History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE GOLD FEVER AMONG THE BRETHREN. 301
however, that these rates represent the prices charged
to passing emigrants, for at this period the wages of
laborers did not exceed $2 per day, and of skilled
mechanics $3. The saints prided themselves upon
their honorable dealings with these strangers, and
the moderate prices demanded, though frequently
charged with swindling. 40 They could afford to part
with their produce, because they had learned to dispense
with many articles which among other communities
were considered necessaries. For men who
had fed during their first winter in the valley on hides
and roots, it was no great hardship to dispense for a
season with a portion of their provisions, their grain,
beef, and butter, their coffee and sugar, in return for
which they received such value.
It was not of course to be expected that while thousands
of California-bound emigrants were passing
each year through the Mormon settlements, the saints
should themselves entirety escape the gold fever. In
November 1848, several small parties of the battalion
found their way to Salt Lake City, 41 some of them
bringing considerable quantities of gold-dust, which,
as they relate, had come into their possession in this
wise.
In September 1847 about forty of the battalion
men arrived at Sutter's Fort in search of employment
and were hired by Sutter to dig the races for a flour
mill about six miles from the fort and for a saw-mill
some forty-five miles distant. 42 The latter work being
completed in January 1848, and the frame of the
30 to 40 cents, prints for 25 to 50 cents, and jeans for 75 cents to $1.25; while
a bottle of ink cost $2, and a ream of writing-paper $10 to $12. Deseret News,
Nov. 6, 1852, where it is stated that on some classes of goods traders realized
from 200 to 10,000 per cent profit.
40 ' I saved straw that spring and braided forty hats. . .1 made one to order
and sold to an emigrant at the usual price, $1. He was surprised at its cheapness,
but in all our dealings with emigrants we took no advantage of them.
I took boarders at five or six dollars a week.' Mrs Richards' Rem., MS., 36.
41 Others had already arrived in June and Sept. of this year. Utah Early
Records, MS., 30-1.
42 Their pay was to be 12J cents per cubic yard, with rations and free pasture
for their stock. Tyler's Hist. Mormon Battalion, 332.