1863 September 28 Letter to Brother Forsyth

Title

1863 September 28 Letter to Brother Forsyth

Description

In considering the wage Forsyth should consider the cost of the machinery and buildings. The current wage is very good.

Type

Correspondence

Sender

Brigham Young

Recipient

Brother Forsyth

Date

1863 September 28

Location

Great Salt Lake City

Subject

Financial Matters

Item sets

Great Salt Lake City, Sep. 28, 1863.

Br. Forsyth:-

I wish you to continue spinning, or send me word that you wish to quit entirely. Let me state to you the wages you should have. I am willing to give you three dollars ($3 00/100) a day; but one dollar and a half ($1.50/100) or two dollars ($2) a day is, I think, a great price for your boy.

I have had many applications for work.

It seems to me that, in considering the price for your wages, you should take into account the great cost of the machinery and buildings, and not expect me to be able to pay to laborers all that the works earn, for in that case you would run me in debt and oblige me to stop the machinery, Grabbing for high wages at the start, when we have struggled to hard to <get> the people here, and have cheerfully endured so <many> privations, with a view to the welfare of the whole, seems to us very unwise; and we think it far more consistent with their professions for new-comers to take hold gladly, at the first fair offer, and turn to with us and aid in building up and promoting the interests of Israel.

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young