Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, June 7, 1868

In this letter from June 7, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his continuing presence in Salt Lake City and his favorable treatment by the Mormons. He also notes that the Central Pacific Railroad's directors are "very much disappointed to learn that we are so far advanced with our end of the work," because that will mean less government land for their company.

Salt Lake City, UT
June 7, 1868

I am still in the city of the Saints and may remain some days yet. It is difficult to get the line located through the wild mountain country between Green River and Salt Lake City.

Governor Stanford and Mr. Gray of the Central Pacific Rail Road are very much disappointed to learn that we are so far advanced with our end of the work. They are trying to contract with Brigham Young to do their work west of this place, but he answers that he has all he can do at present to complete the work taken from me; after that is completed he will make contracts with them if they want to. In the mean time our road will be finished one or two hundred miles west of this city. Yesterday I visited Salt Lake and bathed in the cold salt water. It was refreshing and invigorating. One of Brigham Young's sons drove us over in the President's carriage. The Mormons are as hospitable and kind to me as in former years.