Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-09-19

one time on this floor, above the
water of the lake
The bathing here perhaps has no
equal in the world. The water is clear
and OF warm, even temperature, and
a plunge in this lake water. contain.
ing 26 per cent of salt, is exhilerating
and refreshing to the utmost degree.
On account of it's saltiness only the
least possible effort is necessary to
maintain ones equilibrium, and sink
ing is out of the question. Hundreds
OF people visit this place daily, and
it is novel and interesting sight to
see the beach and the water thronged
with people in bathing suits.
Great Salt Lake is seventy miles
long, thirty miles wide, and of
course contains no animal life, on
account of the salt in the water. 1t
exercises a peculiar influence Oh the
climate of the surrounding country,
tempering the extremes of summer
and winter and producing delightful
bslmy atmosphere, which is always
healthful and invigorating.
Returning to the city, during the
evening we drove about the streets,
visiting the salt palace, beautiful
pavilion made from salt, and driving
past the grave of Brigham Young. the
homes of his wives and of the six wives
of Joseph Smith, the present president
of the Mormon church, past the Nor
mon university and business college,
through the magnificent city park and
to many other points of interest.
The next day was spent in visiting
the seat of the Mormon church, and in
learning what we could in short time
of the church and its members.
The Temple Block may consistently
be called the Sacred Square of the
Latter Day Saints and the central
object of interest to tourists. 1t covers
an area of ten acres on the most COM
manding site in the city, is surrounded
by an adobe wall built in 1854, and
contains the Temple, the Tabernacle
and Assembly Hall. The Temple. which
was commenced in 1858. and completed
and dedicated in 1898, is 1862 feet
long and 80 feet wide. There are three
towers on each end of the building, all
terminating in spires; the central
tower on the east end is 2221a feet high
and is surmounted by golden figure
representing the angel Moroni l2lS
feet high, made of hammered copper,
gilded with pure gold leaf, and has an
immense incandescent lamp of 100
candle power surmounting its crown.
The foundation of the Temple is Is
feet thick the main walls 16 feet thick
at the bottom and & at the top. The
building covers an area of 2l $40 feet,
and its cost was $4, 600, 00O 1t is not
open to the public, nor is it used
for general worship, it being con-
bers of the church, and even all of
those are not admitted to it, only
those who are absolutely clean, in
good standing, who are upright
morally, who do not use tobacco or
Intoxicating liquors, etc. The
Temple is constructed of finely cut
granite from the Wasatch range of
mountains near the city, and when
one considers the great privations,
the great efforts made by the Nor
mons to complete it as originally
planned, and that it was Dedicated
free of all incumbrance, the greatness
of the undertaking and its magni.
ficence is more readily recognized.
1t is monument of faith and work
unparalleled in history. Many of the
blocks of granite in the walls are so
large that four yoke of oxen were
required to haul each of them,
occupying four days in transit.
Finally canal to carry them by boats
was started. but before its completion
a railroad was huilt which supplanted
its contemplated use. Throughout the
entire structure is magnificence and
grandeur which must be seen to be
appreciated, and in all of the car
wings, arches, stained glass windows
and general architecture of the build
ing there is a religious significance
that makes their presence the n-ore
sacred to the church.
Since the dedication of the Temple,
none but members of the church
have been admittd, but from authc~
tive sources we learned that a wide
and lofty corridor extends through
the basement, at the south of which
is handsome staircase of polished
cherry wood. Spacious bath and dress
ing rooms for men are located on the
, northwest side, and for women on the
; southwest side. Intervening and
, separating these two sets of rooms, is
the magnificent baptismal font room,
, 57x35 feet. This font is said to re-
semble the "molten sea" of Solomon )
Temple. 1t is cast iron, elliptical in
/ form, and of ample dimensions to
contain an abundant supply of water
r in which the Elder can submerge the