The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-09-12
THE BROAD And
BEAUTIFUL WEST
Salt Lake cny, the Magnificent
Home Of the Mormans.
Yellow Stone Park, The Natural
Wonder of America.-TheG Golden
Gate-Its Marvellous Beauty.


because of its general interest to q
reading public, the Herald is permitted
to publish the following private letter
written to personal FRIEND.
Salt Lake City, Utah, Aug. Both,
1912. = Dear -:-Thinking per.
haps it might be of some interest t
YOU, and having little spare time
here this afternoon, | embrace this
opportunity to write you briefly OF q
few OF the many points of interest
that we have been SO fortunate as tc
visit within the past month.
On our gong trip we went as far
as the Cataline Islands, most pic
turesque beautiful group about 81 or
40 miles out in the bosom of the great
blue Pacific Ocean, to me having
been raised in an inland town. a
wonderful and grand body of water.
We then visited Santa Monica, San
GABRIEL. Pascadena, Long Beach, the
Ostrich Farm, Mt. Lowe. Los Angeles
and other points OF interest In this
locality.
In Los Angeles we were much de-
lighted to meet some OF our friends,
who were former COlumbians Mr..
Hugh Gordon, Mr.. Boaz Duncan and
Mrs. McCormicky-formerly Miss
Pinksey Pugh. All Of whom did
much in The way of drives. etc., to
add to our pleasure.
After leaving Los Angeles we took
the coast route to San Francisco,
which was picturesque beyond de-
scription. Most of the day we were
on the ocean beach with the mountains
for background. After reaching San
Francisco, we again had the pleasure
of meeting two former Columbians,
Mr.. Charles Sheppard and Mr.. Ed
Fowler, who we're delighted to see us
and hear from you all.
Our stay in San Francisco was pass
ed most pleasantly going out on excur-
sions to the Cliff House, Sutro's Gard
ems, Golden Gate Park, etc. In the
city we visited many places of inter
est. The Academy of Sciences, Con-
servatories, State Board of Trade, etc.
On the Sabbath we found the First
PRESBYTERIAN Church. OF course it was
much larger and handsomer than ours,
but there was sweet feeling Of "at
home" when we worshipped with the
bretheren.
When we left the Golden State
we went to Yellowstone Park, and l
fear you will doubt my truthfulness
when | tell your we had to put on fan
mel ana saw icicles from five to seven
inches long, frozen during that night.
1t was cold, but clear, and after q
drive of about 80 miles we entered the
wonder Land For description,
here | will have to stop; it was too
marvellous and grand for my pen to
attempt to describe. At one pollt we
would be struck with awe at the ter
rible roar of the ''Black Growler. or
fine boiling mass of mud Geyser."
In few hours drive we were spell
bound with delight over the beauty OF
.'Grand Canyon and "Mammouth
Falls of the Yellowstone.
The wild animals are not allowed
to be molested, and we saw, in their
wild state, quite number OF deer,
gofer, woodchuck, wolves, eagles, wild
geese, duck and white swan. One
evening we counted thirteen bear as
they came out to hunt a supper; all
immense silvertips; weighing from
five to seven hundred pounds each.
After staying week in the Park we,
with few stops Of minor interest,
made our way to this city. l have
often longed to see this place and had
q strange feeling as | entered the home
of the Mormons. As the scenes OF
the day are more vividly impressed
upon my mind. l will give you a
brief outline OF the most interesting
features pertaining to this unique
city. We first entered the Temple
RIock-on which is located 1.-The
Temple. 4" Tabernacle" and Asse mbly
Hall The grounds are most beauti-
fully laid Off and Ornamented with
flowers and handsome shrubbery, the
whole being surrounded by an adobe
wall about IL feet high.
The Temple is 1863 feet long. ~
feet wide, and about 21O feet high. IL
required 40 years to complete this
magnificent structure, which YVES
built of solid granite at cost OF II ur
million dollars. The granite used
being quarried about twenty m lies
from its present Site Many OF the
single stones used in its construction
requiring tour yoke OF oxen four days
to move them to the building site.
This building is not used as place OF
worship, but exclusively for funerals
and marriages. The general public
never being admitted therein.
The Tabernacle is their main place
of worship, and the young lady who
was acting as our guide, gave US
most pressing invitation to come and
worship with them tomorrow. but |
don t think we shall. This building
is $50 feet long, 100 feet wiae and 80
feet high. Has seating capacity OF
~ 600. 1t has the largest self-sup-
ported roof in the world. The &C
coustic arrangement is something
wonderful. We could hear a whisper
at distance of go feet from the
speaker.
The grand organ is the largest IN the
world, with the exception OF one IN