New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
MORMONS IN CANADA.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DE-
CIDED TO WELCOME THEM, AS THEY
ARE THRIFTY AND NON
POLYGAMOUS

POLYGAMOUS.
Winnipeg correspondence of The Nebraska State
Journal
To few people is it known that Salt Lake City,
IN titan. is not the only territory in full and
disputed possession of the Mormons Yet such
is the case. l have just returned from a visit to
Alberta. where l found big colony of the Lat
ter Day Saints firmly established in these North
ern lands. The colony is unique and in
terestins one Some time ago couple of hun
dred Mormons simply "trekked' away from Salt
Lake City into the Northern wilderness, and
after marching seven hundred miles to
their present location in Alberta and settled
They soon had quite a lourshing little town.
Ihey named the place Cardston. First they
commenced to cut down the white frs, and.
with women and children pressed into service,
proceeded to erect substantial dwelling houses,
shops stores, blacksmith shop, gristmill and
SawmillS
1t has several unique characteristics which
are original in the extreme. New-York and
other large cities have their rich people. who.
after spending winter of hard work in the city.
leave it at the beginning of summer for the
glories of the summer resorts; but there is
record of the population of entire city de-
sorting their homes at the beginning Of March
and returning in October. This is just what the
eight thousand Mormons of Cardston do.
1t is a curious custom but soon the time
arrives for the planting OF crops the whole
population move out in various directions, and,
taking up their summer residences far apart,
begin industriously the pursuit of farming.
When their crops safely housed and they
have gathered in the gleanings, their socable
nature asserts itself and they again take up
their residence in the city, where they settle
down for the winter. AS the stories of the
prosperity of the new Mormon settlement have
travelled abroad, others of their kind have
rived from Salt Lake City and established
towns close at hand. until at present the colony
consists of five towns. with the principal one,
Cardston, the capital OF the entire community.
Here the names of the towns, with the num-
Der of inhabitants: Montana View. $50; Etna,
800; Leavt, 200. and the little hamlet of Coles.
which boasts Of only twenty-five souls. Polyg
amy has been entirely abolished, the men build
ing homes and providing for the women whom
Tho
Of Utah. The coonists are very industrious and
thrifty, and they going to work with will
to make a success of their district. The sur
roundings would lead one to believe that they
dream of a second Salt Lake City in Canada
The foundation is well laid and great develop
mentS must follow.
In conversation with one of them he said:
This is the best country people ever pos
sessed We 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 contract from the
irrigation company to eXcavate and construct
portion of the canal. and in adding to a cash
subsidy taking land grant which has al
ready been selected, amounting to eighteen
thousand acres in two reserves of about nine
thousand acres each.
AS TO the fitness of these people to become
agrculturists and as to the possibilities that
await them there is and can only be one con-
cluson. They are farmers and pioneers, or
rather. pioneers and farmers. and pursue farm
ing on scientific principles 1t Is no haphazard
work with them, and all that Is necessary 10
demonstrate this, Is to visit CardSton. Here Is
a district which for years remained unocCupied
and was given entirely TO cattle ranches.
efforts the part OF those who attempted IL
proving that mixed farming or grain raising
could only be successfully followed In a Few
localities.
When the advance guard Of the Mormons ar
rived the stake selected was far from other set
Elements and to-day is fifty miles from
railway. With long hauls to market operating
against them. the colony Continued to grow
until they are prospecting. with schools and
churches open the year round, and the land be-
universal statement OF the settlers was mat IL
a choice location. Farms on the hillsidcs
and in the valleys were producing splenddly.
Having been brought under high state of
cultivation by irrigation in some parts, the rain
fall in others being sufficient all manner OF
grains roots and vegetables are grown. and in
competition with those raised in other portions
of the district they always have been success
full Every farmer has a large drove OF horses
and cattle. and evidences Of prosperity seem L,
exist Verywhere.
The soil is good, being brown loan with
clay subsoil. II is an open country, without
timber but is well watcred with rivers. and the
river bottoms filled with light growth OF
poplar. and much Of this has been destroyed by
fires. The country is nigh and rolling to the west,
and many pockets are found among the hills
that have good natural hay meadows l saw
some places on the river bottoms where there
was sufficient timber to make good shelter FOR
stock cut into the banks acove like. and well
wooded.
TO the east the country is more undulating
and not hilly. The soil shows better on the
surface.
III IL
and near the foothills small grains can be sue
cessfully grown. both south and west but north
and irrigation is required. The grass is of
an excellent quality. very nutritious and in va
riety and produces fat rapidly. The cattle and
horses still at large and saw hundreds
In good condition that have had no feed as yet
but what they found themselves. This hay
cures on the ground, and is rarely frozen before
maturity. but cures by nature and affords eX-
cecnt winter pasture
There is a cheese factory at Cardston and it
has been proftably conducted. There are also n
cheese factory and creamery at Etna. At Cards
ton there is a small gristmll and about twenty
miles distant In the timber the settlers own
small sawmili. There are at Cardston two large
department stores carrying heavy stocks. They
each did a business last year OF between SoO.OOO
and $4,000. There are also two large imple-
ment warehouses. These people raised about a
hundred thousand bushels OF grain in 1Ss'S.
There is large public school In Cardston, ma
tional in character and graduated. employing
three teachers with an average attendance of
100 pupils. There also public schools estab-
Iished at Mountain View. Etna and Leavft,
which have large average attendance OF pu-
pills.