OF THE COMMUNIST CELL AT PROLETARSKAYA STATION

OF THE VLADIKAVKAZ RAILWAY

January 20, 1921

Dear Comrades!

Through your comrades Lavrik, Malikov, and Bykov, whom you sent as delegates, I learned with great pleasure how you have organized the sending of a gift to the working people of the city of Moscow. In accordance with the mandate of your general assembly, I received from your delegates invoice No. 243 for the cargo you sent — 2002 poods of wheat,

TO THE WORKERS, CRAFTSMEN, AND EMPLOYEES OF PROLETARSKAYA STATION

1869 poods and 29 pounds of barley and 35 poods of flour, as well as a written detailed report on how you, in the manner of a subbotnik, carried out the procurement of salt, about your subbotniks in general, and about your cultural and educational work.

I have issued an order that the cargo, which became stuck en route through no fault of the comrades you sent, shall be delivered to the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, and all the provisions you have sent will be transferred for the workers of the city of Moscow.

I recommend that you devote greater attention to cultural, educational, and school work. All the difficulties that arise for you, I hope, you will manage to eliminate through joint, collective efforts.

What particularly interested me was the communist agricultural commune you have opened. At present, one of the principal tasks facing the Republic is the development and advancement of agriculture. I was pleased to learn that this year you will be able to cultivate 2200 desyatinas for plowing and 25 desyatinas for vegetable gardens. You must take care that your agricultural work is organized correctly, as agronomic science teaches, for which reason I advise you to attract a knowledgeable agronomist to your enterprise.

I especially ask that you conduct the work in the commune in such a way as to help the neighboring peasants and maintain the best relations with them. Without this and without practical, businesslike, and economic success, I have little faith in communes and am even somewhat afraid of them.

I send you all my comradely greetings.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

I very much regret that I could not receive you personally and had to ask comrade N. P. Gorbunov to receive you.

First published

January 21, 1927 in the newspaper "Molot" (Rostov-on-Don) No. 1641

Printed from a typewritten text, supplemented and signed by V. I. Lenin