Great Salt Lake City Dr Asa Fitch Sir Your Letter addressd to Mr Orson pratt we arivd in safety, & was put into my Hands for examination & to answer as professor pratt had left this City for Europe before its arrival otherwise I have No doubt but He woud have taken pleasure in answering it. I hve examined your letter carefully & also your report which came by the same Mail, and I consider the cause in which you are engaged a vey worthy & laudible undertaking & one of great benefit to evry Territy couty or Nation, & will freely take pleasure in reading you ay asistence in my power in this Matter. we have Agents we have many friends who lea go from our City to the states & Europe, in the capacity of Delagats, Missionary Agents, Merchants & a who co by whom I could send to your Address such Insets as you desire from time to time. we have some vary fine ^beery^ orchards in this city & territoy we think it will be a good Couty for fruit ^ Gen Young has the best orchrd in the Territry [sideways text]& producg fruits especiall peaches & Apples & grapes [end of sideways text]^ I have a fine orchrd of 50 Appletrees 75 peach, 20 plums 25 quince, & 30 grape vine nearly all in bearing & doing well. I have examined my trees & vines with a magnifyer since I obtained your Lette & I find them vary free generally of these Destructive insects of ^upon^ which you treat in yor report. I have however found some as to the grassshoppers we are not much troubled with them this season the Accounts whih coud be given in truth of there growth last seasn are would with most people be Incredible they fill the air as thick as a snow storm as far as the cEye can reach & how much lenth ^we^ I do not know when they light upon the Earth they eat up evry green thing as thy go not leaving ^but little^ grass or herbage of any kind. we made a rough esstamate of the amount they ly Dead upon the shore of the great Salt lake last fall washed ashore by the waves, as they droped into th Salt water & we made over

Elder Orson Pratt Dear Brother We wfeel that now you {shorthand} a few thousand miles from your pleasant home you would naturally like {shorthand} a few lines {shorthand} your friends {shorthand} keep you posted {shorthand} what {shorthand} doing in these exalted vallies During {shorthand} past month we {shorthand} favored with 3 or 4 pleasant thunder showers {shorthand} great blessing {shorthand} all crops especially {shorthand} some where {shorthand} water could not {shorthand} got on {shorthand} land {shorthand} corn began {shorthand} uncurl its leaves {shorthand} shew its sense {shorthand} gratefulness for {shorthand} favor {shorthand} about always also filled more generally & the Farmers felt {shorthand} praise God for {shorthand} manifest mercies {shorthand} this blessing The depth still continues the rivers {shorthand} nearly dried up {shorthand} greatest economy {shorthand} required {shorthand} make {shorthand} scanty suppply ^{shorthand} water^ {shorthand} irrigating ditches {shorthand} perform {shorthand} greatest amount {shorthand} benefit {shorthand} growing crops taking all things into consideration it appears almost {shorthand} miracle that we {shorthand} any wheat at all for even where {shorthand} wheat could only grow a foot there {shorthand} heads fill & {shorthand} course {shorthand} taller {shorthand} stock {shorthand} better {shorthand} crop many Farmers {shorthand} commenced cutting 9 wheat {shorthand} distributing {shorthand} soon {shorthand} thrashed {shorthand} those who were {shorthand} need The crops {shorthand} this valley {shorthand} about {shorthand} lightest {shorthand} any Territory {shorthand} Utah & {shorthand} south counties they {shorthand} raise an average & {shorthand} some places double {shorthand} previous years {shorthand} Davis Kay {shorthand} fair crop, but Weber {shorthand} larger crop but {shorthand} Cache Co none & {shorthand} Box Elder ^& Tooele^ about half a crop {shorthand} Tooele they {shorthand} troubled with caterpillars Army Worms & Wine worms {shorthand} discourages some that they {shorthand} piching up {shorthand} effects {shorthand} removing {shorthand} other places W. hard times begin {shorthand} relase {shorthand} hold {shorthand} little since {shorthand} wheat {shorthand} begun {shorthand} ripen {shorthand} we do sincerely hope {shorthand} {shorthand} was {shorthand} soon remove {shorthand} location {shorthand} some {shorthand} country Your family {shorthand} enjoying good health Sister Pratt & her babe {shorthand} doing very well {shorthand} you {shorthand} no doubt hear fuller ^& more grateful^ particulars from them then {shorthand} something can possibly give The Presidency opened {shorthand} 24th on {shorthand} head waters {shorthand} Big Cottonwood Creek {shorthand} particulars {shorthand} which you {shorthand} see {shorthand} Deseret news they with {shorthand} twelve who {shorthand} most there {shorthand} well {shorthand} connection with {shorthand} Council remember you {shorthand} prayers continually We learned that {shorthand} Missionaries {shorthand} Gersa {shorthand} arrived there {shorthand} that Elder Hyde has taken possession {shorthand} Washaw Valley for them which {shorthand} valley ^{shorthand} few miles N {shorthand} Carson & is^ well {shorthand} calculated for grass {shorthand} Hay for stock {shorthand} Mail arrived {shorthand} East at 9 oclock last night bringing a report {shorthand} your journey from this place {shorthand} St. Louis we were glad {shorthand} learn {shorthand} your safe arrival there so far

Letter to J. M. Bernhisel Asa Fitch, Salem, Washington Co N.Y. Editor of Mormon [Editor of] Luminary Orson Pratt

Great Salt Lake City, . Dr. Asa Fitch, Sir, Your letter addressed to Mr. Orson Pratt, arrived in safely, and was put into my hands for examination, and to answer, as Profr. Pratt had left this city for Europe before its arrival; otherwise I have no doubt but he would have taken pleasure in answering it. I have examined your letter carefully, and also your Report which came by the same mail, and I consider the cause in which you are engaged a very worthy and laudable undertaking, and one of great benefit to every country, nati[o]n, or territory. I will take pleasure in rendering any assistance in my power in this matter. We have many friend's who go from our city to the States and Europe in the capacity of Delegates, Missionaries, Agents, Merchants &c, by whom I could send to your address such insects as yo[u] desire from time to time. We have some very fine bearing orc[h]ards in this city and territory, and we think it will be a good countr[ry] for fruit. Governor Young has the best orchard in the Territory, and it is producing finely, especially the Peaches, Apples, and Grapes. I have a fine orchard of 50 Apple trees, 75 Peach, 20 Plum, 25 Quince, and 30 grape vines, nearly all in bearing, and doing well. I have examined my trees and vines with a magnifier sin[c]e I obtained your letter, and I find them very free generally of th[o]se destructive insects of which you treat in your Report. I have howeve[r] found some. As to the grasshoppers we are not much troubled with [th]em this season; the accounts which could be given in truth of those insects [la]st season would with most people be incredible—they filled the air as thick as a snow storm as far as the eye could reach, and how

G. S. L. City. Elder Benson, Dear Sir, While writing to Brother Pratt, I felt it was your due to receive a page also. I will begin by saying your family are well, though I presume Sister Benson writes you by mail. I paid a visit to Tooele and Rush Vallies a week ago on Saturday and Sunday. I find the city of E. T. look sorrowful. Brother Maughn and some others are going to leave, probably for Cache Valley; their crop is mostly destroyed by the Salt, worms &c I went with Elders J. C. Little, J. W. Cummings and C V. Spencer; we called upon Bro Rowberry—got a good supper—looked over the saw and grist mills, find good work in the flouring mills. He thinks he will start in six weeks. He went with us to Tooele City— spent the night; started early next morning for Rush Valley; when we got into it we saw a great smoke, thought it was the smoke of Johnson's settlement, but found it to be the old barracks on fire and burnt down; it had been burning 24 hours or so: we hunted two hours, and found Johnson & Co in six shanties near the mountains, each cabin 30 rods apart in the best Indian's hole you ever saw; two Indians could have scalped the whole settlement and not alarmed any one until they felt an arrow, for they were surrounded in the brush and cedars

Great Salt Lake City, To the Editor of the Mormon, Dear Sir, In the midst of the hurry of harvest we devote a short time to write you a few items of what is transpiring in this blest Territory. It is well known to all the civilized world that we are located in the valleys of the great American Basin, some portions of the rim rising from eleven to sixteen thousand feet above the level of the sea; therefore we are isolated from "the rest of the mankind," having but little communication with the world, for if our friends write to us, it is a risk whether the letters come to this city or not, and therefore as a general thing we have nobody to write to. The weather for the past month has been excessively dry, with the exception of some three showery days which was a great relief not only to the saints but to vegetation; they gave a renewal of life and vigor to all. The streams are comparatively dry, and we are bound to acknowledge the hand of God in all things; for it is miraculous that there is any wheat at all, fmany fields of it not having grown a foot high, yet the ears being tolerably well filled. The potatoes too are in many places cut down to the earth by an army of caterpillers and tobacco worms; the drouth in other places causes the vines to wilt, and on examination there are no potatoes at the roots. In addition to all these calamities, Jack Frost visited the low lands on the 23rd June, and as though he really thought the people did not believe he could come on the shortest night of the year, he visited many fields of corn, potatoes, and vines on the nights of the 16th & 17th July, and left his icy mark wherever he went, for vegitation wilted under his rude embrace.

[] Dear bro Geo A Smith We r in anticipation {of the} mail coming {in} tomorrow so we wish {to be} ready {as} far {as} possible past month {has been} very dry since you left {the} valley we {have} [h]ad rain on 4 days which {has} done considerable good for {the} dried up vegetation many fields {of} wheat for lack {of} water did not grow up a foot yet some portions will have {a} little wheat on it some corn [h]as not [h]ad {been} irrigated at all {and} if it were not for {the} showers {there} would not {have been} any grain at all. {the} potatoes vines have been ravaged by {the} tobacco worm {and} caterpillar {and in} Tooele they r complaining {of the} anny worm getting {to the} roots {of} half grown potatoes when they rot ^entirely^ away. we have also [h]ad and three frosts one on {the} 23 June 16 July {and} 17 July which [h]as wipt [wiped] {the} corn potatoes {and} vines {in} many places thus throwing {an} additional discouragement on {the} Saints. there {is} not any water [more] {in the} Big Cottonwood under {the} State land, only what erises ^arises^ from springs all {has been} taken out {to} irrigate {the} land that {that is as} far {as} it {will} go {in} the South Cottonwood ^wards^ {the} ppl r quarrelling about {the} scanty ^supply {of}^ water {[of/all]} [insert moved two lines down] they {have} quarrelled {and} on {the} 24th are party went {to} celebrate {the} 24 ^that day^ at [G. T. City] the other remained at home. If all [h]ad staid ^at Grantsville^ {a} fight was expected. ^at Grantsville Tooele Co^ On {the} 4 July branch was reorganized ^at Grantsville they voted {to be free from} British oppression [illegible] then that they [upside-down text] be independent {of the} tyranny {of the} Salt Lakers &c &c [end of upside-down text] ^which were moved by^ Jack Reddin motioned that ^& they then reorganized {the} branch by voting in ^J.^ohn^W. Cooley for as Pres. & Wilford Hudson & Arish C Brower ^as his^ Counselers & ^they^ carried {their} points We {have not} any news {from} Iron Co. {in} Utah Co they {have} good crops also {in} Davis Co. in ^Juab & Millard Cos^ they {they will} raise double {of} any previous year {in} Weber {an} average crop {in} Cache Co {the} Saleratus & Grasshoppers {have} swept {the} entire crops we [h]ad {a} flying visit {from a} swarm {of} grasshoppers but they did not tarry a week. We understand at Bear River they {have} swarming but which course they {will} take {no} man knoweth A Co {of} men {have} started for {the} lead nimes [mines] near {the} Vegas which promises {to} yield {from} 75 to 90 percent {of} pure lead [blank space] bro N. V. Jones says {he} can furnish it here at 10,00 for 100 w this fall when a large contract they {[have]} calculating {to} work it thru {the} winter {and} send up ^products^ early {in the} Spring We {have} [for] news {from the} Salmon River mission {the} Grasshoppers {have} swept every thing {the} Indians report they never saw such {a} scenery before they feel well towards {the} Saints News {from} [Gensn] not very encouraging if the statements of James Townsend r correct, no praying or preaching whatever but plenty {of} swearing drinking gambling & horse racing {and} those who went as missionaries {from} here r down {in the} mouth about it

Great Salt Lake City, Brother Geo.[rg]e A. Smith, Dear Sir, As the clerks in the office are writing you, and have given you all the news there is but little for me to say. We wrote you last mail wishing you to meet with Mess." Pernkird and Taylor, and fill out the blanks of the history of Joseph which are sent you. I hope that letter will go safe. The Eastern mail came in last night at 9 o' clock, and brought your favor in the shape of a good journey of your travels to Missouri, which we were glad to get; and are laid aside all business sake an read it through; also your letter of June 17th; they were very interesting to us. I call at your house occasionally, but do not visit much. I see your trees are growing finely; I have trimmed them some. Your family are about. We are in the midst of harvest; I have cut my ^15^ acres of wheat. some say I shall have 400 bushels, I lay it at 300. I have lost a good deal for the want of water; but wheat was never failed better filled better in this Territroy than this season; even where wheat is 12 inches high and thin, the head is good, and filled, and the berry plump. I saw Gen. Ricks wheat field after it was cut; some think he has 1000 bushels on the ground, bugt I think the estimate rather high. I think it will regain a good deal of care and attention to have everything that is raised in Territory this reason, or there will be more suffering before the harvest of 1857 than there has been during the past year. I hope we shall hear from you every mail. Yours truly, W. Woodruff

Great Salt Lake City Brother Thompson Dear Sir As the eastern Mail is about leaving I improve it by writing a few lines I wrote you the last Mail but suppose you have not time to answer my object in writing at this time is to Request you to forward me some more grafts for me to set next Spring. I wrote in season so that you may have time we have already some good fruit for the States & Calafornia bought by spring was grafted & are growing finely but I have none of them yet, then you have many kinds which we have not got in this vally. I wish you would cut me some of your best grafts as you did before Number & name them so I can get the accoumt of them & if you would give me a short description of them I would like it I wish you would put them into a round tin tox fill it full of grafts then sodden it up air tight & I think I will get them safe write my Name on the tin W. Woodruff Great Salt Lake City ^UT^, then put a good strong wrapper and it & put my address on it again, then another so that if one get worn all it will still come. I have about 20 [Apple] Appletrees bearing this season some of them are vary fine Apples for seedlings, my grapes are bearing finely a midling crop of peaches plum trees bearing full we are all well I am now in the midst of my wheat Harvest have 15 Acres but a good Deal of it vary short for the want of water shall have probably betwen 300 & 400 bushels we are not troubled with grasshoppers much this season but worms are doing some damage to corn & potatoes. Father Woodruff health is very good He is troubled with the gravel & piles