The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-01

1 figure IS covered M1In ROiu ledA aAiufShif~S brightly in the rays of the sun, In some respects more interest attaches l to the tabernacle than the temple prob ably because visitors are allowed to see what is inside. The tabernacle will seat l 5000 people. and the acoustics are so per feet that pin dropped at one end can be l distinctly heard Ht the other. The roof | Is one great dome, one of the grandest 1 ever constructed, and without a single supporting pillar. There is not nail in 1t, iron being exceedingly scarce at the 1 time of construction.
 The beams of the vast roof are held together by leather thongs. At one end 1 is the magnificent pipe organ, with the star of Utah suspended between the two central pipes. the pulpit the seats of the elders and the choir loft that has a seat ing capacity as large as that of many churches The tones of this instrument are wonderfully sweet, and under the ma nipulation of the ssllful organist the volume of melody which swells forth thrills the nearer to the inmost soul.
 Cover a Block.
 The temple buildings cover an entire | block which is enclosed by a high stone wall All the streets of the city are num- 1 bered in the four directions from Temple 1 Square, which is ir the heart of Salt Lake City. Thus the fourth street east of the temple block would be East Avenue D, and the fourth street to the north of the temple would be North Fourth street. As the town is laid off like a l checkerboard this enumeration Is very simple. This system of laying off the city l was devised by Brigham Young. l At one corner of the temple block stands the statue of Brigham Young | facing down the main business street. The tomb of the prophet is in his private cemetery, on the outskirts of town.
 In making the rounds the Bee Hive
 house and the Mormon tithing house
 aome in for a large share of attention. The Bee Hive house is probably the best
 known of Brigham Young's residences.
 There is a wooden bee hive placed on the
 peak of the roof, and hence its name. The name was very appropriate when applied to the dwelling place of the prophets nu- merous domestic swarm The tithing | house is the office where the Mormons come every year and contribute a portion of their goods to the support of the i church.
 Another place of interest Is the site of l Brigham Young's private school. where his children were taught. There were l fifty pupils
 l On the outskirts of the city in the di- rection of Ensign Peak are to be seen | the crumbing remains of the original mud walls of the city. erected by the ] carly pioneers as a defence against the 1 Indians. The walls are only or feet high now and are fast disappearing Un- 1 less attention were called to them one ] would never notice them at all.
 Historic Peak.
 1 Ensign Peak Is quite near the city and is where the immigrants caught the first l glimpse of the valley which they were to make. their own. A flag waving in the l breeze commemorates the spot. From 1 This point q magnificent view can be had i over the broad valley, with Jordan river, 1 Saltalr Beach and the lake in the dis l tance.
 i The Eagle Gate formerly marked the i entrance to Brigham Young's private do- i mains, which were very extensive. The 1 gate Is so named from a huge figure Of an eagle which surmounts the arch At present it spans one of the city streets and serves only as a relic of the early days.
 A few of the log cabins of the first set tiers are vet standing. They constitute one of the interesting features of the town when sightseeing. The modern houses of the Mormons are not imposing, 1 to say the least Most of them are small and exceedingly plain All the style and dash of the town seems to be furnished l by the alien population.
 Huge Establishment. 1 The Mount Zion Cooperative Mercantile i company Is d huge establishment. There is another store of similar size in Ogden i and both do an enormous business. They 1 are conducted by the Mormon church. Both are crowded all the time by the faithful, who come from all parts of the tn f~a1 nd ha ftet ft,t.. 1 tfe coffers, already overfowing of the i church.
 Among other places of interest Is the l University of Utah and the birthplace of I Maud Adams. The university Is in pro- cess of construction and will be very handsome when completed. The birth 1 Eace of the great emotional actress Is in d ruinous state and approaches very near to being cabin, 1t Is not likely that Miss Adams cherishes any great affection 1 for the dreary little cottage which Is now 1 entirely deserted.
 The Most Beautiful Thing. After all the most beautiful thing about Salt Lake City Is the great lake itself ] The oregon Short Line railway travcrscs l the shore of Salt Lake all the way iron, ogden to the Mormon capital, a distance Of about forty miles The broad cxpanses 1 of mlrror-likc water with the snow capped mountain peaks looming up through the clouds on the distant shores make an enchanting picture The lake is slowly drying up, but there is still enough water to make miniature sea ninety miles long.
 When in Utah 1t Is a good plan to steer clear of religious discussions with the Mormons. All, rich and poor. young ana l old, learned and unlearned, the latter 1 largely predomnating. seem possessed | with an endless store of Mormon doctrine and if you ever get into an argument with one of them the only way to get l loose Is hy main force.