Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-11
RUSSIA.

The Russian empire was found
some time in the eighth century.
or three years back. the Russian peo-
pic have been working to build their
backward nation up TO the standard.
About the same time our country
serfs, as they were called. were freed.
Russia contains one-half OF the
land area of Europe and Asia com.
the land area Of the world. About
north of st. Petersburg. the climate
is so cold that vegetation win not
is the forest belt. Here is found
some OF the best lumber in the world
for making furniture and other use
ful articles made OF wood.
Now. the southern part OF this
country is found the black earth re-
gion. This land is very rich. Il, pro-
large quantities. This belt is often
spoken Of az the sranary Of Europe.
Russia is an agricultural country.
FLAX and wheat arc the leading cx-
ports. Lands that are not good for
raising crops are used for cattle and
sheep. The wool of the Don Is 4
very coarse textile and used TO manu-
facture carpets.
Most of the land Is owned In large
estates. Individual farming is rare
and the people work on n community
plan.
The methods OF farming are not
the best and the land produces about
one-third as much to the acre as the
United States.
Iron ore Is found in large guam
titles in the Ural Mountains and in
Poland. Mining Is not encouraged
because OF the high tariff. The most
productive fields are those of the
Don River and OF Poland. The out
put of both iron and coal is increas-
ing. Cold is found in Siberia and
the ural Mountains. Copper. plati-
mined.
The petroleum wells are rapidly
producing. The wells are many
along the Caspian Sea. Many people
they will produce more than the
! The past Russian government has
/ done much TO encourage the steel
developing in Industries. She was
| making up-to-date farming ma
! chinery. rails and all kinds OF ma
! chinery up to the worlds war. Large
! bodies of emiSrantS arc transported
| into Siberia. practically free. and
given land free il they cultivate them
! The government has made many
improvements, such as railroads
| ton. tea. wool and coal are the lead
| railroad Covering $4,000 miles Of rail
| road Is the longest railroad in the
l
built railroad. but is the longest
| The principal cities are Petrograd
| Rcga. Moscow. Odesoa and Warsaw
All of these improvements. re-
! sources and other things. all went
TO ruin when the Bolshevists go;
! control OF the government. When tho
1 Russian peasants tried to over
| throw the Bolshivists government
the Bolshevists wrecked everything
I that came their way destroyed
| buildings that can never be rcpia ccd
J and antiquated museums and Other
famous relics are nothing but ruins
| The people are now starving by the
! thousands because Of the govern.
ment overthrow and all the food is
| captured TO supply the Boishevists
! army.
or all these disadvantages Russia
still has grounds for a better and
| more progressive nation. She has
the resources. True. most of. the
| ground is cold. but she has enough
! grains, ores and oils to supply the
| world for long time. If she would
only develop them they would prob
| ably equal those of the United States
| ]. STUART WHITE.