122

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

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with the perpetual fires of her “smelting
furnaces,” and resound with the thundermg
echoes and re-echoes of the thousands of de-
scending stamps grinding out the wealth,
which, since the completion of the Pacific
railroad, and the consequent influx of
“Gentiles”? has been exported by mil-
lions and most effectually demonstrated the
fact that Utah, if not therichest, is certainly
next to the richest silver-mining country in
the world.

Besides the above, brimstone, saltpeter,
gypsum, plumbago and sodahave been dis-
covered, some of which are being worked,
while fire-clay, marble, granite, slate, red
and white sandstone, limestone and kindred.
formations exist to an almost unlimited ex-
tent. Salt can be shoveled wp in its crude
state on the shores of Salt Lake, and in the
southern part of the Territory, is found by
the mountain, in a remarkably transparent
and pure state.

Iron ore exists in large quantities in
Tron, Summit and Weber counties, Coal
abounds in various parts, but the principal
mines now worked are at Coalville, in
Summit county andin San Pete. The lat-
ter yields a good quality of blacksmith
coal, in large quantities.

At this time there are about 30 organized
mining districts inthe Territory. Wehave
not the space to devote to a description of
the mines, were we able; they appear to be
inexhaustible and very rich. For a very
complete mining map of Utah, see page 109.

Fish culture has, since 1874, been re-
ceiving some attention, and a fish farm
with a superintendent thereof, is located a
few miles from Salt Lake City.

There are quite a number of smelting
furnaces in operation in various parts of
the Territory, and in Salt Lake City.

Utah was first settled in 1847. On the
24th of July, the advance guard of the Mor-
mon emigration, numbering 148 men, en-
tered Salt Lake Valley; five days later 150
more men arrived under Captain Brown,
and on July 31st, Great Salt Lake City was
laid out. At that time the country be-
longed to the Republic of Mexico, but by
the treaty of Gaudaloup Hidalgo, in 1848 it
was ceded to the United States.

The summers are very warm and dry;
the winters mild and open. The fall of
snow is light in the valley and heavy in
the mountain, the melting of which affords
ample water for irrigating the foothills and
valleys. Vegetables of all kinds grow
astonishingly large, and of superior quality.

 

Timber is not very plenty, and then, is
only found in the mountains of difficult ac-
cess. Returning to business; at Ogden, we
will step into the cars of the

Utah Central Railroad,
The principal offices of which are at Salt

Lake City.
JOHN SHARP,... .. President and Superintendent.
Joun SHARP, JR.,...... General Passenger Agent.
di, Wis OKs ce one cco. co cheree see ceeue we Engineer.

 

The Utah Central is 36.5 miles in length
and the pioneer road of Utah, excepting
the through line. May 17, 1869, just one
week after the “love feast” of the Union
and the Central at Promentory, ground was
broken at Ogden, and the enterprise was
inaugurated with due ceremonies; Presi-
dent Brigham Young and the chief digni-
taries of the Mormon church being in at
tendance.

In about half an hour after the overland
trains arrive at Ogden Junction, the cars of
this road roll up to the depot for passengers.
When leaving, the train crosses the Weber
River, on a fine bridge ; just to the north of
the depot passes through a deep cut and
comes out on a bench of 1and that gradually
slopes from the mountains on the left, to the
waters of the lake on the right, six and
four miles distant, respectively.

From the car window, on the right, a
good view can be had of a portion of Great
Salt Lake, but the best view is to be had
from the top of Promontory Mountain. See
ANNEX No, 21. The first station from
Ogden is 16 miles distant, along the slop-
ing land named, which is covered above
the line of irrigation, With sage, but below
with the thrifty Mormon farmers. A wide
strip of land near the Lake is valueless,
owing to the salt in the soil.

KaysviItLE—-is an incorporated town
in Davis county, and is surrounded with
well-cultivated farms, finely kept gardens,
with water running through the streets,
and has fruit and shrubbery in profusion.

The county is comprised of five towns,
all, with one exception, traversed by our
road, within the next 15 miles. The county
has about 7,000 population, seven flouring
mills and three saw mills.

FARMINGTON—is the next station,
five miles distant, being the county seat of
Davis county, and contains good county
buildings, several flouring mills, and the
usual beautiful surroundings of fruit trees
and orchards, for which alt Mormot set-
tlements are noted.

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