As it was newspaper day, we passed by the “Mountaineer” office and bought a copy. The press is ably and extensively represented in Great Salt Lake City, as in any other of its Western coevals.[140] Mormonism, so far from despising the powers of pica, has a more than ordinary respect for them.[141] NEWSPAPERS.Until lately there were three weekly newspapers. The “Valley Tan,” however, during the last winter expired, after a slow and lingering dysthesis, induced by overindulgence in Gentile tendencies. It was established in 1858; the proprietor was Mr. J. Hartnett, the late federal secretary; the editor was Mr. Kirk Anderson, followed by Mr. De Wolf and others; the issue hebdomadal, and the subscription high = $10 per annum. The recognized official organ of the religion, which first appeared on the 15th of June, 1850, is the THE “DESERÉT NEWS.”“Deserét News,” whose motto is “Truth and Liberty” under a hive, over which is a single circumradiated eye in disagreeable proximity to the little busy bee. It has often changed its size, and is now printed in small folio, of eight pages, each containing four columns of close type: sometimes articles are clothed in the Mormon alphabet. It had reached in 1860 its tenth volume; it appears every Wednesday; costs at Utah $6 per annum, in England £1 13s. 8d. per annum, in advance; single number 9d.; and is superintended by Mr. Brigham Young. It is edited by Mr. Elias Smith, also a Probate judge; he is assisted by Mr. M‘Knight, formerly the editor of a paper in the United States, and now the author of the important horticultural, agricultural, and other georgic articles in the “Deserét News.” This “Moniteur” also contains corrected reports of the sermons spoken at the Tabernacle. An account of a number may not be uninteresting.
[140] According to the “Elgin Courant,” there are between 700 and 800 of a fishing population in Hopeness who never see a newspaper.
[141] The first Mormon newspaper was the “Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate,” published at Kirtland, Ohio, in the time of Mr. Joseph Smith.
The “Evening and Morning Star,” published at Independence, Mo., and edited by W. W. Phelps.
“Elders’ Journal,” published in 1838, in the time of Mr. Joseph Smith.
“The Upper Missouri Advertiser,” published about the same time; it did not last long.
“The Nauvoo Neighbor” disappeared in the days of the Exodus.
“The Times and Seasons,” containing a compendium of intelligence pertaining to the upbuilding of the kingdom of God, and the signs of the Times, together with a great variety of information in regard to the history, principles, persecutions, deliverances, and onward progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Nauvoo 1839-1843. It was edited by Elder John Taylor (now one of the “Twelve”) under the direction of Mr. Joseph Smith, and arrived at the fourth volume (octavo): this journal is full of interesting matter to Mormons.
“The Wasp,” begun at Nauvoo in 1842.
“The Frontier Garden,” published at Council Bluffs during the Exodus from Nauvoo.