OCR Text |
Show Salt River Valley. The accounts of this valley given by members of the exploring party, consisting of Pres. Preston, Apostle Moses Thatcher, and others, who lately visited it, are quite glowing. The valley is from 8 th 10 miles wide by about 18[?] miles long, and in general contour strongly resembles Cache valley. One of the party remarked that the same architect who planned Cache valley also constructed Salt River valley, and that the latter was an improvement on the former. It is quite as well watered on the east side and better on the west side that is this valley. Timber is abundant and convenient, and thousands of tons of hay may be cut on the open prairie. Wild currants, gooseberries, and strawberries abound, the two latter fruits being of excellent quality. The present population consists of seven families whom the brethren organized by setting apart one of their number, a high priest, to preside. The residents say there has been frost every month this year, yet it does not appear to be much colder there than here, for the same may be said of Cache valley this year. Stock wintered much better in Salt River valley last winter than they did in this, and, an the whole, there seems to be but little difference in the climate of the two valleys, With abundant water, grass, and timber, and an extremely fertile soil, Salt River valley will no doubt be teeming with an industrious and prosperous population within the next few years. On the east side of the valley and near the banks of a stream that much resembles Logan river, a townsite, situated upon a level gravelly bench, was fixed upon for a settlement. |