[BY PONY EXPRESS ]
LETTER FROM SALT LAKE.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY,
June 5,1861.
During the past week we have had quite a Congress of Mail and Express employes in the city. William Buckley, formerly the Superin-tendent of the Butterfield route from San Fran-cisco to El Paso, F. Cluggage, an Agent on that route and Bolivar Roberts, the Superintendent of the western division of this route, came in a week ago yesterday from Carson, which I noticed in my last letter, and on Friday Edward Fisher, and four or five other employes in some department, came in from St. Joseph. These, together with our own locals—Captain Bromley on the east and Major Egan on the west—and everybody else interested—-merchants, con-tractors and would-be contractors, have evi-dently been doing a national business in their own way. They have, whatever else besides, at least made all the necessary arrangements for a vigorous start to the daily mail, and every-thing will be ready by the first week in July to fulfill the obligations of the million contract.
As there will unquestionably be a large amount of passenger travel over this route, any information pertaining thereto will, no doubt, interest many of your readers. Last evening, profiting by a conversation with Mr. Buckley, I obtained from him a copy of his measurement of the road from Carson to this city. The "Itinerary" of Capt. Simpson, published in the Fall of '59, may be of some use to those who may choose to follow that officer's footsteps; but that route is not exactly the mail route, his claim to the contrary notwithstanding, and the greater portion of "his route " traveled by the mail was the mail route before he traveled it, and the explorations were due to Major Egan, under the contract of Major Chorpenning—at least, everybody who knows anything of it says so. But to the table of stations, and distances measured by Mr. Buckley:
THE MAIL ROUTE FROM CARSON TO GREAT SALT LAKE CITY.
No. of
Miles. Station.
From Carson to Fort Churchill 32 280
To the Well 11 1,475
To the Sink of Carson 14 530
To Sandstone Springs 20 1,528
To Cold Springs ... 34 910
To Smith Creek 22 90
To Reese river 25 725
To Simpson's Park 13 1 625
To Dry Creek 21 1,245
To Robert's Creek 29 65
To Diamond Springs 25 245
To Ruby Valley 24 40
To Butte Station 19 1.515
To Shell Creek 30 1,058
To Antelope Springs 19 1,559
To Deep Creek 24 1.640
To Willow Springs 24 1,700
To Fish Springs 21 485
To Simpson's Springs 39 1,475
To Rush Valley 23 995
To Fort Crittenden 17 1,365
To Great Salt Lake City 88 1,330
By the wheel used for measurement there were 1,715 sections of the odometer to a mile, which, in the above table, gives the total dis-tance of 536 miles—1,330 sections. Placerville being the terminus, another 100 miles should be added between that and Carson, as the entire distance of the Butterfield new route.
These are the stations now in use and to be continued, from the facilities they afford of proximity to wood, water and feed; but I am informed that the Butterfield Company pro-pose erecting intermediate stations every twelve miles, on account of the greater amount of horses required for the accomplishment of the journey within the specified time of sixteen days from St. Joseph to Placerville.
The Company will put on the road, probably, six hundred horses, twenty-five carriages, twenty-five drivers and twelve conductors—altogether, station keepers and everybody, about one hundred and fifty men. When once in good working order, and everybody at his place, arrangements will be made at these chief stations, where there is changing of carriages, for travelers to be accommodated with the neces-sary means of "restauration," in the shortest possible time.
Like every other large undertaking, there is still much to be filled in between the outlines here presented ; but this much will serve those who feel the ennui of travel, and save many a question of—" How far to—?" " How long before ?" and "When can we have ?" etc.
In the matter of hotels on the road, travelers will have Hobson's choice, for there is no oppo-sition; but with such a cheering prospect be-fore them, the caterers for the public will prob-ably do their utmost to give satisfaction, for if they don't, the punishment will recoil upon their own heads. Townsend is making large preparations in the extension of his hotel, and I notice the Globe, next door to the mail office, making every arrangement for its share of pat-ronage.
The Removal of the Army.
Nothing official has yet been received at Fort Crittenden in confirmation of the general dis-patches announcing the withdrawal of the United States troops from the Territory; but of their truth there is little doubt entertained. It is a step on the part of the Government which is very unsatisfactory to those who have pecu-niarily gained by their presence here. Beyond circulating money in the Territory and enrich-ing a few individuals, the troops have never been worth a dollar's service to any person or to the Government. Their presence here, as everywhere else, has tended to a laxity of mor-als in some directly associated with them; and though at first it was considered that so many bachelors in such a community would have a pow-erful influence against the "peculiar institution," it has turned out greatly different. Personal mat-ters and religious faith, however strange or ri-diculous it may seem, I thoroughly dislike med-dling with, for the history of four thousand years has proven that on matters of faith, noth-ing is so productive of that speciality as abuse or anything the disciple may regard as such—"the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church" is a sound maxim. I have visited every religious community of any note in the new and old worlds, and in that particular have found them all alike, and the communities of scepties and Socialists of every grade and shade are just as grateful for a little meddling as the men and women of faith, and they all thrive upon it. From a "constitutional objection," therefore, to meddling, I profess to know little of personal and family matters here, but what is current I claim to know. The army's mis-sion, then—the love making portion of it—has been as great a failure as that expected from it on politics. A few cases of infidelity in the married circle have probably occurred, and a few damsels have followed the sound of the drum; but there have been very few such cases, and such experience is recorded everywhere. The first Judges sent out here, in their memor-able complaint to Government about the insti-tution, said it was "peculiarly hard" upon them. I think the army could say all that. The army in Utah has, therefore, accomplished nothing that was expected of it. Brigham is, I expect, a greater man than before. I had not seen the chief before the army came; but report says he has grown mightily every way—it has crippled his influence no where and in nothing. I cannot imagine a man ever possessing a greater influ-ence than the head of the Mormon Church. He has no peer in history in that. Of the man him-self, I say nothing; he belongs to his people. The army has done him no harm, it has done the people no harm; individuals have made for-tunes. Some have corrupted themselves and lost social position, as well as church "fellow-ship;" but nothing has been done to either the nation's glory or benefit. I cannot resist the impression that the passage of this daily mail through the uninhabited plains as well as inhab-ited settlements will accomplish more every way for the peace of the country than ten times the number of troops that came through the defiles of the Wahsatch mountains under the direction of General Johnston. The army may go, and the road will be more secure. On the passage of the mail, there will be little trouble with Indians. Familiarity with men attending to their own business, and the sight of the daily progress of civilization, will do the Indians a thousand times more good than the terror of bristling bayonets could inspire—a thousand times told.
On Saturday the "sealed proposals" for 35,000 bushels of grain for the use of the army was opened and awarded, at very fair paying prices, to Livingston, Bell & Co., and I think like Gilbert & Gerrish. The early removal of the army very likely brought these contractors to an understanding of mutual interest; 22,000 bushels of oats at $2; 10,000 bushels of barley and 3,000 bushels of corn at $2 50 per bushel. Owing to the dispatch about removal, the signa-ture to the contract was deferred till Monday, but nothing being received by Saturday's Pony contrary to last instructions, the contract was signed, and Uncle Sam of course will have to foot the bill, use the grain or not.
SHOSHONES AND BANNOCKS.—Sanpitch and Ashendi-mer, petty Shoshone chiefs, and part of their bands, with a few Bannocks, came into the city a few days since to see the Superintendent and obtain presents, to whom, being on the eve of his departure homewards, Colonel Davies is reported to have "closed out" the entire stock of Indian goods he had on hand—not a very large quantity, and they soon left for their hunting grounds in the vicinity of Beaver River Lake. They came direct from Beaver Head, Dacotah Territory, where they spent the Winter. It is reported that most of the northern Indians are moving eastward, fearing a visit from the troops in Oregon to chastise them for their murderous acts last Fall.—Deseret News.
NEW POSTMASTER —By the mail on Friday last, as we are informed, William Bell received his commission as Postmaster at Salt Lake City, having been appointed successor to Morrell some time since. It is understood that Bell will shortly enter upon the duties of his office, and that everything will be in working order before the commencement of the daily mail, on the first of July, after which, with a new Postmaster and new mail arrangement, general satisfaction will doubtless be given to all interested in postal matters.—Ib.
