Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-10-28
An Open Letter
to Co-operators

Fellow Co-operator:
| wonder how many people realize
what the Llano Colony was organized
for; what it is doing now, and what
they could do to help US attain. our OBJ
ject2
No one could help feeling the
appeal we could make. if we told him
just what it all means; and | know
many of you can, and would, help us,
could you but come here and see US
in action.
First, we are starting at the produc-
ing end OF cooperation, in a country
where the land can be bought at a
very low price, where nearly any kind
Of vegetable and fruit will grow; a
fine stock and dairy country; and
where farming can be done on large
scale. This years crop has been ex-
cellent. and yet we have worked under
great difficulties. At conservative
estimate, we produced $4,000 of
crops this year.
Feeding ourselves is no problem in
this country; and, as cotton can be
grown and sheep raised here with
great success, you can see that, with
small expenditure, we will be in a po-
sition to make all our cotton and WOOL
en- cloth.
We are making brick with up-to-
date machinery, and can make tile;
so, with the large amount of timber
that we own, we can build our own
homes.
Hence. food, clothing, and shelter
are ours for the mere addition of la
Dor.
Our educational and social advan-
tages can readily be imagined, and
will be created and expanded by
people who are working for an ideal.
Second; we are producing our own
living now. This year, we raised
enough feed for our stock and practi-
cally enough for ourselves. With the
sale of our SURPRISES of some articles,
we can buy what we did not raise. We
raised corn, soy beans, sorghum, sweet
potatoes, Irish potatoes, peanuts, SUI
gar cane, and a general garden; also,
some small fruits. We have many
hogs, dairy herd, and good start
in a chicken farm. We have a saw
mill, planning mill, and handle 'machin-
cry installed. We can saw our own
lumber. and will be making all kinds
Of wooden handles and wagons com
plete. We have our own machinery
and equipment in our bakery, shoe
shop, broom factory, steam laundry,
and an up-to-date print shop, which
publishes two papers and does lots of
commercial printing.
We have an evaporating plant that
will handle more than 10000 bushels
OF sweet potatoes at one time.
We have a peanut butter factory
where we can make finished product
of our peanuts.
We are now forced to commercial
lie all our industries in order to pay
for the large tract of land we have
under contract, and to buy some more
modern machinery.
Let me tell you, my. comrade, how
you can help us most; and if you, or
a number of you, will do it, then, in
side of two years, we will have the
happiest and the best community in
America.
We want you. to buy as much of
this land as you can afford to-any-
amount from 10 acres up. IF you
comrades can do this, we will then be
free to turn all our resources to build
ing the cooperative city, clearing the
land, and installing the machines to
tighten the labors of all.
IF you buy this land now at SIS
per acre, and we build up our COM
munity, inside of two years, your land,
Gas a speculation) will double in val
ue: but if you should wish to turn it
back to us and join the Colony, it
will be worth much more than the
money you could get for it.
Now, don't hold back. If you can
afford it, send in your money. We
will give you a clear title to your land
and It is YOURS. free from all encum.