[sideways text] Los Vegas S. F. Atwood [end of sideways text] I would be happy to receive an answer to this. SFA [FIGURE] Jan 10th 1857. I seat myself this morning to finish my letter as it is the last day before sending it. [FIGURE] Every thing was ready and the smelting was commenced on the 25th of Dec and by dilligence and hard labour we have run out about 9 thousand pounds The mineral yeald from 20 to 30 per cent proving to be of a much poorer quality than was expected to be when seen in the lead on the mou- ntain there is found in it after the outside is taken off much dry bone black jack and sulpher which burns up much of the Lead in smelting which makes the mineral yeald much less than was estimated it would do by any that saw it even old miners and smelters so that bro Jones was not alone in over estimating it. My health is very good and the most of the hand enjoy the same some two or three are unwell with a cold Bro Jones enjoys very good health and is determined to obtain the amount of Lead required if posible. Pleas excuse all mistakes for I have written this where there has been several talking &c Yours &c, S. F. Atwood Los Vegas Lead Mines Jan 4th 1857 Elder Woodruff Dear brother: According to your request and my promise to you before I left SG. S. L. City I seat myself to write you a few lines to give you an account of our journey to this place and all other news that I may think of that will be interesting to you [FIGURE] Bro N. V. Jones and company (of which I was one) left the city on the 31st of Nov 1856 After having been detained four days after every thing els was ready hunting for a lost mule. Bro Jones has three mule teams one wagon with two mules and the ^other^ two with four which were loaded with surplies a horse power bellows furnase hearths &.c. for the Lead Diggins. We camped in the settlements as far as we could. The weather was cold and some of the time stormy which retarded our speed in traveling and being detained three days at Parawan for the arrival of Bros James Williamson from Cedar City and Lorenzo W Roundy from Harmony we did not arrive at Cedar City until the 14th of Nov I will here say that the reformation has spread more or less in all of the different settlements baptism has been administered to the saints in many of them and repentance and reformation has been and is being preached to the all which is listened to with good attention by many and treasured up by some to profit thereby. A surplus of provisions has been raised in the most of the settlements and some of improve ments have been made in the diffent cities and by in the farming opeations by some while others seem to be walling [willing] to live in old log huts apparently indifferent whether Zion is buled up and beautified or not. In this place (Cedar City) there has been some building and other improve- ments made far more in the old city than on the new plat