Amador ledger., 1904-07-01
A TRIP TO THE
WORLDS FAIR
Notes by the Way.

| buildings of the church are located.
Several persons are employed to con.
duct strangers through the different
buildings, and explain the points of in
terest. No charge is made, at least to
the visitors, for this service. Natur-
ally almost every tourist makes for
church block. He cannot help noticing
it, as it takes up an entire block, and
the blocks of Salt Lake are roomy to
conform with the streets. First we
passed through the Deseret Museum,
where curios and relics of early days OF
Mormonism are kept, and where souv-
enirs may be purchased. Next comes
the assembly hail. used for both re-
ligious and secular meetings. 1t is
much smaller than the Tabernacle, al
though its seating capacity is from
1900 to 1000. The Tabernacle, although
| constructed in the pioneer days, is still
a wonderful structure-one of the archi-
tectural curios of the world 1t is $50
feet long by $50 wide, and eliptical in
shape, and 40 feet from floor to the
highest point of the ceiling. The roof
is the most striking feature. 1t is an
oval arch, without supporting columns
OF any kind, and is still claimed to be
the largest self-supporting roof, con-
structed entirely of wood, in the world.
The ceiling is of plaster, and so we'll
did the artisans do their work that
while 40 years have passed not crack
is noticeable. Like all the buildings in
Temple square the tabernacle is built
exclusively of Utah material, the wood
for its dome roof being all hand-sawed.
Every body has heard of the Tabernacle
organ. 1t covers as much space as a
good-sized house, and when completed
was the largest in America, if not in
the world. This also is constructed
wholly of wood, and the product of
Mormon artisans. A young lady, who
is training herself for the position of
organist. was engaged in practicing at
the time of our visit, so we had the
pleasure of listening to it's melodious
voice. We say voice, because at inter-
walls we were unable to detect the
strains that were sent forth as other
than the product of that most potent
of all musical instruments-the human
voice.
The guide claimed that the acoustic
properties of the tabernacle are perfect
Government experts have been sent to
find out if possible wherein the secret
lies; they were just as much at sea
when they got through as when they
commenced their task. The secret is
past finding out. Church zealots are
inclined to regard it as special inter-
position of divine providence in their
behalf. That it has remarkable hear
lug properties is beyond question.
While we were there a man stationed
200 feet away family whispered a few
words, and thereafter dropped pin on
desk. We heard the whisper; some
present said they heard the pin as it
struck the desk, but this was too faint
to reach the writer's hearing.
The temple is the 'holy of holies"
in Mormon estimation. No gentle feet
are permitted to tread its threshold
Indeed, comparatively few church
mem bers are allowed to enter its sacred
portals. We had TO be content with
the guides brief descriptive statement
and view of its massive exterior. 1t
was commenced in 1858 and dedicated
just 40 years thereafter. 1t is built en-
tirely of Utah granite, and has six
towers. The central tower is 2224 feet
high, surmounted by a statue of a gos-
pei herald in the act of blowing a trum-
pet-symbolical of the introduction of
the latter day dispensation by the Nor
mons. This figure is made of copper,
and mammoth incandescent lamp
sparkles from its summit at night. The
guide stated that the precious histori.
cal records of the church were housed
in the Temple. and the peculiar rites
OF the priesthood, of baptism and mar
riage are solemnized therein.
By the street car route we took in as
much of Salt Lake city as it was pos
sible to see during our brief stay Sat-
urday morning we returned to Ogden,
and there boarded the U. p. train for
Denver, arriving in that city Sunday
at II O'Clock a. m. The trip from
Cheyenne to Denver was surprise, as
it overturned all preconceived ideas
that Colorado was essentially and al
most exclusively mineral producing
state. Our train stopped three hours
in Denver, and we happened to get out
side the depot in time to catch a street
car placarded 'Seeing Denver" which
we boarded for the sake of whili ng
away the leisure hours. 1t was most
pleasurable and instructive trip, oc-
cupying two hours, and together with
the explanation given by guide
through speaking trumpet gave a
better idea of this giant city of the west
than could be gained by week of tour.
ing by the ordinary street car. "See.
ing Denver" is an enterprise inaugural
ed by corporation. Its stockholders
are residents not of Colorado merely
but of many other states. Its field ol
operations is not Denver alone, but a
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