The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City,
Octr. 28th, 1867.

R. G. Sneath, Esq.
San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Sir:

I have had a call from Mr. Dibblee, your Agent in this city, on the subject of importing goods by way of the Colorado River. He read me your letter to him, and I frankly stated to him my feelings and views on the subject. We had a lengthy conversation, and before leaving, he asked me if I had any objection to writing to you what I said to him.

For years I have been solicited to assist in opening the navigation of the Colorado for us to obtain goods thereby; but in our many trials to obtain goods at cheap rates from the West, we have always been disappointed. Some two years ago a warehouse was built at Callville, and goods were sent for to San Francisco, but they were so slow in reaching here, and cost so much that those who sent became satisfied that, so far as this city and the northern portions of this Territory were concerned it would be impossible to obtain supplies from the West at as low rates as from the East. I, myself, sent for some articles which I needed, and had them shipped to Callville. They were about eleven months in reaching me, and I was at considerable expense to obtain them even then.

But I understand from Mr. Dibblee that the intention is to remedy these delays, and have goods promptly transmitted. This is not the only difficulty. If we have had any prepossessions in favor of one market above another, they have been in favor of San Francisco. But after repeated trials our business men have become thoroughly convinced that they cannot purchase to the same advantage there that they can in the East. The most of the articles that we need cost as much in California in gold as they do in currency in the East. Of course you and all business men know that people will purchase where they can do so at the cheapest rates. If we can get goods from the West cheaper than from the East then California will get the trade. But until that can be done it cannot be expected that much buying will be done there. With the Rail Road progressing so rapidly from the East my conviction is that the settlements in this Territory north of Beaver can be supplied with goods at cheaper rates from the East than from California; but south of that point probably the West would have the preference. I suggested to Mr. Dribblee that if a wholesale warehouse were established at the Colorado, and a good assortment of goods be kept there, a trade might be opened in a short time with our Southern Settlements. But what is really wanted to make the navigation of the Colorado and the importation of goods on its waters a success, is population. Until that country is tolerably well filled with an industrious and thrifty population, forcing trade in that direction will not prove remunerative. We are doing what we can to furnish population. We are sending many families this fall to the South near the Colorado. This is what we are now doing, in addition to what we have already done, towards making the navigation of the Colorado feasible

With kind regards
I am Respectfully

Brigham Young