South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-04
SAYS CONDITIONS
ARE IMPROVING IN
VOLGA DISTRICT
Newspaper Man Finds Album
dance of Food Supplies
In Russian Cities.

MOSCOW. July 3.-The condition
OF the rural population is excellent
IN the Volga district. owing 20 the
fact that much which was formerly
sold is now consumed. as money Is
valueless. the peasants being unable
TO purchase agricultural implements.
seeds. clothing and other manufac-
tured articles.
This was cleaned by the CORES
pendent who visited the towns OF
NijninOvgOrod. Simbirsk. Samara and
SaratOn. while on a tour with the
English labor delegation 20 Volga
recently.
There is an abundance OF fresh
eggs. butter and milk In most VII
lages and IN one town. which was
visited. there was 1000 head of
cattle for population Of 5000.
System Varies.
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 dis
equal shares for each adult in
labitant
The governments acquisitions are
meeting with some opposition but
the peasants are permitted 10 re-
tain 81 pools G,154 pOunds) Of
flour per capita as a yearly ration
and must deliver up 100 liters (120
quarts) OF milk per COW and 10
eggs per hen per yea:.
Many Of the villages are being or
Eanized on a commune basis. notably
in the self-gOerning German COM
mune. with the capital at Marx
stadt. The population OF the Ger
man community is 500. 600. all Of
whom speak pure German after an
absence OF $50 years from their
native country.
The local government OF Marx
stadt is we'll organized with schools,
hospitals, social service. admirable
administrative Offices. and a number
OF small industries such as leather
factories. -four mills and turning
shops. The Germans have formed
and sent 10 the front several regi-
Inents OF infantry and cavalry. com
manded by their own officers.
No Politics.
Politically the villages have been
only slightly touched by the revo-
luton, party lines are practically
non existent, and the government
seldom interferes in its local mat
ters The rich peasants are dis
contented with the present situa-
ton owing 10 the redistribution Of
land which has deprived them of
part OF their holdings and which is
making the poorer peasants better
off than they ever were before.
Evidences OF the governments
efforts to modernize the rural pop
OlatiOn appear on every hand by the
establishment OF schools for adult
nliterates. Libraries. reading rooms
and instruction in the 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
system OF food distribution is effec-
tive with the speculative prices one
third 10 one-tenth less than those
IN Moscow.
Metal Works Operates.
The metal works at Nijninovgorod
are operating with a force OF 1900,
who are turning out war material
while the flour mill, canning fac
tory and several other industries
are also being carried on.
The towns OF Simbirsk and Sa-
mara are still suffering from the
effects OF -Slovakian occupa-
ton. under which the boys under
military age have been conscripted
for service in Siberia
According To Sverdroff, the assist
ant commissar OF transportation.
the resumption OF the river traffic
10 VOlga viii enormously increase
the supply OF industrial fuel IL Is
estimated that 12O-oOO.OOo pools
COT 36.O7 pOunds) OF Baku oil Will
be delivered during the present sea
son, but already 100000 pools of
oil has been received in NijninOy-
enrOd