The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-30
TO TEST SOCIALISM.
TWO WASHINGTON YOUNG MEN WILL
JOIN A COOPERATIVE COLONY.

Two Washington young men started
westward recently to grow up with the
country as members of a cooperative
colony with socialistic tendencies which
has been established in the southwest
ern part OF Colorado. The young men
referred to are William Kent, son of |
Rev. Alexander Kent, and Carl Il. Ju-
linn, son of DR.. Julihn, a local physi-
clan. Neither is yet 81 years of age,
and both graduated from the local Cen |
trail high school last June. Both have |
been ardent students of political econo-
my during their school life and since
completing their studies in theory have
been longing TO put their ideas of adj
vanced government into actual opera
lion. The most promising field was
found with the colony mentioned, and
they resolved to become full dedged
members Of the community
This colony is located in the south
west part of Montrose county, 90 miles
south of the town of Montrose The
town already established by the colony
has been named Pinon. A tract of gov
eminent land has been acquired by the
colony, which is known as the Colorado
Cooperative company, and each person
becoming member of the community
is entitled to take up land under the
homestead grant act by paying the nom
inal purchase price to the government.
1t is the intention of Messrs. Julihn
and Kent TO take up land as soon as
each becomes of age, each calculating
to acquire 40 acres and in time trans
form it into a paying ranch.
The inducements held out to persons
to become members of this community
are the acquisition of land and the
working of it to the advantage of all
concerned. The location made by the
company is an ideal one, and the soil is
as rich as any in Colorado, but in order
to improve it the company is building
an immense ditch 10 miles long for ir-
rigation purposes. When this water is
| available, the land of the community is
expected to be worth five or six times
what it is now. Each member Of the
|
ceives in return the water right to his
| 40 acres, and in addition the number of
days each member works is placed to
his credit, so that if he wishes greater
water right he has only to exert himself
more. The land is we'll adapted for the
raising of fruit and grain, and the eli
mate is very much the same as Cali
fornia
One part of the plan of the colony is
that all officers, who are chosen by the
members, have To do as much work as
the rank and file and receive only the
same credits for their work as any other
laborer The town is as yet small, and
no difficult problems of local self gov
eminent have presented themselves.
Yet the scheme is such that no matter
how many men enroll themselves as
seekers after homes in the community
there will be perfect system in the al
lotment of lands and in the administra'
ton of affairs. The members of the com
munity, however, are very careful not
TO admit persons of doubtful character
or the idle and vicious to membership
They emphasize the fact that there II
, no use for the adventurer, the anarchls
or those seeking something for nothing
All men have to work alike, and d
, each lives up to the conditions demand
ed of him he stands in to make good
y comfortable home in fertile country
, which gives promise of rapid develop
( ment in the near future. AS yet TIT
, country is not opened to railroad traffic
, the nearest town being Montrose, reach
ed by the Denver and Rio Grande rail
road. and from which teams freight II
Pinon once week
This altruistic colony, it is under
stood, manages its affairs for the goo'
of all. There are no private enterprises
Each member upon entering, states III
particular preference in the matter Q
occupation, and he is then put to wor
: at the trade for which he is most suited
, There are no definite or binding term
J entered upon by the novitiate desirln
; entrance into the community. he ca
l leave it when he pleases, and he Away
3 retains the right to the lands acquired
| In case any memDeI ueshoS W si"H'A>
l his lands to others he will find himsel
somewhat hampered by certain restri'
tiops of the company, but in general tn
S administration Of affairs is such tina
Q after he once joins there are few reason
: for severing connection with the com
munity.
The original mem bers of the colony
numbering about 90, founded simila
4, COLONY in Mexico about five years ag'
= hut on account of the laws OF that ooui
y try and the superior advantages ofere
- nv residence in the United States the
removed to Colorado and settled on tn
. tract of land, which had been govern
. ment reservation for the Ute lndial
prior to their removal to Utah. MIL
y ID. Bowen. we'll known freethink'
q of Washington, formed the colony.
Women are by no means ruled out
this colony. They are entitled to no
land in their own name and take as II
e portant part in the administration
affairs as the men. That it will pro
nrofitable TO students of political econ
nv can hardly be doubted, so that ev.
II Messrs. Julihn and Kent do not q
eide to settle down and become rano
"a oo,v nunchers of the far we