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TERRITORY OF UTAH.

at such times as it shall deem convenient and proper.

Utah is one of the most singular countries in the world. The great basin in which it is situated between the Sierra Nevada and the mountains of New Mex

ter every way, and comprises an area of 393,691 square miles. It is between four and five thousand feet above the level of the sea, shut in all around by mountains, with its own system of lakes and rivers, and without any direct connexion with the ocean. Partly arid and thinly inhabited, its general character is that of a desert, but with great exceptionsthere being many parts of it very fit for the residence of a civilized people; and of these the Mormons have established themselves in one of the largest and best. Mountain is the predominating structure of the interior of the basin, with plains between-the mountains wooded and watered, the plains arid and sterile.

THAT portion of Alta-California, now designated as the territory of UTAH, was never settled by the Spaniards, nor was it ever more than a nominal dependency of that nation or of the Mexican republic. Previous to the Mexican war, indeed, few white men, except those en-ico, is some five hundred miles in diamegaged in scientific explorations, had entered the country. About the period when that war broke out, the Mormons were driven from their city of Nauvoo, in Illinois, by mob violence; and shortly afterward a portion of them, under the leadership of Strang, removed to Beaver island in Lake Michigan, while the main body of the sect, directed by Brigham Young (who was regarded as their true "prophet" after the death of their founder, Joseph Smith, and in opposition to the "infidel" leader Strang), migrated to the borders of the Great Salt lake. Their settlements became prosperous and populous, and within two years after the first pioneers had entered the country, their numbers had increased to about 10.000. After peace had been ratified, they found themselves without a civil government, and without protection for their persons or property. To remedy this anomalous condition of things, they organized a tem-ly salt, more so than those of the ocean porary government under the style of the "State of DESERET." Under its sanction they elected officers to manage the affairs of the commonwealth, and made application to Congress to be admitted into the Union as a sovereign state. But Congress did not deem that this new settlement had arrived at that state of maturity which would justify its erection into a state, and passed a law authorizing its organization as a territory, with the following limits: on the west it is bounded by the state of California, on the north by the territory of Oregon, on the east by the summit of the Rocky mountains, and on the south by the thirty-seventh parallel of latitude. Congress reserved the right with Utah, as also with New Mexico, to divide it into two or more territories, or to attach portions of it to any state or territory in such manner and

In the northern part of this basin lies the Great Salt lake. The waters of this sheet are shallow, so far as explored; though probably its central parts will be found very deep. Its waters are intense

three gallons making one gallon of the purest, whitest, and finest salt. Southeast of this lake, shut in by the mountains, lies the Mormon valley, which contains their capital city. This valley is thirty miles long by twenty-two broad, connected with another valley which is about fifty miles by eight. These two valleys contain the principal body of the settlers, to the number of some 30,000 or 40,000. Explorers think that they are capable of supporting a population of a million. The Humboldt river is the principal water-course of the great basin, and possesses qualities which, in the progress of events, may give it both value and fame. It lies in the line of travel to California and Oregon, and is the best route now known through the great basin, and the one travelled by emigrants. Its direction, east and west, is the right course

for that travel. It furnishes a level, unobstructed way for nearly three hundred miles, and a plentiful supply of the indispensable articles of water, wood, and grass. Its head is toward the Great Salt lake, and consequently toward the Mormon settlements, which must become a point in the line of emigration to California and the lower Columbia. Its termination is within fifty miles of the base of the Sierra Nevada, and opposite the Sal mon Trout river pass-a pass only seven thousand two hundred feet above the level of the sea, and less than half that above the level of the basin, and leading into the valley of the Sacramento, some forty miles north of Sutter's fort. These properties give to this river a prospective value in future communications with the Pacific. The Rio Gila bounds the territory on the south, and the Rio Colorado traverses it in a southwest direction from the Rocky mountains to the gulf of California, into which both rivers empty by one mouth.

THE CITY OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE, tho capital of Utah, is beautifully laid out, within a short distance of the mountain forming the eastern end of the valley. It contains from 20,000 to 25,000 inhabitants, who are mostly engaged in agriculture, though a portion of their time is devoted to mechanical pursuits when understood. The streets of the city intersect each other at right angles, and each block is half a mile square, with an alley from east to west and north to south. Each block is called a ward, and has a bishop to preside over its government, whose duties are to act as magistrates, tax-collectors, and preachers, as well as street commissioners. The city and all the farming land are irrigated by streams of pure water which flow from the adjacent mountains: these streams have been, with great labor and perseverance, led in every direction. In the city they flow on each side of the different streets, and their waters are let upon the inhabitants' gardens at regular periods; so likewise upon the extensive fields of grain lying in the south of the city.

Fifty miles south of this city is the Utah lake and valley. Here lies the city of PRAVA, on the Prava river. The lake

is of pure water, eight miles long by four in width, and abounds in fish. There is still another valley, one hundred miles farther south, called San Pete, where is also a settlement; and here are the hieroglyphic ruins, the remains of glazed pottery, &c., that indicate the former existence of the outlying cities of the Aztec empire.

Wheat, oats, and barley, yield abundantly in the great valley. Melons and all the vines grow in perfection, as also do vegetables; while hopeful efforts are making to raise the olive, orange, lemon, pineapple, tea, coffee, &c. The valley below produces tropical fruits, while the beach land or old lake shore, at the altitude of three or four hundred feet, brings forth all the productions of the temperate zones; and still higher up, the cedar, pine, juniper, and other evergreens of a northern clime, flourish. The pasturage on the plains, as well as on the beach land and side-hills, is luxuriant (the verdure reaching to the mountain-tops). equal for fattening qualities to that of California.

Utah abounds in minerals. A geographical survey has brought to light an inexhanstible bed of stone-coal, equalling that of Newcastle; iron ore, with a vein of silver running through it, which latter alone would pay for working; gold, in small quantities, and platina, are found; and traces of copper and zinc have been discovered. Its mineral springs are famous, little as they have been tried, and their analysis shows them to be equal to those most resorted to at the east.

The country only needs a thorough investigation, and hands enough to develop its resources, and the population will be independent of supplies from other quarters. In conducting the river Jordan by canal to the city of the Great Salt lake, a distance of twenty-five miles along the foot of the mountains, an immense scope of land is brought under the influence of irrigation, besides a vast water-power for machinery. The Mormons are already about to set up and finish their machines, furnaces, &c., for smelting ore, casting rails, and finishing engines, for manufacturing purposes as well as for railways to connect themselves with the neighboring country. A southern railway, to tap

the Pacific at some practicable point, is a favorite plan with them; a road to Oregon is also contemplated; and the railway from the head of navigation on the Missouri to the Salt-lake valley will one day be as much travelled as any of our main thoroughfares are at present.

ever, is not altogether groundless, that in a community whose peculiar religious faith is made paramount to all other obligations, a spirit of disaffection may be engendered toward the United States government, which will result in an attempt to renounce their allegiance, and to place themselves beyond the protect

The whole character of the territory of Utah is singular. While its geographi-ing ægis of the Union. Indeed, such a cal position and features are unlike those of any other portion of North America, its origin and the manner of its settlement are no less strange. It is doubtful if it would have been settled for many years to come, had not persecution driven the Mormons to seek refuge and a home in its distant limits. They established themselves here, at first, with the idea that they would be cut off from the world by the natural difficulties of the contiguous territory and the peculiarity of their situation. Here they expected to form, in secrecy and silence, a great, peculiar religious empire; but the stream of California emigration discovered their trail and invaded their principality, and their territory is now the open, exposed halfway house to the Pacific. Its peculiar locality is and will continue to be of essential service as a stopping-place for the army of emigrants that, year after year, will seek California or Oregon by the southern pass; and when the Pacific railway is completed, it will prove of incalculable benefit as a great station-house on the route. The apprehension, how

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feeling has already "cast its shadow before." It is to be hoped, however, that while all their natural and constitutional rights shall be properly respected, a wise and timely precaution will be exercised by the United States authorities to insure from them a due obedience to the constitution and laws of the Union. And however much we may regret to see a community, numbering a population of some 40,000 souls, so wedded to a religious faith which is little short of the wildest fanaticism, and among whose fruits is gross licentiousness, we can not but admire the enterprise, the industry and perseverance, which have laid the foundation of a future state in the deep recesses of our vast wilderness territory, and which are destined to transform that desert region into smiling gardens and fruitful fields. The foundation of Utah will stand on the page of history as coeval with that of California, and the record of its rise and progress will be regarded (though for far different reasons) as scarcely less marvellous and unprecedented.

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NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM

Seal of the United States.

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