Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-10-01


tions. Whether the vision of prog
ress is a revelation from God, need
not now be discussed, but certain it
is, that Brigham Young made few
mistakes in his material building
for the future development of the
city. I'M
A saline soil and air is not con-
ducive to the growth and develop
ment of vegetation, hence the chos-
en- distance from the lake, and
though Brigham Young is claimed
to be the father of the idea Of irri-
cation, the work could not be i'm
mediately accomplished. Strong
winds from the lake even now car
ries the odor of salt and a spray
which incrusts the windows Of the
city. n.
In 1S47 the original band of Nor
mons was made up Of 142 men,
three women and two children. This
ratio Of the sexes might suggest
polyandry instead of polygamy, but
within three years the population
had grown to 10000.
Salt Lake City is laid out from
Temple square, 10 acre tract, from
which centre the streets are named
and numbered. Within this square,
surrounded by IL feet high and
8 feet thick wall, are the Mormon
Temple and Tabernacle. Continued
effort has been made to compel the
removal of this wall but as yet it
has been unavailing.
The Temple and Tabernacle have
been frequently described, and I in
dulge in but few figures to con-
firm the impression Of the bigness of
ideas, and the breadth of vision of
Brigham Young, for these buildings
have not yet been surpassed in ar
chitecture or efficiency, though half
century has elapsed since their be-
ginning.
The Temple. (begun in 1859
which only the elect enter, is built
of Utah grey granite, is 1S6x99 feet,
and 222 feet to the highest tower.
The foundation walls are 16 feet
wide and 8 feet under ground. Three
towers point heavenward at either
end, the centre front one being sur
mounted by the Angel Moroni, the
image of the son of the writer or
the book of Mormon. 1t seems that
the Mormon church, like other or
thodox churches, recognizes only
male angels. This temple was many
years in building, much of the ma
terial being brought from the quar-
ries by OK teams and the cost is
estimated at S4,000,000. The taber-
nacle is an oval shaped structure
25Ox15O feet, and the vaulted cell
ing is so feet at its highest point.
The frame work is wholly Of wood,
no nails or iron being used. Wooden
pins and buck skin thongs fasten
the functions. Workmen are now
busy however in replacing the wood
en- shingles with the up to date me-
tallic roof covering. The seating
capacity is 5000 and the acoustic
properties have not been equalled
by any other building.
The 5000 pipes Of the immense
organ are blown by 10 horse pow
err motor and the cost to date of
this instrument has been $125,00O.
Free public recitals are given here
during the summer season, at the
noon hour, one of which our party
had the pleasure OF attending. A
choir of 500 voices furnishes music
for the Sunday services.
Brigham Young evidently did not
believe in the ignorance OF the
masses for three months after the
location OF this Mormon colony a
public school was opened and as
early as lSDU Il iieS puDiiS iioi al }
and the University of Utah, (frst
| west of the Missouri river) was es-
tablished and the latest report gives
Utah third place in education. Iowa
second and Massachusetts, first,
On the school question one might
make the claim that the patriarch
Of the Latterday Saints sought self
protection. since he supplied a
school population Of So children OF
his own and two adopted ones, but
| others have done their share, as
there are now 100000 school chill
dren in the state. One of the first
| things done after the arrival OF the
Mormon band in the Utah valley
was the planting of the American
flag on Ensign Peak. The Wasatch
mountains about the camp We're
blessed and the river in the valley
named the Jordan, in which was tt
be baptized the coming generations