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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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TRADE AND AGRICULTURE. 579<br />

the latter. If, for instance, one should tender $50 for<br />

a bag <strong>of</strong> sugar without <strong>of</strong>fering to make other pur-<br />

chases, the store-keeper would probably refuse; "for,"<br />

he would argue, "if I sell all my cash-goods for cash,<br />

without also getting rid <strong>of</strong> rny shelf-goods, I shall<br />

not be able to dispose <strong>of</strong> the latter for cash at all. I<br />

must dole out the one with care that I may be able<br />

to get rid <strong>of</strong> the other." 20<br />

In some <strong>of</strong> the shop windows on Main Street were<br />

displayed costly imported commodities—silks, velvets,<br />

and shawls <strong>of</strong> diverse pattern, jewelry, laces, and<br />

millinery; 21 near by were less pretentious stores, where<br />

home-made and second-hand articles were retailed.<br />

In some <strong>of</strong> the latter might be seen a curious collection<br />

<strong>of</strong> dilapidated merchandise, and people almost as singular<br />

as the wares over which they chaffered. Here<br />

was a group <strong>of</strong> women holding solemn conclave over<br />

a superannuated gown that to other eyes would seem<br />

worthless; there a sister in faded garb cheapening a<br />

well-battered bonnet <strong>of</strong> Parisian make that had already<br />

served as covering and ornament for half a<br />

dozen heads.<br />

Approaching Zion from the direction <strong>of</strong> Fort<br />

Bridger, after days <strong>of</strong> travel through sage-brush and<br />

buffalo-grass, the traveller would observe that within<br />

a score <strong>of</strong> leagues from Salt Lake City nature's barrenness<br />

began to succumb to the marvellous energy <strong>of</strong> the<br />

saints. The canons had been converted by irrigation<br />

into fertile lands, whose emerald tint soothed the eye<br />

wearied with the leaden monotony <strong>of</strong> the desert land-<br />

20 William Chandless, who visited Salt Lake City in the winter <strong>of</strong> 1855-6,<br />

Btates that, if one wanted to sell anything, he could get nothing for it, because<br />

<strong>of</strong> the scarcity <strong>of</strong> money; while if an <strong>of</strong>fer were made to buy the same<br />

article for cash, a very high price must be paid on account <strong>of</strong> the rarity <strong>of</strong><br />

the article. Visit to S. L. City, 223. For many years afterward, this system<br />

<strong>of</strong> traffic prevailed in a measure. Thus, in the Deseret News <strong>of</strong> Feb. 22,<br />

1860, J. C. Little advertises that he will exchange his store <strong>of</strong> furniture for<br />

wheat and flour; George B. Wallace that he will give five gallons <strong>of</strong> molasses<br />

per cord for wood; and Felt and Allen that they pay cash and store goods for<br />

wheat delivered at the Jordan mills.<br />

31 In 1860 there were three milliner's stores, thirteen dry-goods and two<br />

variety stores. Burton's City <strong>of</strong> the Saints, 277-8.

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