The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, August 14, 1863.

Bishop Thomas Callister,
Fillmore, Millard County, U. T.

Dear Brother:-

In reply to your queries in letter of 9th inst., I have to inform you that you are at liberty to use the T. O. order for $160.00/100 to be paid in horses, and $40.00/100 in labor tithing, towards buying the place you mention for Sister Pratt, but we cannot afford to pay for her any neat stock as we need all we can get, and more too, to carry on the Publick Works. If Sister Pratt has among her stock any work oxen, steers, or any stock that it would be more profitable for her to dispose of at present. than to keep, she of course can turn out that kind to pay the $100.00/100; but I wish her to keep all of her stock that is profitable to keep for her subsistence, as she can more easily sustain herself in that way. As to the amount of assistance Sister Pratt is to receive from the tithing office in your place, I have only to state that of that you should be the best judge, bearing in mind what would be right and proper for her to have from the office under consideration of all the circumstances at the time of each request, and passing her requests under the decision of your best judgement for acceptance or refusal. This is as near the amount as I can at present advise you.

You are at liberty to assist br A. Lyman with labor tithing to the amount of one or two thousand dollars. 

I think a brush and rock dam across the Sevier would be the most durable of any kind you can afford to build at present, to be built cur<v>ing, the center of the curve down stream, the ends the highest, well secured in the banks, and the top of the dam to gradually slope from the ends towards the center which should be the lowest, and a good apron of logs and brush for the water to fall upon, to prevent undermining from below. The trees can be handily floated do[word cut off] from above, and the rock can be boated. The water will bring down fill in sand and gravel. You may remember the two boats I had made and took with me on my trip to Salmon river; they will, when put together carry some two or three tons, and I will, if you wish sell them to you cheaper than you can afford to make them.

I wish you to carefully collect and secure all the tithing oats and barley in your ward and in Beaver, and engage teams to haul it onto the western mail route to Ruby Valley and this side, and perhaps some of it a little beyond Ruby. I will furnish sacks, and will pay the hauling in money at the rate of $1.50 a hundred pounds for each 100 miles on the road from Fort Crittenden to Ruby, and at the rate of $1.75 a 100 pounds a 100 miles for such distance as any team may be required to go beyond Ruby. In addition to the above amount I shall probably want to buy oats and barley in your ward for money, and perhaps in Beaver, and expect to pay in the neighborhood of $2.00/100 a 100 pounds for the grain, and wish you to arrange to hire it hauled by brethren in your and Beaver Wards at the rates above specified, payable, as above, in money upon receipt of delivery of the grain.

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young