The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08

terest They labor together and assist one
another in everything that is TO be done.
At present there are eight colonies of
Mormons in Mexico. with a combined pop
ulation of nearly 5000. They are Co.onia
Juarez, the capital colony: Colonia Diaz.
Dublan. oaxaca, Pacheco, Garcia,
Chuichupa and the recently establi=h he'd
colony OF Morelos Colonia Juarez is St
uated in a narrow valley, and the land is
irrigated with water from thss Casa,
y. andes River. Tie neat brick residences
of the settlers are hidden in grape.ines
and thick clusters of pear. plum, pea b, AMI
apricot trees. The water runs in clear
stream through all the cross sire is, and is
turned into y"rd or garden at Will. Here
the president of the stake which en-
braces all o. the colonies. res Ges. He
lives in handsome brick residence thft
cost $4,000. He guides the des;inies of the
MoFmons in Mexico with the head and han !
of a capable captain. He is a man of edu-
cation and of unusual intelligence, and was
at one time candidate for Governor of
Utah. He is the first and last court Of re-
sort for all internal troubles and di puie;.
The Mormons build schools in their COM
munities even before they erect church.
All of the colonies have schools. and an
academy is maintained at Colonia Juarez.
There are principal five teachers and
more than 400 pupils. In this CO ony there
is a grist MILL canning factory, and other
industries. There is a tithing store, me
only one in the colony. but there lie rot a
saloon, nor a tobacco shop, nor pjiic>-
man in this or any other o. the colonies.
Dublan is the largest colony. 1t Is also
the most important commercially. 1t Is four
miles from the terminus of the railroad
and is situated in a broad valley. The VII
lge. which has about 1000 inhabitants, is
scattered over several square miles OF Ter
ritory The Mormous of Dublin have thou-
sands of acres of rich land. which produces
abundant crops. They have BEAUTIFUL o.
chards and gardens. They have laid the
foundations of a splendid temple and
large school building. They have tith-
ing store here as in Colonia JuareZ, and
each Mormon contributes 10 per cent OF his
income to the support of the church.
Oaxaca is los miles from the railroad.
but it is reached by an excellent road
which the Mornons built. They were not
contented with the mere trail the Next
cans used for zoe years, and instead grad
ed roadway upon which bicycle might
be easily ridden the entire distance. OAK
AGA is on the Bavispe River. and while
this colony has plenty of water for irriga-
ton purposes, there is no irrigable land.
The people are poor and do not appear as
Industrious or as successful as the Nor
mons in the other colonies. Their houses
are without glass in the windows, and
they have no carpets. and many of them
nothing more than dirt floors. The trav-
eler going through Oaxaca will find it i'm
possible to purchase butter, eggs, potatoes,
or other provisions. The people appear to
live principally on bread and honey.
A Prosperous Outlook.
The new colony of Morelos, to the west
of oaxaca. promises to be the largest col
ony in Mexico Thirteen families are there
now living in tents and working hard to
prepare their irrigation bitches aid clear
ing the land of the mesquite bush. This
colony has 5000 acres of rich soil upon
which it can produce several crops annu
ally Fifty more families will soon ar
rive. All or nearly all the men have more
than one woman in their tents. Whether
they were wives in Utah or not it would
be impossible to say. In Mexico. where
concealment was no longer necessary. each
woman was doing her allotted share of the
work about their temporary habitations.
We have fine agricultural and grazing
lands here" said a Mormon. land we are
just 125 miles from the railroad, with
fair prospect of a road building by here in
a few years. When Utah was settled our
people were a thousand miles from a base
of supplies. and they had Indians to fight.
Don't you think We can do as much in
northern Mexico as We did in Utah?"
Since the first Mormons settled in Mex
leo twelve years ago they have never had
the slightest friction with the Mexican
people or the Mexican authorities. No
Mexicans live in their communities and
since they are governed by the Church. or
rather by the president of the stake"
and his elders and bishops they have no
intercourse with the Mexicans.
The Mormon colonies are socialistic
communities. Everything is done on a
system of cooperation. They use little
money in their dealings with one another.
Obligations are paid in labor or the prod
ucts of labor. II one Mormon builds a
house his neighbors assist and charge
their labor against him. The obligation is
settled in kind. They have differences and
friction sometimes, but the elders and the
bishops settle the trouble, or, if they DO
not. then the president does. New York
Tribune.