UTAH.
General Condition of Territorial Affairs.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.,
Saturday, Sept. 25,1858.
There has been very little of interest transpiring during the past week. The absorbing topic with us has been the sudden increase of the police force of the city—one hundred and twenty special policemen hav-ing been sworn in. This sudden transition from one extreme to the other, from the apparent non-existence of a single policeman to the crowding of every store and thoroughfare with these gentlemanly loafers—who, although decorated with brass stars are anything but ornamental—has taken us quite by surprise. Upon inquiring into its cause, we are informed that this step has been taken by the direction of Governor CUMMING. What, however, appears to us most singular, is the fact that each member of this police force is re-lieved from duty every other day, and another man summoned to fill his place, and that those persons who have generally figured most extensively as BRIG-HAM'S "cat- paws" now act as policemen.
Mr. F. E. MCNEIL, who was in close confinement by the Mormons during the whole of last Winter for no other crime than that of being an American citizen, and who was otherwise shamefully treated by them—as appeared in the letter of your special correspond-ent in this Territory, dated June 26, 1858—has brought a suit against BRIGHAM YOUNG and others for false im-prisonment. He lays his damages at $ 25,000.
The parties against whom this prosecution has been commenced are very anxious to make a compromise with MCNIELL If a compromise is not effected the case will come up before Judge SINCLAIR, in this city, at the next term of the United States District Court, which meets on the 4th day of next month.
If Mr. WILSON, of Pennsylvania, the newly-appoint-ed District-Attorney for this Territory, does not ar-rive in the next mail from the East, we fear that the Court will have to adjourn, for the want of a prose-cuting Attorney, without trying any of the many crimi-nal cases now awaiting investigation, and which it is highly important should be tried as soon as possible.
Considerable excitement has been created in this city by the reports received from the newly-discov-ered gold mines on Cherry Creek, in Nebraska Ter-ritory, and parties are leaving daily for these new " diggings." We have seen several fine specimens of scale gold, which we are informed were taken from the bed of Cherry Creek. This creek lies within a short distance of Pike's Peak, about 150 miles due south of Fort Laramie, and is a tributary of the South Platte. It is reported that gold has been found in considerable quantities, not only in the bed of the creek, but in its banks on either side.
The whole of the plateau which extends eastwardly from the base of the Rocky Mountains, between the head waters of the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers, has for several years past been reported to be rich in gold and other minerals. It remains only to be de-termined whether these mineral resources can be profitably developed, to fill this whole country with an enterprising population.
The valleys in the neighborhood of Cherry Creek are reported to be fertile, affording an abundance of pasturage, &c. The Winters are generally quite mild.
In addition to the numerous Gentile stores already established in this city, we learn that the firm of LAND & HOSMER, merchants in San Francisco, Cal., have now on the road here 30 heavily loaded mule wagons destined for this market. The market is not as yet overstocked, as merchandise of all sorts sell readily at extravagant prices. Coffee and sugar now sell at 65 cents per pound. Ordinary domestic and other cotton fabrics from 25 to 40 cents per yard. Whisky, common, $ 8 per gallon, and everything else in proportion.
A friend of Senator BRODERICK, of California, in-forms ns that he will undoubtedly take the Central Overland Mail Route, and pass through this city on his way to Washington to attend the next session of Congress.
Several new buildings are being erected in the busi-ness part of the city.
The universal building material in this country is the adobe, or sun-dried brick ; it is generally laid with a mortar composed of sand and clay mixed.
Lime is used chiefly in the construction of the stone foundations of the buitdings, and the stone walls with which the gardens of the dignitaries of the church are surrounded.
This lime is obtained from a species of limestone rock abundant in this vicinity, and is remarkable on account of its very dark slate color. This dark lime is considered more tena[…] and strong than the ordi-nary white lime […]ne States, by the [per]sons in this country.
Plaster of Paris and gypsum are also very abundant here, and are used to finish off ceilings, &c.
The only lumber suitable for builing purposes found growing in this country is the pine, and even this is generally very knotty. The hardest wood found in any considerable quantities is a species of maple, but it is too brittle to be used for anything but firewood.
All the oak and hickory wood used here is obtained from the ox wagons brought in annually by the freight trains. The only value of these wagons being the value of the hard wood and iron about them. Cottonwood is chiefly used in the manufacture of furniture, &c. A. B. C.
