The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City. U. T.
January 27. 1870.

Hon. W. H. Hooper, M. C.
Washington, D. C.

Dear Bror:-

Your favor, enclosing Copy of Wheeler's Railroad Bill just received.

From the first, we were not in favor of memorializing Congress for the right of way, from the fact that over 3/4 of the land is in the possession of actual settlers, & that portion which runs over U. P. R. R. sections, has been arranged for & the remainder merely desert lands -- valuable to no one, & which can be easily procured when they come into market.

Now it seems like "paying too dear for our whistle" to give to Government such a grip upon the road, for such a paltry grant. Not that we mistrust Government would take any improper advantage of the power thus granted, but past experience proves, we are liable to be placed at the mercy of officials, who would lord it over & make us their victims.

If we were receiving a grant of ten miles of land on each side of the road, & a subsidy of from 12 to 20,000 dollars per Mile for building it, the we might agree to such conditions; but as it is, all we ask is the right of way.

If we can have the first section of the bill, all right, we are perfectly willing that Government shall be charged to higher rates than individuals, but to legislate away the control of our road into hands that never helped to build it, we would much rather withdraw the Bill.

Your Bro. in the Gospel

Brigham Young