Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-05

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most desolate and the most un
interesting of any of the deserts
crossed on the transcontinenta
Tourney.
| We secured a fine view OF Salt
Lake while crossing it on the
new ''cut Off"
The lake is more than twelve
inches higher than usual, and in
the early morning a mirage or
the opposite shore was plainly
visible.
At Ogden we found much OF
interest. tits strictly a Norman
town and business in most lines
is excellent. No one visiting this
city can afford to miss a trip
through Ogden Canyon just east
of the city.
Here we wandered through
the sage brush and on this desert
soil picked one of the incest
boquets Of flowers to be found in
any country. Lilies of different
kinds, including the wild Gala
Lily, also wild Pansies were
growing in great abundance.
From Ogden to Salt Lake City,
the Oregon short line traverses a
narrow plain. On the west lies
the Great Salt Lake while to the
north and to the east rise the
snow capped Wasatch Noun
tains.
This region is under a high
state of cultivation.
Farms and orchards are spread
over its length and breadth and
little streams run IN bright
threads out of the mountain
canyon, down across the
meadows. The lake is in full
view most of the way and is a
never-ending source of interest.
The crop of Alfalfa that is just
being harvested was the finest
that we have seen on our entire
trip.
We spent two days in Salt
Lake City which is one of the
oldest cities of it's size in the
west. First there are less
Fraternal Orders than in any
city of it's size. The small homes
built by the Mormons, forty OF
fifty years ago are still to be seen
in nearly all parts of the city.
The Mormon church has
owned the Franchise for light
ing the city and it has controlled
the street car system and nearly
all the valuable public utilities
are in it's hands. The effect OF
this has been to array against
it; many citizens in Utah, who
are not over particular regard
ing matters of creed. The saving
of souls and amassing of dollars
are not usually kindred PROPOSE
tiOns.
There has been a very bitter
feeling stirred up against the
church in Utah, and at the last
city election in Salt Lake, a
lparty which was formed for the
sole purpose of fighting the
church, triumphed at the polls.
In many portions of the coun-
try the Mormon has been get
ting the worst of it lately, but it
should be remembered that he
has done much in building up
Utah and that he has many re-
deeming characteristics among
which is thrift. These people
with all their past peculiarities
must be given great credit for
what they have done in the
matter of helping to settle up
the west.
In taking street car trip to
Fort Douglas, located a few
miles east of Salt Lake City, at
the foot of the mountain, we Sc
cured, not only an excellent view
of the mountains and the garri-
son, where a regiment ofsoldiers
are provided with comfortable
quarters, but the view, as we
looked down on Salt Lake City,
and great Salt Lake lying be-
yond, was one that we shall
long remember. It is little won
der that the Mormons selected
this locality as their future home.
In travelling through the west
it is not difficult to get beyond
the free rural mail boxes, but
the telephone lines seem to run
in every direction where there is
grass and water. They follow
the stock range, as well as the
farms and vineyards. We go
from here to Yellowstone Park.
A. DECKER.