DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 223 
Wasatch Range, which lies due west of Thistle. The most southerly 
point of this range is Mount Nebo, a peak which lies so far to the south 
(left) that it is obscured by the low hills in the foreground, 
The appearance of the valley improves in its lower course; more 
of the ground is irrigated, and there are indications that the train is 
approaching a town or a railroad junction. Just before reaching 
the station at Thistle there is a complete change from the soft rocks 
of the Wasatch formation to the hard blue limestone and red and 
gray sandstone of the Jurassic system, which form a decided con- 
striction in the width of the valley. 
The railroad turns abruptly north and is joined at Thistle by a 
branch line which traverses the rich Sanpete Valley and extends as 
far south as Marysvale. This valley was early 
Thistle. settled by Mormon families sent out from Salt 
Elevation 5,033 feet. Take City by Brigham Young for that purpose, 
Population 417 Z a ‘ 
Denver 681 miles, and in 1849, in order to'protect these outlying set- 
tlements as well as those in the Salt Lake Valley, 
the State of Deseret 7° was organized. The organizers passed through 
much the same experience as those who attempted to organize the 
State of Jefferson in what is now Colorado, but their motives were 
obviously quite different. The State of Jefferson was organized to 
protect the people and their property from the lawless hordes that 
would be attracted to the country by the discoveries of gold, whereas 
the State of Deseret was organized to protect and strengthen the 
Mormon Church by having the machinery of government controlled 
by the dignitaries of the church.” 
* The word “ Deseret” is taken from | head but as the source of law in tem- 
the Book of Mormon and means honey- | poral matters. Disputes were settled 
bee. It is written in the Book of | by the canted or, as they were also 
Ether of the people who came over | termed, gistrates of wards, ap- 
the great water from the old world to | pointed Cy ine presidency. The brother- 
the new: “And they did also carry | hood discountenanced litigation, but 
with them ‘deseret,’ which, by in- | the population did not entirely consist 
terpretation, is a honeybee.’ The | of members of the church. Set) was 
honeybee, or rather the beehive, is one | already in their midst a small per- 
of the important symbols of the Mor- | centage of Gentile ithe gathered 
mon Church, and the word “ deseret” | from nearly all the civilized nations of 
is used as the name of the most in- | the earth. It was probable that, as 
fluential mot newspaper, the Des- | the resources of the territory were de- 
eret New; veloped, this number would increase 
* Hatierott, in his History of Utah | in greater ratio, and it was not to be 
. , describes the situation | expected that they would always re- 
as follows: main content without some form of 
“Until the year 1849 the Mormons | civil government. Not infrequently 
garding the | between 
Presidency not only as their spiritual | though strict justice may have been 
