335 - 337
Great Salt Lake City, U. T.,
November 5th, 1864.
Dear Sir,
Your favor, written in August, but which has been delayed through the interruption of the Mails on the Plains, has been received and perused with interest.
There is nothing in our laws and regulations that would prevent you or any other law-abiding citizen, who pursues an orderly course, from settling here. Our Territory is subject to the same laws, so far as settlement is concerned, as all the Territories of the United States. It is true that the Latter-day Saints are the Settlers of this country, there being comparatively few who do not belong to our Society residing here. The country presents so few advantages for settlement that it is quite unlikely any other people would have settled these valleys for many years to come, had we not come here. As to employment, you might be able to obtain such as you require; but our heavy yearly emigration brings a large supply of Clerks and persons accustomed to keeping Store, which more than supplies the demand. This Fall a good many of this class, unable to find such employment as they have been accustomed to, have been compelled to resort to other labor of various kinds.
The best time to come to this country is the Spring of the year. Our trains generally leave the Missouri River in the early Summer, and Ox teams occupy about 70 days in making the trip. Our starting point this year was Wyoming, about 6 miles above Nebraska City, N. T. The cost of an Ox team, (three yoke of cattle) and wagon, with cover and chains, this year at Wyoming was $640.00. Our Emigrants prefer Oxen for a team in crossing the Plains, as being cheaper and more enduring. The best route, probably, from Northern Ohio to Wyoming is by way of Chicago to Quincy, Illinois, thence by the Hannibal and St. Joseph R. Road to St. Joseph, and by Steam boat from there to Wyoming. Before starting, however, on such a trip, you should open a correspondence with the Agent of <the> our Emigration, whose address in New York, early in the Spring, will be Box 3957 Post Office, New York City. I do not know yet who the Agent will be; but a letter directed to Wm. H. Miles, at the above address, will be handed to him.
I send you, herewith, a Deseret News containing an Epitome of our belief and doctrines. Before emigrating here, with the purpose of dwelling here, I would suggest that you take pains and investigate our belief and doctrin seeking earnestly, at the same time, for the aid of the Spirit of the Lord enlighten your mind respecting the Truth. We testify that the Lord has revealed the principles of the Gospel and the ordinances thereof, with the authority to teach and administer them, from the Heaven again to man, and has organized his Church after the ancient pattern. You and every other man can ascertain the truth of this for yourselves, as we have done, by taking the way pointed out. You can obtain books, which will give you a more perfectunderstanding respecting our principles by corresponding with Mr. Miles, who has them for sale. I would recommend the Book of Mormon, the Voice of Warning and Spencer's Letters to you for your perusal.
I remain, dear Sir, Yours &c.
Brigham Young
P. S.
Should anything interfere to prevent our emigration coming through next Spring, you can, doubtless, arrange to come through with some one of the Trains which may be coming through.
B. Y.
E. G. Gibbs,
Shiloh P. O.
Richland Co. Ohio.