Salt Lake City, U.T.
April 16. 1871.
Gen. Thomas L. Kane.
Kane, McKean Co.
Dear Friend,
As my son John W. Young is about to return to Philadelphia I embrace the opportunity of addressing you a few lines which he will favor me by presenting to you.
It is some time since I had the pleasure of writing you, but, thanks to the great transcontinental iron-way our mutual friends now pass to and fro so frequently as to almost preclude the neccessity of writing so far as general news is concerned.
You will, I am sure, be pleased to hear from my son, of the general prosperity of the interests of our Territory, notwithstanding the almost superhuman efforts of our enemies to destroy it. I say, destroy it, because there is a "ring" of adventurers here -- banded together -- with the object of breaking up our institutions, and, in the most reckless manner, assailing the rights and liberties of the people. We suspect these scoundrels are not without backing from high places, yet they have accomplished absolutely nothing, save to make of themselves laughing stocks.
Our internal improvements continue. We are adding branch lines to the main territorial telegraph line. The success of the Utah Central Railroad is encouraging and seems to justify the extension of this road southwards, at least so far as prospects indicate that it will pay. There is so much low grade silver ores being discovered, and so little of a high order, that, unless a cheaper mode of transit than ordinary teams is introduced, mining must soon cease in this Territory. We prefer a narrow guage road, to the wide, <or the> ordinary guage, as in our judgment, there is too much dead weight, involving useless expense, in the wide guage, with its cumbrous rolling stock. A three feet track has been decided upon.
Chief Justice McKean, our present incumbent, has rendered himself so obnoxious to the people by his tyrannical and high handed measures that the great majority of our citizens are strongly disposed towards his removal. It is not, by any means, certain that they could accomplish this, but there are ample grounds for such action, and this is very general among all classes, excepting, of course, the ring of which he is the acknowledged standard bearer. Were he removed, there is every reason to believe that John F. Kinney of Nebraska City would be a polular nominee for the office of Chief Justice, and we think would be willing to accept it. Twice, and by two different Presidents the Judge has been appointed to that office in Utah, and in both cases without his solicitation. There is one reason perhaps more than any other why Judge Kinney's administration would be desirable. During his incumbency <he issued> a writ for the apprehension of one Joseph Morris and others who had previously resisted a civil process. We discountenanced the measure at the time, but as it emanated from the highest civil authorities and in regular course of law, and was urged upon us, Gen. Robert T. Burton was called upon, and he, with a posse marched upon a regular enampment of determined men pledged to shoot any person who attempted to serve said writ; the consequence was that several lives were lost, though I have never heard any blame imputed to the Gen. or his posse, but this miserable clique of petifogging carpet-baggers with their packed grand jury have found a true bill against the General for murder in the first degree. The General will not trust his person to the tender mercies of a packed tribunal, and, however much to his discomfort, declines to appear voluntarily until he can have justice.
Under the wise providences of the Almighty we find ourselves surrounded by a very different set of circumstances now than formerly. When the Union Pacific Railroad was projected, overtures were made to us to grade a portion of the road; the proposition called for grave reflection, we weighed the matter thoroughly, & reflected that if we declined this work a large force of Irish laborers & other foreign element would be introduced here, to many of whom a six months residence would have given the right to vote, to say nothing of the disagreeable consequences that would naturally follow contact with such; and, again, whether we aided the work or not, it would nevertheless be accomplished, so we concluded to help build the road, and that it would be better to do so, even without one cent of remuneration. Now this is a precise illustration of how we find ourselves situated to-day. Sources of wealth are opening up all around us, which are clamoring for development. Railroads have to be built; Iron works erected; Smelting works & crushing mills; and Machinery for all classes of manufactures introduced. The attention of capitalists is being called to these facts and we as a people must either give way, or, as in the case of the U.P.R.R. unite our labor with outside capital, and judiciously assist in developing the great resources of our Territory. My son will confer with you more minutely on these points.
General, now that the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad is completed & the facilities for travelling have made the trip across the plains comparatively a pleasure, may we not hope to see you here soon? Let me assure you there is not one among the thousands who will cross the plains this season to whom the Latter-day Saints would more cordially extend the hand of warm welcome. Those who know you cherish for you the fondest recollection, while with all, your name is held in honorable remembrance.
The Latter-day Saints are still awake to their high calling & are to-day besides possessing increased knowledge -- as loyal to the cause as at any period of our history.
I feel that you will take pleasure in hearing this, though we would all much perfer you should come & judge for yourself. For my part, you have my undeviating friendship which has never abated one particle, nor lessend in the measure <one grain> since we first became accquainted; and I can assure you I have no more doubt of your faithfulness and integrity of heart than I have of my own.
May Heaven bless you & yours, through life, and your earthly career germinate in eternal happiness.
Brigham Young