The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-09
Agricultural Siberia and Industrial America. -


organized associations united In one
powerful Union OF the Siberian Cream
cry associations" They did away WITH
the mediation of Denmark and paved
their own way to the English and
German markets.
At present the union includes moro
than 5000 individual cooperative orr.
ganizations of western siberia. In 1917
its business operations amounted~~to
sSl 100000. The headquarters OF The
union is in kurgan. The union il In.
terestipg in it's construction. Its mem-
bers are not ordinary shareholders.
they do not share the funds Of the
union. but participate in the organiza-
ton through their milk cattle and have
no right to sell their milk to outsiders.
Moreover. the members arc responsible
for the deeds of the union to the TX
tent Of all their property.
Peasant OrEsnixatiou. ".e.s
The war has greatly contributed t.
the development of this powerful peas-
ant organization which consists of
more than 100000 farms, In q region
with population of about 3,000, 900 I'm
1914 the Russian government entrust-
ed the union with the total supply az
butter for the Russian army. In 1915
the union delivered 90 per cent Of tho
total quantity of butter produced in
Siberia. 1t also had orders from the
government for meat. bread, lard, hay.
etc. both for the army and the popn-
lation of European Russia.
This handling OF supplies. amounting
to many millions for the government
has helped the union OF the SiharIan
Creamery associations to establish it,
self firmly. Its position In Western
Siberia Is q rather unique one. cape
cially as private property and commerce
have been destroyed during the revofu-
ton. In western Siberia the union has
become almost the exclusive mediator
between the united peasantry on the
sne hand and the Russian manufactur-
ers ON the other.
At present. when industrial Russia Ia
Frustrated and time must pass hefore
the normal conditions will again bs
Established the union of the Stharfai
Creamery associations faces the re-
sponsihie task of establishing CONNER
cial relations between western Siberia
ard foreign countries The population
of siberia needs all kinds OF articles.
knives and agricultural machinery AS
we'll as shoes. cotton and wool fabrics.
II would he desirable, for the hen~ft
of both sides, TO have these relations
established AS soon as possible.
Easy of Access.
Al present siberia can he reached hw
way ~ Niadivostok. ard in the fall
also by way of the Kara sea and 4he
months Of the rivers M, and Enisse,
This relatively easy way of commp#I-
cation with siberia makes Il po@~ihl.
to begin commercial intercourse at
once. ssu.e
The fact that the American manu-
lecturers know about the need OF agri.
CT lturh machinery in Siberia makes
tire task easier We may hope That
the American textile manufacturers
will also soon appreciate the siEntf-
canoe of an ornortunity to enter the
siberian market without any risks and
without impairinE their &c n a MT
strength, despite the fact thai Russia
outside OF Siberia has been shattered.
Such a great cooperative organization
as the uniou Of the Siberian rreameev
associations viii prove valuable conv
meeting link.
In the future other younger and
smal'e ORGANIZATIONS Of siberia may
also play the same role