We THE Saints will be gratified to hear of the rapid progress of the great highway which is being thrown up across the uninhabited prairies of the West. clip the following from the New York Herald : "Omaha, Sep. 2, 1867.-Four hundred and sixty miles of the Union Pacific Railroad are now finished, and it is expected that the track to the Rocky Mountains, five hundred and seventeen miles, will be all laid in about a month." This news must be exceedingly encouraging to those who intend emigrating to Utah next season, and indeed to all the Saints who are scattered abroad, and who are looking for deliverance from bondage. Truly the Lord is working mightily for the redemption of his people, and for the establishment of that kingdom which they are to inherit. Why has this great enterprise been set on foot, and hurried forward with such marvellous celerity? Because the Lord of Hosts has moved upon the hearts of men to work, unconsciously, for the accomplishment of his great designs. He has planted his Saints in the heights of the mountains, and has preserved them as a separate people from all nations, until they have grown to sufficient strength to preserve their identity, and maintain the order of government which he has revealed to them, in spite of all opposition. From year to year he has brought together his elect from the countries afar off, in sufficient numbers to strengthen Zion, without exhausting her available resources. He has kept back the wicked who would delight in the overthrow of his people, by the immense difficulties and innumerable dangers of the long and tedious journey to the vales of Utah. But he promised, through his ancient Prophets, that he would hasten his work in the latter days, and "cut it short in righteousness," that he would bring his children together from afar, and that they should come with speed swiftly." And now that they have "waxed strong by the hand of the mighty God of Jacob," and are prepared for that contact with the world which must necessarily come, he has moved upon the hearts of men, and worked among the councils of the nation, until the great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by railway has not only been conceived, but has been brought into actual being, and hurried forward towards perfect completion with an energy, celerity, and success such as has never been known before. The gathering of the Saints from the four quarters of the earth will be accomplished with ease when compared to the old plan to which they were compelled to resort. Steam vessels will bear them swiftly from different ports, and the locomotive bring them from the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards by thousands, until all who desire to do so may "go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, that they may learn of his ways and walk in his paths." The completion of this great highway in the desert will benefit the people of God in other ways. It will open up the world to them as a market for their products, stimulating them to renewed exertion in the culture of the soil and in the manufacture of everything that tends to make life happy and desirable. The productions of other nations and climes will also be easily attainable, destroying the monopolies which have been established among them by speculators, and all tending to the growth, increase, and elevation of the Saints as a nation. Those who have predicted the immediate downfall of "Mormonism" from its commencement, have found in the Union Pacific Railroad another "infallible weapon" which is to strike its death-blow. How singular it is that the "Mormons," above all people, should be so exceedingly anxious to see the instrument of their expected destruction completed as fast as possible! No doubt great numbers of people from all countries will pay a visit to Utah who are not of our own faith, and among them will be some who desire our annihilation, but we have no fear for the result. The honorable and truth-loving will see so much to admire and emulate that many will cast in their lot with us, and those who pass on their way will have nothing but good to report of us, while the evildesigning and corrupt will be powerless to accomplish any harm. "Mormon. ism" has lived on in spite of all efforts for its destruction hitherto, because it is the work of God, and for that reason it will continue to flourish, and prevail, and move forward to its high destiny as the leading and governing power among nations. God has preserved it until it is able to cope with the world, and now he is opening up the way by which all nations may see its beauty, receive of its benefits, and feel its power. We are filled with gratitude to God for his goodness in thus making "a path in the desert" for his people: we look with joyful anticipation for the full completion of the work, and congratulate the scattered Saints upon the good news of the wonderful progress of the Union Pacific Railroad. ARRIVALS.-Elders Reuben McBride and James Needham arrived in Glasgow on the 24th of August, per steamship Caledonia, from New York on the 10th, and reached Liverpool on Sunday the 25th ult. APPOINTMENTS.-Elder Reuben McBride will travel and labor among the Conferences as his health will permit, and as he may be directed by us from time to time. Elder James Needham will labor among his friends and in the regions round about in Yorkshire, under the direction of Elder John Barker, President of Leeds Conference. Elder Anson V. Call died on the 4th of August, 1867, at Rock Creek, between the first and second crossings of the Sweetwater. He was a son of Anson and Mary Call, and was born July 9th, 1834, in Madison, Geauga county, Ohio. He was on his return home from a mission to England, to which he was appointed at the April Conference in 1864. He was baptized in Nauvoo when eight years old, but dated the first recollection of his life from the persecutions of the Saints in Adam-ondi-Ahman. After the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, he beheld their martyred bodies, which enstamped on his memory a remembrance of the trials and sufferings of the Saints which was never forgotten. At the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo, he journeyed with his parents to these mountains in 1848, where he has since remained, laboring for the support of his family, which numbered twelve. Besides this he filled several offices of trust, such as Justice of the Peace, Selectman, School Teacher and Ward Clerk; and during the several missions which his father performed, he took charge of his father's business, sustaining the family and contributing to their happiness by making many good and permanent improvements. He also labored diligently to improve his mind by seeking the acquaintance of books, and succeeded in acquiring a fair education. In the spring of 1857, he was appointed a mission to the Sandwich Islands, and proceeded with others as far as San Francisco, when they were called home, on account of the Buchanan expedition, which was then coming against the Saints. Immediately on his return he was sent with a party to Echo Kanyon, where he passed the ensuing winter, and returned home in March, 1858, with the last of the brethren from that place. From that time until he was called to England he labored for the good of Zion, enjoying the confidence of all around. While in England he labored in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Conference, and subsequently presided over the Bristol Conference, and later still over the Sheffield Conference, which honorable position he held up to the time of his release. During the latter part of his mission his labors were curtailed by the sickness which it is supposed resulted in his death. The particulars of his sickness are unknown to his parents, and the only news that has been received of his death has been furnished by telegram through President Young, to whom brother Call returns his sincere thanks, as also to brother Guernsey Brown, who is supposed to have attended his son in his sickness, and to brother H. P. Kimball, who attended to his funernal obsequies, and to all others who may have in any way assisted him. The news of his death spread a deep gloom over the Ward, and filled the hearts of many with sorrow, but all is well; he labored for the cause of Zion, and has left but for a season, to come forth clothed with immortality and eternal life. He's fought the fight, the vict'ry won, To hear the words, Well done, well done,-COM. [We think the Rock Creck mentioned above is in Laramie Plains, on the Bitter Creek route, 423 miles east of Great Salt Lake City.-Ed. Deseret News.] THE CROPS OF 1867. Mr. Turner, of Richmond, Yorkshire, has sent his annual report to the Times. It states that the wheat crop is an average one in bulk, but owing to the quantity of secondary samples the quality must be taken as under the average of what we have in good years. Oats are a great crop, and of good quality. Barley is more than an average crop, but will be found to vary more than usual in quality. Beans are a full average crop. Peas are a moderate crop. Swedes promise well in the midland and southern counties, while in the north they are likely to be the heaviest crop we have had for many years. Mangolds are an average crop. Potatoes are a full crop, varying much as to disease-in some districts greatly affected by it, while in other places scarcely a bad potato can be found. The Times, in a leader, describes the harvest as a decidedly good one, though the wheat crop is probably under an average, but it may be yet raised to the full standard of an average if the present fine weather continues during the in-gathering of the northern counties and of Scotland. The returns from all parts of the country relative to the harvest have been looked forward to with interest. Mr. Sanderson-who, as in former years, has gone very carefully into the question says as the result of his investigation "Taking the grain crops of England and Scotland, I estimate the wheat crop to be under average, barley 10 per cent. above average, oats 15 per cent. above average, beans fully average, and peas much below average. The reports from foreign countries are not so favorable. The harvest in the United States this year has been most bountiful, and the supply of breadstuffs will not only be ample for all wants of the United States, but will give a large surplus for export. The estimated crops of leading articles for 1867, the estimate being that of the Agricultural Department, are the following:-Wheat,232,500,000 bushels; Indian corn, 800,000,000 bush.; rye, 27,000,000 bushels; oats, 230,000,000 bush.; barley, 21,000,000 bush.; buckwheat, 23,000,000 bush.; potatoes, 155,000,000 bush.; butter, 542,000,000 lb.; cheese, 142,000,000 lb.; rice, 50,000,000 lb.; tobacco, 350,000,000 lb.; cane sugar, 69,000,000 lb.; hay, 31,000,000 tons; cotton, 2,500,000 bales. As compared with the crop of 1860, the year before the war, and the only year with which a fair comparison can be made, as American agricultural industry was then untrammelled, the above estimate shows for 1867 an increase of 30 per cent. in wheat over 1860; 5 per cent. decrease in Indian corn, an increase of 30 per cent. in rye, 29 per cent. increase in oats, 35 per cent. increase in barley, 27 per cent. increase in buckwheat, 40 per cent. increase in potatoes, 40 per cent. increase in butter, 33 per cent. increase in cheese, 20 per cent. decrease in tobacco, and 150 per cent. increase in hay. Indian corn, tobacco, cane sugar, and cotton show a decrease; but the latter two are exclusively grown in the Southern States, while tobacco and Indian corn are leading crops there. The returns for 1860 for all the above crops were from the entire country-North and South together, both sections being at that time culti vated to the utmost ability of their CORRESPONDENCE. The cane sugar crop in 1860 was 230,982,000 lb. ; now it is estimated at but 69,000,000 lb. The desolation of the South by the war, and this year the added devastation of the plantations along the Mississippi river and elsewhere throughout Louisiana have caused this remarkable reduction in 605 At population. Southern industry is now | cotton section, and best able to judge greatly cramped; but the general in- of it, are always interested in reprecrease of all the crops, returrs of which senting the crop as a short one in order now come from the North principally, to keep up prices. For that reason shows that section has thriven in spite early in the season the accounts were of the war. gloomy and the predictions bad; but these sad tales have in most cases been dissipated. In some portions of the South, however, the crop will no doubt be bad, but that is the case every year. A few days ago I announced the receipt of the first bale of new cotton at New York from Florida; this week two more bales, grown in Alabama, have appeared, classed as "good middling," and were sold for 33c. currency. New Orleans the first consignment of new cotton came to hand on the 13th of August; last year the first bale was received on the 7th of August. With regard to crop prospects, the reports from all parts of the South appear favorable, excepting from the overflowed districts in the Mississippi valley; from there the intelligence is of continued misfortune. Louisiana will fall short as compared with last year. Of the current cotton year, ending the 31st of August, but two weeks' returns are yet to be made. Thus far 1,855,676 bales have been received. as compared with 2,020,773 bales to the same date last year; 1,875,000 will probably cover the reported receipts of the current cotton year. Thus far during the year the exports from the United States have been 1,541, 155 bales, as compared with 1,509,950 bales last year to the same date, leaving a very small stock, only 137,380 bales, at present at the shipping ports. the cane sugar crop. With regard to wheat, the California crop, which in 1866 was enormous, is this year even greater. During the first 16 days of July the receipts of wheat at San Francisco from the interior were 169,230 sacks, as compared with 85,912 sacks for the corresponding period of 1866. The first days of July are early for receipts of wheat at the shipping ports; yet, if the comparison holds good for all the season, the increase of the California wheat crop this year over that of last year will be almost 100 per cent. Her farmers have taxed their energies to the utmost. Of cotton, the crop of 1860 was 4,676,000 bales; while the estimate above given was 2,500,000 bales. In making this estimate the Department is safe, for every one here believes the crop will produce that much, while some sanguine observers go even far beyond it; the New York Economist, for instance, estimating it at 3,225,000 bales. It is unfortunate with regard to cotton that the people who are in the CORRESPONDENCE. SWITZERLAND. President F. D. Richards. Dear Brother,-In company with brother Karl Maeser, I left London the 7th of August for Paris, where we staid four days, during which time I hunted after the scattered Saints, held one meeting, and we organized a Branch, with brother Rees as President. Their number is very small in deed-viz., four men, two women, and six children; but they feel well and are faithful, are poor, and longing to see their way open for their deliverance from Babylon. They have to work very hard for their living, their burden is heavy, food, rent, and rates are very high, and labor is not well remunerated. There is not one Frenchman in that Branch, they are all German or Swiss. |