IT is seldom that we say anything about our travels; but there were some things in our late trip which were of great interest to our party, and may be so to many of our readers. In company with Brother C. H. Jones and wife we left Oakland on the "pioneer line"—the Central Pacific—October 27. Since we last journeyed on this road, some decided improvements have been made, which add much to the comfort of travelers. At Ogden we took the Rio Grande (Grand River) line to Salt Lake City, where we stopped off. We had crossed the mountains many times, but we had never visited this famed city. Securing a carriage, with the services of one who has resided in the city seventeen years, we proceeded to view all the points of interest. To the visitor there are many; but few of them would be of much interest to the reader in a brief mention. The residences of the chiefs of the "saints," and the various establishments of the church, are all of local interest. We rode out to Camp Douglass, about three miles southeast of the city. This is about 700 feet above the city, and the plateau midway between the two affords one of the best views of the city and the valley which can be obtained below the mountains. However much we may hear of any place, we are always mistaken in the idea we form of it. It did not seem as if we should find the city about twenty miles from the lake from which it takes its name; and we did not expect to find the tabernacle and temple so near the foot of the highland; while we did expect to see a purling stream of clear water on either side of every street in the city. In the main or business streets this is not the case, the gutters looking much like those of any other city, appearing to carry only the the refuse from the buildings. But enough of the streets do have these charming streams to keep up its reputation of being the best-watered city in the world of which we have any knowledge. In the upper parts of the city the inhabitants largely use the water from these streams flowing before their doors; and this is by no means a thing to be despised, as our party could certify after borrowing a cup and enjoying the luxury of a delicious draught of pure, cold water. Though it was some distance from the cañon which furnished it, the flow was so swift and so abundant that it was as cold as ever should be used. The city was evidently laid out with a view to beauty and convenient residences, rather than to business. The blocks contain ten acres, and the streets are 132 feet wide. The effect is certainly pleasing, for it is a beautiful city. But the visit to the tabernacle was of chief interest to us, as we always feel an interest in large audience rooms. The tabernacle is 232 by 132 feet; height, in the clear, 65 feet. It is supported by 44 piers, commonly described as pillars; but they are mason work, 3 by 9 feet, with square corners, varying in height from 12 to 20 feet. This difference is owing to the descent of the ground to the west, which is just enough to give the requisite descent to the floor toward the pulpit, which is in the west end. There are 20 large entrances, and the descent of the floor corresponding to that of the ground brings all the entrances to the ground level. Seating over 10,000, it can be emptied in a couple of minutes. The gallery is 480 feet around, and 30 feet wide. It is peculiar in this respect, that it is separate from the main building, except at its entrances and on the west end. This makes the ventilation perfect below, as the heated air rises back of the gallery between it and the wall. But there is no wall proper to the building, as the dome rises directly from the piers. There are no corners, it being elliptical in shape. It is lighted by 300 gas jets. The organ has 300 pipes, and 57 stops; it is worked by water power. The front towers are 48 feet 6 inches in height; the base is 30 by 33 feet. The sounding properties of this tabernacle are truly amazing. Our guide in the building took his position near the southwest corner of the organ, back of the pulpit, while we went to the extreme east end, in the gallery, and we held a conversation with him in a moderately low tone. Those of our party who were quick of hearing could distinctly hear him whisper; and he rubbed his hand several times over his coat sleeve, and we could all hear it plainly. We had heard of its wonderful sounding properties, but it far surpassed our expectation. It is certain that there was, in the body of Mormons who emigrated from Illinois and Missouri and Iowa in the dead of winter, and crossed the "desert plains" and Rocky Mountains, no small amount of skill and executive ability. It seems strange that they should, under their peculiar circumstances, build a tabernacle which will conveniently seat over 10,000, and in which 13,000 people were recently convened, so perfectly adapted to its purpose, in which so many thousands can hear every word spoken even in a low tone, and in it build an excellent organ, larger than any one in the United States. When it was built, there was not one in the States so large. We cannot but adopt the words of our informant in these measurements, who wondered that it was not taken as a model by others who had to build large auditoriums. Whether its acoustic properties are the result of calculation, or whether it was a happy chance which afforded them, can hardly be told unless it shall be imitated. We have seen so many public buildings so defective in this respect, that we should be deeply interested in the experiment of copying this. The reader can now appreciate the interest we felt in visiting the great tabernacle of Salt Lake City. Toward the southwest corner of the same block is the assembly hall, or chapel, where smaller meetings are held. It is a good-sized church building; to the right of the pulpit, on the ceiling overhead, is a representation of the first temple in Kirtland, Ohio, and on the opposite side, of the second temple in Nauvoo, Ill. On other parts of the ceiling are allegorical (and mythical) representations of Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood, both Melchizedek and Aaronic, from the hands of certain of the apostles! This idea of the perpetuity of the Melchizedek priesthood among them, is one which is much and strongly dwelt upon by the Mormons, but is one of the weakest and most unscriptural points of their faith. Opposite to this chapel, and near the northwest corner of the block, is the "endowment house," probably as full of iniquity as any place on the face of the earth. But the chief point of interest to all Mormondom is "the temple," upon which the workmen are now busily engaged. It stands immediately east of the tabernacle, facing the east. The block is called "Temple Block," and the street fronting it, running north and south, is named "Temple Street," though it is largely known as Main Street. From this the other streets are counted or named. The temple will have no auditorium; it is not intended for a meeting house, but for the church ordinances. In the lower story will be an extensive baptistry; one part will be devoted to the "endowment" services, etc. The lower story is partly under ground, where the walls are twelve feet thick; above this they are nine feet and nine inches thick—all of solid granite. It is now full height for the roof—over one hundred feet—but the towers have to go much higher. It is full of symbols in every part; but, as the advertisements used to run, these are "too numerous to mention." In this is centered the hope and expectation of the Mormons, as they teach that Christ will make his personal advent to this temple when it is finished! We were also surprised to see so much evidence of the growth of other church interests in Salt Lake City. The Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Catholics, and some other denominations, have church buildings. Our stay was too limited to permit us to call upon any of the pastors of these churches, though we wished much to do so. Probably all these denominations have been aided in building in this city by their missionary societies. We made a short call on the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune, the anti-Mormon paper. It is not, however, anti-Mormon so far as their religion is concerned, but decidedly anti-Mormon as to some of their practices. Other points of interest we might notice, but our limits forbid; so we close our brief account of our visit to the city of the "Latter-day Saints." We left Salt Lake by the "Rio Grand Route," but we reserve some observations on our trip for another number.