The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
Tho Mormons Hunting Another Zion.

New York, September 20.-It Is now nearly
two years since the first hint began to reach
the public ear concerning the extensive move
ment Of the wealthy leaders of the Mormon
church for the establishment of new Zion in
old Mexico. The story has been both affirmed
and denied several times within that interval,
but in the meantime the purchase Of land in
Mexico has been going steadily forward, and
reports have come from Salt Lake of the de-
parture, one after another of prominent Nor
mon families to take up settlement In the now
region. in chat here yesterday with S. b.
Aldrich, a business man of Salt Lake, who has
been In New York purchasing goods, he said,
among other things:
The fear of Mormon persecution and VEN
geance is altogether dying out in Utah. The
wealth of the land has induced steady stream
OF emigration from sturdy and reliable eastern
communities. The younger sons of New Eng
land and middle state farmers have come
among us in large numbers, and the Gentle
population has grown so strong that the Nor
mons are being pushed to the wall in every di-
rectton. There is no question whatever about
this movement toward old Mexico
although they have attempted to
keep it the profoundest secret
The purchases there have been conducted
through John w. Young, who is q son of old
Brigham Young, and George @. Cannon, who
was formerly representative in congress. is
an elder of the church, and is wanted at Salt
Lake for the violation Of the Edmunds anti
polygamy law. John w. Young makes his
part, where he has been carrying On extensive
financial operations, with the capital of the
Mormon church at his back. They have
been building railroads and conducting land
speculations, and have established bank
ing and commercial agency in New York
City under cover of the names of mum Der of
eastern men, who appear to be willing to make
money out of the Mormon church as well as
in other directions. The territory they have
secured for the new occupation of the latter
laxy al. 20 tc
They have purchased outright about four
million acres of land, and have secured gov
eminent concession for the improvement and
working of about ten million acres of timber
and mining land. Cannon is already a
fugitive from justice, and Just before /
left Salt Lake it was whispered around
that his wives had received q message from
him to join him at some point in the southwest
and go down with him to Mexico The au-
thorites were informed about the matter, but
are perfectly willing that Cannon should leave
the country for the country's good, if he pre-
fers that TO taking his chances with the law at
Salt Lake. 1t is now understood in Utah that
the church is operating on definite plan to
gradually remove all the faithful to Mexico.
The allotment of families who are TO
go is made at the presidents house.
The names of all the male members
OF the church are throxn together in box
and then drawn out. Every tenth Is marked
for departure to Mexico and after the drawing
has taken place every tenth man is notified,
and given a certain length of time in which to
dispose OF his worldly possessions and take his
departure. II he owns property he is required
to sell it out at once. There is pretty fair
demand for property in Utah from the incom-
ing Gentle tide, and, as a rule, the properties
are sold to Gentiles. II it is found impossible,
however, to unload in this way, the
church orders an appraisal, and takes it
off the mans hands, so that he can proceed
to the new territory unhampered by any pos
sessions In Utah. 1t is likely that several
this winter. Many of them object to the emf
grafton, even after they have been drawn, but
the order of the church is imperative. They
are threatened with eternal damnaton unless
they obey instructions. The attractiveness of
the now territory they have acquired in old
Mexico, the mildness of the climate, the fer
tility OF the soil and the richness of the min
eral deposits are all held up to them as induce
ments to obey the command"