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Show TO SALT LAKE VALLEY. 83 Pratt in California, and afterward joined him as his fifth wife. In this basin, Mr. Kimball, a son of Heber C. Kimball, the second President of the Church, has erected the largest and best built house I had seen west of the magnificent mansion of Mr. Majors, near Atchison, Kansas. It is of stone, two stories, with a long back building, and is used as a hotel. Mr. Kimball is a Mormon, having three wives, one of whom lives with him at the hotel, a second occupies a rude log cabin on the opposite side of the road, and the third is at his residence in the city. Mr. Kimball in his conversation with me appeared to be the most reasonable and liberal man of that faith with whom I have conversed. At one time he was a prominent Elder in the church, and has been missionary in England, but lat terly takes little interest in her affairs. He has a large in closed and cultivated farm, and raises herds of sheep and cattle, which graze upon the mountains and the lowlands around his premises. In many parts of Utah there are fine graz ing lands, and though I may not have seen " cattle upon a thousand hills," I think I have seen there a thousand cattle upon a hill. Were it not for the hostility of the Indians I imagine the territory would raise more stock than at present. The resident Indians of Utah have been hostile to the Mormons, but I think are so because it is profitable to be, and not because of any unfair dealing with them, as they charge upon the settlers. I am of the opinion that a popu lation of Gentiles would be subjected to exactly the same annoyances and depredations. I have not the slightest con fidence in the Indians, and will give my reasons for not having in a future letter. In the valley a short distance from Mr. Kimball's, another settlement is about starting, and a few miles west of that we crossed a tall ridge of the Wasach Mountains, known as " The Summit," and soon commenced to descend through Parley's Canon. For six miles the scenery is not unlike that in parts of Silver Creek Canon, but here the eminences may be called mountains, and in the other, hills ; but in the lower portion the scenery is more wild and romantic. |