the church, a meeting, a dance, a visit, an exploring tour, the arrival of a party of trappers and traders, a Mexican caravan, a party arrived from the Pacific,^^ from the States, from Fort Bridger, a visit of Ind- ians, or perhaps a mail from the distant world once or twice a year, is all that breaks the monotony of our busy and peaceful life . . . Here, too, we all are rich- there is no real poverty; all men have access to the soil, the pasture, the timber, the water power, and all the elements of wealth, without money or price. "^®
On his arrival in the autumn, Brigham stirred up the people to the greatest activity. Fencing material being scarce, and the city lands all appropriated, it was proposed that a large field for farming purposes adjoin- ing the city should be selected and fenced in com- mon. By October there were 863 applications for lots, amounting to 11,005 acres.
A united effort was made to fence the city, which was done by enclosing each ward in one field, and re- quiring the owner of every lot to build his proportion of the fence.^" No lots were allowed to be held for speculation, the intention, originally, being to assign them only to those who would occupy and improve them. The farming land nearest the city was sur- veyed in five-acre lots to accommodate the mechanics and artisans ; next beyond were ten-acre lots, followed by forty and eighty acres, where farmers could build and reside. All these farms were enclosed in one common fence, constituting what was called the 'big field,' before mentioned.^^
^ ' In July 1848, William and Nathan Hawks, Sanford Jacobs, and Rich- ard Slater came from California with copies of Brannan's Star of April lat, and tidings that the brethren at San Francisco were doing well, and that those who had settled on the San Joaquin River had vacated in favor of the mosquitoes.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1848, 46.
- ® The letter was afterward published in part in Snow's Voice of Joseph,
16, and portions copied into Utah Early Pioneers, MS,, 34^5.
'" ' Every man is to help build a pole, ditch, or a stone fence. . .in propor- tion to the land he draws, also a canal on each side for the purpose of irriga- tion.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1849, 55.
- ^ 'The fence will be 17 miles and 53 rods long, and 8 ft high.' Hist. B.
Young, MS., 1848, 68-9; Juv. Inst., ix. no. 3, 34. It had been decided by the high council in Jan. that fencing be commenced, and that the farm lands be
