The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-09

"Seeing Salt Lake City," and on leav-
ing Mr.. Hays Office we found the sight
seeing auto on the corner, ready for its
morning tour.
To the stranger in Salt Lake City the
first impression given is of the extreme
width of the streets. Brigham Young,
the leader of the Mormons and founder
of the city, surely had forethought be-
yond his age when he planned for streets
1872 feet wide. Now, in the age of auto
mobiles, this allows ample parking space
of sixteen feet on either side, with a
hundred feet left clear in the middle,
and avoids the congestion of traffic which
presents such problem in other cities,
notably Los Angeles. Temple Square
is the heart of the city, and the streets
around it are called North, South, East
and West Temple, respectively. The
streets beyond in each direction are
numbered First East, Second East, First
North, First West, etc. This sounds
like very simple arrangement, but
grows more complicated as one goes
farther from the Square, and when l
heard about Fourth West South Temple
street, threw up my hands in despair.
The chauffeur on the sightseeing auto
combined in one person the roles of
chauffeur and conductor, and as he drove
about the city he lectured through a
megaphone crooked somewhat like
French horn, so that the horn part lay
over his shoulder facing the back of the
car, while he talked through the other
end. We heard all the old jokes that
had been sprung on US in every city from
Vancouver to San Diego, and some brand
new ones peculiar to the locality. For
instance, he gravely stated that the
Mormons believed in baptism, but not in
immersion, since the waters of Great
Salt Lake, instead of washing away
their sins, would be so salt they would
fectly serious countenance he informed
US that the occupant of certain house
we were then passing was prominent
Mormon, ana had already buried nine
teen wives, and expected to live to bury
several more. After the Mortified gasp
on the part of the feminine portion of
his audience, he added, ayes, he is an
undertaken" and the laugh was certain
ly on u.s.
We drove past the Lion and the Bee
hive Houses, once the property of Brig
ham Young, the latter now belonging to
Joseph Smith, the present head of the
Mormon church. Eagle Gate, once the
imposing entrance to Brigham Young's
estate, now spans the street leading to
Utah's new and impressive State Capt.
tol on the h Il. Everywhere we went
We realized anew that the Mormons are
the controlling power in Salt Lake City,
and that the nom Mormon residents are
in the minority. The finest schools,
churches, buildings of all descriptions
are Mormon" and the great Mormon
department store, "Zlon's Cooperative
institution" is one of the
sights of the city. We drove through a
splendid park, with velvety lawns and
beautiful shade trees, which seemed all
the more wonderful when we were told
that when the Mormons first came to
the valley they found it barren desert,
with one poor, lone cedar tree as the only
specimen of vegetation. By their toll
and energy they brought water down
from the Wasatch Mountains, which
stand like sentinels over the valley, and
laboriously cultivated the soil, and plant
ed trees until the present beautiful city
with it's envrons stands as monument
to their industry. Differ though we
must from the Mormons in religious be-
lief and ideals, we can but give them
credit for marvellous organization, and
industry and perseverance.
At noon our machine drew up at the
of the Temple grounds, which
stand in Temple Square, enclosed by
high wall. We entered, passing the Ad-
Building close by the en-
trance, and joined the crowd of people
already waiting in front of the Taber-
nacle for the doors to open and admit
them to the regular monday organ con-
cert.
The Tabernacle is certainly remark
able building from many standpoints.
Built in the days when the only means of
transportation was by wagon train across
the lndian-infested plains, nails were
articles SO precious as to be almost un-
known, and this great building was held
together by wooden pins, and trusses
bound together with strips of rawhide.
The roof is unsupported by posts, yet
covers building large enough to hold
5000 people. The balcony is built on
posts, and is entirely separate from the
sides Of the building, and about two feet
distant. The famous organ was built by
Mormon workmen of materials brought
from the Wasatch Mountains. 1t is one
of the largest in this country, and has
been recently modernized md 10 cap-