The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City,
Sept. 28th, 1866.

Major General Rufus Ingalls,
Qr. M. U. S. A. San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Sir:

Your welcome favor of Aug. 12th came safely to hand a few days ago, and was perused with pleasure. I am gratified to learn from your letter that yourself and Gen. Babcock found your brief stay in this City so agreeable.

The information which you write, respecting the shipment of freight by the Colorado and also by the northern route, via the Columbia, Snake river, &c., is quite interesting. The best and cheapest route by which to bring goods &c. into this Territory is a matter that cannot fail to be of interest to us, having had, for so many years, to pay such high rates of freight for all that we brought here. Should the Rail Road be pushed ahead from the East, as at present contemplated, by next Season Army Stores can be transported almost, if not quite, as cheap from the East as from the Colorado. Should nothing occur to prevent the pushing ahead of the Rail Road, by a year from next Spring freight can be brought from the East much cheaper than from the South. I am not in the freighting business, but I have not a doubt but that a contract can be made to transport Army Stores from the point which you describe on the Colorado to Camp Douglas at (9) Nine cents per pound. It will probably cost about 21/2 cents per pound extra from here to Fort Bridger. I do not know the distance between this City and the highest point of navigation on Snake river; but I have reckoned the price I have given you from the Colorado at ($2.00) two dollars per hundred pounds for every hundred miles, and I think supplies can be hauled from Snake river at the same rates.

I shall be pleased to hear from you, if not too much trouble for you to write, and shall be happy also to see you here again, should you find it convenient to return by this route. Should Gen. Babcock be with you, please give him my regards, which please accept to yourself from Yours truly,

Brigham Young