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Recd. Fby 6/69

Salt Lake Jany 29th 1869

Friend Mark

I have been in hopes for some time that I should be able to answer all your letters in person. But this commission has detained me and now I shall probably be in Cal before the middle of Feb with good luck. On Monday Feb 1st we start to examine the lines from end of U P track in Weber Cannon through to our track. It is not expected that we will make more than (20) twenty miles a day. The Comrs propose to make a critical examination. From the instructions and straws I fear the thing is set up against us. The far off distance of our track and slow progress makes against us with great fever. It is trying to our nerves to think of. The U P are detained for probably (10) ten days more at a cut in Weber Cannon, after that they say there is nothing to stop them in track laying. They are making extensive preparations to push through this Valley, and have been surveying for light work upon 116 feet grades at the Promontory