Salt Lake City, U. T.
August 25. 1869.
Mr. John Sharp,
American House, Boston.
Dear Bro:-
Yours of the 14th -- 16th. inst. has been received. We were extremely anxious to hear from you, however your letter arrived before our patience was quite exhausted & we appreciate in some degree, your unwillingness to write, without having something important to write about.
We would have delayed writing this until we heard the results of your interview with the Directors today, but we have very little confidence in the Board arriving at anything definite at present, further than the proposition already offered; if, however, they should deal fairly & honorably with us, & acknowledge & adjust our claims, we will be very agreeably disappointed.
As to the proposition handed to you by Mr. Bushnell, "to settle up all claims of Brigham Young against U.P.R.R. Co. & the Contractors & Elder Taylor; the Treasurer be instructed to furnish them 4000 Tons of 2000 lbs of Rail at $150.00 per ton." &c. &c.-- We think the rates are extravagantly high. On the rails alone there is a difference of $120.000, over the market price, & if we reckon twelve pounds additional to each hundred it increases this difference nearly $55,000 more, which is in round numbers $175.000.00 higher than the market price according to Joseph A. Young's estimate; then adding to this the difference on the other material, (though not so high proportionately as the rails) we find that the Company charges us not less than $182,000.00 more than the Market price.
Notwithstanding the high rates, however, we will agree to take the Rails & other Materials, Locomotives, Cars &c. in part payment of account on the following conditions:-
1st.-- That there be made a speedy and equitable adjustment of all the claims.
2nd That the Rails & other Materials Locomotives Cars &c. all be delivered at Ogden without delay, so that the Road may be put into immediate operation.
3rd -- That the Company grant to the U. C. Co., for five years the free use of that portion of their Road, between Echo Station (or some other point contiguous to the Coal Beds) and the terminus of the U. C. at Ogden for the shipment of coal.
4th -- That the Company settle the balance due us by Note or otherwise, payable in three equal instalments at Thirty, Sixty and Ninety days.
If Jos. A. Young, agent of the U. C. disapproves of the Company's Locomotives, it may be necessary to make a Special arrangement with the Company to have new ones built to order on their responsibility.
We have no doubt that you will do all in your power to bring the business to a satisfactory termination.
Write from time to time that we may be kept posted. We have commenced & will continue to agitate this subject through our newspapers, & rest assured that you have our faith & influence & the well wishes of our people at large for your success.
Best regards to Elder John Taylor, Joseph A. Young & all friends.
May God bless & preserve you & give you wisdom to accomplish the work in which you are engaged.
Your Brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young