Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-08-07 | Page 13 | People and Things

PEOPLE B AND AND ANDi i THINGS By fly FRED BAGBY Salt Lakes Lake's Mud Wall Believe it or not Salt Lake once Kvas walled At least It was as vas as a city unless the residents and officials I failed tailed to carry to completion tion a great 1853 authorized au council in barrier which the completely complete complete- tc- tc Etherized to be constructed comp settlement as a defense de dc the f. f ly around against Indians This great barrier authorized to 10 be built buU with bastions buttons and gun run every forty rods and loopholes rates on the north cast east and south referred to In sides aides Is variously r rold old records as the Spanish and the the mud wall nail and ditch h. h Its course was wal more than ten miles fn In length Its Us height was fixed at twelve feet its base thickness at six feet and it was to be constructed constructed con con- of the earth found alone aloar Its course this earth to b be wet and reinforced with brush willows wil wn il lows reeds grass or other material ma handy bandy along alone the route Roughly the route of the Spanish cr or mud wall waIl as provided in the early arly day ordinance was from the Jordan river along the south line of Ninth South street to a point about hall hail w way y between Ninth East and Tenth East streets thence due north to the north line of Fourth avenue thence west to the east line of State street thence northwesterly along Wall street to Seventh North street thence west to the Jordan river thence along the east bank of the river to Nil th South street Mooted Question Whether this lengthy length wall was ever completed around the city is an open question because records arc are not definite def def- mite and the memory of timers old still living is uncertain but old photographs photographs photographs' pho pho- and records and recollections recollections recollections of present day residents indicate indi cate that a considerable portion if il not rot all all o of the wall was carried to some lome degree of completion I There are records that the wall was built to specifications at least aion along the northern boundary of the city and there are old residents resi resl dents who recollect at least portions pox pore of 01 the wall to the east and south uth However as yet I have been unable to find rind any one with any definite recollection of the wall wail along alone the Jordan river nor have I been able to find any other evidences that it was built there There also appears to be some question as u to whether the wall was built so much mach for a a- defense against Indian attacks or more as a means of providing work for tor unemployed residents during during dur dur- In ing the winter whiter of 53 33 and 54 st AItho AI- AI tho thought ht the resolution of the council sets licis forth that the wall was designed as a defense against Indians many old old- timers today contend that It was the first work make project of 01 the west the Idea being conceived con con- and put through by br Brigham Brigham Brig Brig- ham Young to provide employment employ employ- went ment for the pioneers at a period when work was as slack and md when the settlers who were hewing out new homes In the wilderness of the west under great difficulties difficulties ties would be prone to let their 1 thoughts dwell upon the homes 1 they had left lett behind unless they were kept kelt bs busy Official Purpose But be he this as it may the city council of that day ordered the wall built around the city for the official purpose at least of protecting th the citizens against the Indians and it took care car to provide for plenty of bastions where citizens could poke the business ends of rifles through the wall vall and pump hot lead at any enemy who might attempt to storm the barrier and raid the city Church chronology at this time records records re re- re cords that Chief Washakie e and his braves were very active and several several sev sev- eral residents of Salt Lake City had been killed by Indian marauders