History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

PROSPERITY OF THE SAINTS. 299
almost destitute of clothing, 33 bedding, and household
furniture, such articles as they possessed having been
exchanged for food during their journey. In 1848
it had been prophesied by Heber C. Kimball that the
commodities, known among the brethren as 'states
goods,' would be as cheap in Salt Lake City as in New
York; while Brigham Young, soon after setting forth
from Nauvoo, had made a similar prediction, declaring
that within five years his people would be more prosperous
than they had ever been. Both prophecies
were fulfilled, 34 when, during the first years of the
gold fever, company after company came pouring into
Utah, which might now be termed the half-way house
of the nation. Several hundred California-bound emigrants
arrived in the valley in 1849, too late to continue
their journey on the northern route, and proposed
to spend the winter in the valley. There was scarcely
provision enough for those already there, and as Jefferson
Hunt of the battalion offered to pilot the company
over the southern route, they decided to undertake
the trip, and started on the 8th of October, arriving
in California on the 22d of December. 35 On the 1st
of December nineteen men came into the city on
foot, nearly famished, having been two days making
their way over Big Mountain. Their wagons had
been left on Echo Creek, and their animals at Willow
Springs, where the snow, they said, was six feet
deep on a level. Though many of these adventurers
were poor, some of the trains were loaded
with valuable merchandise, for which their owners
33 Parley relates that during 1848 he and his family were compelled to go
barefooted for several months, reserving their Indian moccasins for extra
occasions. Autobiog., 405.
31 In the summer of 1849, almost every article except tea and coffee sold at
50 per cent below the prices ruling in eastern cities. Frontier Guardian, Sept.
5, 1849.
35 ' The company became dissatisfied at the continued southern direction.
At Beaver Creek, one Capt. Smith came up with a company of packers, saying
that he had maps and charts of a new route, called Walker's cut-off. All
the packers and most of Capt. Hunter's co. joined Smith. After wandering
about the mountains for a time many turned back and took the southern
route, while Capt. Smith aud a few others struggled through and arrived in
California on foot.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1849, 167.