Of the colony in its first year's growth and doings, Parley P. Pratt says: "Alter many toils, vexations and trials, such as breaking wagons, losing cattle, upsetting, etc., we arrived in the Valley of Great Salt Lake late in September, 1847. Here we found a fort commenced and partly built by the Pioneers, consisting of an enclosure of a block of ten acres with a wall, or in part of buildings of adobes or logs. We also found a city laid out and a public square dedicated for a temple of God. We found also much ground planted in late crops, which, however, did not mature, being planted late in July; although there were obtained for seed a few small potatoes, from the size of a pea upward to that of half an inch in diameter. These being sound and planted another year produced some very fine potatoes, and, finally, contributed mainly in seeding the Territory with that almost indispensable article of food.
"After we had arrived on the ground of Great Salt Lake City we pitched our tents by the side of a spring of water; and, after resting a little, I devoted my time chiefly to building temporary houses, putting in crops, and obtaining fuel from the mountains.
Having repented of our sins and renewed our covenants, President John Taylor and myself administered the ordinances of baptism, etc., to each other and to our families, according to the example set by the President and Pioneers who had done the same on entering the valley.
"These solemnities took place with us and most of our families, November 28, 1847.
"Sometime in December, having finished sowing wheat and rye, I started, in company with a Brother Higby and others, for Utah Lake with a boat and fish net. We travelled some thirty miles with our boat, etc., on an ox wagon, while some of us rode on horseback. This distance brought us to the foot of Utah Lake, a beautiful sheet of fresh water, some thirty-six miles long by fifteen broad.
Here we launched our boat and tried our net, being probably the first boat and net ever used on this sheet of water in modern times.
"We sailed up and down the lake shore on its western side for many miles but had only poor success in fishing. We, however, caught a few samples of mountain trout and other fish.
"After exploring the lake and valley for a day or two, the company returned home, and a Brother Summers and myself struck westward from the foot of the lake on horseback, on an exploring tour. On this tour we discovered and partly explored Cedar Valley, and there crossed over the west mountain range and discovered a valley beyond; passing through which, we crossed a range of hills northward, and entered Tooele Valley. Passing still northward, we camped one night on a bold mountain stream, and the next day we came to the southern extreme of Great Salt Lake and passing round between it and the West Mountain we journeyed in an eastern course, and, crossing the Jordan, arrived in Great Salt Lake City—having devoted nearly one week to our fishing, hunting, and exploring expedition. During all this time we had fine weather and warm days; but the night we arrived home was a cold one, with a severe snow storm. And thus closed the year 1847.
"January 1st, 1848.—The opening of the year found us and the community generally in good, comfortable, temporary log or adobe cabins, which were built in a way to enclose the square commenced by the Pioneers, and a portion of two other blocks of the city plot. * * * "We had to struggle against great difficulties in trying to mature a first crop. We had not only the difficulties and inexperience incidental to an unknown and untried climate, but also swarms of insects equal to the locusts of Egypt, and also a terrible drought, while we were entirely inexperienced in the art of irrigation; still we struggled on, trusting in God."
Thus was the fair promise of the first harvest in the Valley destroyed by the -desolating crickets. Their ravages were frightful. They came down from the mountains in myriads. Countless hosts attacked the fields of grain. The crops were threatened with utter destruction. The valleys appeared as though scorched by fire. Famine stared the settlers in the face. All were in danger of perishing.
Every effort was made by the settlers to drive the crickets off by bushes, long rods, and other like means—whole families and neighborhoods turning out en masse until the people were almost exhausted. At this frightful moment, when the utter destruction of their crops stared the little colony in the face,—while also on their journey were the companies under President Young, who would need supplies until the second harvest, the manifestation of a special Providence was sent to save the people—so these reverent colonists believed. Immense flocks of gulls came up from the islands of the Lake to make war upon the destroying hosts. Like good angels, they came at the dawn; all day they feasted upon the crickets. The gulls covered every field where the crickets had taken possession, driving them into the streams and even into the door-yards, devouring them until gorged, then vomiting them and devouring more.
Even as it was, there was a season of famine in Utah; but none perished from starvation. The patriarchal character of the community saved it. As one great family they shared the substance of the country. An inventory of provisions was taken in the Spring of 1849, and the people were put upon rations.
Still their breadstuff's were insufficient, and many went out with the Indians and dug small native roots, while some, in their destitution, took the hides of animals, which covered the roofs of their houses, and cut them up and cooked them. But the harvest of 1849 was abundant and the people were saved.
A passage of Indian history should not be lost here, as given by Parley P. Pratt in a letter to his brother Orson, in England, bearing date, Great Salt Lake City, September 5th, 1848. He wrote: "A few weeks since, Mr. Joseph Walker, the celebrated Utah Chief, mentioned in the journey of Colonel Fremont, paid a visit to this place, accompanied by Soweite, the king of the whole Utah nations, and with them some hundreds of men, women and children; they had several hundred head of horses for sale.
"They were good looking, brave, and intelligent beyond any we had seen on this side of the mountains. They were much pleased and excited with everything they saw, and finally expressed a wish to become one people with us, and to live among us and we among them, and to learn to cultivate the earth and live as we do. They would like for some of us to go and commence farming with them in their valleys, which are situated about three hundred miles south.
"We enjoined it on them to be at peace with one another, and with all people, and to cease to war."
The following from the First General Epistle sent out from the Mormon Presidency, in the spring of 1849, is valuable as a page of the early history.
"On our arrival in this valley, we found the brethren had erected four forts, composed mostly of houses, including an area of about forty-seven acres, and numbering about 5,000 souls, including our camp. The brethren had succeeded in sowing and planting an extensive variety of seeds, at all seasons, from January to July, on a farm about twelve "miles in length, and from one to six in width, including the city plot. Most of their early crops were destroyed, in the month of May, by crickets and frost, which continued occasionally until June; while the latter harvest was injured by drought and frost, which commenced its injuries about the 10th of October, and by the out-breaking of herds of cattle. The brethren were not sufficiently numerous to fight the crickets, irrigate the crops, and fence the farm of their extensive planting, consequently they suffered heavy losses; though the experiment of last year is sufficient to prove that valuable crops may be raised in this valley by an attentive and judicious management.
"The winter of 1847-8 was very mild, grass abundant, flocks and herds thriving thereon, and the earth tillable most of the time during each month; but the winter of 1848-9 has been very different, more like a severe New England winter. Excessive cold commenced on the 1st of December and continued till the latter part of February. Snow storms were frequent, and though there were several thaws, the earth was not without snow during that period, varying from one to three feet in depth, both in time and places. The coldest day of the past winter was the 5th of February, the mercury falling 330 below freezing point, and the warmest day was Sunday, the 25th of February, mercury rising to 21° above freezing point, Fahrenheit. Violent and contrary winds have been frequent.
The snow on the surrounding mountains has been much deeper, which has made the wood very difficult of access; while the cattle have become so poor, through fasting and scanty fare, that it has been difficult to draw the necessary