The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-18
FROM SALT LAKE CITY.

Editor Free Press:
This may we'll be called city of mag
niticent distances. stated in former
letter that the blocks were $50 feet
square. A little figuring will demon
strate the fact that this is just 40 rods,
and that each block contains ten acres Of
land, enough for fair sized park, and
woe be to the "tenderfoot" who counts
distance here by blocks and forgets that
eight blocks make a full mile; he is in
danger of becoming tender-footed in re-
atty. The block upon which the &C.
clesiastical buildings of the Mormon
church are located is surrounded by a
wall some twelve feet high. On either
side is a large gate for ingress and egress.
This lends to the picture a quaint APP
pearance, and reminds the beholder of
the settles of refuge" The next square
east of the temple block is also walled,
and contains the residences of the late
President Brigham Young. These build
ings are somewhat commodious for the
accommodation of his numerous family,
without any display of architectural
beauty. On the cupola of one is an inn
mense beehive; on the portico of anoth-
or lion; and what is known as the ca
gle gate is point where the south wall
has been pierced and arched for drive
way, and on the top of this arch stands
an immense eagle. This wall like many
others still standing, is composed of cob
BILE stones and cement. Its appearance
| is unique, while it possesses all the re-
| sisting qualities of any stone wall. Many
| of these large squares have been sur
rounded with these walls, and it is no
unusual thing to see forty or eighty rods
still standing in MANY parts of the city,
but they are fast giving way, and in a
few short years there will scarcely be
enough left to mark the era in which
they were built. On bench of one of
the foot hills adjacent to the city an en-
terprising saint has erected tower, not
for the same purpose that Babel was
built nor more than one-third its hight.
From the top OF this tower command
ing view of the city and valley may be
obtained flor ten cents). When stand
ing on this tower could plainly discern
the waters of Utah Lake, thirty miles in
the distance. The city lay spread out
before me with the top of the temple
and the tallest spire far beneath my feet.
The sight is as imposing as it is lovely.
On the square southwest of the temple,
and fronting on Main street, is situated
the buildings of u. c. NJ. |. This build
ing is 100 feet front and 3I8 feet deep,
three stories and basement. 1t contains
all the different departments of trade,
and gives employment to about 125 per-
sons. Their shoe factory, which turns
out some 400 pairs per day; their tan
merry, and their clothing factory, are all
situated in the city, and furnish employ
ment for about go persons. They have
also branch supply houses at Ogden, Lo.
gan and Provo. The paid-up capital o.
, this institution is said to be one million
dollars, and their annual sales about five
, millions. From these supply depots
! goods are sent into every ward in the
; city and every village in the territory
and sold on the cooperative plan. Thi
: no doubt Gas Mormons ciaimj has hac
I some influence in reducing prices, We
4 in my judgment nothing but active anC
: legitimate competition will ever plac,
supplies in the hands of consumers "a
the lowest attainable rates.
The criminal statistics of Salt LAX,
City for the year 1885 show that with
e population of $4,000, of whom 20,SO
g were Mormon and $500 Gentle, onl,
: VI Mormons were arrested, while ther,
j. were l,1S0 Gentle arrests. This is
+ grand showing in favor of the Mormon
9 as law-abiding and peace loving PEG
. Pile, but it must be understood that tn,
0 city officials were Mormons, and some o
r that faith may have escaped the yigi
: lance of their brethren on the polio,
4 force. | have before me the report O
Q the Utah penitentiary for the year 1855
:, and find that under the laws of congress
237 persons have been convicted of un
!. lawful cohabitation and adultery durin,
!, the year, nearly all of whom have serveC
. or are now serving that institution tn,
: time allotted them by the court undo
q the provisions of law. This is the darl
: side of the Mormon picture, but if thei
: claim be true that not more than tw,
! per cent. of the Mormon population o
/ the territory have at any time been liv
ing in polygamy, this blot on the fai
{ fame of American institutions will soor
: disappear under the yigilant prosecution
e OF law. The government has established
!, an industrial home IN this city for tn,
. women who are thus separated from
: their too muchly married husbands
t The building is now being finished up
and will cost $36, 900, including the site
and is quite an ornament to that part O
3 the city, as well as a representation O
!, the governments charity for these un
fortunate women and their children
but | will close, fearing prolixIty.
: Salt Lake City, U. T., Jan. ~.
III. E. GARRETT.