The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, July 16, 1858.

President James C. Snow and Bishop Elias H. Blackburn.

Dear Brethren:--
I am not going to progress with building the Mill at your place for the present. I am led to persue this course in consequence of their benig such an undue anxiety to speculate, and requiring large prices to be paid in money for every item of labor or material, and a general lack of enterprise and encouragement on the part of the people of your city, Since we commenced operations in Provo, we have expended over Nineteen thousand dollars in money besides a great deal of labor and material taken from this place; and instead of the people appearing in the least to appreciate it as a blessing, it appears to make them more, than ever, indolent, speculative and exacting. Neither do they feel willing to pay their tithing, or encourage by their labor, improvements which would be of benefit to the country and city: Although in making such improvements, materially enhances the value of every kind of property contributes to the general prosperity and wealth of the community. Until I find a different spirit prevailing more in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel of true advancement in things temporal as well as spiritual, I shall decline incurring further expenditures in that place. If the expenditure o few thousand dollars, produces such an effect, what would the people do if a gold mine should be found? How much tithing would be paid? And who, think you, would be saved? I still beleive there would be a few--probably a majority but I regret to feel that there are so many, who let a narrow-minded, selfish spirit control them.

You will please inform Bro. Solomon Angell and those teamsters you engaged in hauling rock, that they can postpone their labor and return home, and let the teams bring down what they can, of those big wagons, as we need some of them to use, for the iron, in this place.

Your brother in the Gospel of Christ

Signed Brigham Young