Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-20
FAIR AT COLONIA DlAZ,
Our American Colony In Mexico
Does Itself Credit
Ana Evohss Praise from Invited
ouests-An Essnt In Every way
Satisfactory mud Pleasing.
Editor Dessre, Ne,r4


following Of sufficient interest to give it
place In the DssEREr News.
1t is well known to those familiar with
the history OF Colonia Diez that IN the
seven years since the colony was
founded It has gone through a series Of
misior,unes. In the year 1891 the PEG.
pie spent much labor and means on the
Mexican Northern Pacific railway with.
out receiving the expected compcnss.
ton. The end OF the year found them
very destitute OF food aud clothing,
without immediate prospect Of better
ing their condition As the usual sum.
mer rains had not fallen, the crops in
Northern Mexico were very light, and
iocd was expensive before the next
seasons harvest Bread was difficult to
obtain at famine prices. Ga account Of
drouth there was but little grass for
animals. Cows gave but little milk, and
that OF such poor quality rs TO be un.
wholesome, doubtless often causing
sickness among the children.
The year 1905 was also a dry one.
The people were compelled to eat much
beef that In better times would be con.
sidefed unit for food. Horses and
mules were IN too poor condition to per-
form much labor which made the pro.
spccis for 1898 rather discOuraging.
During this time food continued high
and good bread was not within tue
reach Of many families.
General conditions did not improve
much until the 18th Of July 1895, when
heavy rains set tn. The country was
Hooded. Only those who saw II can
sense the wonderful change that took
place Had person passed through
the country the Ist OF July and returned
the middle Of September he would have
seen the desert prairie a vast cxpanse
OF grass and flowers. The range was a
paradise for animals. MIX, butter and
good beef became abundant. and the
rough hair OF the faded team animals
became smooth and glossy. There was
abundant hay for the gathering Man
and beast were better fitted for labor
than they had been for two years pre-
vious.
These conditions were favorable for
1894. The rains had prepared the earth
Tor better harvest. There was better
preparation Tor utilizing available water,
and spring opened under conditions
that promised good results. Much en-
couragcmeut was given the people by
their leaders. They were promised a
bountiiul season and market Tor all
they could raise to spare. A change for
the better came over the people and the
elements. Early In the season prophe'
sled blessings began to be realized.
The harvest was the best our people
had gathered In this land. The orchards
were bufdened for the surplus. The
hearts OF the Saints were full OF graft
tude Tor the iavors OF a benehecnt
Providence.
For the first time the people felt they
had something to show. a Fair was
suggested. Ii seemed spontaneous
growth from the hearts OF the people
The Bishop and his counselors led out
with will. The idea of an exhibition
suggested organization. With neces-
sary preliminaries "The Agricultural and
Manufacturing Association OF Colonia
Dtaz" was perfected on the gist OF June,
1894, with bishop VIM, ID. Johnson, IT,,
president. The Iyth and i4th OF the
following September were accepted BY
the people iOr holding a Fair under this
organization. Soon after the committees
were designated to supenntrnd the vari'
Gus divisions OF the exhibit, aud m
executive committee To conduct the
general business.
The Diaz hall was ample for the in
door part OF the exhibit the grounds
around the building would do ior agri-
cultural implements and other machln'
cry. and adjacent corrals ior the stock.
The interior OF the building was pleas
antly fitted IN. The Mexican Tag was
suspended ia the middle OF the man
hall, and appropriate notices In Spanish
were arranged on the walls. Invitations
were sent by the board OF directors TO
the governor OF the State Of Chihuahua,
to the municipal council and leading
citizens OF La Ascension, aud to our
Mexican neighhors generally, TO Presi'
dent Teasdalc. aud to all cur people in
this land through the Bishops OF the
various wards,
The arrangement Of the exhibition
was quite complete on the evening OF
the I2lh. AT 9 O'Clock a, m. OF the - h
the doors were opened to the pubic,
and 10 O'Clock was appointed Tor the
commencement OF the opening eNer'
cses. There was some delay In waiting
Tor invited iriends from la Ascension.
The president OF the municipality could
not attend, but sent an able repfesen
lative In the person OF Senior Carlos g,
Gonzalez, merchant OF La Ascension.
lie was accompanied by Pedro Gonzalez
Gutierrez aud other prominent citizens,
The opening speech was made by the
president OF the association, Our MeNi
can friends seemed 10 enter at once into
the spirit of the occasion. Senior Gonz'
alez made an eloquent aud pleasing
speech. lie was followed by Pedro
Gonzalez Gutierrez. The following are
some OF the ideas embodied m an adj
dress peculiarly calculated TO create
harmony and good feeling,
1--WE acknowledge your superiority
and we appreciate the example OF THRIFT
prosperity and progress you nave set US
aud we hope to improve by II. We
open our arms TO you and receive you
as brothers. The motto / see AZ the
head OF the hall, Long live our adopted
country gives me much pleasure, and
can say IN behalf OF my people assemb
led here, we gladly welcome you to oui
midst, aud hope we shall all grow to
gether into one nation
Vocal and Instrumental music en-
livened the OCCASION, and at the close o
the services President Johnson read the
program Tor the following day and de
clared the Fair open.
The forenoon OF the I4lh was mostl,
occupied with an exhibition OF babies
the pretliest woman, the ugliesl mar
aud others Of a somewhat humorous
character. The show oil babies wa
very encouraging Tor the future growtt
M nlaz Ihe mil was cTnMded WIN