Gt Salt Lake City
June 29th 1866.
J. H. Wade Esq.,
President of Pacific Telegraph Co.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Dear Sir:-
I sent a request to Mr Bassett, Supt. of the Line here, to communicate with you on the subject of changing your line from where it now runs, between the mouth of Echo Kanyon over the Big and Little Mountains into this City, to the present traveled Stage route between that point and this place. I proferred to furnish and set the Poles at my own expense for the Company, if they should conclude to make the change. Since making this proposition I have heard nothing further on the subject.
The advantages of changing the line are many. At present it crosses two mountains, which in the winter are covered -- especially the Big Mountain -- with very deep snow, rendering them very difficult, and even dangerous of access.
There being no travel that way, and no houses near, if any accident happens to the Line the precise location of the interruption cannot be ascertained without an examination. I should be pleased to have you take this proposition into consideration, and at your convenience let me know your decision.
I hope the consolidation of the U. S. P. Telegraph Co. with your line will not interfere with the construction of the contemplated new Line. Two lines are very much needed by the country, and by having them on different routes they will be more successful. Rather than have one abandoned, and the business transacted on the one only, and subject to the frequent interruptions which occur, if I had the means, I would put up the poles and stretch the wire myself, and leave it to the convenience of the company to pay me.
The Line East of this place was built by Mr Creighton, a brother of who, I understand, has been sent out to inspect the poles which are being delivered East under my contract with Messrs. Barney, Morgan & Co. and the eastern Line has been down of late, on an average one third of the time, while the western Line, built by Mr. Street, has not been down one-thirtieth part of the time. Mr. C. has not called upon me since his arrival here; but I hear that he condemned the dry poles, which in all probability are the most durable of any in the country. We have had a pretty good experience in the durability of the timber of these mountains. When the poles are to be accepted, I hope that it will be by some one who
knows and understands our timber.
With kind regards,
I remain Yours truly
Brigham Young
P. S.
The distance from this city to the mouth of Echo Canon is about fifty miles.
B. Y.