# Title: Letter from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Don C. Smith, Elders' Journal I:1, p. 7
# Date: 1837-10-13
# Source: http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/RigWrit/RigWrit3d.htm | Provenance: signed SIDNEY RIGDON (written while traveling with Joseph Smith, but composed and signed by Rigdon alone). High confidence.

Tere Haute, Ia. Oct. 13th, 1837.

Brother Don C. Smith,

Having arrived here last evening in a heavy shower of rain, and calculating to pursue
our journey on the morrow, I thought I would occupy part of the day, in writing a few lines to you for
the Journal.

This place is about five hundred miles from Kirtland, and about half way from Kirtland to the city of
Far West; which makes the distance from Kirtland to Far West, one thousand miles.

Part of the way the roads were exceedingly good, and part of the way, were as bad as they could be. --
The immence travel on the national road is incredible, and this composed of all classes, and descriptions
of character. Here indeed you may see the rich and the poor, the noble and ignoble, all traveling
together along the same way; just like they all have to the grave, the common lot of all.

I observed as I passed through Ohio, that there was quite a diversity of both soil and timber, some
parts of Ohio through which we passed, I think is not surpassed in any part of the country, for fertility
of soil, beauty of attraction, and splendor of improvements. I have not, as yet, to this point seen
anything to equal it.

Through Indiana, there is a much greater uniformity of soil, timber, and surface, than in Ohio, I mean
in the parts through which we passed. From the time we crossed the state line, until say within 12 of 15
miles from this place, there is a uniformity in soil, timber, and surface, that amounts to a dull
monotony in the eye of the observer. The timber is principally beech and maple. The surface is very
flat; and the soil not above second quality, if it would be considered of that quality.

Indiana as far as I have traveled through it, until I came within a few miles of this place, does not
justify the general report which has been given of it; at least, I confess, that I was disappointed,
not finding the country as good as I expected from report.

There are a multitude of villages springing up on the national road, of which Richmond, Indianapolis,
and Tere Haute are principle, of these three, I should consider Richmond quite in advance of the
others. Indianapolis, the seat of government, is a village of considerable size; but the buildings
are generally small, many of them from one, to one story and a half high, and very few excel two
storys high. -- The greater part of the houses are wood. -- The town is built on the east side of
White river: the situation is pleasant, and would admit a city of the largest size.

This village (Tere haute) is situated on the east side of the wabash, which is a beautiful river,
and flows majestically along the west side of the village. The steamboats ascend the river to
this point. The village is situated on a wide spreading prairie of exceedingly rich soil, and the
surface is level, and presents a sublime prospect, to the eye of the traveler as he comes from the
east. From where the national road enters the prairie; it is about three miles to the river, where
the village stands.

The prices of land on the national road is astonishing; take it at any point you will, and you will
find, the wild land, from twenty to thirty dollars per acre; while the improved land, is from fifty
to a hundred, according to the situation and improvements.

No thinking mind can travel through the country, and observe the ways of man and things, without
deep reflection. In passing along you will see wealth, beauty, and eligance, flowing in all richness,
and the next minute, you will see poverty, want, and wretchedness, praying like a vulture upon the
happiness of their subjects. The wretchedness and sufferings which abound in many habitations, make
the heart sicken, and throws a gloominess over the spirit of the philanthrophist.

A person who is acquainted with the purposes and work of God in the last days, by traveling only
increases his desire, that the great work of God may be speedily accomplished; for the amelioration
of the world depends entirely on the accomplishment of the purposes of God. For this cause, the
intelligent saint earnstly desires the gathering of the elect; to be completed; that the scene of
wretchedness may cease in the world, and the remainder of man may have rest.

For, however flourishing we may figure to ourselves is the condition of this or any other country,
the representation is always partial, it is never universal. For amid the glory of our greatest prosperity,
there are thousands, yea tens of thousands, of our race suffering grief and woe, that would melt the
stoutest heart, if it would but stop to reflect.

There are many scenes which exhibit themselves in, traveling through the western settlements, which
are painful to behold; multitudes of little children clothed in rags, deprived of all the advantages
of good society, with a bare subsistence, and that of the coursest kind, their fathers are in many
instances indolent, and do not make the provision necessary for their wants, and at the time when they
ought to be receiving their education, they are deprived of all advantages, and grow up under circumstances
calculated to deprive them of many privileges, and the enjoyments of society in its more refined state.

I am convinced of the great advantages there are in settling any new country, to do it by colonizing.
It enables the settlers to obtain the comforts of life sooner, to establish schools, erect machienery;
and colonies uniting in good faith, could soon have as many advantages as the elder settlements; while
those who attempt to settle remote regions by individuals; according to the usual plan, is attended with
the sacrifice of almost every comfort of life, and during the life time of the first settlers, if not
longer: you shall hear from me again.

yours as ever.

SIDNEY RIGDON.
