<63 - 65>
Gt Salt Lake City
Feb. 2nd 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Linas D. Worden
Clayville, Oneida Co. N. Y.
Dear Nephew and Neice:-
Your favor of Nov. 22 and 23rd has come to hand and been purused with interest. Your Uncle James came to town a day or two after your letter was received. He was glad to have the opportunity of reading it, and I presume that he will write you. He and his family are well.
You ask respecting this country and the chances for employment for mechanics, and the prices of provisions, &c.
Our country is new, and like all new countries has some disadvantages, which we who are settled here soon get accustomed to, and do not mind; they are, however, growing less as the
resources of the country are opened up and the facilities of intercourse increased. We are increasing our Manufactures as fast as we can, and we have reasons to stimulate us in doing so which there is scarcely another State or Territory in the Union possesses to an equal extent; I refer to the heavy amount which we have to pay for freight on all imported articles. We have no means, at present, of obtaining groceries, dry goods and the numberless articles which we do not manufacture here except by bringing them overland in wagons. This involves a very heavy expense, and stimulates and helps home manufactures. We have good flour and saw Mills all through the country, and every season adds to the number of these, for as new settlements are formed or the old ones are increased the demand for them becomes greater. We have one woollen and three Cotton factories, a Paper Mill and any number of carding machines and Tanneries.
We are desirous of introducing Machinery as fast as we can; but the struggle has been in the past to raise the food we needed and to get the question of subsistence fairly settled. The first settlers are now mostly in comparatively comfortable circumstances, and can begin to turn their attention to branches of manufacture which their increased means and facilities enable them to procure.
Provisions command a good price here. Flour is now selling at 8¢ per lb; beef at 12½ per lb; potatoes 75¢ per bush; and other articles in proportion. These prices vary according to the season. Flour is never lower than $6 per 100 lbs, and it has ranged occasionally, in consequence of heavy demands in neighboring territories in the North, as high as $18 and $20 per 100 lb.
Mechanic's labor is in demand; for we beleive in improvement and are doing all that we can to build up the country; and all Mechanics can, if industrious and economical, soon become wealthy, or what would be called so in the East. We have a fine place country for working people, and if they are industrious and persevering, they are likely to do well. But where people are lacking these points, it is what would probably be called a difficult country to get along in. My son, John W. Young, will start East about the 5th instant with intention of going to England. He will visit you, and will be accompanied by a Mr Caine who will be returning here in the summer, and who I wish to get acquainted with you, so that, if you should conclude to come here next season, he can be of some assistance to you in advising you and giving you the benefit of his experience in fixing up and getting off. If you think of coming, Angeline should gather up her Mother and the folks and have them come up with you. John W. will be able to tell you, should you conclude to do this, how you can best proceed. We are intending to send down 500 ox teams this Spring to help up the poor who are unable to obtain the means of traveling themselves, and if you should lack means to furnish yourselves with the necessary team, you can come by them.
John W. will be likely to reach your Section somewhere between the 25th of Feb, and the 2nd of March.
With love to yourselves and all the family
I remain Yours &c.
Brigham Young