Show Deseret News sketch of a trip to towi I IF F it dajley oct 31 21 1851 presidents Pres identa Y you I 1 cimball with several odthe of the company lel left t y for the purpose of locating the site for our oar se ern eminent ment oct the company all met at the house tf bishop smoot smock ten miles south of the city consist consisting ift of crests Pr ests young and kimball the committee for locating the site viz orson pratt albert carrington jesse W fox and krnc staines elder geo A smith bishop robinson Z snow U 8 associate m judge M major J or rose indian subagent sub agent ge gen n D H wells weds H S eldredge marshal and band 0 othe others hr a rf in ai all 15 men and 3 boys with carn carriages i a es baggage g ag a wagons hoses and mules a party well wel 1 armed armed edg and considered sufficiently strong in in case any small 1 1 band of indians should be hostile Passin passing gover over the low jordan kanyon range g lf 0 of mountains on a nearly level road which has been en graded on the old indian trail we entered d U utah h valley and crossing dry creek camped in front of bishop Harring tons on the right bank of the ra american fork just below the ford and 35 miles gloin from the city in the fore part of august 1850 tb was no sign of improvement from jordan kanj kan I 1 to provo river now there are man many b wings buildings u at dry creek the american fork and lat battle tle creek still further south and nearly all the extensive area included included between the road on the east the lvke lake and jordan on the west and dry and battle creeks 13 is surveyed into lots lota and upon a large portion of it good crops were raised the past season oct 23 proceeding by the territorial road which runs nearer the base of the mountains than the old one we crossed the provo on a framed plank c covered vered bridge whit built at an expense of into provo city which is is beautifully located on the left bank of the river nver and is is building up ap rapidly it i is 8 13 miles from the american fork still keeping near the west base of the mountains we cross spring creek and soon reach Spring springville ville on an the right bank of hobble creek a short distance above the old forda ford and 6 12 1 2 miles from provo i here the houses with the exception of a few built upon the lots the past wagon season are built on the sides of a large hollow square forming an extensive and so far as indians are concerned a formidable fort large stacks of grain scattered plentifully around indicated an abundant harvest the new road still runs in to the east of the old one and crosses the spanish fork about 12 1 2 nule mile above the old ford on a planked blanked bridge and joins the old road on the left bank near the ford where we camp 7 miles from Spring springville ville and 61 12 1 2 miles from the city As the vallies become settled there is is a twofold two fold advantage in in laying the roads near the base of the mountains for the gravelly soil of the table lands forms a better track and the fields are not interfered with A saw mill is is being bein built bui ih neaz near the mouth of the kanyon of this fork ang and several dwelling houses bouses are in progress of erection on the right bank above the in 5 51 14 1 4 miles reach the low erfort of pay sona town laid out on each side of ofee pe teet neet creek at the ford and 1 11 12 1 2 miles below its kanyon canyon the buildings and plentiful crops at this place pirce are the result of the labors of the last year crossing creasing summit creek where a new settlement is begun we ente ter the north norh end of a long moderately wide and well grassed valley called juab leave mount nebo close on our left and camp an n the right bank of salt creek about 2 miles below the mouth of its kanyon here a settlement is begun and a city surveyed called nephi 26 miles from payson and 92 34 3 4 from G S L city barometric altitude by ope one reading 44 feet gypsum is obtained in the salt creek kanyon and hauled to the city A bag 9 gage age wagon from Spring springville ville loaded with oats oata joins us here salt creek takes its ita rise in the eastern shed of mt nebo its head waters interlocking with those of sum summit sumit it and san pete creeks it then runs southerly until it reaches the kanyon then westerly to the mouth of the kanyon then southwesterly so uth westerly u until it reaches the eastern slope ol of a low range of mountains bounding this valley on oil the west when it makes a short turn and runs northerly to near the north end of the valley where it breaks through the low range and continues its ita course about N N W and enters the S E corner of utah lake oct 25 crossing a low gentle rise of ground we reach the north end of a valley drained by chicken creek a stream 20 feet week by 5 6 feet deep with a mode moderate rate current muddy bed low banks and aid a scattering fringe of bulrushes bul rushes throwing in in many stones and sage bushes we ford it 17 miles from nephi and about 2 miles above the head of its kanyon through which it passes into the sevier river A oln small all party of san pitch indians gather round us while we are fixing a cross crossing place la e they were ill clad looked leaked surly and told mr r bean our interpreter who joined us at provo city that they were hungry whereupon prest young gave them a liberal meal of bread and meat but even th this is did not clear the lowering look from all their countenances proceeding 9 14 1 4 miles over a gently rolling and level region we camp on the right bank of the sevier at the lower ford miles from from G S L city barometric altitude by one reading feet this river has an average width of 80 or 90 feet and depth ofa of 2 fee tat this low stage of water with a clayey and gravelly bed very crooked channel and rapid current and is fringed by a scattering belt of small willows interspersed with a few buffalo berry bushes As the slopes from the table lands and mountain nOun tain ranges sweep directly to the river there is is very little bottom land except the small meadows included by the short curves of the stream elder geo A smith informs us as that he has never known ot or heard of a company camping in this regi region regions onu without having more or less of their animals either stolen or shot with poisoned arrows abete upon we elected gen wells wella our captain of the guard during the night the indians made approaches pro aches for our animals but the barking of our dog the clearness of our watch fire and the vigilance of our guard preserved us from any loss except the horse belonging to mr bean which was missing in the morning and which we afterwards found at nephi with a broken lariat the lucky breakage of which enabled the horse to e escape ft may be as well to mention here that from this date until our return we were obliged to mount guard 0 O only y when we encamped at the settlements owing to the e unfriendly f disposition of many odthe of the small bands of indians oct 26 thermometer ata at 6 am 14 deg notice an out eross of limestone cross crosa the sevier ascend gradually and passing through a depression in the mountain ran range we which lays between the sevier and lake valley valle the latter opens to view about 15 miles long in a N N W and S S E direction and from one to four miles wide and is is well grassed and the mountain slopes on either side well wooded leaving the road on our right we pass up fall creek about one mile above where it now sinks and camp on its right bank 13 14 1 4 in miles iles from the sevier this stream is 6 feet wide by IS 18 inches deep and has a swift current and pebbly bed affording good mill sites and as the soil is very fertile here is a fine location for a good sized settlement about 10 miles south of this point is it small lake of which this creek is the outlet two companies are encamped just below us one under bishop call bound for valley the other under J D lee intending to settle at the forks of the santa clara clam oct 27 two and three fourth miles brought us as again to the road and by a slightly winding occasionally sio nally rocky but gentle ascent and smooth gradual descent we are in valley indian name pah van te in twelve miles from where we struck the road we reach the first cedar springs and at 9 14 1 4 miles further we camp on the right bank of chalk creek indian name nu quin quina this stream is 14 feet wide by I 1 foot deep and has a swift current and pebbly bed with and for some distance west of of our camp its course is marked by a broken belt and clumps of small cotton wood trees with a few currant bushes and still farther by a willow fringe I 1 oct 28 moved our camp 1 12 1 2 miles up N nu a quin and on to its left bank from present and previous observation the site for the seat of government was located in the tho immediate vicinity of our camp about I 1 mile above the ford and 4 or 5 miles below the mouth of the kanyon on both sides of the creek and at the western terminus of the table lands observations for latitude and declination cli were taken and several readings of the barometer and thermometers were noted an io in I 1 exhaustible supply of sandstone and I 1 Im me estone stone well adapted to building purposes aes was found at the base of the maintains about 5 miles S 8 E efrom from the site to which it can be easily conveyed down a long gentle slope at the suggestion of MK young Toong this site is called cilmore city and T 11 ads ids an eato extensive asive view of the rich valley dai scenery and in a northwester I 1 41 aw an n there is no obstruction to the view but L diaan stance mr began an the survey orthis of this city with a needle V ution on N 15 deg 43 min 39 sec fi run 0 ning gi it quare blocks of 10 acres and V idia ft into 8 lots lota of 1 14 1 4 acres with streets 8 roa r J crossing at A right ht 0 anglos egv north and a scud auth 0 U feast east e and west sa two meridian observe atonal atio til of sirius and one of the sun give 1 b t I 1 deg 58 min 40 see sec and the mean of 6 i b i ical c readings gives feet altitude di a of latitude between this and G 8 L city t 7 beg eg 47 min 4 sec or miles odometer oe 1 12 1 2 miles a f few pah van te indians who visited our op p pro professed great friendship their chief re arking aking k g t that 1 he was not fond of roaming and ishad ish t to be instructed in tilling the soil the chief and part of these indians reside upon corn creek 15 miles south of this site and have there raised corn beans pumpkins squashes potatoes ac yew year after year for a period that dates whit fur ther back than their acquaintance with tl the ie whites major rose raw made them some useful presents elder geo A smith and bishop robinson went on to parowan carowan with J D lees company oct 30 leaving bishop call and company to build their fort near state house square and to prepare for winter and mr fox to continue the survey of the c city it and farming lands we started on our re return turn an and 11 camped again on fall creek altitude by one reading feet oct 31 following the road 9 18 12 1 8 2 miles and within 3 34 3 4 miles of the sevier ford we leave it on out our left and an proceed northeasterly skirting cirtin ii n the base of the mountains until we turn X the noren northern curvature of this range when our course is southeasterly until the ravines and spur points drive us across the sevier and we camp on its right bank 14 12 1 2 miles from the point where we left the road nov 1 cotese south of east at first over some low hills and then across a very level tract of second bottom then over a very low portion of the mountain branue range between juab and san pete vallies near its southern point where it terminates on the sevier just below the mouth of san pete creek thence by a very gentle descent we reached san pete creek 14 1 4 mile below the mouth of pine enters its left bank from the east and 17 14 1 4 miles from our last camp this creek is 20 feet wide and 8 inches deep with a pebbly bed and swift current carrent and a sparse fringe of f small willows cross this creek continue our route now N E soon cross pine creek a pretty mountain stream with I 1 a narrow broken belt of pine cedar cotton wood and birch and soon reach the san pete road we follow this N N E keeping on the east side of the valley and crossing wi tal small rushing streams we reach the cit city AT manti anti 12 miles from where we crossed na san pete creek 43 34 3 4 miles from where we left the dauven road and 78 miles from fillmore city from lake valley to manti we did not notice any point promising a good lop location cation for a settlement nov 2 sunday the citizens assembled for worship in the forenoon afternoon and evening and crests young and kim kirali all and elder orson pratt addressed them imparting much good instruction nov 3 judge snow organized the district court for the second judicial dist district riat no case for trial the necessary observations and readings were taken and the resulting latitude is 39 deg 16 min 33 32 see sec and altitude from the mean of six readings feet odometer heter distance from G S L city miles ahki city is beautifully located on the east side of san pete valley indian name sam pitch on oa both sides of city creek and near a spur range containing an inexhaustible supply of limestone g easy of access admirably adapted for laying into walls of buildings and burning into good lime this settlement was begun late in the fall of 1849 and has a large two story council house built of limestone several handsome two story adebie houses bouses many one story dwellen dwellings go a good grist and sawmill large fields and an abundance of stock grain and produce of various kinds good salt is obtains obtain ed from springs I 1 10 0 miles south on the left bank of san pete creek an and d also from beds bed and springs about 30 miles south coal has been brought in by the indians from the eastern rim of the basin against the head waters of city creek but other fuel is is so plenty and so easily procured that no search has been made for coal the pine of this region makes such superior lumber that much of it is hauled to G S L city A small party of mexicans had just arrived from santa fe with horses and mules to trade for indian children which they take to santa fe and sell for slaves we were told that this kind of traffic had been carried on for many years bachand bac kand what appeared to us as very singular to say the least was wag a license to carry on such traffie traffic in the possession of this party and signed by james S calhoun governor of new mexico but president young by authority as governor of utah territory and superintendent of indian affairs therein pointedly forbid their trading for indian children in this territory and instruct instructing ina them thit that their license was not valid here and thy they promised to return home nov 4 pursuing a northerly cour course se we pass diagonally through a very beautiful po portion artion of this valley crossing several fine streams and san pete creek and in 19 34 3 4 miles noon halt at a very lar large e i spring this portion odthe of the valley is unsurpassed lo 10 tor r meadow land some distance to our right acre screened an from view by a low broken range of kills hills an and d in the north eastern portion of the valley is another settlement in which there is a sawmill saw mill in operation deflecting westerly and passing some rich and well watered land on our left we soon reach the summit between san pete and juab vallies in a low gap of this dividing ran range ge of mountains which forms a narrow and very picturesque pass through 1 h which hieb there is a good road camp on salt c creek ret 35 14 1 4 miles from manti and about 34 3 4 mile below its main or salt cave branch there is a salt cave about half a mile above the crossing of this branch and a salt spring 3 31 12 1 2 miles further up affording a la large quantity affine of fine |