The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City, U. T.
January 27. 1871.

Bishop Wm. B. Preston
Prest. Logan Co-op. Ins.

Dear Bro:-

Yours of the 25th inst. has come to hand. It is always a pleasure to receive and answer communication having in view the best interest of the Saints, but we cannot understand how breaking up the Co-operative Institution would enhance that interest.

Either the Stores throughout the Territory will continue to co-operate with the Parent Institution or we will dis-continue it, just as the people say, and this is for them to determine. We are for supporting it, so long as the people wish it, with all the faith and influence we can bring to bear.

If one store undertakes to do its own trading independent of the Parent Store, and is backed by counsel to do so, how long would it be before another and another would also fancy they could do better on their own hook and so return to the former basis, and again give outsiders the advantage. Do you think you would long monopolize the business in Logan, when others saw fit to set up an opposition

Your object, as stated, is to furnish cheap goods in Cache Co. What has brought goods down to the present cheap basis, but the Co-Operative Institution, and this is a fact recognized by all the Merchants here. Many Gentile traders purchase from the Institution, and we even ship goods half way to California from this City and Ogden, which would seem to indicate that goods are sold as cheap as any market, if not the cheapest.

As to freighting from S. L. City, the great bulk of goods you purchase are shipped direct from Ogden, and never come to S.L. City at all. As a rule none but the light fancy goods are freighted from this City.

And when it is considered that but a limited advance is asked by the Institution on Wholesale bills, and that their goods are purchased at the lowest figures, wherever the Institution with its large and increasing capital is known, we cannot understand, either, that you could do any better in the end, or that Israel would be benefitted by thus segregating the Institution, now that it has become known in the commercial world, and its patronage is being courted everywhere.

There is strength in union, but in division there is weakness.

Your Bro. in the Gospel
Brigham Young