The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-09-22
An Interesting Letter From Prof. Hudson
Sheldon.

| onciuOn.
The TIMES is pleased to give its read
ers letter from the pen of Prof. Hudson
b. Sheldon, written under date of Sept
10th, at Santa Ana, California, to w. A.
Rosenkrans, of Corunna.
My DEAR WILL. We are beginning to
feel at home now, but probably will be
entitled to be called tenderfeet for some
time longer. The trip out was without
incident; but we gained a better con-
ception of our Uncle Samuers vast es-
tate than we had before. We also began
to ask ourselves what he wants of the
Philippines when he has SO much land
only partly developed already.
II you come out in the summer, you
cannot miss it II you go through Colo
RADIO. This route would probably be
uncomfortable in winter. Between Col
orado Springs and Grand Junction we
saw some of the most stupendous noun
tain scenery. But after time noun
tains, rocks, precipices, and the like,
tire one, and after every possible COM
bination of cliff and abyss has been wit
messed we find sameness even in Colo
RADIO scenery. II ever am in the state
again, however, shall arrange for a
stop over In Colorado Springs and shall
find out whether my lungs will stand a
trip to the top of Pixies Peak. You can
60 up by rail; but imagine there would
be more pleasure in walking. Manitou
and the Garden of the Gods are also at
hand, and from the glimpses caught of
both from the train, seem the most beau
tiful places have ever witnessed.
One thing person learns to apprec-
| ate, the value of irrigation. The east
ern base of the Rockies Is desert, ex-
cept where irrigation is practical.
There the sage-brush gives place to crops
finer than the Michigan farmer ever
dreamed Of. Alfalfa, fruit, and vege-
tables make the place garden. The
region about Salt Lake is one of the
finest farming countries 1 ever saw.
Michigan has nothing to compare to it.
l cannot appreciate the prophetic vision
of the Mormon leaders who saw in the
arid desert such possibilities of devel-
ment. Whatever we may think of Brig
ham Young, we must confess that he
showed rare qualities of leadership and
craftsmanship in building up his COM
munity. ~
We passed very pleasant and profit
able day in Salt Lake City. The temple
and tabernacle are the chief points of in
terest. We made hasty trip to the
lake and saw one of the most desolate
bodies of water in the world. One-sixth
is salt and nothing lives in it. There is
tithing house (Which we did not see)
to which every true Mormon wends his
way to turn over to.the church one-tenth
Of his worldly gain. The church, in
turn, has many places of business where
1t disposes OF produce thus acquired.
The city is very well kept. Each square
covers ten acres and on each side of
every street i'm town there is a current
of water from the mountains. The Wah-
satch mountains are to be plainly seen
on the horizon. The Mormons are to be
found more on less In all the Basin and
Pacific states, some in California. There
are two branches: one believes in poly
gamy, the other repudiates the doctrine
of Young and claims to represent the
religion of Joseph Smith In its early
purity. This branch. which has church
In Los Angeles, opposes polygamy.
This much seems certain-The great
mass OF Mormons are uncomonly indus
trious and frugal. Perhaps this is due
to the fact that so many of them are de-
scendants of European peasants. Wom-
en- in Utah have by law and custom, all
the privileges of their sisters in the
east, and some extra ones peculiar to
themselves. A lady whom we met on
tabernacle grounds told us that she had
been member of the tabernacle choir
until her increasing medical practice
prevented her from sparing the time. I
j had the pleasure of listening to a very
interesting exposition of the Mormon
doctrine from the lips of one who was
evidently firm believer, and was sorry
to learn that il did not believe after
having had the light presented to me,
my fate in the next world would be
worse than if had NOT come to Salt
Lake at all.
Some Mormon missionaries came to
Santa Ana last winter, but left because
the inhabitants seemed bent upon maxi
ing the beautiful California climate too
hot for their health
Business conditions here in Santa Ana
are much similar to those In Michigan.
Banks charge from six to eight per cent
and pay four. There is said to be any
amount of money in the market. The
county last Tuesday voted by five to one
to bond itself for 100000 to build a
court house. Santa Ana is the only