e structures were built of Solaris brick, with cut stone foundations;
the ornamental brick used in the fronts were especially designed for the
purpose and proved wonderfully effective. In every particular the
buildings were a credit to the company, being beautifully planned,
skillfully constructed, and located with due regard for architectural
effect. From the preparation of the stone, the making of the brick, lime
and mortar, to the final completion of the buildings, including the
making and laying of the sewer pipes, nineteen-twentieths of the total
cost was represented by the labor of the co-operators. Of course they
were led and taught by a few skilled workmen, directed by Fillmore
Flagg, who had prepared the plans. The remarkable success achieved,
proved a good lesson in the economics of co-operation, of the utmost
significance and value; a lesson which filled the hearts of the members
of the company with pride and joy, riveted and clinched their devotion
to the model farm and opened their eyes to the possibilities of the
future.

Having finished this first series of buildings for immediate use,
attention was given to the matter of improving the appearance of the
public square. In the center of the broad, smooth green, stood the tall,
straight flag-pole; from its top floated the stars and stripes. Eastward
from the foot of the flag-staff, and slightly raised above the grassy
surface of the smoothly shaven lawn, was spread a living flag in true
colors, red, white and blue. This flag was of magnificent proportions,
twenty-five feet in width by fifty feet in length, and presented such an
effective appearance that it soon became the pride and delight of the
farm children, an object of never failing interest, a beautiful living
motto which expressed their appreciation of patriotism.

While the building operations were being pushed forward, a carefully
selected force of workers had been equally busy in making numerous
agricultural improvements. Two thousand acres of virgin soil had been
broken up and prepared for planting. One hundred acres of the best of
this newly upturned soil, so clean and free from weeds, had been planted
with a well selected series of vegetables, capable of producing a
remunerative crop of assorted garden seeds. The series included all of
the best known varieties with the addition of several new ones. As a
result of skillful culture and favorable conditions, a great many tons
of choice seeds had b