The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-05
RUSSIA TO HAND
HER MINESOVER
TO AMERICANS
Decision Reached by Conn.,
mission of Ministry
of Trade.
SCHEME IS ECONOMIC
Stevens Asks U. 8. to Extend
1876, 100000 Credit for
Railroads.

PETRooRAp, July AT a special meet
ing the Mining Commission of the Min
istry Of Trade has decided to recon-
mend the transfer of a great part OF
the empires mines and other mineral
deposits to American hands. The COM
mission has decided to speed UP it's pro-
ceedings in order to reach a decision
during the stay OF Elihu Root, head of
the American mission, and also in view
Of the impending departure to America
OF Russian mining experts who will join
the party Of Ambassador Bakhmetieff.
NJ. Maliavkin, director Of the Mining
Department. propounded a scheme to the
commission to offer American capital
lists the Island Of Sakhalien. of the east
ern coast of Siberia. for working petro-
leum and coal deposits, and also to offer
for the same purposes several districts
of Siberia, He also recommended the
transfer to American hands of the gold
mines In tho Altai Mountains, tho cop
per mines in the Caucasus and the rail-
roads In the Ural Mountains
In support of the plan to transfer
the Island of Sakkalien Director Maliav-
KIN argued that 1t would counterbalance
Japanese influence on the island, but in
sisted that Americans must recognize
the continued close connection OF the
island with Russia.
omciRI supports Plan.
NJ. Paltchinski, Assistant Minister Of
Trade, announced his support of the
plan, declaring II was dictated by To-
litical wisdom and necessity and fur
ther recommended by the fact that
Americas work would not be political
but purely economical.
The commission resolved to recon-
mend the plan OF NJ. Maliavkin on con-
dition that American capitalists under
take to employ Russian laborers and
technical experts as far as possible.
NJ. Stephanoff. temporary Minister Of
Trade and Industry, received John r.
Stevens and the other members of the
American Railroad Commission to-day
to discuss the best methods by which
America may assist Russia Mr.. Stevens
inquired about the present system of
supplying the army and the civilian
population and NJ. Paltchnski gave a
detailed description OF II. Members Of
the American commission expressed sat
promised energetic cooperation in i'm
proving the system OF supply.
The Stevens commission issued to-day
to the Russian public a report of the
result OF its inspection of the Russian
railroads, together with recommended
tions for reforms.
The report begins with the aclnowl-
edgment that the commission has re-
ceived the full sympathy and support of
its Russian colleagues. It declares that
Russian railroads have excellent techni-
cal personnel and that many roads have
q good practical system of management.
the extension of which to other roads is
desirable.
The commission finds II necessary to
recommend certain reforms in regard TO
material and management, which al
ready have been successfully tried in
America. The first necessary reform
affects the traffic system and involves
the employment OF more powerful loco
motives and of freight cars OF larger
carrying capacity.
workshops for LOGON otives.
Construction of workshops at Vladl-
vostok for the putting together OF loco
motives imported from the United States
is deemed necessary by the commission
In all repair shops work must continue
uninterruptedly twenty-four hours a
day, thus enabling a reduction in the
| percentage of locomotives out of use
1t also will be necessary to take radical
| measures for the acceleration and ex-
| change of cars between the different
roads and for the speeding up of the
system of loading.
Creation OF a special State depart.
ment the chief OF which will be an
inspector-general responsible for seeing
that the whole network of roads is sup
piled with necessary material both for
| traffic and repairs and also for the re-
| sponsIble distribution OF such material
between the different roads is recon-
mended by the commission. This official
must have the right to demand the
necessary material and he himself must
take measures to insure its delivery.
The most immediate problem, the re.
port goes on, is to bring the railroads
| into a condition which will insure AT
adequate system of supply for the army
! and civilian population. Therefore It is
| essential to increase the available mum.
ber of locomotives and freight cars. Or
this point the commission met with full
agreement from the Russian experts.
Chairman Stevens Immediately sent O
| cablegrem to Washington requesting
that the construction of locomotives and
cars be undertaken at once, The order
It is said, will require the increase Of
Americas credit to Russia by $50, 900,
900 rubles. In giving this order the
commission says 1t was guided not by
commercial considerations but solely by
the desire to afford Russia all possible
support in the common cause