The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City
27th March. 1867
Geo. H. Mumford Esq.

Pres't. Cal. State Tel. Co.
San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Sir:

Your circular respecting the exchanging of the Stock of the Cal. State Tel. Co. for that of the Western Union Co. at the rate of share for share, has been received. According to its date (Feby. 18th) it should have reached here some time before it did. The mails from the West have been considerably detained by the heavy snows in the Sierra Nevada.

My object in writing to you at the present time is to get your views respecting this transfer of stock. You are conversant with the value of the stock in both companies, and know the advantages or disadvantages of the exchange. Does the stock of the Western Union Company rate as high as the stock of the Cal. State Tel. Co? and are the dividends the same? I should like to get your views on the subject, and if you will telegraph me: "Yes, send on certificate," I will immediately mail it to you.

It is with much regret that I have heard of the death of Mr. James Street. The news of his decease was very unexpected, as no intimation of his sickness or any failure of health had reached us. The intercourse of myself and other citizens of this city with Mr. Street has always been of a very pleasant and agreeable character. We found him to be a genial and prompt gentleman in all his business transactions. I sympathize very much with his bereaved family.

Our winter and spring so far has been somewhat peculiar; quite mild and much rain during the first months; but latterly considerable snow, which fell as recently as yesterday, and the present month has been colder than any part of the winter. backward springs in this country are generally favorable to our vegetable and fruit crops, as we have our winter in the season thereof, and then when spring opens we are not so likely to have late frosts.

I have not yet been able to obtain a settlement with the company for the cutting of the poles for the new line under the contract made by me with Messrs Barney, Morgan & Co. Mr Palmer writes that the Company has only assumed to pay the cash payments on the Line east of this City, and that they have nothing to do with the stock or the line west of the City. This I have never understood until of late, though since receiving these explanations I find upon examination of previous telegrams that the matter is alluded to but in such a way that I failed to understand it, being under the impression, conveyed in several telegrams, that the transfer to the Western Union Co was complete. Do you know any thing about Messrs Barney, Morgan & Co. and can you give me any idea how I can obtain a settlement for my work on the Line? Letters written to B.M. & Co. have been returned to me from the Dead Letter Office, marked on the outside that no such firm could be found in New York. There have been a number of them thus returned. If you can give me any information on this subject I shall feel much obliged

With kind regards I remain Yours &c
Brigham Young