Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-30
FAMINE IS RUSSIA
 DUE TO LACK 0F
 FRANSPORTAT
Surplus in Western Siberia
 and Other. Parts.

transportation, not lack of food, is ] responsible for the famine conditions i in Russian cities and towns, accord ing to Leslie 'Urguhart, capitalist with large metallurgical and mining l interests in Siberia. Mr.. Unquhart, I who recently returned from Russia, has been appointed by the British l government to assist in the revival of Siberia's economic life. ate
 l Considering the depreciation of the ruble, he told representative of The Associated Press, food prices in Si-s beria, are practically normal. In Wes- tern Siberia, he said, there is so much food on hand that considerable sur tplus could be sent into other parts of Russia, and the same applies, he un- derstood, to Southeastern Russia and to the Ukraine.
 Broadly speaking, it can be said that in the country as whole there is no shortage of food, and although the large towns of north and central l Russia are starving there is plenty of food in the villages. The difficulty of transport, due to the disorganiza- tion of the railways, the industrial strikes and risings which brought about the flooding of the Donetz coal mines. and the decrease in the supply of fuel to less than 25 percent of nor mai production, civil war in the coun- try and economic chaos generally are all reasons for the state bordering on famine in the towns.
 "Ekisbastous, the greatest wheat producing province in Siberia, with large stocks of wheat lying less than 100 miles away, is living from hand to mouth as it is practically impos- sible to transport the wheat for lack of strap iron with which to make tires for wagon wheels.
 ] Increase Wages.
 "The continual increase in wages in the industrial and manufacturing towns has raised the cost of iron. steel, clothing, boots and Other essen tials of everything indeed that the peasant wears and uses-and the peasant represents 85 percent of the population of the country-to 20 and even 50 times their normal value. The town workers or 15, percent of the population, however, would not per- init the Soviet government to raise the maximum prices lived for food. This one-sided legislation not unnar- urally the peasant. While he had to pay 20 and 50 times the normal price for all essential commodities produc- ed by the industrial workers in the towns, he received only about double the normal pre-war price for the pro- duce of his own labor.
 i Therefore, the peasant sits tight on his grain. He refuses to sell wheat to the Bolsheviki at the requisition price of l 1-2 cents pound when he can sell 1t 96 cents pound or even more. When it can be got, bread to- day in Petrograd Or Moscow is 16 rubles or more pound. The peasant is willing to barter his food for cloth, steel, textiles and other necessities, but the industrial workers have ruin ed industry. Nothing is being produc- ed, there is nothing to barter with. The peasants have large accumula- tions of paper money, but this is of no value for they can buy nothing with it. Meanwhile the peasant are hoard ing their produce.
 "In sense then the peasant is master of the situation. He has the food, the townspeople have not. The Bolsheviki have tried with varying success to take wheat and other pro duce by force to feed the proletariate of the towns, but neither the Ger mans in the Ukraine, as they have found to their cost, nor the workmen in the town can get food from the Russian peasant if he does not choose to let them have it."
 Since the foregoing statement was made, it has been announced that the Allied nations have made arrange ments to take over the operation of the trans-Siberian an dChinese East ern railways with John F. Stevens. the American engineer, in charge of their operation.
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