Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-07
ALMOST A PARADISE.
Reports of Death and Starvation at
TOpOlabampO Contradicted.
COLONISTS, BUT NOT COMMUNISTS.
Charles Mansfield Has Direct Intelligence
From Friends There.
HARD WORK, BUT A GOOD TINE COMING

Charles w. Mansfield, of Homestead, APP
pears as defender of the cooperative col
ony at Topolabampo, Mexico. Some time
ago THE DISPATCH published special
telegram from Topeka giving graphic de
scription of the misfortunes which Kansas
members of the colony had encountered,
and their opinion that it was a gigantic
bunko game. The colonists were reported
to be in a pitiable condition, some nearly
starving, and death was frequent visitor
Mr. Mansfield speaks of the matter with
considerable emphasis, saving:
''rhe people who compose the credit
Foucier would be about the last people IN
the world whom anyone knowing them would
call communists. They are simply men,
bers of joint stock company organized
under a charter obtained in Colorado to buy
and develop farms and mines and to build a
railroad Inder concessions from the Gov
ernment of Mexico, and they have agreed
to attempt to do it comparatively. They
have purchased some hundreds of thou
sands of acres of level, fertile land at 80 cents
per acre, that under irrigation will be su-
perior to much of the land in California.
ga great ditch to convey the water of the
Furte river to these lands is under construc-
tion and nearing completion.
Letters Direct From Colonists.
"Once these lands are watered everybody
connected with the colony, leaders included,
will be rich Until this ditch is done
nothing else will be thought ofor attempted
in the way of permanent improvement. L
am in regular communication with friends
at TopolabampO and have some letters here
I,Ny Il .
including Mr.. j. w. Scully."
The following are some extracts from the
letters exhibited
Catwood, with its bustling activity the
quiet calls TO the horses. mules and oxen,
the directions and instructions to men on
the dump. the musical ring of the anvils in
the bl blacksmith shop, and the coming and 60
ing of teams, ,tmDreSSeS one with the idea that
here is great industrial work well in hand,
and under able management. Camp Cat
wood is an inspiration. There was con-
sp1cuous absence of that hurry furry, yell
ing or swearing that characterizes the COM
mon labOrer.
These comrades of ours are of a higher
order. Tou will find it 50 when you come to
work among them. Not but that they do
sometimes get flurried and speak and act
foolishly-most of us do: but they have O
higher ideal than other workers. They
have something grand to look forward to.
And here | may repeat the testimony of our
chief engineer. T.. H. Tarp, himself culti-
waited man, polished in speech and manners,
whom met ut this camp.
Iyceurn and Dancing Parties.
He said that despite the lack of re-
fined appliances in our homes and schools
he had noticed the refining effects of life
in the colony and attributed it to our per-
sistent support of the Lyceum and our
weekly dances more than anything else. He
was on this occasion bringing his young sis
ter-ip-law to attend our school nc La Logia
We are moving along grandly now. Some
may be scared oil, but We will get all and
more than we want. Now / wish to say to
You that the new colonists, about no. are
nearly all well-.o-do people, intelligent,
sturdy and industrious, and | do think the
best lot of people l ever saw. The strong
workers have nearly all gone to the ditch,
and never did we have or see so determined
q set OF men, and SO full of enthusiasm.
Our houses are not as good as we have had
before, but cont be uneasy. We are living,
no doubt. better than the majority of tine
people of the States. We are all
content. and rejoice to know that we shall
soon have homes in the finest country on
earth. We hayc the most productive soil
we have ever seen. But we have no easy
positions to offer to the idlcrs. 1t is hard
work and sure privations. But if we get
farmers, as the last recruits
content. We are moving on surely to a
grand success. We have no sickness in our