New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04
Russia undermining
Rural Population
In Volga District
Soviet Government Is Estab-
fishing Schools for Adult
llliterates and for In
strucsion in Agriculture

MOSCOW, June 1.-THE condition of
the rural population is excellent in the
Volga district, owing to the fact that
much which was formerly sold is now
consumed, as money is valueless, the
peasants being unable to purchase agri-
cultural implements, seeds, clothing and
other manufactured articles.
This was CLEANED by the Associated |
Press correspondent who visited the |
towns of Niini-Novgorod. Simbirsk
Samara and Saratof while on tour
with the English labor delegation to
Nolga recently.
There is an abundance of fresh eggs.
butter and milk in most villages, and IN
one town which was visited there were
1000 head of cattle for population
of 5000
The system of land tenure varies, but
in the majority Of the villages the
peasants are the actual owners Of the
land, which has been distributed since
the revolution in equal shares for all
adult inhabitants.
The governments acquisitions arc
meeting with some opposition, but the
peasants are permitted to retain thirty
two pools 1,154 pounds) of flour per
capita as a yearly ration and must de-
liver up 100 liters (120 quarts) of milk
per cow and ten eggs per hen per year.
Many of the villages are being organ
ized on q commune basis, notably in the
self governing German commune, with
the capital at Marxstadt The popula-
ton of the German community is 6oO,-
GOO, all Of whom speak purt German
after an ,.bscncc of $50 years from their
native country.
Party Lines Existent
The local government of Marxstadt
we'll nod with
tails, social service, admirable adminis-
tratlve offices and number Of small
industries such as leather tanneries,
flour mills and turning shops. The Ger
mans have formed and sent to the front
several regiments of infantry and cav
airy, commanded by their own officers
Politically, the villages have been only
slightly touched by the revolution,
party lines are practically non-cxist-
ent, and the government seldom inter-
feres with the present situation owing
to the redistribution of land, which has
deprived them OF part Of their holdings
and which is making the poorer peas
ants better off than they ever were
before.
Evidences of the governments efforts
to modernize the rural population ap-
pear on every hand by the establishment
Of schools for adult illiterates, libraries.
Icau!nS rooms ana instruction IN inc
new methods Of agriculture.
The food situation in the towns is
fairly good, though the lack of salt,
meat and fats is evident, but the sys-
tenn Of food distribution is effective,
with the speculative prices one third
to ore-tenth less than those in Moscow.
Flour Industry Reviving
The metal works at MIMI ovgorod
are operating with a force of 1880,
turning out war material, while the
-four mill, canning factory and several
ether industries are also being car
red on.
The towns Of Simbirsk and Samara
are still suffering from the effects of
C2echo-S lovakian occupation under
which the boys under military age
were conscripted for service in Siberia.
According to Sverdrotf, the assistant
commifsar of transportation, the re-
sunpta IN Of the river traffic to Vega
viii enormously incrcas" the supply Of
industrial fuel. 1t il estimated that
120, 100000 pools (of 1907 pounds) of
Baku oil win be delivered during the
present season. but already 400, 900
pcods Of oil has been received in Mimi
NOVgOrOd.