New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
MORMONS IN MEXICO.
PROSPEROUS SETTLEMENTS WHERE
POLYGAMY is PRACTIsED WITH
OUT MOL LESTATION


The Mormons are settling in Northern Mexico
and are growing prosperous in the colonies which
fhey have planted. There nearly five
Thousand OF them in Northeastern Sonora and
Northwestern Chihuahua. There IS a steady stream
OF emigration from Utah. and the colonies are rap
sdly increasing IN the number OF their population
The Mormons are coming into the republic rap
sdly as farming lands be secured for them TO
sette upon. They agricultural people, and
occupy only tho valleys where irrigation is possible
Large ranch owners have been averse heretofore to
selling them big tracts OF irrigRble land but the
Mormons are now rapidly securing the favored
places in which to plant their colonies and build
their homes.
The enactment of laws in the United States
against poyEamy brought the first Mormon immi-
grafton to Mexico When plural marriage pro-
nOunced Illegal there many Morlnons who pre-
1erred TO leave Utah rather than surrender any Of
their religious principles renquish Of their
wives. Mexico appeared TO them inviting coun-
TRY in which settle, provided they could secure
fhe assurances they needed from the Mexican Gov
'ernment. The climate Of Chihuahua and Sonora
fbeing similar that o. Utah, only milder. and the
topography being the same. 1t only remained for
rhose who proposed 10 enigrate TO secure IN ad-
vance the necessary concessions from the authori-
fties Of the country into which they about TO
snove
The proposal Of the Mormons to settle III Northern
Mexico with instant encouragement since they
were known to be industrious and thrifty and we'll
adapted 10 the work Of developing new country.
Mexico wished TO encourage them particularly be-
cause they agriculturists. Mining companies
and ranchmen especially welcomed them because
they would readily supply the camps and cattle
haciendas with provisions and farm products, for
VnerIy imported at considerable cost. Mexico
couraged the movement Of the Mormons by adj
uniting all their household effects, building ma
zerial and objects of in the erection of their
Rones free of duties. They received
kothcr concessions and privileges.
THE WILDERNESS TRANSFORMED
TIE country Into which they removed prac-
4ically a wilderness. Here and there were large
sanches. with and then mining camp. There
a few Mexican villages. at intervals Of fifty
or q hundred miles. The country was arid. tree
less and uninvting, except in the valleys, where
rich soil only needed irrigation and cultivation to
seturr ample crops Of fruits and cereals.
The first colony planted in 1889. and called
Coonia Juarez Il was established in the valley
of the Casas Grandes River. sixteen miles from the
hold Mexican town Of Casas Grandes, the pres
lent terminus Of the Rio Grande, Sierra Madre
land Pacific Railroad, constructed in 1897. The
aettlers arrived from Utah in covered wagons.
FThey lived in until they dug irrigac
kion bitches and made their first crop. Then
1hey began erect their homes. Besides
their teams and camping utensils and a few agr-
cultural Implements. they had nothing but muscle
and religious enthusiasm At that time the near
est railroad was at E. Paso Tex while a sandy
6esert almost impossible, intervened The noun
sains too, held rowing bands OF renegade Apaches
that occasionally raided the new settlement and
drove away cattle and horses. However. they were
happy to fnd themselves unhampered by any legis-
tative enactment against polygamy.
As TO the practice of poiygamy IN the Republic
IF Mexico, II may be stated that the law Of the
land recognizes but one legal wife. The second or
khird wife has legal status. and her children. in
the eyes OF the law. not legitimate. After the
first marriage the law has nothing to do with
matter OF a Mcrmons increasing the number OF his
wives except that a second or third wife may not
he taken unless the first wife gives her consent.
But the Mormons guided by their religion not
by the law. in the institution OF marriage Nor
mon IN Mexico seldom takes
ond or third wife until he is able TO support
than family It Is part Of their religion for the
first wife 10 assist her husband in finding addi-
1onal hepnate; and If she is unwilling for him to
marry another woman, sometimes happens when
human nature is stronger than religion or super
stit.on. q deputation Of elders call upon her and
show her the path Of duty" The Mormons do
not generally admit the practice OF polygamy in
Mexico for the reason It Is believed. that agtta
ton might be started against It; but it is true,
nevertheless. that with few exceptions each Nor
mon has two or more wives
DOMESTIC PEACE PRESERVED.
The Mormon with than wife usually
provides a separate home for each family. If the
Two families do ningle together har-
Enonously they are placed IN different colonies and
all jar and friction except that which the head OF
the families might encounter is removed When
hhere is disagreement among the wives and
children they nningl5 freely together, assist
another IN making the gardens. churning butter
canning fruit. Then the children by wife call
the other wife aunt" and the two wives address
one another as sister" and the husband 'hus-
band" All Mormon men call one another brother"
Besides engaging in agriculture, many of the
Biormons are freighters for various mining com
panies. They their teams 10 haul ores from the
Snnes to the railroad The OF the Pilares Mine,
hhe richest silver shaft IN Northern Mexico, IS
hauled 40 miles by Mormon teamsters. They have
from Colonia Juarez and bring out the lumber 10
abe various colonies and the mining camps in
farms to the mines. The regular Mormon freghter
usually establishes family in different colonies
Hhat he is nearly always at home,
be gardens and in the care Of the They
make butter and cheese and gather the fruit crops
frious. They work with energy and enthusiasm.
But sometimes a shiftless one appears, who is
willing 10 live by the labor of his women Re
Gently a Mormon arrived in one OF the colonies
with young wives. They strong and
willing to work. Instead of doing anything him
self he sat from one days end TO another and
watched the two labor with hoe mattock.
Finally he became tired Of the colony and ex-
two wives sold their products and shipped him
away. They remained, however, 10 look after the
crops on their little farm.
ACTIVE PRosELYTING
Mormon converts are gained invariably from
among the humble classes Of the population
Two thousand missionaries are at work all the
aine in the United States and Canada, and in Eng
5and and Europe. adding the Mormon fold. In
Justice 10 the Mormons il must be stated that the
converts they make usually bettered in every
respect Thrift Is cardinal principle in the Nor
than in the coloTies of Northern Mexico. Com
Portable homes. cultivated fields and abundant
crops show that the Mormons on the whole are
industrious, frugal and economical. They
obliged 10 maintain community Of interest. They
labor together ana assist another IN every
thing that IS to be done