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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 239, 9 October 1871, Page 4

The New York Tribune states that atmospheric phenomena have been singularly frequent in the West this year. Near Springfield, Illinois, some days ago, : a cyclooe, besides doing Berious mischief, presented a series of wonderful changes. To tbe eyes of the spectator it first appeared as a. mighty whirlwind, the lower stratum ot the air seeming to stand perfectly still. Then there succeeded a circular motion, which every instant increased in velocity, whirling up every- • thing it swooped upon like bits of paper. A cylindrical column of dust took shape, reaching like a gigantic pillar to the sky, aod through this immense . funnel a stream of smoky cloud appeared to descend. Fence rails were picked up like straws, and. sent flying through the. sir j At times a river of fire seemed to empty itself from the moving column, to the unspeakable dismay of those who witnessed it. Several good people very nearly suffered translation after the fashion of Elijah, and saved themselves only by falling prostrate, and clinging strongly to permanent supports. Curiously enough, the actual damage was quite small, as the. pillar of destruction traversed only a short distance. A violent tornado sweptoverNebraskaon the sth inst. During the storm a truck, on the Fremont and Blair Railroad was lifted from the train and was blown twenty feet from the rails. An infant was killed, the mail agent fatally wounded, and fifteen other persons more or less hurt. The country through which the railroad passes is an immense level plaiu, along which gales sometimes rage with great force. On the same day a waterspout passed over Bowen, Reno, and Truckee, Nevada. It washed a large wall of earth and rocks upou the track of the Central Pacific Railroad, and the westward bound freight train was thrown from the track. Considerable damage was done, but no lives were lost. Salt Lake City. — ■ The following description of Salt Like City is from a correspondent of the Christchurch Press: — " Salt Lake City is a pretty spot, and seems well managed and ordered by * President ' Young. Bringham Young has a proper reception room, where he receives strangers in a. very affable and pleasaut manner, and all he asks in return for exhibiting himself to the curious is that the visitor will sign his name in the register. Of the city itself I quote a brief desciption from a reliable source/and about the truest I have seeu :-— ' It was located and built by the Mormons, 'the first party of whom arrived in the valley on the 24th of July, 1847. The city is situated at tbe western base of a spur of the Wahsatch mountains, and about twenty miles east of the southern extremity of the Great Salt Lake,: whence it derives its name. It was laid out. in large blocks of ten acres each, and with, streets 132 feet wide, running north and south, and east add west. Through all the streets run streams of water, which is used for irrigating aod domestic purposes. Shade and friiit trees have been extensively planted ; and, as the, soil, aided! by plentiful irrigation, is very fertile, these trees have flourished finely, being of great value for, the fruit they furnish, and highly ornamental to the city. It has a population of 25,000, and is the seat of government for the Utah Territory, as well as the seat of government of the Mormon Church. As such, it contains many public buildings of corporations. The City Hall is a large and elegant structure, costing 70,000d01, and is used as the Capitol of the territory. The temple, was commenced in 1853, and is not yet completed. It covers an area of 21,850 feet, and is designed as one of, the grandest church edifices of the United States. The tabernacle is a large building, 250, feet long by. 150 feet broad, having a roof' of "a single; span,, resting on forty-six square pillars of red sandstone. It is ■ capable of seating 7,000 perous. An organ is iv course of construction ■ inside the building, said to be the largest in tbe United Sta.tes. yThe Salt Lake theatre is , distinguished as being one of the best: of its class.. Other public buildings of prominence exist, with numerous churches, schools, and other institutions of benevolence and sociality!.,'; Stages run in various directions, and' telegraphs connect it with all the world."