Show -- 19- and deoendance thousands of people in and made then of the earth all carts 7 This indicates landholders self-support- ing that i'omonlsn was truly a strength in developing the American frontier during the last half of the l°th century It has already been stated that agriculture w&s the basic industry of the Mormon and it is interesting to larn of none of their practices in this respect Many narveled at the fact that there existed a Mormon oasis in desert villages of the Rocky Mountain area This change in the natural condition of the country came about through the extensive irrigation systems of each Mormon community "Although irrigation is older than history it wse never practiced upon any considerable scale by Anglo Saxons until Mormon pioneers turned the water of City Creek upon the alkaline soil of 3alt g Valley" Even though the Mormons had used irrigation at their Missouri and Illinois homes many practical things about the subject vere gained from the "westward passage" In the migration to Utah they saw all through the Rocky Mountain region irrigation systems 7 Ham nrs Lake Richard T Ely "Economic Aspects of Mornonlsm Engaging CVT (April 1903) P 676 V'lllion E Guy the (hew York: The Macmillan Co The Conquest 1905) p of Arid America 57 " "' " w "rw’n' n |