Salt Lake City, U. T.
April 28. 1873.
Prest. George A. Smith,
Dear Bro: Your very welcome letters, and those of your party continue to be received from time to time, by which we learn of your travels in the far east, of your good health, of the interest you take in visiting foreign lands, and places of ancient and modern renown, and are perused with pleasure. All, or nearly all of those letters, are published in one or other of our daily papers
Peace reigns in our midst, I never knew a time in the history of the Church when the Saints had greater reason to feel thankful to God, for His manifold goodness, nor more cause to be humble and prayerful than at the present.
My health continues excellent for which I feel very thankful. I attended Conference and spoke very freely, and without injury to myself. It is a general time of health, although we have had some small pox, more especially in Sanpete. Prest. Wells came into the office yesterday, for the first time since the 6th inst. having been confined to his house with his family in consequence of one of Hannah's children having the small pox, and, afterwards, Hannah herself. They are all well now.
You are doubtless informed of our doings at Conference, and I will merely repeat here that Elders Lorenzo Snow, Albert Carrington, John W. Young, and George Q. Cannon were added to the First Presidency as counsellors. You were chosen Trustee-in-Trust, with twelve assistant Trustees, viz:-- John Sharp, Joseph W. Young, John L. Smith, LeGrande Young, Elijah F. Sheets, Joseph F. Smith, Moses Thatcher, John Van Cott, A. M. Musser, James P. Freeze, F. A. Mitchell & Thomas Taylor. Some 18 missionaries were called, and probably a few others will be when Conference meets again. The Trustee is required to give bonds with approved securities to the amount of $25.000.00 The Assistant Trustees in $10.000.00 each. To approve those securities Conference adjourned until May 3. 1873.
I have also resigned my official connection with the Deseret National Bank; Z.C.M.I.; & U.C. & U. S. Railroads. My successors respectively, are, W. H. Hooper; H. S. Eldredge; John Sharp & William Jennings. Those resignation have given rise to much speculation abroad. They are looked upon by many as a virtual surrender of my position, preparatory to retiring into private life. How prone men are to put some other construction, other than the true one, upon the acts of men, when they themselves are given to duplicity!
Our federal courts are enjoying their usual share of muddle, McKean has taken a very anomalous position with regard to the Territorial Marshal. He holds that McAllister is the Marshal suffers him to empannel jurors, tries cases with such juries, yet maintains that McAllister is not a legal officer. No wonder that many of the bar seriously believe the Judge is getting crazy. It is said the Attorney General has the matter under consideration. Judge Drake has a suit in the 3rd District Court against Judge Strickland to recover a sum of money which Strickland promised to pay Drake for getting him the office of Ass. Justice. Gov. Woods has
assigned Judge Emerson to the 1st District and Boreman to the 2nd. Outside friends say that both those gentlemen are good lawyers, and an opinion prevails among them that Mr. Emerson at least, will be found on the side of law and order.
Bowles of the "Springfield Republican" & Gov. Booth of Cal. have been visiting the City, and had a lengthy interview with Mr. Geo. C. Bates who posted them thoroughly. Prest. Grant is now on a visit to Idaho Springs Col. and an effort will be make by prominent outsiders to have him come here. Gov. McCook of col. accompanies him. We hear that he was offered the Governorship of Utah and declined it
The spring is very backward and cold. A week ago last Wednesday a fearful storm commenced and raged for three days on the Platte river, blocking the U. P. R. R. and doing great damage tearing down telegraph poles for over 300 miles. The snow drifted around the cars to the depth of from 10 to 20 feet. Horses, Mules & Oxen were frozen to death in large numbers. By letter from Bishop Herrick now on his way to England on a mission, writes that he saw car loads of fine stock on the side tracks frozen to death. He was told that many persons perished during the storm.
I intend starting for Provo in the morning, and will return on Friday to attend Conference on Saturday.
To-day we commenced running passengers to Granite from Sandy Station on the narrow guage road. a distance of about 71/2 miles. It is a matter of great satisfaction to be able to ship our granite all the way from the quarry to the Temple Block by steam power. We are putting a number of boys to work cutting stone and busy looks lively on the Temple Block. They are also getting on finely with the foundation of the Temple at St. George. I have concluded not to go south until after the Fall Conference, then if all is well, and my health permits I would like to visit the new settlement on the Colorado that we are about starting and return to winter at St. George.
A paper has just arrived from Birmingham, shewing that Bro Erastus Snow addressed a meeting there on the 11th inst.
When you write again we will be pleased if you will give us your programme so that we may know the time of your expected return & the movements, as contemplated, of Bro Erastus Snow. Bro Carrington & all the brethren. May peace abide with you, is the prayer of
Your Bro in the Gospel
Brigham Young
P. S. Yours of April 1. just recd. Prest. started south Morning of 29th (D McK)