Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, December 3, 1868

In this letter from December 3, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the continuing effort to grade the railroad bed "as rapidly as the frozen ground will admit," but the work is so difficult that "we can not make much progress on light work in the hard frost."

Bear River, WY
December 3, 1868

The weather thus far has been pleasant and we have done good work. The grading is being pushed as rapidly as the frozen ground will admit. Everything is being done to close it up to Salt Lake Valley as early as possible, still, with all our efforts, we can not make much progress on light work in the hard frost. I fear a storm is brewing, which may close our work.

I had Mr. Frost send you the robes, including a fine "Grizzly" which I have had dressed in Salt Lake City and which you can have lined to suit you in Chicago or Joliet as you think best. I have got me a winter overcoat, that will keep me warm in any weather. It is made of Buffalo calf skins lined with good cloth and trimmed with otter. Have not gotten the gloves to match but will soon.