ABSTRACT
In 1914 five socialists from Los Angeles chose to celebrate May 1 in an original way: on that morning they set out to establish a model communitarian settlement. The initial step was to gather a group of socialist activists who, like him, were disappointed by the results of their political achievements. The starting steps were taken when the symbolic cornerstone was laid on May 1. Early in 1915 the company numbered 300, 150 of which were members in the new colony Llano de Rio. Llano's development from its inception was characterized by a trend to establish a mixed economy. Life on Llano included a variety of social and cultural activities. Relations between Llano and the Socialist Party of California were complicated and ambivalent. The new board stopped the purchase of new land units and concentrated on reconstructing the Llano economy in Louisiana by introducing more efficient work methods.
