Evening star., 1901-10-16
RUSSIA FEARS FAMINE
Decrease in Grain Crops May Prove
Disastrous.
MANY PROVINCES THREATENED
Plans of Ministry and Provincial
Authorities for Relief.
STATE FUNDS ARE LIMITED

Late bulletins from the Russian min
ister Of finance indicate that the cereal
crops of the present season will fall even
below the estimates made unofficially sew
eral months ago. According to the official
dispatches the total wheat output VIII
reach about 391 .221 600 bushels of sixty
pounds against an average of 415. 96,OO0
bushels for the years 1S95-99. while the crop
of last year reached an aggregate of 422, $685.,
900 bushels In rye the output is expected
to fall from $40, ,132, 900 bushels of fifty
six pounds In 1890 to 709, 1857 bushels, and
In oats from 500, sos 900 bushels Of thirty
two pounds in 1900 to 1856. 10000 bushels.
These figures are accepted by students of
European crop statistics as forecasting an
other and very serious Russian famine.
Out Of the whole number Of provinces in
Russia in Europe-more than seventy-only
two are believed to have a fair prospect
of good harvests. In all the others the
cereal product Is viewed officially as in
sufficient" a phrase which past expert
ence has associated with the most dis
treSsing consequences. In wheat the fall
ing off Is q, SIS 600 bushels in comparison
with the average for the past five years
and 31,172 600 bushels in comparison with
the harvest of 1890. The aggregate output
of rye falls short 210.T75, 600 bushels from
comparison indicates a decrease of 81 ,5S5,-
600 bushels.
In certain portions Of Russia in Europe
these figures indicate almost an entire fail
ure of the cereal harvest Everywhere the
price of grain products must advance be-
yond the means of any save the merchant
and more extensive land-owning classes.
The result, unless all the calculation
based on the latest report of the ministry
of finance shall fail, will almost certainly
be a famine in a district three times the
size of France and nearly as populous as
the United States
Two enormous trunk lines constructed
with more regard for their availability in
military exigencles than for their COM
mercial value constitute almost the only
means of access to the vast numbers of
peasants certain to be affected by the fail
ure of the harvest. Even were the means
available, therefore, the distribution Of
food supplies 10 relieve the sufferers during
the coming winter would be an undertake
ing of almost hopeless character. Russian
roads are almost the worst in the world.
A days travel eXhausts the strongest
horses. 1t is almost Impossible. therefore,
to reach distant districts of Russia with
any approach to regularity. and decidedly
impossible to convey to their residents any
substantial relief when their sufferings re-
qu1re the transportation of large quantities
of supplies.
Movements for Relief.
Several movements have been already un
dertaken to mitigate the horrors of the
winter famine. The government is to pro-
vide $4,000 pools Of rye for each Of several
provinces and provide labor by means of
public works, particularly in improving the
roadways of the famine-stricken districts.
new law requires peasants to contribute
four pools of rye or 2.16 roubles annually
per person to the famine fund and part of
this tax has been collected. 1t has, how
ever, produced the most bitter opposition.
of Oural districts
recently transmitted to the minister of fin
ance asking that the tax be remitted and
that the government cover the loss it would
thus sustain by increasing the selling price
of vodka (spirits), of which it controls
monopoly. The ministry of railways has
decided to contribute to the relief work by
fastening the surveys and estimates for
the ST. Petersburg-V Vologda-Zedlitz rail-
ways, SO that a portion of the population
Of the provinces traversed may be employ
ed in clearing the right of way, collecting
stone and preparing ties and other mater
ials. Branch lines, already surveyed and
mapped, are to be constructed as follows:
By the Moscow-kazan company, line from
Moscow to Kyshtyn; by the Riasan-Oural
company, a lire from komyshn to Astra
kan, along the left bank Of the Volga; by
the Vladikavkas company, portion of the
so-called Black Sea-Caucasus line, to begin
near Yekaterinodar. pass Sochi and Suk
hum, and connect with the tranS-CaucaSus
line at Poti.
Russian Press Apprehenstve.
From the comment of the Russian press,
as indicated by recent cable dispatches
from ST. Petersburg. these preparations will
fall far short Of effectually relieving the
situation. The St. Petersburg Viedomosti,
for example. makes the following reference
to the conditions in the province of Viatka:
THE extraordinary session of the Viatka
provincial assembly (zemstvo) closed Sep
tember 2. 1t met to debate measures
against the evils resulting from crop fail
ure. The report to the Zemstvo described
the misfortune that has oyertaken the prov
ince as colossal and comparable only to the
bad years 1891 and 1898. The crop failure
embraces every district and all grains and
grasses.
'"The Indispensable requirement Of the
province is 105.0o0,000 pools Of grain and
fodder annually. and the harvest this year
mum. OF $40 districts, 15S, with a popula-
tion of 1,5G6.0OO, are in desperate straits.
The zemstvo voted $4,000 roubles and or
dered a detailed inquiry into the condition
of all localities as basis for loan"
All the provincial assemblies and govern
ors of provinces which have had bad crops
are said to be considering the plans to pro-
vide labor by means of public works. In
many districts this will be impossible be-
cause of the lack of funds. and the condi-
ton Of the district treasures cannot be
much improved until better harvests shall
enable the peasants to pay their regular
taxes. During the past season numbers
of the landowners We're forced to sell their
horses because CT lack of fodder. This
stringency has increased by 16 per cent the
number of landowners who have let their
holdings and become hired laborers.
No Aid From Siberia.
Siberia. the Caucasus and the other extra
European provinces of the Russian state
| will escape the dreadful consequences of the
| famine but cannot be relied upon to fur
nish the sufferers any considerable aid. In
! Siberia the transcontinental railway has
| opened way for the development Of vast
mineral and agricultural resources, but the
| agricultural product of that territory is
now less than the residents themselves re-
! quire. The Caucasus exports grain and veg
| etable products, but not in sufficient guam
| titles to afford relief to Russia if the entire
Caucasus production should be diverted to
| Moscow. Both districts are dependent on
| other markets for food supplies, however,
| anc must exchange their own surplus for
| commodities needed at home.
The problem is believed to be the more
| difficult of solution because Of the present
| embarrassment of the Russian treasury
| For the first time since 1887, il is reported
the Russian minister OF finance has en-
| countered difficulty In finding foreign buy