*TO WORKERS, CRAFTSMEN, OFFICIALS,

AND TO THE PROLETARIAN COMMUNITY OF THE STATION

OF THE VLADIKAVKAZ RAILWAY

January 20, 1921

Dear Comrades!

Through the comrades Lavrik, Malikov, and Bykov—whom you dispatched—I was delighted to learn how you organized the delivery of a gift to the working people of Moscow. In accordance with the mandate of your general assembly, I received from your delegates Invoice No. 243 for the cargo you sent: 2,002 poods of wheat, 1,869 poods and 29 pounds of barley, and 35 poods of flour—as well as a detailed written report on how, in the spirit of the Saturday workdays, you undertook the procurement of salt, on your Saturday workdays in general, and on your cultural and educational activities.

The directive that the cargo—which had become stranded en route not through any fault of the comrades you sent—be delivered to the address of the People’s Commissariat for Trade has been issued, and all the foodstuffs you sent will be forwarded to the workers of Moscow.

I recommend that you devote greater attention to cultural and educational work, as well as to school affairs. I am hopeful that you will succeed in overcoming any difficulties that arise, through united, cooperative efforts.

I was particularly intrigued by the communist agricultural enterprise you have established. At present, one of the Republic’s primary tasks is the development and revitalization of agriculture. I was pleased to hear that this year you have managed to bring 2,200 desyatins under cultivation and to allocate 25 desyatins to vegetable gardens. You must ensure that your agricultural operations are properly organized, in accordance with the principles of agronomic science; to this end, I advise you to enlist the expertise of a knowledgeable agronomist.*

In particular, I urge you to structure your communal work in such a way as to assist the surrounding peasants and to maintain the best possible relations with them. Without this—and without genuine, practical, economic success—I have little faith in communes, and I even harbor a certain degree of apprehension about them.

I send you all my comradely greetings.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

I deeply regret that I was unable to receive you in person and was therefore compelled to request an audience with Comrade N. P. Gorbunov.

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