Writing on September 1, 1849, Brigham noted the economic status of the early Saints who arrived in the Salt Lake valley:
When I came into this
valley, I brought $84 in small change, which I distributed, but which was not
at this date in circulation, and the people were distressed, but which was not
at this date in circulation, and the people were distressed for want of change.
They had gold dust, but many refused to take it, as there was a waste in
weighing it for exchange. To meet this want, we employed Brother John Kay to
coin the dust, but upon trial he broke all the crucibles and could not proceed.
I then offered the gold dust back to the people, but they did not want it. I
then told them we could issue paper till the gold could be coined. The municipal
council agreed to have such a currency, and appointed myself and President Heber
C. Kimball and Bishop Newel W. Whitney to issue it. The first bill, for one
dollar, was issued on the 1st of this month. The bills were signed by Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Thomas Bullock, clerk. (Brigham Young, January 1,
1849, in Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1847-1850, comp. Fred C.
Collier [Salt Lake City: Collier's Publishing Co., 1997], 140)
On January 6, 1849, Brigham then noted the following,
and made reference to a fulfillment of a prophecy of Joseph:
On the 6th I attended council, when the following resolution were
passed:--that the high council be relieved form exercising municipal duties;
that Amasa Lyman, Orrin P. Rockwell, George D. Grant, Jedediah M. Grant, David
Fullmer, John S. Fullmer, Lewis Robinson, Dimic B. Huntington, William Crosby,
and George Boyd go to Utah valley, to learn its capabilities for a stock range,
and that when the cattle go, forty or fifty men go with them; that the fort
buildings be removed; that Isaac Higbee, John M. Higbee, and William Wadsworth
be a committee to seek out suitable fishing places in the Utah lake, establish fisheries,
and supply the market; at A[-] and Ira Eldredge engage in the business of
tanning, and manufacturing leather, and that the council exert its influence to
sustain them therein; that the council approbate Joel Johnson in his journey to
the States to buy sheep; that Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball have the
privilege of fencing in as much of the table lands and the spurs of the
mountains east of the city, as they wish for pasturage; and that the
Kirtland Bank bills be put into circulation for the accommodation of the
people, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Joseph, that the Kirtland notes
would one day be as good as gold. (Brigham Young, January 6, 1849,
in ibid., 141, emphasis added)
There does not seem to be an extant record of such a
prophecy of Joseph, so this is, at best, a second-hand account, so one should
be wary about privileging this. Notwithstanding, it is rather interesting
(and it relates to a topic I am currently doing research into for a
work-related project).
Further Reading:
