Year: 1873

OiCS tut nc Sudue TeeS


Change of China e--The Norman


Leaders


The sun was sinking behind the noun.
tain range that borders the west side of
the Jordan valley when our train left Og-
den for Salt Lake City. Distsnt showers
being upon the sides Of the mountain, ad.
ded much to the beauty and grandeur oil
the scenery. 1t had not occurred to us
that we were 80 near Great Salt Lake, or
that this body of water which occupies SO
small q space upon the map was
really great inland sea, embracing sew.
eral large islands with lofty mountains
upon them, and receiving into its bosom
great fresh water streams that drain
thousands of square miles, yet never los
ing much Of its own saltness. The Utah
Central railroad, upon which we we're
moving, runs within few miles of the
shore, and we soon got glimpses Of the
waters Of the lake glistening in tho fading
light of the setting sun. The land near
the road is not irrigated and produces
little else than grass, wood and sage brush
Farther distant, and near the shore,
where the Weber river had been turned
upon the land, we saw broad acres of
grass and large patches Of wheat and oats.
farm houses and barns, and herds Of cat.
tie. Judging from the numerous herds
there must be good grazing over large
part Of the valley. The road ncars the
lake as we approach the city, and strong
sui phurous odors that have anything but
'aiutly associations greet us as we glide
along the shore. 10 the darkness We
glide into the depot, and in few mo.
'neuts arc quartered at the Townsend
House, one Of the largest and best hotels
IN the city.


SALT LAKE CITY.


1t was with feeling of eager curiosi-
ty that we threw open the window blinds
in the morning to look forth upon the
Mormon city and its surroundings. The
mountains that are around about this
city of the saints are on grander scale
than the mountains about Jerusalem. The
Wasatch range curtains the whole eastern
border of the valley with deep yawning
canons sending out coplous streams, and
with several peaks ten thousand or more
feet above the sea level, upon which the
snow still lies in broad patches, and from
which it never departs. The peaks upon
the western range seem to be less elevat.
ed, but this may be owing to their greater
distance. The Jordan valley spreads out
between these mountain ranges, bcauti.
ful, fertile valley, dozen miles or SO
across, and thirty miles or more south.
ward, to the outlet Of Utah Lake. 1t is
one Of the most beautiful sights We have
seen in all our travels to look out upon
this valley checkered all over with wheat
and oat fields just ripening for the reaper.
The city lies quite near the mountains.
and about twelve miles eastward from the
lake. 1t is upon elevated land and over.
looks the plain at the south and west. 1t
is laid out with broad, regular streets,
each block containing ten acres, and nine
blocks making a square. Water take-
from the canons in the mountains is
brought into the cutters of every street,
and thence is distributed into every gar.
den and house lot. There are water com
missioners or wardens for every ward
whose business is to see that every loi
holder has his share of the water. The
most exact system is followed in irriga
ton, and every one is informed of the day
and the hour when he can raise the little
gate that turns his portion of the city wa
ter into the garden. The water is ap
piled about once a week during the grow
ing season. We have here better illus
tration of the value of irrigation than il
any other part of the country. for it ha
been in use over twenty years. The
methods adopted, the frequency of the sp
plication Of the water. and the amount
used to secure crops. are the results Of th
experience of the people in u climat
where nothing natures without irrigation


THE CITY MARKETS.


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