New-York tribune., 1919-05-17
Decentralization of
Railroads BRINGS
Famine in Russia
Anti .Bolshevist Says Condi-
tions Are Better i'm Sibe.
ria and Promises Normal
transportation Soon


sion Mission of Ways and Communica-
tions for the anti-Bolshevik~ govern
ment, who was the principal speaker
at meeting of the New York Railroad
Club last night, told his hearers that
inhabitants of the larger cities in
European Russia are facing starvation
principally because of disorganization
OF the transportation system In ST.
IBERIA, where the anti-Bolshevik ele-
ment IS now in the ascendancy, he said
conditions are rapidly showing i'm
provement, and with the promised loan
OF $2O,O0O,000 to the Trans-Siberian
Railway from the Allied governments
ne predicted that transportation fa-
cilities could be placed on practically
a normal basis.
This loan," said Mr.. Lipetz, "will
help to improve the situation bv SIM
plying materials necessary for the m
keep OF the road, including spare parts
Tor existing equipment and materials
for running the trains"
Disorganized Service
In telling of the disorganization of
the railroads in European Russia. Mr.
Llpetz said that trains run only when
roundhouse can supply a locomotive
ana there Is sufficient coal. On some
ROADS trains are not moving at all. and
on others all ordinary train movement
Is suspended in order to give precc-
dence to trains with food supplies for
the cities. '0i
Inc total number Of locomotives
now in operation is below 1000 on.
or total Of $1,000 in European Rus
sla'" continued Mr.. Lipetz. "In Other
words, 81 per cent of the locomotive
are IN bad order. The locomotive
cannot be overhauled because Of lnc,
OF material and spare parts. The
cannot be replaced by new locomo-
tives. as the locomotive works are
practically at a standstill. Passenrer
cars are so badly worn that very few
OF them are suitable for CARVING nas-
sengers.
The last information that reached
US was to the effect that the Bo]shevil
regime had managed to introduce some
order on the Nicholas Railroad he.
tween Petrograd and Moscow and on
lew other roads, and that there is
now on some roads a regular service
OF one or two gooG passenger trains
daily.
There are no financial problems on
enese railroads. The wages are as
nigh as the workmens committees
are pleased to make them, and the ey-
penses' no matter how large. are
covered by paper money from the state
oank. The result Of this is that Russia.
winch exported yearly about 5000 O00
tons of grain, or IL per cent of it's
total production, now faces general
starvation in the large cities because
OF the disorganization of the trans
portation system.
The situation in Siberia is diff
ferent. The railroads in that section
nave been considerably disorganized
by the Bolsheviki, but about wear
ago the loyal Russian forces drove out
the bolsheviki from the TERRITORY
served by the Trans-Siberian Railway
and the reorganization Of the trans |
portatlon system started at once.
Building New Railroads
rom November, 1918, to the pres
ent time we have sent to Russia nine
complete shiploads and partial shin
ments on other ships. Altogether we
have shipped 43,6oO tons and we have
about 10000 tons waiting for future
shipments. The news we receive from
Siberia indicates a general improve
ment in the situation. New railroads
have been built or are under construc-
ton"
Mr.. Lipetz said that the antt-Bol-
sheviks are developing colonization
plans in Siberia under the supervision
Of special colonization department.
Speaking of the train service, he said
that the once famous weekly Siberia
express Is running again from Chela
oinsk, in the Ural Mountains, to Vladi-
vostok. covering about 4,S00 miles in
nine days. About $50 cars leave Vladi-
vostok daily for the interior of Siberia.
his is even more traffic than before the
war.
Other speakers at last nights meet
ng of the Railroad Club were Philip w.
Henry, vice-president Of the American
international Corporation, who told of
his experiences in the organization of
railroad construction in Bolivia. f.
Yamaguchi, resident representative Of
he Japanese government railways,
,alked on transportation conditions in
Japan.