Salt Lake City,
April 10, 1868.
Elder H. B. Clawson,
215 Spring Street, New York City.
Dear Brother:
Since writing to you at considerable length on the 28th ult. I have received your welcome favor of March 16th, and proceed to reply to your queries as fully as present information will permit.
As advised in my letter of March 28, it is expected that the 500 teams to be sent to the terminus will suffice for all the emigration, and perhaps for more or less freight besides the passengers and their luggage, and that the independents can also probably buy teams out of those trains, should they prefer doing so to hiring their passage. from The price of passage from the terminus will be $30 00/100 in greenbacks for each one over 12, allowing 50 lbs of freight, from 1 to 12 half price and 25 pounds freight, 1 and under free. These rates are for those who are assisted, but the adult or over 12 years old independents, so-called, should pay $15.00/100 in currency in advance, and furnish their own provisions and cooking utensils, and half that price for those from 12 to 1, under 1 free. The independents should also pay in advance for all their freight including weight of provisions, from the terminus at the rate of two dollars per 100 lbs per 100 miles. The extra freight of those who are assisted should also be charged at the same rate and the amount included in their notes. To recapitulate: charge the assisted over 12 from terminus to this city, $30 00/100 each, which will include provisions and use of cooking utensils from that point and 50 pounds of luggage; children from 12 to 1, half price and allow half the amount of luggage; 1 and under free. Charge the independents from terminus to this city, $15 00/100 without any luggage for each person over 12, half price for those from 12 to 1, and those under 1 free, and for their luggage and all other freight at the rate of two dollars per 100 pounds for each 100 miles; the independents will be charged for all of their luggage and the assisted for all above the amounts allowed aforenamed; and the independents must pay for their passage and freight in from the terminus in advance.
Provisions for the assisted emigration will be sent with the trains as also cooking utensils, but whether sufficient we cannot now tell, but will telegraph to you on these points when the trains start, and we can then operate, understandingly with the facts. I enclose form of notes to be taken, and wish the clerk to write the names and ages of all the party or family on the left side, with the age opposite each name; and the principle or principals to sign their names or marks on the right hand side; the Clerks writing all the names is requisite to enable us to better keep track of those who are assisted. The notes for such assistance as is rendered up to their arrival in New York will be taken by bro. Franklin D. Richards in Liverpool, and you will take notes for all assistance you render including passage and extra freight from the terminus, at such times and places as you may find most convenient, being careful to have all the notes taken before the parties leave the terminus in the trains, else they are liable to scatter without giving their notes, as has been the case in many instances.
In relation to the poor in New York if there are means left after the foreign emigration are provided for, you are at liberty to assist them to come here to the extent of such surplus; but the foreign emigration must first be got through. In case you find yourself able to assist as aforenamed, there is a bro. Charles Holm, at Frederick Culmer's, at the corner of North 7th & 6th Streets, Williamsburg, Brooklyn E. D., who has written to me for aid and in reply I have referred him to you, and you can act in the matter as your judgement and the means will warrant, requiring him, of course, to do all he can towards paying his way, and giving him such advice in relation thereto, as the circumstances will warrant.
Should you learn that the 500 teams will not be sufficient, please telegraph the number that may be wanting, and we can send them to the terminus in about two weeks.
Since writing the foregoing your favor of the 20th ult is to hand, and I telegraphed you yesterday as follows "Received your letter of 20th, all right, see when you can do the best; will write particulars. Boys well." I should have telegraphed more definitely, but could not safely, as the cypher was not full enough to answer. What I wanted to state was that it would be well to see Mr. Beach and if you found it advantageous to close a bargain with him, endeavor to have him deliver the passengers and freight at Chicago, other wise the other road may feel vexed and charge you more from Detroit to Chicago than all the advantage you have gained by employing the Grant Trunk only to Detroit. this is a point you will need to notice. It may also be well, if these lines do not reach you too late, to enquire into the feasability of the route from Portland, Maine, and improve every opportunity for fending against combinations and extortionate prices.
Do not be in so much of a hurry as to prevent you from availing yourself of every facility for transporting our emigration comfortably and upon the most advantageous terms circumstances will permit.
Please make inquiries as to whether vessels are often wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the season of the year when our emigration will want to be passing.
I wish you to inform Mary Jane Pusey, of Danbury, Connecticut, that there is an opportunity for her to come to Utah this season, and that you will give her such counsel and advice and render such assistance as may be needful to enable her to come through.
On the 7th inst. I forwarded you a $10.00 draft from Wells Fargo & Co. the "First drafts of Wells, Fargo & Co. one for $10,000 and one for $117.78, on their House in New York; I now enclose the Seconds, No. 1352 for $10,000 and No. 1301 for 117.78/100. These sums are for emigration purposes.
A copy of this letter will be sent by same mail to bro. Franklin, (with form of note to be used by him) that he may also be familiar with the instructions given you in reference to the emigration on this side of the water,
Money and business continue as when last advised, and the boys and all your family and friends, as also bro Staines, are well, as far as I am advised.
My health is good and I expect to leave in the morning on a short visit to Provo
Your Brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young