The tax of all the counties amounts to .3,369 50; the totals of auditor’s awards issued $19,184 88, which, together with $5450 95 payable on appropriations heretofore made, shows that the Mormons have the good sense to keep clear of a Territorial debt.
In the young settlements of the Far West there is a regularINDUSTRY OF GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. self-enforced programme of manufacturing progress. The first step is to establish flouring or grist mills, and lumber or saw mills, to provide for food and shelter. After these sine quâ nons come the comforts of cotton-spinning, wool-carding, cloth-weaving, tailoring, and shoemaking. Lastly arise the luxuries of life, which penetrate slowly into this Territory on account of the delay and expense of transporting heavy machinery across the “wild desert plains.” The minor mechanical contrivances, the remarkable inventions of the Eastern States—results of a necessity which removes every limit to human ingenuity—such as sewing-machines, cataract washing-machines, stump-extracting machines, and others, which, but for want of hands, would never have been dreamed of, are not unknown at Great Salt Lake City.
The subjoined extract from the list of premiums of the Deserét Agricultural Society[177] will explain the industry at Great Salt Lake City in 1860—will prove that the infant colony has supplied all its actual wants, and will show what energy and perseverance can effect against time and all manner of obstructions. Besides the industries mentioned below, there are stores, cutlery shops, watch-makers and jewelers, painters and glaziers, brush-makers, cabinet-makers, and skillful turners—for the most part English. Iron and brass founderies are in contemplation, and a paper-mill is coming across the prairies. The cutlery is good, the swords, spears, and Congress knives, the pruning-hooks, saws, and locks are yearly improving, and the imitations of Colt’s revolvers can hardly be distinguished from the originals. The distilleries, of course, can not expect prizes. The whisky of Utah Territory, unlike the Monongahela or rye of Pennsylvania, and the Bourbon, or maize brandy of Kentucky, is distilled from wheat only; it is, in fact, the korn schnapps of the trans-Rhenine region. This “Valley Tan,” being generally pure, is better than the alcohol one part and water one part, colored with burnt sugar and flavored with green tea, which is sold under the name of Cognac. Ale and cakes are in higher flavor than the “villainous distillation:” there are two large and eight small breweries in which a palatable Lager-bier is made. The hop grows wild and luxuriant in every kanyon; and there is no reason why in time the John Barleycorn of the Saints should not rival that of the sinners in lands where no unfriendly legislation tries, or will, it is hoped, ever try,
“To rob a poor man of his beer.”
[177] The act incorporating the society, which was established “with a view of promoting the arts of domestic industry, and to encourage the production of articles from the native elements in this Territory,” was approved on January 17, 1856. The Board consists of a President, six Directors, a Treasurer, and a Secretary—the latter, my friend Mr. Thomas Bullock.
| Class E.—Farming Implements made in the Territory. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Ira Eldredge, Daniel Carter, Levi E. Ritter. | ||
| Best | plow | $5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | subsoil plow | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | harrow | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | field-roller | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | drill and irrigator | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | corn-planter | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 1 horse corn cultivator | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | grain-cradle | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | horse-rake | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | garden-rake | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hay-rake | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hay-fork | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | manure-fork | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | scythe-snath | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | set of garden tools | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | shovel | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | spade | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hoe | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | wheel-barrow | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | cheese-press | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | churn | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | butter tub and firkin | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | washing machine | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | spinning-wheel | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 6 corn brooms | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Agricultural Machines. | ||
| Best | reaping machine | $10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | threshing machine | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fanning-mill | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | corn-sheller | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | corn and cob mill | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hemp and flax dressing machine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hay and straw cutter | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | vegetable root-cutter | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Class F.—Machinery. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Frederick Kesler, John Kay, William J. Silver. | ||
| Best | steam-engine | $10 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fire-engine | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | garden-engine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | balance | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | lath machine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | stave machine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | stone-dressing machine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | stone-sawing machine | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pump for a well | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | water-wheel for raising water for irrigation | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class G.—Leather. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Seth Taft, John Lowe, Francis Platte. | ||
| Best | side sole leather | $3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | side upper cowhide | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | kip-skin | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | calf-skin | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | Morocco-skin | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | side harness | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | side skirting | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | saddle | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | light harness | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | heavy harness | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | bridle | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair gentlemen’s fine boots | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair gentlemen’s stoga boots | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair gentlemen’s fine shoes | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair ladies’ bootees | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair ladies’ shoes | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | blacking or polish | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Class H.—Clothes, Dry-Goods, and Dye-Stuffs. | ||
| Awarding Committee—E. R. Young, John Needham, N. H. Felt. | ||
| Best | made suit of clothes | $5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | made suit of buckskin | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of colored flannel | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of white flannel | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of white jeans | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of colored jeans | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of white Linsey | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of colored Linsey | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of kersey | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of woolen cloth | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair of woolen blankets | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | piece of woolen carpet | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | piece of rag carpet | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | coverlet | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | hearth-rug | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | woolen shawl | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 yards of linen | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 1 lb. of linen thread | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fur hat | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fur cap | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | cloth cap | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fur muff | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | fur cape | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 1 lb. indigo | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | 3 00 |
| 4th | do. | dip. |
| Best | 1 lb. madder | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | 3 00 |
| 4th | do. | dip. |
| Best | colored cloth from any materials produced in this Territory, aside from indigo or madder | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | 3 00 |
| 4th | do. | dip. |
| Class I.—Furniture, Cooper-ware, etc. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Miles Romney, Archibald N. Hill, Thomas Allman. | ||
| Best | bureau | $3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | sofa | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | bedstead | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | six chairs | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | centre-table | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | dining-table | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | ladies’ work-stand | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | office-desk | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | rocking-chair | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of wood carving | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen French polish | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen cooper’s ware | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of glue | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | gallon of varnish | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | gallon of castor-oil | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | gallon of linseed-oil | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | gallon of turpentine | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. of rosin | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. of lampblack | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class J.—Painting, Engraving, etc. | ||
| Awarding Committee—James M. Barlow, James Beck, John H. Rumell. | ||
| Best | specimen of sign-painting | $3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of graining | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of printing | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of book-binding | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of paper | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | landscape of Great Salt Lake Valley | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | bird’s-eye view of Salt Lake City | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | oil painting | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | transparent window-blinds | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | piece of sculpture | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of turning | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of engraving | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of penmanship | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of penmanship in Deserét character | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class K.—Cutlery, Hardware, etc. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Levi Richards, Zechariah B. Derrick, Jonathan Pugmire. | ||
| Best | specimen of cutlery on a card | $3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pruning shears | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | rifle | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | revolving pistol | 5 00 |
| 2d | do. | 3 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. gunpowder | sil. med. |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | axe | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | door-lock | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | shovel and tongs | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | andirons | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. of cut nails | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. of wrought nails | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 50 yards of rope | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of twine and cord | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of whips | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of baskets | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of combs made of horn, bone, and mountain mahogany | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of glass | sil. med. |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of earthenware | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | sand-paper | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class L.—Women’s Work. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Mrs. Fanny Little, —— Taft, Marion Beatie, Sarah Brown. | ||
| Best | ornamental needlework | $1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of Ayrshire needlework | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | ottoman cover | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | table cover | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | worked shawl | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | worked collar and handkerchief | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | worked cushion | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | lace cap | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | group of flowers | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of wax flowers | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | ornamental shell-work | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair worked slippers | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair woolen hose | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pair cotton hose | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | embroidered shawl | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | variety of crochet-work | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | worked quilt | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | patch-work quilt | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of knitting | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | straw hat | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | straw bonnet | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | specimen of braid straw or grass | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | 0 50 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class M.—Produce. | ||
| Awarding Committee—Richard Golightly, George Goddard, Eli B. Kelsey. | ||
| Best | 5 lbs. of butter | $2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | cheese | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | ham | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 10 lbs. of sugar | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | 5 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | gallon of molasses | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | home-made wine | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | preserves, pumpkins | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | preserves, tomatoes | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | preserves of any kind | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pickles, cucumbers | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pickles, tomatoes | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pickles, cabbages | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | pickles, onions | 1 00 |
| 2d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 5 lbs. of soap | 3 00 |
| 2d | do. | 2 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Best | 3 lbs. of starch | 2 00 |
| 2d | do. | 1 00 |
| 3d | do. | dip. |
| Class N.—Essays. | ||
| Awarding Committee—President and Board of Directors. | ||
| Best | essay on agriculture | $10 00 |
| 2d | do. | sil. med. |
| Best | essay on horticulture | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | sil. med. |
| Best | essay on home manufactures | 10 00 |
| 2d | do. | sil. med. |
By order of the Board of the Deserét Agricultural and Manufacturing Society. Edward Hunter, President.
Thomas Bullock, Secretary.
Great Salt Lake City, May 13, 1860.
Hand-labor obtains $2 per diem, consequently much work is done at home. The fair sex still cards, spins, and weaves, as in Cornwall and Wales, and the plurality system supplies them with leisure for the exercise of the needle. Excellent blankets, the finest linens, and embroidered buckskin garments, varying in prices from $75 to $500—a splendid specimen was, at the time of my stay, being worked for that “Champion of oppressed nationalities,” M. Louis Kossuth—are the results.
PRICES AT GREAT SALT LAKE CITY.As in India, the mere necessaries of life at Great Salt Lake City are cheap: the foreign luxuries, and even comforts, are exorbitantly dear. A family may live almost for nothing upon vegetables grown in their own garden, milk from their own cows, wheaten bread, and butter which derives a peculiar sweetness from the bunch-grass. For some reason, which no one can explain, there is not, and there never has been, a market at Great Salt Lake City; consequently, even meat is expensive. Freight upon every article, from a bar of soap to a bar of iron, must be reckoned at 14 cents (7d.) per lb. coming from the East, and 25-30 cents from the West. Groceries and clothing are inordinately high-priced. Sugar, worth 6 cents in the United States, here fetches from 371⁄2 to 45 cents per lb. Tea is seldom drunk, and as coffee of 10 cents per lb. in the States here costs 40-50 cents, burnt beans or toasted corn, a caricature of chicory, is the usual succedaneum. Counterblasters will be pleased to hear that tobacco fetches $1 per lb., and cigars from 5 to 6 cents each—a London price. Servants’ wages vary from $30 to $40 per mensem—nearly £100 per annum; consequently, master has a strong inducement to marry the “missus’s” Abigail. Thus the expense of living in Utah Territory is higher than in the Eastern States, where again it exceeds that of England. In Great Salt Lake City $10,000 (= £2000) per annum would be equal to about £500 in London. Fortunately for the poor, the excessive purity of the air, as in the Arabian Desert, enables them to dispense with, and not to miss, many articles, such as stimulants, which are elsewhere considered necessaries. The subjoined “nerrick” of prices current at the General Tithing Office in Great Salt Lake City will best explain the state of things in 1860. A remarkable feature, it will be observed, is the price of wheat—$1 50 per bushel—more than double its current value in the Mississippian States.[178]