Transcript
Transcript for Woodruff, W., "Correspondence from Utah," The Mormon, 11 Oct. 1856, 3
HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, G. S. L. City,
August 30th, 1856
Editor of the Mormon:
DEAR SIR: The eastern mail arrived on the evening of the 28th inst., bringing the Mormon up to the 12th of July. We have considerable news from our Washington delegation and the eastern country.
The weather continues dry and favorable for harvesting; our wheat crops have proved much better than we had anticipated on account of the drouth and the scanty supply of water from the creeks. Potatoes in the city on the higher land are generally a failure; on the lower and farming lands there are moderate crops, having mostly grown to tops. Corn crops in many places look well. We probably shall reap a much larger amount of grain than possibly could have been calculated upon during the dry summer. The wheat has filled remarkably well out in the ear, not withstanding the stalks were so small that in many instances the farmers have had to pull their grain instead of cutting it.
The health of the people during the past season has been remarkably good.
During this month Elder Parley P. Pratt and a few brethren have been appointed on missions to the States. Thomas Bullock, Bernard Snow and several others to Europe; they expect to start on or about the 10th of September.
On the 16th inst. the first division of Elder P. [Philemon] C. Merrill's company came into the city, and since that time the balance have arrived, being the first company of our emigration this season.
The Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society hold their first annual Fair in this city, commencing on the 1st of October; at which there will be an exhibition of stock, agricultural products, farming and gardening implements, manufactures, ladies' work, machinery and fruit. A plowing match will take place on the Governor's lands, near the city, about conference time. There will also be premiums awarded for the best Essays on Agriculture, Horticulture, Pomology, and Home Manufactures.
A fair on such an extended scale will be a novelty in Utah, and elicit from the genius and enterprise of her citizens such specimens and productions, as no doubt will tend greatly to enhance the cause of agriculture and home manufactures.
In the various wards of the city and throughout the Territory auxiliary societies are being formed to facilitate the accomplishment of the objects of the institution; and to a people so remote and isolated from the commercial world, it does not require much logic to show them the necessity of sustaining themselves by producing and manufacturing what they consume.
Several brethren have left the valley this season; some say they intend to return when the "times" become better.
Bro. S. M. [Seth Millington] Blair and company start on Monday, first for Ruby Valley, where he expects to meet Bro. Enoch Reese and company, from Carson. The design is to explore a new route to Carson by way of Ruby Valley.
I have sent by yhis mail to the Linnaan Gardens, New York, for coins of fifty different kinds of fruit, which I have selected from Prince & Co.'s catalogue, with which I intend budding my orchard next season. I have put in four hundred buds this Fall, of various fruits, some of varieties brought from the States, some from California, and others from seedlings which have been proven here, and are commended by our fruit culturists. Many currants have been raised this season, considerable strawberries and peaches, and there will be a few apples, grapes, apricots, plums, &c.
President Young is building a cobble stone wall, averaging 10 feet in height, around his noble orchard and vineyard, enclosing his mansion, offices, and new house. I presume he will gather between twenty and thirty hundred pounds of grapes this season; many of his apple trees are heavily loaded, and he will have a fair crop of peaches.
President Kimball has built a granary of cobble stones laid in Deseret cement, 34 feet by 24, two stories high, with a floor over one foot deep of cobble stones, also laid in cement; the design is to make it vermin proof.
President grant, in company with Brothers Thurston and Stoker, has opened a new farm in Weber valley; the crops are very promising.
The new Historian's Office is plastered, and we expect to remove there soon, which will be a decided change for the better to the clerks, as well as myself.
Bro. Willes, the Territorial Inspector of Schools, has returned from the North and reports the favorable results consequent upon the co-operation of the authorities in the various settlements; also the establishment of Sabbath schools, and the organization of literary societies.
A company had just returned from Carson Valley; as far as we could learn all of the company who went in the Spring arrived in peace and safety. We were informed that Murray, who was tried last winter for murder, and ran away, was killed by the Indians; also a man by the name of George Redding.