The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-09-19
A TRIP WESTWARD.


west is no longer a terra tncOgnlt0.
Railroads have brought Salt Lake City
into jastlIng proximity with the Nisslssip-
p Valley, and to write of this New Zion
81 GEMS ike dealing with a subject 81 close
ts the experience Of all that what Is SAID
n Ist appear trite.
And yet there is something in this
famous Valley with It's mystic sea which
sti-s the imagination. 1t Is ancient IN
ST. ages ion though not in history, and 1t
Sc ans as if the haze which battles the
mountains has mystery in its depthf.
Ghs clouds move on as If pregnant with
tradition, aud the valley slumbers as II
wsaried nth historic lore. Some years
20 when | first looked down on this
valley from one OF the nights which en-
;ircie it, prejudice against Mormons
irppped from me las scales from the eyes
Of Pasl." Their history appeared scrip
,ursl aud ancient, written upon the
oarpIebIlls and scarcely less modern than
0 Egypt and the house of bondage has
a setting OF historic adornment and the
interest OF antiquity to commend 1t to
our imagination. But how insignificant
the flight, how dwarfted the purpose
wren compared with that of tbs Nor
mons. There was no mama shower
. down from heaven for these peo-
pl5 IN their long and weary march over
mountains which seemed to be barriers
So by nature against mans further prog
rgss westward. No evidence of divine
guidance wds voucesafed them. No
promise OF land rich in earthly bles-
sings
They planted the seeds of an empire
after having conquered the mountains,
e9d did not lapse into degenerrecy be
tuse Of isolation. It is one of the great
est achievements known to our history
and should receive the recognition 1t
merits. Prejudice blinds US to the glory
OF this heglra Of our own age and OF q
part Of our own people, of this wonder
ful self-rellanoe which welcomed sepa-
ration from the civilized world while not
oscarding the methods of civilization.
They took with them their brains and
their hands and without outside as
sIstauce, scorning commercial and social
Intercourse with the world of which they
were part. but not of it, they built up
State which challenges admiration.
Nature has done much for Utah. II is
the repository Cf the richest gifts of the
geologic ages when prodigality was the
rule, though discrimination as to locality
also governed. Utah has all the precious
metals and many of those whose value
lies in their contributing directly to the
needs of man. Its valleys are fertile and
irrigation is not difficult. Its agricultural
interests are diversified and all are in a
healthy state. Ogden and Salt Lake City
are cities Of commercial Importance. One
Is apt to imagine the latter, in the light
Of It's origin, as more unique IN its
features than enterprising In It's activity.
II Is bustling city, alive to all the
interests which give a city pre-emInence.
There Is uothing suggestive of conser-
vatlem in anything pertaining TO the
city. 1t has the vim of the west with
much Of the stateliness of the east, and
wears an air of conscious strength which
makes one feel it can command the
future.
On the trip homevard Glenwood
Springs LeadvIlle, Bnena Vista and
Canyon City were visited. Glenwood
Springs is a delightful resort. The hotel
there is magnificent one while It's sur
rouudlngs are beautiful IN the extreme
he place is restful and elegant, sugges-
tive OF wealth without feature OF pre-
tension. The bathing pool, fountains,
yaPor. caves, flower beds and the dreamy
restfulness OF everything, nestle into ones
recollectiOns as do the thoughts of wood
land paths OF early days.
Leadvllle is a wicked mountain CITY
where neither the spirit of man" or any,
thing elae is divine. 1t is mining city
and it's surroundings are honeycombed
with shafts. The sulphurous fumes OF
smelling works flavor the mountain air
dlssSreeably, and the inconstant weather
mlngles the seasons confusedly. Lend
vile IS wicked, but begins to feel the
mellowlng touch ct age, and virtue is
making inroads on its athletic obduracy.
Cripple Greek has shorn all these towns
Of their bad eminence" and now relgns
supreme.
Canyon City is promise of the future
OF Colorado when 1t turns its attention
TO the products of the soil. 1t is one OF
the most productive fruit sections of the
United States. The valley in which
Canyon City lies is specially adapted to
the growth OF apples, pears and grapes,
II Is difficult 10 realize the bearing
capacity OF fruit in this section TIE
brees are not only propped up but have
platforms sracted to bear their maturing
burdens. The people there are for free
silver but their energies are exerted IN
more fruitful channels.
feel half inclined to apologize TO the
reader for having written SO much on this
sdbJect that Il embarrassing. Not that
she subject re at fault, but because
general mention is always unsatisfactory
and detailed description. under circum-
stances governing this trip, would prove
too lengthy. The west is an interesting
country 20 lis of the plains because of ITS
surface CONFORMATION and the grand
scenery TO which this gives rise. But it
IS bouLd 20 us by the ties of common
interest and it is well that we form the
acquaintance of Its people. We can learn |
much from them not, the least of which |
Is the CHEEKY welcome and the absence of |
tlresome conventiouality. Just at present |
there appears to be conflicting interests. |
these are more apparent than real as |
time VIII soon demonstrate.
HISInySEN Wp,TupU SrpVIrr