| Show COST OF THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE oo on this interesting question various estimates have been published ranging from two to six ix million dollars do llara re he cantly the publishers of the philadelphia call endeavored to obtain the authentic fi figures kures by directing a 91 letter of inquiry to president wilford woodruff BR as to the expense of erecting the magnificent structure the following follow ioK letter signed by elder 11 george reynolds was received in reply SALT lakim LAKE CITY utah march robert 8 S davis esq 26 south fi seventh eventA street philadelphia I a DEAR sim sib your favor ot of february 14 to president wilford woodruff regarding re gardine the cost odthe of the erection of the salt lake temple would have received an earlier reply but until today some items were lacking the peculiar conditions under which the work was waa commenced render it quite difficult to arrive at the exact coltof cost of the construction in its early stages the pro progress gr was slow and very expensive for it then took four yoke of oxen fow four days to bring a single stone from the quarry twenty miles distant it has been estimated by some that every stone cost quarrying haul ing cutting laying by the time it was in its place in the temple walls this mode of transit continued until a railroad ad was built to the quarry after which the stone was brought in at less expense and the mason work progressed more rapidly during these early times many difficulties were encountered the loss losa of crops by crickets and grasshoppers sent up the price of flour sometimes to 10 per hundred pounds steel iron nails and d other materials material used in the oon wit truo ruction tion were obtained at enormously ailigh across the plains alone costing coating at times 60 cents per pound in consequence of the high price of pro VIvion ts wages were correspondingly high au of which added to the coat of the build dall III of the outside walls and most of the inside are ot of solid granite blocks hewn to the square with the outside courses worked to a very smooth surface the ornamental parts representing the sun aun moon and stars the finales and sagnes for all of the towers the boo solid granite 6 feet in width ext extending eDding from the bottom to the top lop of the four corners were ore hewn at great expense many a single stone costing more than each to out cut A careful estimate of the cost from 1863 to 1888 places the average amount expended per year at a total for thirty four years of for the years 1888 89 90 it cost the last three years 1891 92 93 98 coat making a total cost of building and grounds arounds yours youra very respectfully respectful lv georga REYNOLDS Secret secretary arv |
