Presidents Office Gt Salt Lake City
Mar. 19th 1866.
Hiram B. Clawson, Esq.
Metropolitan Hotel, New York City
Dear Brother:-
We have been looking for a letter from you for some days: but have not yet received any, though we have received a number of telegrams. We expected to have heard of John W's arrival at New York ere this, and cannot understand why nothing has been received from him.
Every thing has been peaceable in the City since you left. The City election passed off quietly, President D. H. Wells' name having been substituted for Bro. Smoot's, as the latter wished to retire, feeling that a respite from the cares of office would be agreeable to him. There were 2433 votes polled at the election, the heaviest vote ever cast at a City election. The thorough measures which were taken to call out the strength of the people at the polls, had the effect to check any disposition which our enemies might have had to get up an opposition ticket, as they saw that success, or even a vote that could be viewed as respectable was altogether hopeless.
The clique has been as usual fuming and threatening considerably; but nobody has bestowed the least notice upon them. The appointment of Nat Stein as Post Master of this City has been a disappointment to them, and it is said by the folks that Wheat has declined wonderfully in the market. Let them do their best they cannot get things exactly as they would like them. There are too many conflicting interests at
stake for our enemies to unite cordially on any measure they may wish to have operate injuriously against us. In this consists their weakness; and our strength is in our unity of purpose and concentration of interests. While our union is increasing, they are becoming more and more disunited. Our aim is to build up the kingdom of God; this brings concentration of purpose on our part. Their aim is to build up themselves, every man being for himself and working to accomplish his own end; of course discord must necessarily be the result.
An organization has been entered into, on the part of our people, for the sale of our home produce in the North. A company, bearing the name of the "Utah Produce Co.," has been organized with a President, <and five directors. Bishop Hunter is president> and A. O. Smoot, H. S. Eldredge, John Sharp, H. W. Lawrence and W. S. Godbe are Directors. The object of the company is to furnish the Northern Territories with flour and other produce at prices that will prevent competition from other quarters; and also to furnish those articles through one channel, and in such a manner that speculators will not have an opportunity of taking advantage of the sellers' necessity and the competition which arises from that necessity.
Brother Wm. S. Godbe has sold out his stock of dry goods to Messrs Kimball and Lawrence, with the intention of contracting his business for the present. His drug Store will be kept up
My health has not been good for two or three days. I have had a severe cold, and it settled on my lungs and has caused me considerable pain, which with rheumatism, have confined me to my room. The weather has been mild of late; but unsettled. Colds have been, and still are, very common, scarcely a family that has not some member afflicted.
There have been a large number of soldiers discharged, and they have made a great number of applications for the privilege of returning with the Church trains when they go down to the Fruntiers; but they have received but little encouragement, and numbers have gone off in various directions.
I wish you to purchase me a Turbine Wheel of 22, 24, or 26 inches size with the usual and necessary gearing. You will also please purchase five hundred (500) of No. 9 (nine) best quality of galvanized Telegraph Wire, with Twenty Seven (27) most improved insulators for each mile of wire.
Your family is well; and the families of the rest of the brethren, as far as heard from. Accept my love, in which the brethren join, and remember me to Bros. Taylor and Caine. That the Lord may bless you is the prayer of
Your Brother,
Brigham Young