Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-06-13
THE MEXICAN COLONIES.
Some Useful and Practical Hints
For Intending Settlers.

COLOSIA DIA-, June lst, 1890.
Correspondence Of the DEsERET
NEWS. Through the columns u
the NEWS | would like to explain
the condition Of things in our colo
mics here in Mexico. receive so
many letters Of inquiry that it Is an
impossibility 10 answer them all.
People journeying to this country,
whether by rail or wagon, should
come TO Dsming, Grant County,
New Mexico. From this place
thirty mikes south Il the Mexican
line, thence sisty miles farther
south our frst colony, called Diaz,
i'm honor Of President Diaz. 1t is
situated near the Casas Grandes
Siver Cnow dry, AMI four miles
north Of the Mexican town Of La
Ascension. The valleyin which we
are located Is sixty miles long and
twenty wide. The climate is very.
even and healthy. The altitude Is
about 5000 feet above the sea. lisa
splendid grazing country for stock
and grass is abundant. Stock winter
and do well the year round. Snow
is rarely seen Thu land on both
sides Of the river is very fertile, and
all kinds OF grain can be raised In
abundance. Wells can be had from
eight to sixteen feet deep anywhere
in the valley, and these furnish
plenty ofgOOd water, found in white
sand and gravel.
One drawback l. The scarcity OF
timber, but our sndesvUrs so far
prove that this difficulty can be
easily overcome, for wood will grow
rapidly here, as the season for the
growth Of trees is ten months, instead
Of six with you In the north.
There are two sawmills in the
country, one seventy the other 100
miles distant. Lumber can be-
bought delivered here for $50 per
thousand feet. We have to 20
thirty TO forty miles for large timber
and cedar posts. Cottonwood ami
willow ran be obtaiEsd In the val
ley.
Land can be purchased from 81 10
s. per acre, in small or large lots.
even - leo, 200 acres. Water rights
can be bought from the MexIcans
for $50 each which will irrigate If
teen acre. Of land,
DiaE Ward il neatly IN the centre
Of this valley, and contains 500 in
habitauts, fully organized as n Ward.
w. Derhy johnson, Jr., Is Bishop.
The town lie laid or with six rod
stfeets. The blocks are twenty
seven rods square, divided into four
lots each. We haze n good school
house 20x80 feet. With the excep-
ton Of the shOIt vacation We have
good school during the whole year;
also a well-attehded Sunday School.
There are likewise meetings Of the
Relief Society, Y. Al. and Y. l.. NJ.
/. Associations and Primary. The
last named gave a fair recently
which showed mach patience, in-
genuity and ability among the little
folks.
During the. years we have
been on the town plot we have
planted out 1000 shade trees, Is, 900
fruit trees, 5000 vines. and many
ornamental shrubs and flowers, all
Of which are doing well.
This is an excellent fruit country.
All kinds except tropical fruits do
well. Vegetables can be easily |
raised, water melons being the |
finest We have ever seen. Among
the natives the staple articles are
maize chile y frijoles (corn, red |
pepper and beans.) At or near har- |
vest time corn can be bought for
&C per 10, wheat &c and beans lac.
Buildings here are entirely Of |
adobe, although We have now a trial |
brick kiln under construction. Lime |
Is worth soc per bushel. Building
material is EASILY obtained, as Mexf. |
can labor i cheap.
This being good stock country,
cattle are very cheap. Beef, choic-
est cuts, sells retail at 1 cents per
pound.
Sixty-fve miles farther south is
our second colony, called Juarez.
on fork Of the Casas
Grande River, In n narrow valley
three : fourths Of a mile wide. !
This also IS fully organ
iIed and prosperous ward, with
George w Seevy as Bishop
It contains 800 Inhabitants Tha