Great Salt Lake City, U.T.
June 22, 1867.
Elder Joseph Birch,
Washington, U.T.
Dear Bro:--
Upon your arrival at my Cotton Factory at Washington for the purpose of taking charge under our agreement, it will be necessary for you to take a full account of the Stock on hand, including the manufactured article, and raw material in each and every department and stage of manufacture; movable utensils of every kind and furniture &c. also note the Machinery & Buildings and their condition. Take new Books, and in the first place pass the above items to my credit. Then keep and continue to keep a full account of all the productions of the Mill, and of all the trades that you make that every transaction may be exhibited, so that no claims may be made afterwards by parties for unsettled business but what can be found in the books. The balance of wages due to the hands at same time may be credited to them and charged to me. Let the accounts with the hands as well as all other accounts be kept as plain as possible and everything be explained so that a future settlement can be arrived at without difficulty.
I wish you to buy and secure all the cotton you can, but use wisdom so as not create any excitement, but quietly secure secure all you can. Our terms are 12 lbs good clean cotton for 1 bunch, 5 lbs, yarn, up to 12s or 14s delivered at the Factory. You can draw on Rich & Bentley at St George if you need any homemade cloth for the purchase of cotton and for the hands, also on F.B. Woolley in the same way. Bro Woolley should have a large quantity of cotton of mine which he will turn over to the Mill, also Bp Willis of Toquer should have some. The proceeds of the Factory should be turned and made available for the entire payment of the hands without making any calls on me other than as above mentioned.
Let there be no rowdyism, drinking of liquor, or improper conduct of any kind allowed in the Mill but let everything be done quietly and in good order, and by every means in your power induce those in charge of the cards and all other parts of the machinery, to be careful that nothing is allowed to injure them in any way, and to attend well to cleaning and judiciously oiling that by careful usage the machinery may last many years for the good of the people as well as all concerned.
Bro. Whitehead will aid you in taking Account of Stock. I have informed him that you will take charge of the business.
Let me know by telegraph when you take charge of the Factory & communicate with me in that way when it becomes necessary.
Hoping you may be able to conduct the business so that the results may be mutually beneficial and cordially wishing you every success and that you may be blest in your endeavors,
I remain
Your brother,
Brigham Young