The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-17

Winnipeg Correspondence of the Ne
braska State Journal
To few people is it known that Salt
Lake City, In Utah, is not the only ter
rltory in full and undisputed possession
of the Mormons. Yet such is the case
L have just returned from a visit to
Alberta, where I found big colony Of
the Latter Day Saints firmly established
in these Northern lands. The colony is Il
unique and interesting one. Some time
ago a couple of hundred Mormons simply
''trekked" away from Salt Lake City into
the Northern wilderness, and after
marching 700 miles came to their present
location in Alberta and settled. They
soon had quite a tlourshing little town.
They named the place Cardston. First
they commenced to cut down the white
frs, ana, with women and children press
ed into service, proceeded to erect sub
stantial dwelling houses, shops, stores, d
blacksmith ship, grist mill and saw
mills
1t has several unique characteristics
which are original in the extreme New
Y ork and other large cities have their
rich people, who, after spending a winter
of hard work in the city, leave 1t at the
beginning of summer for the giories of
the summer resorts; but there is no
record of the population of an entire city
desertlng their homes at the beginning
cf March and returning In October phis
is just what the 5000 Mormons of Cards
ton do.
1t is curious custom, but as soon as
the time arrives for the planting of crops
in, ori,1r
directions, and, taking up their summer
residences far apart, begin industriously
the pursuit of farming. When their
crops are safely housed and they have
gathered in the gleanings, their sociablp
nature asserts itself and they again take
up their residence in the city, where thew
settle down for the winter. AS the stories
of the prosperity of the new Mormon set
tlement have travelled abroad, others OF
their kind have arrived from Salt Lake
City and established new towns close at
hand, until at present the colony consists
of five towns, with the principal one
Cardston, as the capital of the entire
community. Here are the names of the
towns, with the number of inhabitants:
Mountain View, $50; Etna 800; Leavit, 200,
and the little hamlet of COLES, which
boasts of only % souls. Polygamy has
been entirely abolished, the men build.
ing homes and providing for the wc1ner
whom they married previous to the anti
polygamy laws of Utah. The colonists
are very industrious and thrifty, and
they are going to work with a will to
make success of their district The
surroundings would lead one to believe
that they dream of a second Salt Lake
City ir Canada. The foundation is well
laid and great developments must follow
In conversation with one of them he
said. This is the best country our peo-
pie ever possessed. We are determined
to improve it, and it's progress cannot be
retarded We like the laws of Canada,
and are well treated by the people"
The Mormons have taken a contract
from the irrigation company to excavate
and construct a portion of the canal, and
in adding to cash subsidy are taking
land grant which has already been Sc
lected, amounting to $4,000 acres in two
reserves of about 5000 acres each.
AS to the fitness of these people to be-
come agriculturists and as to the pos
sibilities that await them there is and
can only be one conclusion. They are
farmers and pioneers, or rather, pioneers
and farmers, and pursue farming on
scientific principles. 1t is no haphazard
work with them, and all that is neces-
sary to demonstrate this, is to visit Card
ston. Here is a district which for years
remained unoccupied and was given over
entirely to cattle ranches, efforts on
the part of those who attempted 1t prov
| ing that mixed farming or grain raising