Salt Lake City
9 Nov 1868.
President Albert Carrington
42 Islington, Liverpool. England
Dear Brother:
Since my last of the 18th ult. yours of the 6th Nov. has come to hand, detailing your visit to the Welsh Conferences and also Birmingham. I am pleased to hear your health continues so good and that you have so much pleasure in visiting the various parts of the mission.
I am also gratified to receive so encouraging a report of the labors of the Elders associated with you. We constantly remember them in our petitions to the throne of Grace, that they may "be endowed with power from on High". to faithfully fulfill their Holy callings, and be privileged to return with joy and rejoicing to their homes in these peaceful valleys.
We are having a constant succession of visitors to our city; a class much superior to the generality of those who have visited us in previous years. They generally express themselves as being delighted with our city and the progress we have made in this Territory. Though every one who comes here has doubtless read discriptions of the city and myself, they do not appear to be satisfied to go away without seeing for themselves, and when they see the beauties of our city, our long lines of shade trees, the sparkling rivulets that course down the sides of our streets, and our many other improvements, many of them feel like the Queen of Sheba that the half had not been told them. The result that will follow these visits will be favorable to us. A better class of people will become acquainted with us through the visits of their friends. Already this is perceptable in the letters which appear in the public prints. Writers evince greater liberality and do us greater justice in treating upon us and our system. As we increase in numbers and wealth we will become more important and, after the fashion of the world, those who speak of or write about us will do so with greater respect. It is gratifying to see us progressing towards the achievement of that destiny which is predicted for us.
Since my last but little has occured calling for especial notice. The frosts of winter have not yet stayed the advance of the iron horse towards our valleys. The track of the Eastern line is already several miles west of Bear River, and every team and every man that can possibly be pressed into the service is being used to croud the line to Ogden before spring opens; but whether the storms we generally experience at this season of the year will stop the track laying before it reaches Echo, at that point, or any other place east of this valley, we realize is just as the Lord wills. They will come just so <far> and no further than He desires, and is for the good of the faithful of Israel.
My work in Echo Canon is now finished, and nothing remains in Weber to be completed except the tunnels and some heavy rock points. I have no fear that the work on my contract will stand in the way of the tracklayers, and fully expect to be ready for them no matter how soon they may come along. The Western line is also pushing ahead with all the force it can command, but we are not so accurately informed of its progress as we are of that of the Eastern line, but it is said to be somewhere in the neighborhood of Two hundred miles west of the Great Salt Lake.
Bear River City, like most of the mushroom towns. called into existance by the building of the Union Pacific Railroad is rapidly becoming a thing of the past; and soon like Julesburg or Green River City two or three shanties dedicated to the sale of intoxicating liquors to the passing traveller will be all that is left to mark the site, where once stood the most reckless and desperate of railway towns. The motly croud that made up its population, are dispersing for winter quarters, many still hurrying westward with the hope of building such another as itself at the mouth of Echo. Others are pushing forward to the promontory at the north end of the Lake, where another "magic city" that is to outshine all others, is soon to rise on the borders of our inland sea; while some intend to make our city their home until some excitement draws them away to climes more congenial to their restless natures and habits, than the peaceful cities of the saints. While in our midst they will have to learn that we are a people who love virtue and order, and respect the laws of our country.
Another chieftain in Israel has passed from our midst. Elder Daniel Spencer, has in the providence of God been called to join the hosts of the faithful who have gone before, where, in a brighter sphere, free from the infirmities of this mortal body, he can more gloriously accomplish his masters will. He died at 6 minutes to 6 last evening, and will be burried tomorrow morning, the services being conducted at the 13th Ward Assembly Rooms. He was 74 years old last birthday.
We are also called to mourn the loss of Sister Leonora Taylor, first wife of Elder John Taylor, whose spirit left its mortal tabernacle about 6 this morning.
In reply to your enquiries regarding emigration we have now about £3000.0.0 on hand, to help in next seasons operations. The first of June will be early enough to send off the first ship load, and our agent in New York (who will probably be Elder Horace S. Eldredge as the Cooperative Mercantile Institution will most likely appoint him to do their business) will be prepared to receive a company about once a fortnight, and will forward them immediately on their arrival right through to this City. In this you and our agent in the States can correspond with each other and decide precisely the time and the arrangements.
In your teachings and writings to the saints I desire you should impress upon them the necessity of their punctually paying their tithing. So that they' may help us in our endeavors to build up the kingdom of God and extend the influence of truth upon the face of the earth.
If it is injurious to the health of Elder George Teasdale to confine him too closely to his duties in the Office, let him have opportunities to go out as much as possible amongst the people and preach the gospel.
Our news from the Sandwich Islands is very encouraging. Elder Nebeker informs me in a letter written on the 12th Nov. that he had that day started his sugar works, and that every thing was working excellently "He says "we start off with 12 mules on the mill at a time and change at noon. We clarify with steam and run our centrefugals or dryers from the same boiler and reduce the juice in open pans. We employ 20 men, mostly natives, with this force we expect to produce one ton of sugar and 100 Gals of Molasses <per day>....Our native brethren are willing to work for us and I could hire more men if I needed them" It may not be long in the course of events, before we in Utah, will have the pleasure of eating sugar grown and manufactured by our brethren in those far off Western Islands.
The school trustees through out the Territory manifest considerable interest in introducing the books printed in introducing the books printed in the Deseret Alphabet. Elder Orson Pratt is at present engaged in getting out the book of Mormon in that Alphabet. It will be divided into three parts, to take the place of the readers generally used in our schools. I expect Elder Pratt will go east next season to superintend the printing and publishing of this work.
All is peace within our borders. St George and the Muddy settlements have lately suffered from a raid by some bands of theiving Navajoes, who notwithstanding the vigilence of Elder Erastus Snow, and the brethren under his direction, managed to escape with between 40 and 50 head of horses. Two of the indians were killed in the raid, by the brethren who went out in pursuit, and a number of animals were recaptured, but the brethren have had to return leaving about the above number in their hands.
I am thankful to say the health of myself and the saints generally is good. The beautiful weather that still continues, no doubt tends to our enjoyment of this blessing.
With love in which Elders Smith, Wells, Cannon and the brethren in the Office join and ever praying for yourself and the saints under your watchcare.
I remain, Your Brother in the Gospel.
Brigham Young