| Show information ABOUT MEXICO THE subject of mormon colonization in mexico has been treated on so BO extensively by the press of the country that it will probably be not out of place to refer to it again in these columns column that some of our people have taken up their abode in the mexican republic is 18 pretty well known that more will probably join them may naturally be expected but that there is any intention of vacating utah for the benefit lene fit of persons who if they had the courage and the power would drive us from our possessions that teat they might enjoy the fruits of our labors is a huge and ludicrous mistake apropos of this subject the new york gloa which usually contains an interview on current questions with some person of prominence has one with mr W D johnson jr who Is ia well informed as to the condition of those portions of mexico where our people reside and as that paper is reliable and does not dot descend to the usual tactics of the common interviewer we reproduce the account which contains much valuable information it is as follows colonization in mexico is attracting public attention just at present and the work of the mexican colonization and agricultural company which began six rix years ago is assuming such a shape that success in its enterprise is an assured fact situated in one of the prettiest spots of mexico are the four colonies the natural advantages of the place are many affording as they do all the means for comfortable homes and snug fortunes W derby johnson jr who is personally in charge of one of the colonies colonia diaz by name has recently come from the south and talked freely with a representative of the globe about the country we have four colonies in mexico said mr johnson the largest two are colonia diaz and colonia juarez they are situated in northwestern chihuahua the former is named after president nt diaz the latter gets its name from wen benito ito juarez the washington of mexico both are on the cassa casas grandes river the latter about seventy miles south of the former the other settlements are pacheco and francisco they are situate west and east of juarez the inhabitants number about 2000 and are principally inci pally americans it is an excellent fez agricultural country and the graza I 1 ing is the finest in the world the facilities i for raising fruit we consider equal if not better than california because the climate is more even there is an abundance of water native springs existing in such great volume on the plateau that water force sufficient to operate sperate mills now in e existence as tence and other factories I 1 which may hereafter be established is afforded the valleys in which the colonies are situated are covered with a carpet of the finest indigenous grasses known in america viz mesquite curly mesquite and black red and white grams grama on these grasses many thousands of cattle can be herded the feed cannot be excelled and if a superior breed of cattle were introduced the herds in this section would be superior in size and weight to any y cattle known to the west one very peculiar feature in cattle and sheep rais ing in this part of mexico is the fact that j the fattening process of the herds begins at the inception of the winter and oon con finues until the rainy season which lisaj ally occurs from june to september at present when search for fat cattle in made aaring during the winter it is usually made on the eastern slope of the great sierra madre range the advantage of stock raising here is that where further east in the winter the grasses have lost their strength and the grasses of the sierra madre contain the most desirable fattening qualities at this time of the year beef cattle on this range although of inferior breed will compare favorably with the corn fed cattle of kansas kansa nebraska and other eastern sources source 01 of supply supply in the mountains there ere is oh dh abundance of timber including pines varying from two to four feet in diameter walnut and several species of ash and oak peculiar to the climate thus building material is easily obtained it is a liv living W g proof which may be seen an by any visitor today that the mormon or settlements of diaz and juarez have 1 demonstrated that with the improved implements of agriculture agriculture and the per sistena ind industry stry 0 of the colonists crops of f corn and oth other er small grains fruits and vegetables are beyond preconceived ideas of the native inhabitants so that there is no question that with the gifts that nature has bestowed upon this country hitherto unknown the reward for labor is greater than in any other section of the continent is should a system of dams dame and reservoirs 0 rs be established on the casas grandes river which is sure to follow the settlement of these valleys there will be many thousands of acres of as fertile land as an can be found on the continent brought into a state of the highest cultivation through the energy skill and industry of these chese people draw the comparison for example between the country lying in the basin of salt lake and that of the valley of the casas grandes river and it will be seen that the advantage in favor of the latter for permanent homes and a rich and incalculable return for labor is tax far superior it must be borne in mind at the same time that this valley according to the many reports of the most distinguished experts is bordered on OH either side in the mountain ranges by innumerable of gold old silver copper lead zinc and other valuable minerals in order that the public may understand as to why these ini mineral have not heretofore been understood or realized it is sufficient to say that the entire range of the sierra madre has been for the last two centuries until within the past part two years year occupied entirely by a persecuted race of indians made hostile to eve every civilization by the way in which they have ave been treated and hence benoe toia section of the country may be said in fact to be it a terra incognita almonr along the line of the proposed pro ased railway st at the he base of the sierra madre adre and from the rio graude grande river there are damps of refuse ores amounting to several million tons which according to the opinion of experts will range in value from 5 to 50 per ton assuming as a proof of this fact in the mining operations of the corralitos Corra litos company in the most prosperous erous mining section of that district all ores extracted from their mines which do not pay at least lease 75 per ton go into the dumps and refuse accumulated for the past seventy years this thia to is a specimen only of various mining enterprises in operation in that section for many years past for instance under the crude method of mining as practiced it now costs that company at least a ton to extract the ores from the mines 1200 per ton for a tone long wagon wag on haul baul to the nearest railroad do depot and d per ton for railroad tran transportation por tation from that point san jose to pao texas where the ores are boated at the large smelting smelling sm elting works there tt ft a met cost of 1600 per ton these items do k not include commissions custom L kome baum dues does duty on lead as has now been ordered by the ment of the united states and various other charges it will thus be seen that any ores extracted from these theme mines ranging in n value below are i agbe mf and an d therefore cast into the ta pups I 1 or the aggregate te of refuse ores the country is is open for settlement to wary ory clow class it ft is not confined to mor in fact there is neither intention nor bar possibility of introducing the practice 0 of P polygamy 0 1 Y in mexico that I 1 te U impossible 8 u under mexican 1 laws as vader those of the united states beides ides the proclamation roola mation of president woodruff disposed of the question finally in all the mormon settlements by requiring obedience to the laws of the land a on the subject the colonists will be sub leot to mexican laws our towns we re laid isla out in blocks twenty seven rods cuare and are divided into four lots so that each settler can have one on a eor wc the streets are six rods wide and give ample accommodation for all kinds fl dt travel in the principal colonies about fruit trees and nearly vines boides a great many ornamental trees sad nd shrubs have been planted rach each town has a public square and I 1 in diaz diat nd juarez we have two iwo academies academe es and graded eroded schools in which both english ng lish nd end spanish are taught |
