Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-01
ATnLEY VALLEY.


Edi,or Dcssrh AcUG
While travelling over the mountains
and doeDrls, and through canyons and
forests during tbs past few years Of my
life, cnJeavofing 10 reach all the
srtllements OF tue Saints In thu Rocky
Mountains, have often had reiiec.
tions like these: suppose the Saints
had not been driven from their homes
In Jackson County, Missorh, nor from
any OF their former places Of gathering
In Ohio, Missouri anu Illinois, how
comfortably aud conveniently could we
not have been located today. A few
fertile counties Of Missourl-sRy n
scope OF country consisting Of about
fiity miles square, with Jackson Coun.
ty ~ the centre, could contain and
sustain all the Latier.day Saints now
exciting upon the earth In an organ.
lied capacity, provided, that the same
heavenly blessings and prosperity fol-
lowed them which has characterized
their movements IN these noun.
tains. Were We thus locat.
cd NJ compact community, It
would be IN easy matter for an Elder
with a special mission 10 visit all the
wards and organizations OF the
Church; but as II now Ii IT takes man
several years OF hard and constant
travel over rOmo OF the worst aud
most dangerous roads imaginable to
get around 10 oil the stakes OF Zion, ~
they are organized at the present time.
1t seems us II the saints ARE being
gathered In from the different nations
Of tbs earth 10 scatter again immediR-
tely ON their arrival at Headquarters.
Tins N undoubtedly all right aud con-
sistent with the great plan Of Jehovah
In tile contamination vi the latter-day
dlspunsaliou, but the facts IN the case
are, nevertheless ~ | have stated, and
they have been deeply impressed upon
my mind during this my nrst visit TO
Ashley Valley, or the uintah Stake OF
Zion, TO reach which / have had to
cTOes wild, uninhabited country,
which put me In mind Of crossing the
plains with teams many years ago.
On Wednesday the third Inst, set
out from Hebvr city, WAsatch county,
with IA one-hpfse buggy, accompanied
by one lady passenger and child, for
the purpose OF visiting the Saints in
Uintah stake. Five miles Travelled In
"a southeasternly direction brought us
10 the mouth Of Daniels Greek canyon,
up which, over rocky anu sOmew hat
dangerous road, We continued the
Journey for nearly twenty miles fur
Their, which brought US 10 the rim OF
the basin, or tho divide, which separ-
atos the waters that cou.se their way
through Daniels Creek, the proyu
river, Utah Lake aud tho Jordan 10
the Great salt Lake nom those that
reach the Pacific ocean by the way OF
Strawberry Greek and the Duohesne,
Green and Colorado rivers. The sum.
nit Of this divide ~ nearly 5000 feet
above ths level OF the sea, and the
traveller at this point tinds himself sur.
rounded by forests VI pine aud quicken
ASP, and his views cat or by tho eur
rounding mountains.
From this elevated point the road
d,scends gently for three miles 10
Straw berry Creek, where we camped
for the night, after being overtaken
by two teams containing two families
who were 10 he our travelling com.
panions 30 Ashley. The altitude being
40 high the night proved cool aud the
air was 10 thin that at least the baby
part ui the company failed 10 slpep,
and instead kept up a regular scroain
during the night, preventing the reat
OF us from getting that rest and repOse
which our mental and physical organ
izatlon stood In need OF.
Thursday, the 4th, we continued
our Journey down strawberry Valley,
which AZ this time 81 the season was
dotted with camps, whose occupants
were principally rustioating Salt
Lahers, who, finding tho August sun
In the lower valleys hot and the mir
suitry, had sought high altitude
whore the atmosphere IL cooler aud the
mountain breeSes puier. There were
nley number OF Indian wigwams
pitched on some Of the bends OF Straw.
berry creek. Evidently their ooou.
pants were here for the purpose OF
flshiug,
After proceeding down Strawberry
Valley for several miles our captain,
Brother McCarrol, led the way over a
cutoil leading over very swRmpy and
rpringy part OF tho valley, where on
several occasions our horses came very
near mlring own, and our vehicles
too; aun before getting across We had
fully determined to take another road
coming back.
Leaving strawberry valley, which by
the way was covered with luxurlant
grasses representing vast meadow,
our road leg over a succession OF steep
hills, until hnallywe looked down from
an eminencs upon Currant creek,
tributary OF Strnwberry creek, aud the
next hall hounIound US travelling down
one OF the Iockiest and steepest dug.
WAYS that l ever drove u team over.