| Show 1 p 7 town or W owr pop FAIR AT COLONIA DAIZ DAIL COLONIA CoLoNi At DIAZ mexico september asab 1894 1 I trust you will find the following of sufficient interest to give it place in the DESERET NEWS it is well known to those familiar with the history of colonia diez that in the seven years since the colony was founded bounded it has gone through a series of misfortunes in the year 1891 the die people spent much labor and means on the northern pacific railway without receiving the expected compensation the end of the year found them vl very ry destitute of food and clothing without immediate prospect of bettering their condition As the usual sun sum imer rains had not fallen the crops in northern mexico were very light and food was expensive before the next seasons harvest bread was difficult to obtain at famine prices on account of there ther ewas vaa but little grass for animals a cows gave but little milk and such poor quality as to be un wholesome doubtless often causing sickness among the children the year 1895 was also a dry one the lie peaple were compelled to eat much kwof tin in better times would be considered unfit for lood food horses horse and mules were in too poor condition to perform much labor which made the prospects for 1893 rather discouraging during this time food continued high ind and good bread was not within the teach reach of many families general conditions did not improve much mch until the irth of july 1893 when heavy rains set in the country was hooded only those who saw it can sense the wonderful change that took place had a person passed through the ae country the of july and returned the middle of september he would have seen the desert prairie a vast expanse of grass and flowers the he range was a paradise for animals milk uk butter and good beef became ab abundant at and the rough hair of the ja jaded team animals became smooth and glow there was abundant hay for the mau man and beast were better fitted for labor iban they had been for f or two years previous thee conditions were ware favorable fayo rable for a T the e e bains had pre prepared the earth S jese better e tt e harvest there was vetter better for available water spring opened under conditions that promised good results muth much en given the people ae by loaders they were here promised a bountiful season and a market for all thoy they could raise to spare A change for the better came over the people and the elements early in the season prophesied blessings began to be realized the harvest was the best our people biad gathered in this land the orchards were burdened for the su surplus rolus the hearts of the saints were full of gratitude tor for the favors of a beneficent providence i for the first time the people felt they had something to show A fair was suggested it seemed a spontaneous growth 1 from the hearts of tte the people eBig hoo anil and his counselor led atif out with a will th afie idea ot air exhibition suf suggested tested with necessary preliminaries the agricultural and manufacturing association of colonia diaz was perfected on the aist of june 1894 with bishop wm D johnson jr president the esth and xyth ot of the following lowing september were accepted by the people for holding a fair under this organization soon after the committees were designated to superintend the various divisions of the exhibit and an executive committee to conduct the general business the diaz hall was ample for the indoor part of the exhibit the grounds around the building would do lor for agricultural implements and other machinery and adjacent corrals for the stock the interior of the building was pleasantly fitted up the mexican rag flag was was suspended in the middle of the main hall and appropriate motions in spanish were arranged on the walls invitations were sent by the board of directors to the governor of the state of chihuahua to the municipal council and leading citizens of la ascension and to our mexican neighbors generally to president teasdale and to all our people in this land through the bishops of the various wards the arrangement of the exhibition was quite complete on the evi evening ening of the lath at 9 a m of the reth the doors were opened to the public and io 10 was appointed for the commencement lof the opening exercises there was some delay in waiting for invited friends from la ascension the president of the municipality municipality not attend but sent an ab able e representative in the person of senor carlos G gonzalez a merchant of la ascension he was accompanied by pedro gonzalez guiterrez and other prominent cit citizen izenE the opening speech was made by the president of the association our mexican friends seemed to enter at once into I 1 the spirit of the occasion senor gonzalez made an eloquent and pleasing speech he was Tolf followed owed by pedro gonzalez guiterrez following are some of the ideas embodied in an address peculiarly calculated to create harmony an and daood good feeling we acknowledge your superiority and aad we appreciate the example of thrift pros penty and progress you have set us and we hope to improve by it i wei we open our arms to you you and receive you as aa brothers the motto I 1 stet see at the head fehd of therall the hall long be otar adopted country gives md me much pleasure anid I 1 can say in behalf of my my people boole assembled here wi we gladly iladoy welcome you to our midst and I 1 hope liblit we fall lall grow together into one nation vocal and instrumental music enlivened the occasion and at the dose close of the services president johnson read the program for the following day and declared the fair open the forenoon of the irth was mostly occupied with an exhibition of babies the prettiest woman the ugliest man and others of a somewhat humorous character the show of babies was very encouraging for the future growth of diaz the hall was crowded with the citizens odthe of the colony and their mexican neighbors there was a spirit ar I 1 emch w hallowed allowed quiet uh aloyed enjoyment in the afternoon co m in raa 21 aaa R aws al fill SM P apt span we the r asid ai af all 0 clock p m the st inside the hwi hall 19 every department part ment was good oad oneat one of the small was 0 occupied with ladies work and we felt that tac the exhibit would be VL a credit to any town in utah the fine art department attracted considerable attention some kinds of fruit had bad gone out of season but the show of peaches pears and grapes was fine I 1 probably finer ner specimens of field and garden girded products cannot be produced anywhere ere the exhibit of dairy products of bottled canned dried and preserved fruits of honey and of the salm skill of tap th ladies in the kitchen were all satisfactory in home manufactures there were good samples of furniture brooms copper ware and machine machinery ry for th the size of the colony there wasa was a good show of farming implements by way of contrast a mexican farmer W was there with his rude cart drawn by bv oceo attached to it with yoke scraped to fo the them ma in fr frant b nt of the horns in it was an oll time alc mexican bican plow the outfit represented rep re the present general condition I 1 df the farmer in in this country we are however hopeful for their future for there is a spirit of improve improvement in those around us some good stock was on exx exhibition ibid 0 0 tut there ere wa neither neithel tune time to prepare cewe nor me C for such ih a showing as we are cip capable abl of making As there yas W as no money for fai df premium certificates signed by the h pr president lent and secretary of the ass association 7 were pv guiven q 9 to those who exhibited exhibit superior articles As a people we are well wel satisfied with our imort effort we did not expect to da do nearly as well it is designed to hp hgo these fairs annually in ff future iture and we hope to show a marked advance advancement em eat next season we are making much effort to indrea increase our water supply with very favorable indications of success we feel abre more than ever before that we have plantee 6 our feet in this land to stay J respectfully yours james JAMBS A LITTLE |
