The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
a1D roPU1rsr ooLoxIsTs.
FORMER CenEreas,s,nn Otis rolls Of the BaiiuFe
or an Experiment IN Colorado.
Nrom the Chicago Record.

From the chicago Record.
TopEKA,.Kan., July 3.-Two years ago, when
tho Populists suffered an overwhelming defeat
In Kansas. a number OF tho leaders OF the party
throughout the State decided TO organize q CO.
operative colony, and thus escape the govern
mental evils Of which they had 30 long COM
planned. The colony was located in the San
Miguel Valley, in the arid region OF Colorado,
and the membership included DR.. S. McLallin,
editor of tho .idrocate: Mrs. Annie /. Diggs, ex-
Congressman John q. Otis, and many other
prominent Populists.
Mr.. Otis was ono of tho most enthusiastic
promoters of the scheme, and went with tho
colonists to engage in tho actual work OF build
ing up n community o.; the cooperative plan.
After an experience of two years he has re-
turned to his Kansas farm with the conviction
that individual work in a fairly productive
country will yield a better return than any
plan of collective farming yet invented. He is
oven convinced that 1t Is an Improvement on
the colonization scheme now contemplated by
Eugene V. Dcbs and his followers.
AT the time l left" says Mr.. Otis. there
were about 100 shareholders, and not more
thTn forty of them were residents at the colony.
COLORADO furnishes most Of the shareholders,
and Kansas comes, next. Tho undertaking ib
q. big one, and involves II vast amount OF labor.
The land Is practically worthless without water,
but when irrigated can be made very fertile.
~ oiuOi I tlkut tiO ltIu u uItt lihS bV rug
for fifteen miles, In n very rocky valley, and
fumes must be built a good share OF the dis
but It'll . in flinty ground, and will have to DO
fumod before It can be used. Until the ditch ~
completed and tho water conveyed to the land
desired to be irrigated nothing can be raised TO
support the. colony. A small patch of land,
which has been ,watered. has been leased for
the purpose of raising vegetables for the colony.
but all other provisions have to be hauled from
the nearest railroad station. sixty miles distant.
II is impossible to make the colony sclf-sustain-
Ing until the ditch IL cOmnlptPd- and this work
has to be kept up by contributions" =,
Mrs; Digs is an industrial lecturer. known all
uel business, Mr.. Otis says:
She has had no particular connection with it
chased a S1oo share for her. But there is moth.
Ing out there that she can do. She deals al
the future. Tho women needed there are those
who can took and n dig, and make the usual rustic
work. Skilled artisans are OF no value.
III Mr.. Debs undertakes TO locate "a colony OF
skilled mechanics, accustomed TO three square
meals a day. comfortable homes, and city lux.
uries, in any OF the Western States, expecting TO
Wi fall in'T Th sst wilF starrs to tF9 dsa the un sltast, pr se
until the, get started. Al they can possibly
may happen to shoot, but even these are scarce.
They country in which our colony was located
~tunitics as is Utah. and Dcbs would have as
many difficulties to contend with in Utah as we
nave mad IN Colorado
Mr.. Otis docs not openly confess that the col.
onists of the San Miguel Valley are going to
give up entirely, but he ntimates that there Is
considerable dissatisfaction
The colonists come and CO." he says; ''some
get discouraged, and there are some determined
ones who stick there right along. There were
frequent complaints as to the management last
year, but / believe it has since been changed.
Is. L. Smith Of Colorado was the manager last
year, but now George b.. Ruggles, formerly
sheriff OF Osborne county, Kansas. is in charge.
Personally, my objection to the colony is on &C.
I rnUnt M Tho Min - 90 aratt IL ts N~~
much. like ayjoint stock company. or co-opera-
Ton for the benefit Of the shareholders, rather
proper system of cooperation. II 100 or 200
men,, capable OF, hard labor and rough living
can be supported for two years by the friends
the way for a settlement, and then with every.
body let in on the same basis, the foundation
Will have been laid for a successful co-opera,
tive colony"