Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-22
PLENTY OF WORK
FOR ALL IN RUSSIA
Wages So High That Increase in
Cost of Living Has
Been Offset.
MUSHROOM FORTUNES MADE
Prohibition of Vodka Has Not
Banished Drunkenness, 1t
Is Declared.
IRv AssncinteLprcss l

Rv Associated Press
STOCkliOl,M, October 2l.--Therc Is
much inevitable hardship i'm Russia a
present or threatening scarcity of many
essential things and Il general and un-
pleasant lack of organization, but
there is also another side to tho pic
ture. Everybody who wants work can
get IL, aud wages are so high that the
tremendous increase in the cost Of liv-
ing has been nearly Offset by them.
Mushroom fortunes are growing up
overnight, ANA tho demand for lux
urics Is so great that il can with diff
Guilty be met.
This is the report made to a CORE
spondent OF the Associated Press by
one of the hcSt-known members of the
American colony in Moscow, who now.
after seven years residence there. is
returning To America. His activities
during that period kept him in touch
with most parts Of the great empire.
and he declared that conditions in
Moscow are typical of what is TO be
found elsewhere, so far AS prosperity
is concerned, but rather worse in mat
ters of housing and transportation.
Moscow had roundly 100000 in
habitants before the war. This num-
her, he believed. had been increased
about 80 per cent. making the popula-
ton 100000. One OF the immediate
results has been such a scarcity of
rentable houses that il is not at all
unusual to And advertisers Offering
bonuses UP to 500 rubles for any one
finding them Il suitable dwelling place.
There are certain restrictions against
increasing rents TO tenants Already in
occupancy, but these restrictions do
not apply TO new renters, and. nat
urally, such persons have To pay high
prices when they do succeed in finding
:. house.
NUMBER or CABS
GREATLY REDUCED
The number Of cabs has been re-
duccd to a fraction OF the ante bcllum
number. and a considerable number of
street cars also has been Withdrawn
from service. Cab prices have in
creased to Il point where many per-
sons formerly addicted 10 the cab habit
have given il w, but without finding
an adequate substitute, the street ears
ton. SO there is nothing TO do but
walk. and Moscow is a city OF impos-
ing distances
The one really serious problem which
the city faces this winter. according to
the informant, is the question of fuel
and liSh;--wood. coal and petroleum
Wood, which cost from 10 10 rublcs
before the war, now costs AS much AS
10 and the supply is most Inadequate.
To he sure, there is wood enough in
tho empire. but transportation facilities
AZ, lacking. Indeed, one OF the most
unfavoraElc thinesIia Russia to-day is.
declared the American, the extreme dis
organization. pr perhaps better, woeful
lack o; organization, of transportation
Of all kinds. Coal and petroleum are
both dear and scarce and the outlook
is not for any immediate betterment.
There is IL great scarcity of lard and
other fats, and the meat supply is
plainly becoming rapidly less. The in
tormant declared that not only have the
herds OF cattle and swine been unduly
reduced by excessive slaughter. but
that great numbers also persisted last
winter. either from cold or hunger, due
to insufficient care. OF foodstuffs of
other sorts, however, there is no lack,
and there can he no question OF any
body going hungry, except the unfor-
tunate Germans and Austrians yet in
the empire, who find great difficulty I'm
getting work, ana whose numbers are
so great and their colonies scattered
over such vast cXpanses of territory
that IL has been impossible to prevent
all distress, even with the best efforts
OF the American diplomatic and con-
sular Offices, who have undertaken the
distribution OF the German and Aus
trian relief funds. lie declared that
talk of Il possible revolution in Russia
was preposterous.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE
UNUSUALLY PROSPEROUS
"The Russian people" he said. never
were so prosperous as they now are,
from the laborer up to the highest
classes The greatest furricr in the
city told me that lre/nevcr had done
such IL business as in the last few
months. New automobiles appear da "
in the streets. and the laborcr is eat
ing more and wearing better clothes
than he ever did
There is great longing for peace
among the civil population, but the
soldiers never were so well fed. we'll
clothed and happy in their lives. They
are now sure that they are winning
and nothing can stop them. and they
are wcll-armed. in striking contrast
TO the first months of the war, when
many had no arms at all"
The prohibition OF vodka, said the
American. by no means banshed drink
ing or drunkenness. The Russians
in Moscow. at least. and in the great
district in which the city lles-are
drinking wood alcohol, and the result
is many deaths. Innings, eases OF
blindness, etc.
ut was asgreat mistake" he con-
tinucd, ito abolish vodka at one blow
without giving the vodka drinking
classes something to take It's place.
Light wines and beers would have pre-
vented the present conditions. The
Moscow beer saloon was. in peace
times, one Of the most orderly resorts
I'm the world. One rarely. or never.
Ill, ,1ra,