Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21

Prophet Joseph Smith, and had their
rallying point at place called Winter
Quarters, now Council Bluffs, Iowa.
From here the migration westward
was begun and was vigorously pushed
forward until the fall of 1917 when the
population had increased to about 1000
souls, Treaties were promptly made
with the various tribes Of Indians and
settlements were soon founded In all
parts of Utah, and with the application
Of that thrift that has made Mormon
ISM synonymous with industry the
world over, an era Of prosperity was
inaugurated.
The difference h9'wesn the site whore
the city now stands, contrasted with
the bleak, desolate and unlnyiting APP
pearance Of fifty-four years ago, Is
about as great as can be imagined save
that its general surface was then as
now gently unduating and almost free
from marked elevations or depressions
A short distance east Of the Temple
block the main stream Of city creek
divided into two branches, one II which
flowed almost due west TO the Jordan,
nearly following the line OF North Tenn
Pile street, In fact the culvert on that
street lies In the bed OF the ancient
stream much Of the distance to the
river, The other branch Of the creek
flowed in a southerly direction between
what are now East Temple and State
streets, and when Its volume was too
large to sink into the thirsty earth It
overlooked the banks and emptled into
the marshes TO the southwest Along
the banks Of these two streams
were numerous clumps Of scrub oak.
sloughs and marshes existed in the
western and southwestern part Of the
city and in that vicinity were limited
areas covered with grass and rushes,
but the greater part OF the land now
embraced within the city limits was
dry and desert-lke In appearance, and
without vegetation except as, to a
sparse covering OF dwarfed sage brush.
rabbit brush, salt weeds, the scrub oak
referred TO- and a few cottonwood trees
and some willows It's slope is general
and in southwesterly direction, while
on the north and east the Wasatch
mountains comprised an enclosing am
phitheater.
THE FUTURE CITY.
Grandeur OF scope and environment
characterized the site OF the future
city Of the Saints in a marked degree
but its desert character and climate
restitution Of useful fauna and fora
distance from civilization and seeming
barrenness Of natural resources would
have deferred any but the Mormon
Pioneers from an attempt at making a
settlement in so forbidding a spot
Mountains are source OF inspiration
to the loftiest ideals and emotions, and
the people Of Utah hold in peculiar re-
gard the majestic specimen OF natures
architecture which towers over the
northern part Of the city, and to which
the Pioneers, Immediately after their
arrival in the valley, gave the name Of
Ensign Peak. II Is a striking land
mark. plainly visible from every part
Of the city 1t Is surmounted by a
steel flag STAFF 100 feet in height, from
which Old Glory proudly floats on pa
triotic occasions. In form, height and
dimensions the emnence is as majestic
as its history is sacred, while the view
from It's summit is magnificent
AN INSPIRING SCENE.
Towering mountain ranges whose ser
rled tops are tipped with caps Of snow
well nigh everlasting; a fertile valley
Of beautiful homes and farms and or
chards redeemed from the most uninvlt-
ing sterilty; the world wide famous
Dead Sea Of America" with its saline
shores and irregular islands, the slowly
winding and lazy Jordan which has its
only counterpart in the Holy Land OF
old and the city OF the Saints now set
amidst forest OF beautiful shade trees,
constitute the principal features OF the
picturesque scene that lays at the feet
Of the beholder