Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-01-11
MORMON COLONIES
IN MEXICO
Example Of What Intelligent Pluck
Can Accomplish in the
Arid Region.
5000 MORMON SETTLERS
They Have Planted Prosperous Colonies in
the States Of chihuahua and Sonora
They 0vercame Successfully
Great Obstacles.

DR.. r. G. Lambert, who represents
the Deseret News of Salt Lake, ant
who stands high in Mormon councils
spent yesterday in Santa Fe on his way
to the Mormon colonies in Mexico from
where he will visit the colonies in Ari-
take him about two months and he has
promised to write the New Mexican an
interesting letter later descriptive OF
| the Mormon settlements of Ramah in
Valencia county, and Fruitland, San
Juan county, after his visit to these
colonies. The work Of the Mormons in
| Mexico was described to a New Mexi-
can representative by DR.. Lambert,
last evening as follows:
"The Mormons first entered Mexico
in the year 1886 The first permanent
settlements We're made in the following
year when Colonia Juarez and Colonia
Diaz We're established The former is
about II miles from Casas Grandes,
the present terminus of the Sierra Ma
Dire and Pacific railway. There are
about 200 families in the colony and it
is considered the most advanced town
in the state of Chihuahua. 1t possesses
beautiful modern homes. an excellent
academy taught by proficient facul-
ty, Touring mill, creamery and we'll
developed agricultural resources. Ev-
cry home in the town is surrounded by
ment is pointed out as an example of
what thrift and industry when intelli-
gently applied can accomplish in the
arid regions.
"Colonia Diaz is not so fortunate, as
it is 40 miles from railroad and 60
miles from the nearest building timber.
growth, it being well supplied with all
modern agricultural implements. The
colonists possess that indomitable per-
severance that helps to make good
farmers. They have achieved good re-
suits with their labor and have a thrift
ty town of nearly 200 families. These
families are not small for they are gen.
uine Mormon families with many chill
dren.
"Colonia Duhlan is the next in size of
the Mexican Mormon colonies. 1T is
situated five miles south of Casas
Grandes on the Rio Grande, Sierra Ma
Dire and Pacific railway. This place,
perhaps, possesses the best educa tional
advantages of any Of the Mormon col
onies. The colony has secured conces-
sions and is about to erect series Of
reservoirs and canal system that will
give it splendid agricultural advantag-
es. The settlement has a good school
building and other public buildings.
The colonists have introduced the most
advanced theories in their agricultur-
al pursuits. There are now at least 200
families in the colony and the prospects
for further growth are fine. The set
tlement has an improved roller -four
ing mill and a large modern mercan-
tile establishment
"The other Mormon colonies Of Chi |
huahua are In the high mountain VAL
leys Of the Sierra Madre mountains |
Pacheco has about 40 families who are
engaged in agriculture, stock raising
and numbering. They produce superior
potatoes that find ready market at
good prices in the sourrounding coun-
try. These mountain people have ac-
complished wonders in the building of
roads that lead up rocky gorges that
to the eye seem impossible. These
were built to facilitate the hauling of
lumber from the mountains to the val
leys below.
Garcia is another mountain colony.
It's people are mostly engaged In the
of merchant lumber,
laths and shingles for which they
have the latest improved and best ma
Colonia Garcia has about 30
families who are prospering and have
reared pretty homes.
Thirty miles further up the noun
aims is Colonia Chucchupa, and though
FAR removed from transportation IA
,ilities, the colonists have kept abreast
If the times. They are engaged in
agriculture dairying, stock raising and
At least 40 families are To-
,ated there. They are showing COM
enterprise.
"There are also two colonies in the
state of Sonora. One is Colonia Oaxa-
"a on the Bavispie river, where about
% families have reared pretty homes
in orchards and vineyards.
rhe colonists are engaged in stock
aising, mining and freighting. To es-
ablish themselves in this settlement
he colOnists had to overcome great
Obstacles, making roads down an al
most impossible canon. But they ov-
rcame these difficulties with an un-
launted courage and their united eff
orts have been amply rewarded. Their
,ardens are a marvel of productive
less and under the almost tropical cli-
nate they raise almost every variety
f fruit.
"The last colony to be established
vas at Batapeta, about 25 miles down