2012 Issue

63 the Salt Lake Valley area was reasonably and accurately described in one of Stansbury’s journal entries: The winter season in the valley was long and severe. The vicinity of so many high mountains rendered the weather extremely variable; snows fell constantly upon them, and frequently to the depth of ten inches in the plains. In many of the canons it accumulated to the depth of fifty feet, filling up the passes so rapidly that, in more than one instance, emigrants who had been belated in starting from the States, were overtaken by the storms in the mountain gorges, and forced to abandon everything, and escape on foot, leaving even their animals to perish in the snows. All communication with the world beyond was thus effectually cut off; and, as the winter advanced, the gorges became more and more impassable, owing to the drifting of the snow into them from the projecting peaks. This harsh winter and seemingly endless time for the survey party gave Gunnison a chance to mingle with the local Mormons of the Salt Lake Valley. The party was very well received by the Mormons and Gun- nison was very eager to learn about them socially and religiously, which he did, and penned a book that was published in 1857 entitled The Mormons or Latter- Day Saints, in the Valley of The Great Salt Lake: A History of their Rise and Progress, Peculiar Doctrines, Present Condition, and Prospects, Derived fromPersonal Observa- tion, during a Residence Among Them. In part of this book, Gunnison reveals much of Governor Young’s plan when he created the Land Title System in Utah, and even how Salt Lake City was established (or al- lotted). Gunnison writes: When the Mormons arrived in the valley, they did not quarrel about the fertile, eligible plats, but put a portion under cultivation jointly, and made equitable distribution of the proceeds of the crop, according to wants, labor, and seed bestowed. The city was laid off into lots and numbered; and by mutual consent they were assigned by the Presidency, who selected according to their judgment, placing those in the vicinity that they wished for good neighborhood, and allotting off the balance. Each individual paid a small sum to meet the expense of surveying and recording. A section on the south of the city, six miles square, called the “Big Field,” was fenced at public cost, and divided up into five acre lots, with convenient lanes between, and those who would actually work them, were allowed to choose, or receive by lot, from one to eight of these. A Poor Farm of forty acres is in the centre, controlled by the bishops. All lines of division and boundary are run with the cardinal points. The present limits of farms will doubtless be recognized, though the United States’ surveys should make different boundaries: by purchase in a tract by the State, or froma common fund, individuals will be secured in their vested rights. Some of these terms are used today when surveying in Salt Lake City such as the “Big Field” survey. Although not specifi- cally mentioned by Gunnison, it’s obvious that he understood bona fide title rights to individual land owners as he states the “United States’ surveys should make dif- ferent boundaries … individuals will be secured in their vested rights.” One who reads this can deduce that Gunnison didn’t just turn angles and use math, but rather knew and understood boundary and land title issues as well. As the snow was melting in the Salt Lake Valley, it was time for the survey party to get back to work. On June 26, 1850, Stans- bury writes of the problems with collecting measurements on the high peaks around Salt Lake. He goes into detail of building a five-foot-round rock cairn, assembling the wooden triangulation station on the dome of the peak, and attempting to site angles to nearby peaks with a theodolite: The survey of the island shore being completed the whole party ascended to the highest peak to erect a triangulation station upon it. The day was intensely hot and the sun beat down upon the eastern slope as we climbed up its rugged sides with a force that was very oppressive. Every man was packed like a mule with tools and provisions but principally with water in India rubber bags and canteens. After a severe climb of some three hours through rich bunch grass near the base artemisia and grease wood higher up and still higher over rocky projections covered with stunted cedar we at length reached the summit of the dome. From this point the highest within the circuit of the lake we had expected to enjoy a noble view of both it and the surrounding islands and mountains but unfortunately the JOHN WILLIAMS | continued on page 64