Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-02
OAKLEY, IDAHO.
AN OASIS IN THE DESERT.
Entorprising and Prosperous People
The utah Gospel Mission"

The utah Gospel Mission
Special Correspondence.
oakley Cassia Co., Ida, July 2S.-The
road from Minldoka, the nearest rail
road point, trayerses yeritable des-
ert of IS miles In extent The only
place where water Is encountered Is
at Montgomery ferry on the Snake
river, IA miles from Minidoka The sol.
though very sandy is not barren, huge
masses of sagebrush covering the vast
plains. II By some means water could
be put upon this land Ii would make
homes for teomIng millions. But no
settlements or ranches are encountered
till the towns on Goose creek are
reached, which are like a verltable
oasis in the desert, aourlshing asa gar
den.
The population Of these few towns Is
about $500, composed mostly Of ToOele
people, the great majority are Latter
day Saints. Apostle Lyman is looked
upon as the father and founder of this
commonwealth one of the most thrlv-
ing wards is called Marion after that
great and good man, Brother w, r.
ritory mission, and for years a resident
Of the First ward, Salt Lake city, Is
the president of this Stake. lie is ably
supported by representative pioneers
and frontiersmen, men who thanks to
their indomltable perseverance and IN
dustry are today In comfortable cir
CumstanCes.
The Stake tabernacle, now in course
Of construction Is q notable building
that reflects great credit upon the en-.
terprlse Of the people, A beautiful
Stake academy also graces the town Of
oakley, which has already produced
and sent out into the world talented
young Mormon missionaries, No
more patriotic people can ne found than
those who make their homes here
Utahs Pioneer day was honored from
daylight till dark.
The chief enterprises Of this commu-
nifty are the sheep and cattle Industries,
Everything grows here except tropical
fruits and as the people master the
water problem the country improves
ana the population Increases. There is
now I'm course of construction q huge
dam at the mouth Of Goose Creek can
yon. This Is stupendous and costly
undertaking which will take years to
bring its returns. but nothing dauntcd
the people will complete IT, Norton r.
futile has the general supervision Of
the details, but 1t is q joint stock at
fair
SHEEP WAGON MISSION.
A surprise OF no ordinary character
was sprung upon the residents Of this
inland town when the sheep-wag0n
containing a number Of sectarian min
listers and oceans Of tracts arrived In
the town The Rev. Nutting Of salt
Lake city, Utah, the Rev, Hodge Of
Chicago, ill.,, the Rev. Pratt Of Massa-
chusetts. The first Of these ministers Is
q Presbyterian, the second a Congrega-
tionalist, and the third a Babtist, all
sailing under the title Of the Utah Cos
pei mission. They were treated kindly
by the ward authorities A han was
furnished them and they proceeded TO
advertise that they would hold open
meetings beginning Sunday eve, July
o. The Rev Nuttlng met with the
Latter-day Saints in their Sunday
school services, where he mad the priv
ilege Of hearing the children reclte in
concert the "ATticls Of Faith and the
Ten Commandments At the after
noon service Prest. Jack invited ReYs,
Nutting and Pratt to the pulpit, ana
Mr. Nutting accepted on invitation to
address the people, Many of the au-
dlence had never before seen or heard
a ministerial representative of the OLD
sectarlan denominations, Without dis
arrangement II will be safe to venture
the assertion that the result Of the
Utah mission win be to more thor
oughly ground them IN and convince
the young "Mormons" Of the truth.
Among our visitors on the gath were
Robert l.. Anderson and family Of salt
Lake city who are here on short va
cation.