The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-11-14
yoLIVA TO LEAVE
New Leader in Zion City Secures
Tract for New City in the
Far Southwest
FOLLOWERS TO LEAVE AT ONCE

"he attractive country around Las
Vegas, N. M, is to be the scene of the
future operations of Wilbur Glenn
Veliva and his followers at Zion City,
K nosha, and other places. Elder
Peters, who acted as the representa-
tive of Mr.. Voliva in seeking a new
location for those who desire to leave
Zion City, has closed contract for
1000 acres in what is known as the
Las Vegas land grant. Mr.. Voliva
an. his followers intend to sell out all
of their holdings in Zion City as rap
idly as possible and then to leave for
the West.
1t is expected that about twenty
families will be able to start West
this winter, and they will be followed
by others as rapidly as they can wind
up their affairs at Zion City. Elder
Peters says it is the expectation to
have 1000 families settled on the
mesa east of Las Vegas within the
next two years.
Within few months it is believed
that beg inning will be made on the
model city that Voliva hopes to start.
The city is to have factories, stores,
newspaper and is to be se1f-govern-
ing, if present plans are carried out.
Primarily the colony will devote itself
to agriculture, but it is the intention
to build up the community sufficiently
SO that there will be employment of
diversified nature.
The site is not far from the hot
springs of New Mexico. 1t was
chosen after Elder Peters had made
careful examination of the situation,
together with Professor J. E. Tins1ey
of the. New Mexico College of Me-
chanical Arts and Professor H. w.
Campbell, originator of the "dry
farming" system. Both experts told
Elder Peters that the land was valu-
able for agricultural purposes.
This land grant is unique because
of the fact that it is owned by the
city of Las Vegas, which therefore
becomes the wealthiest community,
per Ca pita, in the United States.
This city of 10000 owns 100000
acres, worth certainly ST., 500, 900, and
possibly as much as 100000. The
land is being placed on the market in
tracts of $4,000 acres, and one block
must be sold before the next is
opened The money is to be used as
a permanent school fund. The pro-
ceeds from the sale of the land will be
invested and the interest will be used
for maintenance of the public schools.
The schools will therefore become in
thorities. This is believed to be the
only instance of the kind in this
country.
What this system is and what it
means for the land was explained at
recent congress at Las Vegas. Ell
der Peters attended this congress,
along with several other Zion leaders.
Prospective settlers and homeseekers
from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana we're
also in attendance in considerable
numbers. The sessions continued
two days, and at the recesses the visi-
tors were taken out in automobiles
and were shown the country.
The market for all kinds of crops is
large and is continually increasing.
The soil is finely adapted to the cul-
lure of sugar beets, to which some of
the farmers intend to devote consid-
cradle acreage, "A beet sugar factory
is promised if the plan is carried out.
While looking over the newly pur-
chased ground Elder Peters said that
Mr.. Voliva would visit Las Vegas
within short time.