New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-28
Cooperation Has
Reached Its High
Mark i'm Siberia
Even Cooperative Societies
Cooperate, According to
Information Recently Re-
ceived From VladivostOk

Cooperative combinations Of both
producers and consumers have reached
high stage of development in Siberia
There are cooperative consumers so
cieties, banking organizations and
farming and producing combinations,
and even a Union of Siberian Co6pera-
tive Unions
This advance in the cooperative
movement in both Russia and Siberia
is so significant as to indicate that it
may become a dominant factor during
the period of Russian reconstruction,
according to information received here
by the American Russian Chamber of
Commerce from its representatives in
Nladivostok.
More Than 5000 Stores
The Union of Siberian Cooperative
Unions represents 8,262 cooperative
consumers stores, with a total capital
of 100000 rublcs ($3,5OO 0OO). 1t has
agencies in Petrograd, Moscow, Samar-
kand, Hardin and Vladivostok. Besides
supplying its own members with MGR
chandise, which it purchases on their
account, this union is developing indus
trial enterprises for it's members, and
includes factories for the manufacture
of wool, leather, soap. flour and candy.
1T is developing its own fisheries on the
Amur and Obi rivers and operating
steamers and barges.
The extent to which this union has
developed is indicated by the fact that
in 1916 it handled merchandise worth
100000 rubles (S1 100000. In 1917
the turnover of merchandise was worth
$4,000, 900 rubles ($21 $50, 0OO). During
the first four months of 1918 its turn
over of business was 100000 rublcs
81 $50, 00o). These figures include only
the operation of the central union, and
90 not comprise the turnover of the
various local cooperative societies COM
posing tho union.
Another important combination is the
Union of Siberian Creamery Associ-
ations. This is both a producers and
consumers organization. 1t controls
l,4l0 creamery associations and opcr-
atcs l,167 cooperative stores.
Owns Many Factories
This association, according to the in
formation received here has played an
important part in the development Of
the dairy and provision business in
Western Siberia. II is estimated that
It's members produced 60 per cent of
the 100000 tons Of butter which annu-
any were produced IN Siberia before
tho war. It's business has grown from
100000 rublcs (S1,150, OO0) in 1907,
to l60,o00.oO0 rublcs $50, 00O000) in
1917. This organization controls in
addition TO creameries, several steam
flour mills, two printing establishments
and rope and soap factories and cstab-
iishmcnts for repairing agricultural
machinery, dairy machinery and similar
equipment.
The Union Of Siberian Banking Asso-
Citations consists Of twenty eight bank
ing unions, made up Of 1900 loan and
savings associations. 1t plans to act
as purchasing agent for local CO.
operative socictios in obtaining farm
ing implements for the peasants. This
banking association is reported to be
especially interested n he develop
ment OF business relations with the
United States
It is pointed out by the American
Russian Chamber of Commerce that
American business houses should be
interested in tho development of the
cooperative movement in Russia and in
developing close relationships with
"these important economic and com
mcrcinl organizations"