The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1902-09-10
MORMONS In MEXICO.
Interesting Account OF q Big Hunt
And Visit to Their
COIony

Colony.
Thad Thomson, of the big land
and cattle firm of Thomson Bros,
Austin and Ballinger, recently
returned from big hunt in Mex
leo, in which he was accompa-
MED by Congressman Albert Bur
leson, Fred Connerly, clerk of
the Supreme Court, and several
other sportsmen, to Northwestern
Mexico on a hunting trip. They
first went to Deming, n. NJ. and
from there down in the State of
Sonora, but found the waters in
the streams so high from heavy
rains Ill that section that they
came back to Ell Paso and went
to Casas Grandes, in the State of
Chihuahua, the southwestern
terminus of the FL Paso, Sierra
Madre Pacific Railroad, distance
of about 100 miles from FL Paso.
From Casas Grandes they went
further west fifty miles into the
Sierra Madre Mountains. They
found the Casas Grande river and
other mountain streams so swol
len that their hunting was badly
interfered with, although they
found plenty of big game and had
good sport.
Mr.. Thomson said to report
er that one Of his most interest
ing experiences was his visit to
the Mormon Colony of Colonia
Juarez, situated about Is miles
west of Casas Grandes. This
colony is one of a number which
the Mormons from Utah have es-
tablished in that part of Mexico,
and all are in prosperous condi-
ton. Colonia Juarez has popu-
lation of about 700 people. 1t is
located in rich valley and the
land is under irrigation and is
cultivated to high degree. The
Mormons, Mr.. Thomson says, are
Industrious, intelligent, educated
and peaceable citizens. They con-
duct the affairs of the town on a
cooperative system to a large ex-
tent. The head of the several
colonies is a president who has
general supervision of their af-
fairs. At Colonia Juarez. the adj
ministration of religious and tenn
poral affairs is in the hands of sew
eral bishops of the church, who
pass upon all differences that may
arise between members of the
colony as well as give religious
instructions and spiritual advice
to the colonists. There is no Jail
or courthouse in the town and the
standard of morality, unless it is
in the possible practice of poly
gamy, is of the highest.
They are strictly temperate
people" continued Mr.. Thomson.
"There is not a cigar or any to-
bacco of any kind to be found in
the place-it is against their re-
liglon to use it. There is also a
total absence of whiskey and in
toxicants of all kinds, and not
even coffee is used. The town
has good schools and is beautified
with splendid business and resi-
dence buildings built of brick.
The finest fruit l ever saw is rails
ed on the irrigated lands there,
and it is n veritable oasis in that
remote and undeveloped region OF
Mexico. "
Mr.. Thomson also explored two
large caves of the ancient cliff
jewellers in the Sierra Madre.
He gives an interesting descrip-
tion of these archaeological won
ders about which there is shroud-
ed so much mystery. These caves
had already been visited by the
roaming relic hunters and archae-
ologists and were denuded of the
pottery and mummies which they
once contained.
The mountains are timbered
with the stately pines and invite
the inroad of civilization to turn
them to n profit.
There is wonderful mineral de.
velopement in that part of Mexico
the mining districts are prospt T.
Gus and the production of rich ore
in the States of Sonora and Chi
huahua is increasing constantly
at an enormous rate.