APresident's Office
Salt Lake City
Jan 5th. 1869.
A. Carrington, Esq.
42 Islington, Liverpool;
Dear Bro.,
I sincerely hope this will find you in the enjoyment of health & peace & every requisite blessing to enable you to magnify your high calling.
I wish to call your attention to a family of the name of Watkins, desiring to emigrate; please to communicate with them -- see what they want & help them over if you deem it advisable another season. The address is Thomas Watkins, Hind Pool Sharrow-in-furness; Lancashire.
I have nothing <of> special importance to communicate; the great work is still rolling on, & all things are tending to its development; I praise God continually for his watch care over Zion.
Work on the U.P.R.R. is prosecuted with untiring vigor; the locomotive is now halfway down Echo Kanyon & the ties are laid beyond the mouth. The company are bringing swarms of their forces to bear on the tunneling in Weber Kanyon, while Bishop Sharp's men withdraw to other work. This relieves us of our hardest, heaviest work -- which is very pleasing to us, indeed I could not have asked Dr. Durant to confer a greater favor. Two surveys for branch lines from Ogden to this city are nearly run, probably one is completed.
Co-operation is still engaging our attention, though I regret to say that many <some>, whose experience in mercantile matters would be of invaluable service to us -- stand aloof rather than aid in this praiseworthy cause.
I am pleased to inform you that Bro. Geo. D. Watt assisted by Mrs. Ed. Rushton continue assiduously to advocate the culture of the Mulberry tree & the production of silk; these lectures have effected the organization of cooperative societies in many of the Wards.
About 3 Weeks ago Bishop Wm Hyde of Cache Valley, while engaged on the railroad was severely injured by a kick from a horse, on the left side of his head -- for a time his life was despaired of, but I am pleased to say that he is now in a fair way to recover.
Elder Orson Hyde reports an interesting treaty with indians of the Utah tribe who had been engaged in the late depredations in Sanpete county; he says they were very earnest in their professions of a desire for a peace.
News from the Muddy of the 14th inst. have reached us that the settlers were putting in a good breadth of grain; most of the missionaries called at the October conference had arrived, others were met on their way. Indians peaceable in Southern Utah. The Christmas holidays call for the usual amount of dancing & theatre; though balls are less frequent than formerly while the theatre has been running every night for the last three weeks. Madam Parepa Rosa & troupe; Mr. McCullough; Madame Scheller & Mr. Geo. B. Waldron have kept up quite a lively interest. Bro David McKenzie has retired from the company; I have taken him in to attend to my correspondence. Bro Reynolds is employed at the books
with Bro Ellerbeck.
Bro. Stenhouse is about to start a small sheet at Ogden City as soon as he can get the material there & in running order. Myself, Prest. Smith; Elders Woodruff, F.D. Richards, Cannon & B. Young Jr., have just returned from a visit to Ogden & its neighborhood; at Ogden City we organized a branch "School of the Prophets", with Br. Farr, Prest. & Bro. C.W. West vice-pres. At Ogden I met with Dr. Durant & Gov. Stanford, we had a very pleasant time -- looking out for a site, for the new depots. The selection is not yet determined upon, but will be, probably, very soon. Dr. Durant expressed himself much pleased with our excursion & tendered me his thanks for information & suggestions with regard to the construction of a part of the railroad. The time was very profitably & interestingly spent.
Your favor of the 9th ult. has just come to hand, Millenial Stars; & that monthly statement" with Fisher's note & account.
With regard to Tithing & Donation monies; We don't wish Tithing credited any other a/c whatever. If the brethren have Donations to make, that is another matter. We wish you to look through the conferences & see that the brethren are not haranged in this matter, that the elders render a just a/c of all money received -- whether for tithing, or, on what a/c donated, & not mix them together, donations can be determined on in meetings but meetings have nothing to do with tithing. All this however can be regulated, however, to suit yourself.
We further wish you to print another of edition of the Hymn Book & determine whether it can be done cheaper in the office or giving it out, we want the best & cheapest; please observe to make no change in it, purposely, to induce the brethren & sisters to purchase, as has been heretofore, if any hymns are added, don't intermix them, but place them at the end of the book.
With regard to Br. James W. Fisher, you did well in sending him home; we want no such person abroad to ruin the influence of good men.
We wish to have you travel & instruct the conferences as much as you can, but not to the detriment of the office.
We rejoice to hear of your continued good health. With feelings of love for yourself & associates, & our constant prayers in your behalf,
I remain
Yours affecionately in the gospel,
Brigham Young
P.S. We are informed Bro James H. Johnson from the 2nd Ward. S.L. City now laboring in Scandinavia, suffers from a bleeding at the lungs; if such is the case, it will be wisdom to release him from his mission & send him home. You will please so instruct Bro. Jesse N. Smith.
Brigham Young
P.S.S. You will please send out the enclosed list of persons, with the first ship, the address is attached.
D. McKenzie
Order of Prest. Brigham Young
David Vaughan age 45
Ann Vaughan age 46
David E 22
Hyrum 18
Nephi 16
John 14
Henry 7
Bryn Crug
Near Towyn,
Merionethshire
N. Wales