Transcript
Transcript for "News from the Plains," New York Daily Times, 11 July 1857, 1
Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.
The Salt Lake mail reached here to day. Those who had it in charge came into town in a very unobtrusive way, and no one would have suspected a common two-horse wagon the conveyance for the great United States mail that the Mormons thought was so badly handled by the former contractor and so carelessly attended to as to go into their city at times without an escort, or in any vehicle than a fine Troy four horse coach. Circumstances alter cases—the President and Council are now the contracting party. Poor fellows, they will find themselves sadly put out when they learn that their contract has been suspended for a time, or rescinded altogether.
Nothing of great importance occurred on the route—few or no Indians attempted interruption—the trains were getting along pretty well—the snow has almost entirely disappeared, and the grass and water on the plains abundant.
In the valley there was little transpiring of interest. The inhabitants were looking with great anxiety for a direct mail from the States—their only source of intelligence heretofore has been by way of California.
They were very desirous to know what kind of reports the returned officials had made in the States, and they look with surprise, also, upon the bills respecting polygamy, &c, before the last Congress, and treat with contempt the Surveyor General’s (Mr. BURB’s) report; they think him little qualified for his place, and accuse him of making incorrect statements respecting their country.
The Governor and party had returned a day or two prior to the time the mail left, highly delighted with their trip, and greatly invigorated, [.] The citizens look forward to a more vigorous and lively state of things in consequence of this party, and hope that great good will result to the country at large.
It seems that the same cold dry weather once experienced there as here for two months past, but the rains had commenced, and hopes were entertained by all that there would be good crops this season.
Missionaries, as usual, had departed to different parts of the habitable globe, doubtless encouraged by the reports of some who had just returned from the Sandwich Islands, and [---].