To the first Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

Through the goodness and mercy of God the eternal Father, and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are permitted to write and send by a special messenger, a concise account of our lumbering operations, together with the apparent prospects of the introduction and sperd [spread] of the Gospel among the Chippewa and Menomanee Indians, and also the projects of our hearts in regard to future operations in spreading the Gospel south in all the extent of and the consequences growing out of the same. All of which we beg leave to submit to your consideration, that we may have your concurrence or such views as shall be in accordance with the mind and will of the Lord and govern ourselves in accordance thereto.

Since we have been here lumbering we have had many difficulties to encounter, but the main hindrance to our successful operations was the feeding, clothing and transporting a great many lazy idle men, who have not produced any thing by their pretended labor, and thus eating up all that the diligent and honest could produce by their unceasing application to labor and we have not yet got entirely clear of such persons. But under all these mighty clogs and hindrances we have been able to accomplish and have in progress, so that we can deliver in about one million feet of lumber by the last of July next, which will be a great deal more than what is necessary to build the and , besides all this we have made valuable improvements here, all the result of much labor done under trying circumstances.

We have recently ascertained that the land from the falls of Black River to its sources is the property of the Menomanee Indians, and the General government having urged them to move off of the lands in the vicinity of Green Bay <​unto​> their own lands. The Indians say they will, provided the Government will remove all strange Indians and trespassing white men off of their lands— Consequently the Agent and Superintendant of Indian affairs are taking such steps as will stop all further trespassing on the Indian lands, on the Wisconsin Black and [p. 1923]