G. S. L. City, July 1st. 1859.
Elder D. Jones,
Care of Henry Maiben,
Provo, Utah Co., U. T.,
Dear Brother:--
In reply to your favor of June 27, I have to inform you that I have not specimens of coal from Provo canon and, to the best of my recollection, never have seen any. I have heard rumors of coal discoveries in that canon, but know nothing of the value or reliability of those reports.
During your examinations for a boat landing at or near the mouth of Salt Creek, it may not be amiss, should you find the wagon track through the Salt Creek canon impracticable without a large or unreasonable expenditure for road work, to take a look at the track from Summit Creek along the East base of the Table mountain range to Table Point, (West of the mouth of Spanish Fork) which is said to be very good, as is also the range for teams. The water and shore at Table Point, which is a little West of North from Summit Creek to this side Lehi on the travelled route is the chief difficulty to be obviated by boating, you will readily comprehend that making that point your southern terminus will, so far as range is concerned, accommodate the teams equally as well as the mouth of Salt Creek. In selecting Table Point there would be more hauling and less boating, and of course, if possible, the mouth of Salt Creek, or its neighborhood is preferable, but I take the liberty to suggest that you include in your reconnoisance and carefully weigh the comparative advantages and disadvantages of hauling either by Salt Creek canon or through the depression nearly west of Summit Creek <to the mouth or near it, of Salt Creek> and boating from there, and the route to Table Point as above indicated, when you will be able to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the best southern starting point for boating, at least during this season.
In your first boat operations of the Lake it will be prudent to hunt up the low, small rock island, that bro. Carrington told you about, and place a flagstaff upon it. The water may be over it at present, but it will show itself in a still time after the water falls, if not now. Brother Carrington thinks you will find it not far from the intersection of lines drawn from the mouth of Spanish Fork to a rocky point (some mile and a half south of Long Point) on the West side of the Lake and from Table Point to the head of Jordan, somewhat to the West of the last named line.
Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young Sen