The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-24

Alter issuing from the MOUNTAINS.
writes Orson Fratt, ''among which we
had been shut up for many days, and be-
holding in moment such an extensive
scenery open before US, we could not re-
frain from shout of Joy, which almost
/ involuntarily escaped from our lips the
moment this grand and lovely scenery
was within our view. We Immediately de-
scended very gradually into the lower
parts of the valley. and although we had
but one horse between us, yet we trav-
ersed circuit of about twelve miles be-
fore we left the valley to return to our
company. which we found encamped one
and half miles up the ravine from the
valley and three miles in advance of their
noon halt. 1t was about 9 O'Clock in the
evening when we got into camp
The main body OF the pioneers who
were IN the rear, We're encamped only one
and half miles up the creek from the adj
vance company, with the exception of a
few wagons containing President Young
and Others who were sick with the noun
tain fever. They were encamped further
back in the mountains that night.
| Thursday, July p. ''This morning.
writes Orson Pratt, George a. Smith
and myself, accompanied by seven others
rode into the valley to explore, leaving
the camp to follow on and work on the
road, which here required considerable
| labor, for we found that the canyon at
the entrance of the valley, By cutting out
the thick timber and underbrush, with
some spading and digging, could be made
far more preferable than the route over
the steep hill mentioned above. We ac-
cOrdingly lett a written note to that Ell
feet and passed on. After going down
into the valley about five miles, we
turned our course to the north down to-
ward the Salt Lake For three or four
miles north we found the soil of most
excellent quality. streams from the
mountains and springs were very abund-
ant, the water excellent, and generally
with gravelly bottoms. A great variety
of green grass, and very luXuriant,
covered the bottoms for miles where the
soil was sufficiently damp, but in
other places, although the soil was
good, yet the grass had nearly
dried up for the want of moist
ure. We found the dried places
swarming with very large crickets, about
the size of mans thumb. This valley
is surrounded with mountains, except on
the north; the tops of some of the highest
being covered with snow. Every one or
two miles streams were emptying into it
| from the mountains on the east, many of
which were sufficiently large to carry
mills and other machinery. AS we pro-
ceeded towards the Salt Lake the soil be-
gan TO assume a more sterile appear
the year oYerflown with wafer. We
found as we prodeeded on, great num-
bers of hot springs issuing from near
the base of the mountains. These springs
were highly Impregnated with salt and
sulphur; the temperature CT some was
nearly raised to the boiling point. We
| travelled for about fifteen miles down af-
ter coming into the valley, the latter
parts OF the distance the soil being unfit
for agricultural purposes. We returned
and found our wagons encamped in the
valley, about five and one-quarter miles
from where they left the canyon
The main company broke camp at $50
O'Clock a. M, and soon came up with
Elder Pratt's advance company. There
were several bad places in the road, and
the brethren spent considerable timd in
fixing them. Elder Clayton writes:
lit is evident that the emigrants who
passed this way last year must have spent
a great deal of time cutting a road
through the thickly set timber and heavy
brushwocd. 1t is reported that they
spent sixteen days in making a road
through from Weber river, a distance of
thirty-1ive miles. 1t has taken us over
three days to travel that distatee, as we
had to spend many hours in improving
the road. After travelling one and three
fourth miles we found the road cross
ing the creek again to the south side and
then ascend q very steep hill-so very
steep that it was almost impossible for
heavy wagons TO ascend. and so narrow
that the least accident might precipitate
a wagon down a bank of three or four
hundred feet. in which case it certainly
would be dashed to pieces. To avoid this
very dangerous place the brethren set to
work making new road down
The canyon, along the creek. which
took them about four hours, after
which the company resumed they jour
ney and soon emerged into the open val
ley, travelled I'VE and a quarter miles
further and encamped by small creek.
Days journey, seven and a quarter
miles,
President Young's rear company again
resumed the journey, Travelled few miles
and camped in East canyon.
Friday, july 23.-phis morning John
Pack and Joseph Matthews were dis
TO inform President Young and the
brethren who were with him about the
progress of the advance companies and OF
their explorations. The camp moved
about two miles north and encanped on
the stream subsequently known as City
creek, in what IS now part of the Eighth
ward Of Salt Lake city.
Here the camp was called together. and
Orson Pratt offered up prayer and thanks
giving in behalf of the pioneers, all OF
whom had been so wonderfully preserved
on the whole journey from the Missouri
river to the valley, and he dedicated the
camp and the land unto which they had
come, to the Lord, implorlng his
blessings upon their labors and all
that pertained unto them. The meeting
was then addressed by Willard Richards
and Orson Pratt. after which various COM
mlttees were appointed to attend to differ
emit branches of business, preparatory to
putting in crops. About two hours after
the arrival on the banks of Guy creek,
their camp ground, blowing was COM
menced short distance northeast of the
camp, three plows having been rugged for
that purpose.
George w. Brown iran the first furrow
that was plowed by a white man In
Utah. The furrow was plowed where
Main street, Salt Lake city now is, in
front of where Goddess drug store now