The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, Sept. 10, 1859.

Pres. William S. Seely,
Mount Pleasant, San Pete County, U. T.

Dear Brother:--
Yours of the 5th inst. came to hand this morning. In regard to your building outside of your Fort, upon your city lots, I still, as heretofore, deem it very unwise and unsafe to do so under present cercumstances. My feelings are, and always have been, that settlers in new and measurable, isolated and small settlements should by all means build and occupy forts sufficiently strong and well guarded to insure the protection of their wives, children, and property. How long such a course will continue to be best is at present unknown, but it will be until several circumstances materially change and settlements are stronger and nearer together.

As I wrote, on the 8th inst., to br. Reddick N. Allred, I am satisfied that, as a general thing, the sooner streams are led upon crops after they leave their kanyons the more produce can be raised with a given amount of water, this is especially the case when the streams are small. By concentrating streams, at much expense of labor and waste of water under a hot sun and in loose soils, a larger settlement can be made at a given point, but not near so many persons can be sustained in a given valley as by the mode of making smaller settlements, so they are large enough for safety, at the nearest points where water can be applied to tillable soil.

There are plenty of men in San Pete possessed of good judgement, and having sufficient experience and authority, to regulate water, soil, and all other matters as brethren should for the 'greatest good of the greatest number,' that your county may be developed in all points to its utmost capacity.

In accordance with the foregoing, which certainly appears plain and reasonable to me, and I presume will to all concerned, I can see no reasonable objection to br. Coxe's making the settlement he proposed, provided he moved no women and children to the new location until a fort is built for their protection.

Your Brother in the Gospel

Brigham Young