Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-14
Siberia and Its Resources
From the Daily Commerce Reports

A portion of the report of the subcommittee
on markets and supplies OF the Canadian
economic commission in Siberia is here pre-
sented:
Concluded from Saturday,
The population of Siberia has been various
the Russian Year Book give the population OF
the three divisions of Siberia on January /,
1918: Western Siberia, 7.533,0O0 central ST.
IBERIA, l46l 800; eastern Siberia, 100000; to-
tai, l07l4300. 1t will thus be seen that of the
total population of Siberia, approximately 70
per cent are settled on the agricultural lands of
western Siberia.
To the foregoing figures must be added con-
siderable immigration from European Russia.
greatly augmented since the outbreak of the
war by the stream Of refugees driven from their
homes by foreign invader or revolution. The
population of many of the towns of Siberia has
been more than doubled in the last few years.
The total population of Siberia at the present
time must be in the neighborhood of 100000
people
The bulk of the population of Siberia con-
sists Of peasants who are engaged chiefly in
the raising of cereal crops, but who also keep
cattle, horses and other stock. The proportion
of peasants to the rest of the population is said
to be over FIVE to two This fact must be borne
in mind i'll connection with the supply of mcr
chandise to Siberia. The demand is chiefly
for goods adaptable to the requirements of
peasants There is also limited trade in arti-
Giles for consumption among the population of
membered that the general standard of cviliza-
ton is not so high as in Canada, while the pur
chasing power of the people is limited
Prior to the war, the area of land under cul
tivation in Siberia and Central Asia was re-
turned at 100000 acres. The following table
shows the acreage and yield of the principal
crops of Siberia and Central Asia in 1918:
Acres. Yield.
Wheat, barley, rye, bu. .26.617.s37 31o,oOo74o
Oats bushels ......... 7471,234 7S,302,025
Potatoes. bushels S41,741 s2,16s,660
Cotton, pounds 1O6S,s0s 209,013,4s6
Total. ............. 35,799,620 .........
By far the larger portion of the foregoing
area under grain must be credited to Siberia
1t is stated that for the coming year 100000
acres will be placed in cereal crops in Siberia
Dairying has become an industry Of great
Importance in western Siberia since the build
ing Of the railway. In 1918 approximately TO-,
900 tons of butter was exported to foreign
countries. The making of cheddar cheese has
been taken up recently with the view to sup
plying the English market. Associated with
these developments may be mentioned the pig
breeding industry, which has already reached
large proportions, and it is expected that bacon
will be an important article of export from
western Siberia.
In addition to agriculture, the great resources
of Siberia in minerals, forests, furs and fisheries
support a large part of the population Mining
is a most important industry throughout ST.
IBERIA. The deposits of gold, silver lead, zinc
and copper have been energeticaly developed,
mainly with British capital in the Ural noun
tains, the Kirghiz steppes, and the Altai noun
tains and in central and eastern Siberia. Placer
mining is carried on throughout central and
Siberia, the fields of the Lena river and
the Amur district being especially important
Coal is found in various parts of the coun-
try and the rise in the price of wood has led
to the exploitation of the mid-Siberian fields.
Rich coal beds exist on the island of Sakhalin
and along the Pacific coast. Deposits Of iron
ore are found near coal fields in the noun
famous districts, but are waiting proper trans
portaton facilities for their profitable exploita-
ton.
The great forest resources of Siberia have
been exploited to only very small extent. The
development of the timber industry is essential
for the future, if the normal trade of the coun-
try is to be restored. 1t is estimated that there
are 8l0000000 acres of timber land in Asiatic
Russia. two-thirds of which are accessible for
purposes.