Twelve Mormon Homes : Twelve Mormon homes visited in succession on a journey through Utah to Arizona.

Twelve Mormon Homes, page 024

the people say they are safe from Indians, I noticed that the tithing and farm-yards were enclosed by walls or strong wattled fences or stockades.18 The hay-stacks in the dry, pure air had taken a bright straw color outside, but where they were cut down into for the cattle, were of a green almost as fresh as that of new mown grass. Sometimes the hay was not piled in stacks, but laid upon a stout pole framework, so as to form the roof and sides of a shelter for the cattle against the wind. I know-that is I have been told-that the scenery between Payson and Nephi is fine,- that mountains near and distant were keeping up with us all the way. But I can't say that I ap- preciated it. The behavior of the rude men at Santaquin had put me out of my temper; my lot in life having previously been cast where such insolence in a lady's presence would not have es- caped chastisement. And, as generally happens in such moods, I gave most attention to the sights most immediately under our carriage windows. Now the wheels ran noiselessly; and now IsWhen the pioneers first arrived in Salt Lake Valley they built a fort or stockade for their protection against Indians. This pattern was encouraged and sometimes followed as new communities were founded throughout the territory. However, the settlers became apathetic toward fort building which resulted in some deaths during the Walker War of 1853. This caused Brigham Young as governor, super- intendent of Indian affairs, and commander-in-chief of the territorial militia to issue General Order No. I dated July 21, 1853, which required all settlements to construct forts, stockades, and "good and sufficient Coralls for stock and stack yards for the grain . . . ." Deseret Aretus (Salt Lake City), July 30, 1853. This order was followed by a legislative act in 1854 which made it a law that communities erect fortifications through a levy imposed upon the citizens. Acts, Resolutions and Memorials, Passed at the Several Annual Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah . . . (Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, 1855), pp. 269-70.