canals, there being
twenty-five canals supplied by this one
river At the time of my former visit
there were but two. In 1884 we crossed
the ferry at the north fork of the Snake
river go ng to ReXburg, and the opposite
bank of the river was overflowed from
quarter to half mile. To-day it is very
easy matter to ford the Snake river by
team at thissame point. In 1884, where we
crossed the south fork of the Snake river,
should say from six to fifteen feet deep.
To-day the river is about one-third
of this, width and can be readily
forded. In 1884 we crossed in a boat and it
was considered dangerous. There are two
large canals Supplied from the south fork
of Snake river, on the north side and a
large number from the south side. ] was
told that the total width of those on the
south side amounted to two hundred and
frr,n fyrf %ln+ = IN,,,
was three feet The north fork of Snake
river supplies two large canals and num-
Der of small ones.
To-day there are
FIVE MERCHANDISE STORES
in ReXburg and one drug store. In 1884
there was but one ward in the Bannock
stake; to-day there are over twenty.
The crops generally throughout the stake,
while they are fair, are hardly up to the
average. Last April the -four and steam
planning mill at ReXburg was destroyed by
fire, the total loss being about twelve
thousand dollars but there is now a new
three-stOry and basement rock mill being
built at Rexburg. As so feet The machin-
cry, including what would..be necessary for
a saw mill, will cost $500. The entire
cost of the building ana machinery when
completed will be about sixteen thousand
dollars. The Great Western Milling com
pany has the contract for furnishing the
machinery, and it will be of the latest i'm
proved roller patent. 1t is the intention in
the near future to construct mill race so
as to use water power.
The people at the Teton ward are con-
structing a canal to Canon creek. This
canal will be very expensive one and
will be in the neighborhood Of twenty miles
long.
On Sunday the 25th we had meetings at
Rexburg. The people gathered in from
the adjoining settlements and we had a
large, If not larger, congregation than was
present at the quarterly conference
On Monday the Goth we drove from
Rexburg to Eagle Rock. and in the evening
held meeting at that place. The small
hall was crowded to its full capacity, many
people being unable to gain admittance.
On the following morning we took the train
for home.
There is large roller mill being con-
structed at Eagle Rock which will be a
valuable acquisition to the place. Zion's
Cooperative Mercantile Institution and
the Cooperative Wagon and Machine COM
pany have established branch houses here
and are doing very satisfactory business
Snake River valley is a very extensive
one indeed, and there is no doubt in my
mind that Bannock stake will yet become
one of the largest in the mountains. Under
the Idaho test oath law a person once be-
longing to the Mormon church is not per
mitted to register until he shall have been
or have Withdrawn from
the church for period of TWO years In
Bingham county they have refused to issue
certificates to any Mormon as a school
teacher. The only privileges1now remain
ing to Mormon in that country