The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-08
Russia Poor Picking

German newspapers are not optimistic as to
the prospects Of receiving large supplies OF food
countries is resumed. A well-informed account
OF the last Russian harvest recently published
in the Norddeutsche Algemeine Zeitung esti-
mates that the crops of European Russia and
Western Siberia the present year, plus the re-
serves carried from last year, total about
10 per cent, under the normal requirements for
home consumption.
Opinion varies as to the amount of land that
has gone out Of cultivation in Russia during the
war. Some American observers believe that the
uncertainty as to land titles caused by the rev.
dictionary program Of confiscation has resulted
in many fields lying idle Germans estimate that
the decline in cultivation probably does not ex-
coed that in Germany itself. where about 10 per
cent Of the land under crops in time Of peace is
no longer titled.
The amount Of grain passing through Rybinsk,
which is the great transfer point from the canals
and rivers of Southern Russia to the railway
81 900 900 bushels in 1915 to 100000 bushels in
1917. Grain transport has been disorganized
further by the practice Of local authorities in
Communicating grain in transit ~
Peasant life was further disorganized by the
resumption Of vodka distilling when the author
ity of the cars government disappeared. The
period Of enforced abstinence seems to have been
followed by extraordinary excesses Peasants,
who were not able to barter their grain for art
icles of immediate necessity, such as clothing and
iron ware, took 1t to the nearest disttlery to be
converted into spirits for home consumption.
ence in other directions. Several great iron
works in Southern Russia were forced to close
down last autumn from lack of cars to haul
coal. and thousands of workers were thrown out
of employment, because the cars were monopo-
lized during the sugar season in hauling naolasses
from the beet mills to the distilIeries. The rea-
son that the distilleries got the was because
they able to offer higher brides to the rail
way authorities than were the iron works.
With regard to the money situation, Russia's
public debt up to last September was about
SIG 600 900 900, Of which over $12 100000 900 had
been contracted during the war. Up to that
date the war had cost approximately $22 700, 00O,
600. The difference between the war indebted
ness and war expenditures had been made good
by the issue of paper currency. Since the revolu-
tionary government at least during the latter
part OF 1917, received practically nothing from
loans and relatively little from general taxes,
paper initiation continued at tremendous rate;
and it is estimated that $4,000 100000 rubles OF
unredeemable and almost worthless currency are
now In circulation At latest reports the rube
when accepted at all was worth about one
tenth OF its normal value. The Russian gold re-
serve, which at one time was absolutely the
largest in the world, has been shrinking rapidly.
and it's amount and Its whereabouts at the
present time problematical
German trade with Russia under the circUm-
stances must be limited In amount and virtual
Nv. upon a barter basis Al committee Of the Buda-
pest chamber OF commerce sent into Russia as
soon as a truce was made to investigate trade
opportunities returned with report that the
districts visited we're devoid alike OF provisions
raw materials and manufactures. Probably some
stores OF grain remain In the hands of the peas
ants who have held them tenaciously III spite OF
the attempts Of the imperial and the socialist