The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City, U.T.
August 15. 1872.

Mr. George P. Nebeker
Laie Oahu. Sandwich Islands.

Dear Bro:-

Although you are distant from us, we are not unmindful of you, nor of your labors; and, even if we have nothing special to communicate, it may not be uninteresting to you to receive a few lines of a general character.

 

Peace continues to prevail among the Saints, notwithstanding the assiduous efforts of our enemies to disturb it.

There are some threatenings of Indian hostilities in San Pete, the Indian Agent being determined, apparently, to force the indians on to the so-called Uintah reservation, without providing means for their subsistence, to which they have a decided objection. We are, and have been all the time perfectly willing to feed them, but the Agent objects to the brethren giving them anything, some of whom, we regret to say favor his course, and the result is the indians are mad. The agent has called on Gen. Morrow through the Governor for troops but as he has no cavalry, and is naturally, a good, wise, kind of a man, he hesitates to send troops without first having an interview with them.

 

Last Friday myself and a small company took a ride over the Utah Southern Railroad a distance of about 23 miles to examine the work through the point of the mountain The cuts and fills are very heavy. The large fill is about 700 feet in length, with an average depth of about 175 feet. The work is progressing quite rapidly, and it is thought the Locomotive will be through within three weeks. Had we not been disappointed with our iron, we would have crowded this work and had it completed long ere this; it appears, now, however, as if the iron was coming, and we will push on without delay.

 

We are having remarkably good crops this season and labor is in great demand, in agriculture railroading and mining. Besides the Utah Southern, two other Railroads -- The "Utah Northern' and the "American Fork Kanyon" are being built here. The former is going ahead with vigor, its connection is made with the Central Pacific Railroad at a point 17 miles west of Ogden, and it is built and carrying passengers and freight some 27 miles from that point towards Cache valley: it is considered a great success. The latter is the property of English Capitalists having large mining interests in American Fork. Both those roads are narrow guage, or 3 feet wide.

 

The S.L. City Street Railroad is another recent improvement and is well patronized by our people. It runs from the Depots to the various hotels, and it is intended to run to the City Bath House shortly. A heavier track, from the Depot to the Tabernacle will also be laid shortly, upon which a Locomotive will run to haul the granite rock for the Temple.

 

Elder George Q. Cannon was elected Delegate to Congress, on the 3rd inst. Bro. Hooper having requested a release from his labors, which have been very arduous to a person of his temperament. Maxwell was the opposition candidate.

 

Many improvements are being made in this City, buildings for Stores, Hotels, Tenements &c. are springing up all around us. The Jennings' building used by Z.C.M.I. with the additions now being made will shew a frontage to Main St. of 107 feet, extending back 190 feet. The Walker House built by Walker Bros. for a Hotel, on the site where John Kay's residence formerly stood, is a handsome 4 story building of brick having all the modern improvements for the accomodation of travellers; it is nearly finished and will doubtless bring many more visitors to our City.
 

My health continues excellent, for which I feel very thankful. At 5 tomorrow morning I start for Logan to attend 2 days meeting accompanied by a few brethren. When you have leisure, write and let us know how you are getting along, and may peace be with you, and prosperity attend your labors.

 

Your Brother in the Gospel.
Brigham Young

 

P.S. How are your goats getting along. we are used to inquiring after the sheep. now we want to know something about goats.