President's Office,
Gt. Salt Lake City,
August 11th/66.
President Brigham Young, Jr. and
Elder John W. Young,
42 Islington, Liverpool, England
Dear Sons:
As your brother Oscar, with Elders F. D. Richards and N. Groesbeck, start to England to fill Missions on Monday next, the 13th instant, I take the opportunity of writing to you. Your favors of July 4th, written at Christiania, Norway, were received a few days ago, and have been perused with pleasure. Your travels, as you describe them, and your visits to various places of interest must afford you much pleasure, and you should appreciate the opportunities which you now have sufficiently to profit by all that you see and are brought in contact with, Had I the privilege of traveling in the old world, and visiting the various countries and mingling with the different peoples, I should enjoy such opportunities very much. In these respects the young men of our people, who go abroad, have many advantages over their fathers. When we visited Europe we could not travel very extensively; the want of means prevented our visiting places that did not lay in our path in calling upon the people to repent. Affairs have changed very much since that time.
Since my last (the 30th ilst.) Bro. Wells has returned from San Pete in good health and spirits. Wash-akeek and upwards of two hundred of his tribe came a few days ago into the City to see me and renew our friendly intercourse. He and his chiefs feel very fine. We fed them well, and they seemed much gratified by their treatment.
We have had uncommonly heavy rains for the past few days, which, added to the rain that fell during the previous week, is likely to do considerable damage to hay and grain. The weather has seemed to be more like English weather than which we usually have here at this season.
Those companies which have started on their return here with the emigrating Saints are, so far as heard from, making good progress on their journey. The first company, Capt. Thos. E. Ricks, passed Sweetwater Bridge to-day. Capt. S. D. White's train passed Horse Shoe to-day. His is the second company. We hear that the last company left New York for the frontiers on the 1st instant, and we are daily expecting to hear of their arrival at Wyoming and their departure on to the Plains.
Our Home Telegraph poles are set and are ready for the Wire, which is brought by the Teams. We have ordered 500 Miles of Wire, with insulators, &c. The new <Telegraph Line> wire is being stretched from this City to San Francisco, and another Line is being put up between here and Montana. A Railroad route is to be surveyed from here to the Falls of Snake River this Fall. The party is now engaged in surveying from the point where they discontinued their labor last year west of this City to Carson Valley. They are pushing the road rapidly from the <East> and West. It will soon be up to Fort Kearney, and it is the intention at present to have the road finished up to Julesburg by Spring, and to have the gap completed that is now open in Iowa. Should this expectation be realized, there will be direct Rail Road communication between New York and Julesburg.
From the reports which reach us we judge that at our present outfitting point the people in the neighborhood are far from being our friends. The cattle of one of our trains were seized for damages because they were running on the open prairie; but which was claimed by a person to be his grass land. They also attached the Telegraph Wire, that we had there, on a trumped-up claim of indebtedness on the part of myself, Bro's. Kimball, Whitney and Pratt, said to have been contracted in Kirtland about thirty years ago. The Wire, &c. were only released and permitted to come on by the brethren giving bonds. There was no indebtedness of my contracting left unsettled, and none of the other brethren of which we can get any knowledge. The whole proceeding is a swindle and designed to vex and annoy and rob us.
We are expecting Capt. Hooper and Bro. Stenhouse home from the States tomorrow. Gen. John E. Smith, the new Assessor of the U. S. Internal Revenue for this Territory is their fellow traveler.
Everything is moving <on> smoothly and quietly in the City. General health and peace prevail, and all are as busy at work as bees. Your families are all well; Clara is quite recovered, and is able to be about as usual. Your Mother's health is also usually good. Luna was safely delivered of a fine boy on yesterday morning, the Mother and child are both doing well. The Elders' families, so far as known, are in good health.
I desire to remind you again on the subject of Tithing and the Emigration Fund. The importance of these duties should be kept constantly before the people. A neglect of these will bring condemnation to all who are guilty. We are living in a day, and at a time, when all persons, <especially> who profess to be Latter-day Saints, should stretch forth their hands and exert themselves to roll forth the Work of God and to establish His righteousness. The Saints in Zion have shown their faith by their works, and they are witnessing constantly unto the heavens and the earth that they love the Work of God. This year alone the cost of the outfit sent to the Frontiers to bring up the poor Saints, is but little, if any, less than half a Million of dollars. This amount is ventured ungrudgingly and without murmuring. Besides this, there are the other numerous calls to be responded to. These Indian troubles have called away hundreds of our young, able-bodied men from their labor, at a time, too, when their services have been most needed. Altogether these expeditions have been a very serious tax upon the entire people in spending valuable time and furnishing outfits which in this country are very expensive. Beside these labors, there have been poles for Five hundred miles of Telegraph Line got out, and erected, and money furnished in part
and the remainder by myself for the Wire, insulators, &c., &c. Then there are roads to build and keep in repair, water ditches and canals to open, school houses to erect, and a great variety of other public labors to attend to, all of which the people of Zion go to with their might to perform. It is a noticeable fact that the more they do the more they are able to do-- their exertions increase their capacities and abilities. To keep pace with the people of Zion and to be one with them the people abroad must make corresponding exertions, according to their ability, in their own behalf and the behalf of the Work of God.
Wherever you want Bro. Franklin's help you can use him. He, as well as Bro. Olsen, is accustomed to Emigration and the other business of the Mission, and they both can operate to advantage.
The new Tabernacle is being pushed ahead; but the lateness of the Season and the heavy rains have retarded the getting out of lumber and delayed the work.
We have but few troops here at present, and they are regulars. Conner is out of the service, and is here at present, and they are regulars. Conner is out of the service, and is here now as plain "Pat" engaged in mining business, which, as Government pap has been withdrawn, will very likely, if he pursue it diligently, burst him up financially. Col. Smith still continues friendly. We have had quite an influx of lawyers into the City of late. Like the birds of prey they snuff the carcase from afar. Business is poor where they have been; but they imagine that with the land claims and other business the enemies of the truth promise them here, they will reap an abundant harvest. Armies have not been found to operate
well in breaking us up, but it is now hoped that vexatious lawsuits and setting up and enforcing claims for our land may do it.
Your Mother and all the family join me in love to you. Presidents Kimball and Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. send their love to you; remember us to Bro. Orson, and all the Elders.
Praying the Lord to endow you richly with His grace and to make you equal to the performance of every duty
I remain
Your Father,
Brigham Young