The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-06-24
LETTER FROM UTAH.
OGDEN, Utah, June IA, 1872.


L. P. HUNT, ESQ.
DEAR SIR:-We are in the land of
Mormonism; land far from the sea;
land of lovely sunsets and changing
skies; land of lovely flowers and where
the cactus blooms; land of abundant
fruits and most delicious-come and
see. Land Of the Brighamites; land
of many babies, though not baby
land; land of flowing wells and pure
waters from the mountains; lovely
Handsome and see. Land of great
productions.
One acre will produce one thousand
bushels of potatoes and even more;
almost incredible, yet it is true that
one acre will produce thirteen humid
red bushels of potatoes, and who can
beat that; let the next man speak and
1 will keep silent. Good for Utah.
And one acre will yield seventy-five
bushels of wheat, if watered, but
without water one acre will produce
thirty bushels and make Harrison
pie besides. We have good flour and
good bread in Utah.
Now about the Tabernacle at Salt
Lake City. 1t was built by Brigham
and is most perfect in it's acoustic
properties. 1t will accommodate
twelve thousand men, women and
children. That would take every man,
woman and child in Mankato and
Lake Crystal besides, yet nearly that
many meet in the Tabernacle every
Sunday. They pass the bread and
water, Brigham having decided that
wine was too expensive to pass to SO
many thousands. Their speakers
might speak most naturally and easily
and every one in the vast audience
hear him, but their speakers do not
speak most gracefully and easily.
Brigham was man of few words.
He said, and it was done. He spake,
and it stood fast. But Brigham is
dead, and his grave is still green. He
lies upon the mountain side; beautiful
B. pldCC. LID SCNClUy- OLA duu
nineteen wives followed him to the
grave. He thought to live fifteen
years longer but could not save him.
He died of too much succotash, and
you people of Minnesota know what
succotash is. He took too much of
this corn and beans and nothing could
save him. His coffin was, by his re-
quest, surrounded with dynamite that
nothing might disturb his bones, and
that he might forever rest in peace.
A marble slab lies fiat above his grave
and that is all. His children are all
in business in Utah; are cultivated,
kind and polite. They will tip the
hat to you when you meet them on
the streets; but not all of Brighams
children are Mormons; many of them
have become apostates, and have no
faith in Mormonism and have aban-
doned it. Poor Brigham He did not
believe in it himself. He stood up
for many years and preached a doc
trine he had no faith in. This was
told me by one wdo had heard him for
many years. But he acquired power,
fame and wealth. He left an estate
valued at three millions, yet he went
to Europe at one time as missionary
barefooted.-One characteristic of the
Mormons is the kindness with which
they treat you, in their homes or
wherever they meet you. Progress is
their motto. They wish to keep up
with the Gentiles and catch the spirit
of the age. Their schools are much
better than you would expect; they
are becoming better. Their school
houses are surrounded with beautiful
trees, flowing wells and pure streams
from the melting snow on the noun
tains. Many Of their teachers are
Gentiles and are cultured. The chill
dren despise Mormonism; boys of six
years of age are heard to say, ''my
father and mother are Mormons, but
l am not"
Here lies grea Salt Lake, fourteen
miles from Ogden. near the mountains
which are filed with gold, silver, iron,
lead and copper. Here is the place
for smelters and they will come in
due time. Brigham said this land
was full of precious minerals of all
kinds, but he said no man should
touch them. The mines are now
being penetrated and gold in large
quantities is being found. Surely this
is the land in which to seek home;
many are coming, and still Utah says
come. Here is an open door for every
young man; here you can have beau
tiful home, with flowing wells near,
and pure water from the mountains.
Here is natures great sanitarium and
hot springs, which have flowed ever
since light was made. Here are glori-
Gus sunsets, more beautiful than those
in the noun tains of Switzerland
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