President's Office,
Great Salt Lake City,
Octr. 2nd, 1867.
Mr. Dwight Eveleth,
San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Brother:
I would like to learn from you what the prices of various articles will be at San Pedro, if bought in San Francisco was shipped there. Sugar of various qualities, nails of different kinds, the usual varieties of print and cotton cloth of the best quality. By furnishing me with this information you will oblige me.
If they can be bought as cheap as they should I think of sending teams through this winter to the coast for freight. I should also like to know the price of steel of various kinds and qualities.
We have had an exceedingly warm season, and have been troubled with high waters. Locusts or grasshoppers have also troubled us, and in some parts of the Territory have done considerable damage. These causes, probably have produced sickness among our children, of whom many have died during the past month. The crops, generally, are very good, and abundance has, in most cases, crowned the labors of the husbandman. From present appearances we are likely to have grasshoppers in great numbers in great numbers next season, as they are very busy laying their eggs at present; but this will be as the Lord wills.
There is quite a stagnation in money matters here, and those who have monetary engagements to meet are greatly embarrassed. The people have plenty to eat, drink and wear; but business men, in many instances, feel much oppressed. Everything has been so inflated and money easy here that a good many men have been led to over-reach themselves. We must take measures to keep what money we have in the Territory and not spend so much on importations. There are several woollen machines being brought in this season, and we hope ere long, to be entirely relieved from the necessity of importing woollen fabrics. We have as fine a sheep growing country as there is on the continent, and it only needs care on the part of our farmers and herdsmen to make it remunerative.
Myself and several members of the quorum of the Twelve took a trip through our northern settlements, leaving here on the 2nd of September and returning the 18th. In the sixteen days we were absent we travelled, going and returning three hundred miles, and held twenty-five meetings. The progress that has been made through the northern counties is very gratifying. It is an excellent <country> for an industrious economical people to live in and to accumulate all the essentials of wealth. Bear Lake Valley is a beautiful valley, of considerable altitude a rather cold in the winter; but not so cold as many parts of our New England States. They have a magnificent lake there, where fish can be caught in great abundance, and as a grazing country it can not be surpassed.
Just now we are preparing for our semi-annual conference; it is expected that a very large concourse of people will assemble. The New Tabernacle is so far completed that we can use it for our conference. The building is really grand, and we feel satisfied that it will admirably answer the purpose for which it was built. The new organ, though not completed, will be used, and we expect to have a very excellent time.
Three of my sons -- Brigham, Jr., John W. and Oscar have just returned in good health and spirits from missions to England. We are expecting the emigration in on the eve before conference commences.
We have had a very quiet time this summer. Our enemies seem to have exhausted themselves, and, discouraged at their own efforts, seem disposed to leave us alone for awhile, and we have never enjoyed more peace since our organization as a people than we do at the present time, and the Saints are diligent in the duties of their religion, and are visibly growing in the knowledge of the truth and the practice of the principles of righteousness.
With love in which Bro. George Q. Cannon joins, and praying the Lord to bless yourself and family, I remain
Your Brother
Brigham Young