8o ELDORADO 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE MORMONS. 



A short account of the conditions existing at Salt 

 Lake in 1849-50 and the settlement of the valley by the 

 Mormons may prove interesting to my readers. Len- 

 der the leadership of Brigham Young they had pre 

 ceded our arrival three years, and during that 

 period, by their industry, economy and thrift, 

 had converted much of the land into pleasant homes 

 and were already producing more than was required 

 for their own consumption. Their buildings, it is true, 

 were cheaply constructed, mainly of adobe or dried 

 brick, while their method of living in many respect? 

 was very primitive. A spirit of content and happi- 

 ness appeared to be universal among all classes so far 

 as could be observed. While little attention was paid 

 to ornamentation, every home seem to be surrounded 

 with an alnmdant supply of the substantial things of 

 life, such as smaller fruits, vegetables and other farm 

 products. 



Pure mountain water for domestic and irrigating 

 purposes was brought several miles in open ditches. 

 Prices were not exoH)itant and we were cnaliled to 

 ])urchase flour, coffee, sugar, etc., to suppl}- our needs 

 at reasonable rates. Flour was being manufactured in 



