Litchfield enquirer., 1859-08-04

imminent danger of drowning. They were soon liberated from the harness and got up, and we went out but just then an emigrant on the hank espied carpct-bag in the water ssine, of course--and fshed it ont. An ex- animation was then had, and showed that my trunk was missing-the boot of the stage ha- ving been opened the night before on our arri- val at the Station, and culpably left unfasten- ed. We made a hasty search for the estray, but without success, and after an hours de- lay, our conductor drove of, leaving my trunk still in the bottom of the Sweetwatcr, which is said to be ten feet deepsj just below ''onr ford. I would rather have sunk thousand dollars there. Efforts were directed to be made to fish it out but my hope of ever see ing it again is faint one. We forded Sweet water six times yesterday after that, without single mishap but have hardly yet become rcconciled to the loss of my trunk, and, on the whole. my Fourth of July was not happy one.
 Our road left southerly bend of Sweet water after dinner, and took its way over the hills so as not to strike it again till after dark, at point three miles from where l now write We were now nearly at the summit Of the route, with snowy mountains near us iR several directions, and one large snow-baik by the side of creek we crossed ten miles back. Yet our yesterdays road was no rougher, while it was decidedly better, than that of any former day this side of Laramie, as may be judged from the fact that, with a late start, we made sixty miles with one six mule team to our heavy-oaded wagon. The grass is better for the last twenty miles than on any twenty miles previously; and the swift streams that frequently cross our way are cold and sweet But, unlike the Platte, the Swectwater has scarcely tree or bush growing on its banks but up the little stream on which am writing, on box in the Mail Company's station tent, there is glorious Wa ter, some grass, and more wood than l have seen so close together since l emerged from the Gold Diggings on Vasquer's Fork, five hundred miles away. A snow-bank, forty rods long and several feet deep, lies just across the brook the wind blows cold at night, and we had rain-squall- just rain enough to lay the dust-yestcrday afternoon. The Mail Agent whom we met here has orders not to run into Salt Lake, which we might reach in four. l am but passenger, and must study patience.
 A word on the Salt Lake Mail. Of the seventeen bags on which have ridden for the last four days and better, at.least sixteen are filled with large bound books, mainly Patent Office Reports, judge-but all of them un. works ordered printed at the public cost-your cost, reader !-by Congress, and now on their way to certain favored Mormons, franked (hy rroxy) Public Doc. Free, J. M Bcr,,liisel, M. O." I do not blame Mir. B. for clutclling his share of this public plunder, and distributing it so as to increase his own popularity and importance but do protest against this business of printing books by wholesale at the cost of the whole People for free distribution toa part cnly. It is every way wrong and pernicious. Of the $l90, ,00O per annin paid for carrying the Salt Lake Mail, nine-tentlls is absorbed in the cost o carrying these franked documents to people who contribute little or nothing to the support of the Government in any way. Is this fair Each Patent Office Report will have cost the Treasury four or five dollars by the time il reaches it's destination, and will not be valued by the receiver at twenty-five cents. Why should this business go on? Why not re form it altogether" Let Congress print what. ever documents are needed for it's own infor lnatiou, and leave the People to choose and buy for themselves have spent four days and five nights in close contact with the sl,arT edges of Mir. Bernhiscl's "Puh. Doc ."-have done my very utmost to make them present q smooth, or at least, endurable surface and am sure there is no suinber to be extracted tl'erefrom unless by reading them-a despc rate resort which no rational person would re commend. For all practical purposes, they might as well--now that the Printer has been paid for thcm--be where heartily wish they were--in the bottom of the sea. H. G.