The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-08
IMPRESSIONS OF
A FRUIT-GROWER.
Crossing the Continent San Francisco
to Salt Lake City.
Some Horticultural Comparisons From Cal
ifornia Standpoint-A Mormon Con-
gregation at Worship.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

oHOW-SHeuS III llo EOIClldS uIt II UOI6, anu
spoil the view of some of the finest scenery
in the world. And then the high Nevada
plateau is decidedly monotonous, though in
some lights beautiful; there is too little
variety, and one tires of mile after mile Of
the same blue-gray in hills and sage-brush.
When the little oasis OF Humboldt Is
reached, the weary passengers get out and
remark to one another how pleasant it is to
see patch of green. There has been an
early snow and the high points all around
have thin snow mantle. All around Salt
Lake there are patches of snow lying on
the ground even this early in the winter.
1t is bright and warm in the sun, but in
this high altitude the snow does not melt
on the north side of buildings and has been
on the ground for several days.
| met, along on the stretch between Ogden
and Salt Lake, very pleasant gentleman
from the peach region of Georgia, and
chatted with him about frult-growing there
and in California. He remarked that
they grew the largest peaches in the United
States in Georgia, that he had some on his
ranch (or farm as he said) that summer that
would measure eight inches in circumfer-
ence l smiled a very superior smil6 and
said that l gathered a whole boxful OF
peaches on my ranch in California and all
of them were twelve inches IN circumfer-
ence, and some of them would weigh over
sixteen ounces apiece. | was going on to
tell him of some of the really large peaches
of which our local papers bear testimony,
when | was CHI ecked by the look on his facs
which plainly said, Yes, | see you are like
all the rest of the Californians in regard to
BIG STORIES"
He evidently did not believe even what
had told him, and il | mad gone on and
given him a really big story | do not know
Nh ySnulf baya bannAuaHf As III
relations between US were little strained;
but my friend seemed to forget what liar
l was in time, and we explored Salt Lake
City together. Although he was Southern
gentleman, lie had the true Yankee style Of
asking questions, and would put very lead
ing" ones to the followers of Joe Smith.
When in the Titning House he asked one
of the men in charge what means they used
In old times to compel reluctant believers TO
pay over the tenth Of their goods. looked
for an explosion, and perhaps ali exDui-
sion, but the man only got little red in the
face and said quite angrily that there never
was the slightest need OF compuislon; that
the contributions in old times were just as
they were now in this and other churches
free gifts of the people.
We attended service at the grand taber-
nacle, where was assembled a great multi
tude, for Mormon conference and an agri-
cultural fair we're In operation at the same
time, and the city was full of people from
hundred miles or more back in the noun
tains the devout had come in on horseback,
on foot, or in some sort of a conveyance.
There were said TO be some II, 900 people in
the vast tabernacle, but l think this was an
overestimate. At any rate, all the seats
were full, and even standing room, except
ing at the back, was taken.
1t was an extremely common" l0okin 9
assembly. Hardly pretty face among the
women and hardly an intelligent one among
lSnlRtalIV GpPmQt
have the stamp of the lower grade of life
marked plainly on their faces. They were
plainly dressed, with
HARDLY ANY ATTEMPT AT ADoRNMENT.
A large proportion of both men and
women were apparently OF the North Ger
manic stock. They seemed to be stolId,
dull, thrifty and very material-minded con-
gregation. The service was that OF holy
communion, and all Of the great men OF the
church were present. Some good addresses
were made, of which, however, little could
be heard, for there were hundreds of babies
III the auditorium, and when one cried there
seemed to be no thought of taking it out.
1t was queted if possible, if not, it cried
until it got tired, and the effect was a con-
tinued blending OF infantile walls from all
parts of the building, and | think there
were never less than six, and sometimes
fifteen or twenty babies. all doing their best
TO drown the voices of the speakers.
The elements, consisting of bread and
water, were passed around amid this noise
and partaken OF with little II any of the rev.
ererce and devotion that is displayed in
other denominations. All partook except
the smallest children, but in a careless,
matter of-fact way, without either prayer
or bowed head, and. when the bread and
water were fairly swallowed. would con-
tinue talking with their DeishborS or look
ing stoidly around the building.
The people OF this congregation seemed
very poor, or at least in only moderate cir
cumstances, 10 judge by dress. l was later
shown number of fine houses that belong
to backsliders from the church, whom, L
was informed, had grown too rich TO be
willing to pay their tenth every year TO the
church. SO had withdrawn. l understand
that this withdrawal IF the richer men goes
on to some extent continually. These peO-
pie are much more warmly hated in this
world by the devout Mormons and are by
them consigned to much more unpleasant
future existence than even the
"GENTILEs."
l found a decided reluctance on the part
of all inhabitants TO speak of any subject
connected with the Mormon religion. With
the "Genties" this passed away as soon as
they knew they were not talking to Nor
mon, and think was generally IN the first
place not so much fear Of Consequences a,
a simple desire to live on pleasant terms
with their neighbors.
Mr.. Smith and | went up to the United
States fort on the mesa back of the town,
and saw one of the mountain howitZers that
did such terrible work at the wounded
Knee" fight in the last Indian war. We
talked with the soldiers, and found, as L
believed before, that they were just waiting
for chance 10 slaughter the savages aud
pay up old scores. The fight did not come
when they wanted it." however, and good
many of their own men were killed. some by
guns in the hands of their own comrades,
owing to their position at the beginning Of
the firing.
Salt Lake Valley is very beautiful, and is
surrounded by mountains, some of which
are covered with snow the year round. sup
plying uufailing streams for irrigation.
From almost any point on the TANKS CT
these mountains one can see the green floor
of the valley as it gently slopes to the lake
at the west and a l0velier picture one could
not wish to see. 1t is picture of thrifty
little farms and homes, each with its small
fruit orchard; aud it must seem to the hard
working peasants who form Is principal in-
habitants true promised land" One
cannot but admire the wisdom and foresight
of the men who first chose this site for the
Mecca of the latter-day Saints.
Here they had an ineXhauStible soil aud
everlasting springs for irrigation, while the
grandest beauty was on every side; but all
except the material comforts of this won
derful valley seem
TO PASS UNNoTED
BY the average inhabitant. Lake Provo,
eral aspect to Salt Lake.. and there are
many small valleys along the line FROM Salt
Lake to the summit on the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad. The rich soil aud noun
tain streams make irrigation and the
growth Of fruits, cereals and alfalfa Tor
lucern, as it is called here easy and profit
able. In time there will be enough fruit OF
some kinds grown in this region to sup
ply the markets of Salt Lake City, Denver
and the mining towns; but it is impossible
for them to grow fruit as handsome or as
early as what California produces. or that
Will keep nearly as WELL or sell as well. As
to keeping qualities, the express agent at
Salt Lake City told me that even the Der
ries he received from California were in
better shape than those that came IN from
places twenty or thirty miles away.
In cherries We will always have the mar
ket, but in apples, excepting perhaps tho
eally anes. we can never touch IL, for they
grow quantities and are planting more. Tho
fruit isSiner than most of what is grown in
our State, excepting in size, and it is Of
fair size, high color aud smooth skin.