The New York herald., 1921-08-03
CONDITION OF RUSSIA
REVEALEDBY HOOVER
Reports Show Complete
Economic Collapse in
Most Sections.
FOOD is SWEPT AWAY
Soviet Confiscatory Meth
DDS Destroy Incentive
to Produce.
BROWN ON WAY TO RIGA
U. S. Gets Confirmation of
Promise to Release All Amer
lean Prisoners.
Special Despatch TO THE NEw YoRK HEsALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C.. Aug. 9.


Washington, ID. C.. Aug. Q.
Complete economic collapse of Rus
sia. her fertile lands almost barren OF
food products because Soviet con-
fiscatory methods have destroyed the
incentive to produce, and her railways
crippled and stagnant, was the picture
painted tonight by Secretary of Com
merce Hoover in a statement review
ing Russia's present condition from an
industrial and agricultural viewpoint.
Russia's decadence. Mr.. Hoover said,
probably has no parallel in modern
ures, based on reports made public for
the first time, tending to show Russia's
utter helplessness in the face Of famine
and disease which threaten to take toll
of many millions of lives.
Secretary Hoovers plan TO set the
machinery Of the American relief ad-
ninistration in motion is beng held In
abeyance pending the arrival at Riga
OF Walter Brown. European director of
the relief administration and discussions
with the Soviet representa- tives as to the
terms Mr.. Hoover has laid down.
Acceptance Confirmed.
At the State Department to-day 1t was
announced that confirmation had come
Of the Soviet Governments acceptance
of the proposal for the release OF Amer
lean prisoners.
Mr Hoover in his statement tonight
says:
''The most acute famine area covers
the Volga Valley from the Caspian Sea
northward. The drought in this area
would not be of such fatal character
but for the general decadence of agri-
culture. the reduction OF surplus stocks
In other sections and in the decay OF
Transportation, rendering most difficult
the movement of such local surpluses
as do still exist. Examples Of reports
from the drought area show the province
Of Samara sowing this spring only %
per cent OF the acreage cultivated last
year.
"In the province OF Kazan $4,000
acres usually cultivated were not sown
al all To the west of the Volga Valley
less than so per cent. OF the arabic ter
ritory In the province of Orel was sown
and in the province of Tula only 20 to
35 per cent. OF the necessary seed Tor
sowing was available.
"Over and above such local situations
there has been a steady decline In agri-
cultural production ever since the revo-
luton owing to the lack of incentive 70
farmers TO provide more than their own
needs. to the shortage OF seed and short
age OF implements. Russia before even
Ia ct wears harvest had declined from q
state OF producing from 100000 to
10 0OO. 900 tons OF food for export TO
condition where there was such an IN
sufficient supply Of food for the cities
that the urban population has been re-
duced by about one-haf.
Taxes show Big shrinkaEe.
IAN indication Of diminished grain
crops in 1921 is offered by the quanti-
ties estimated to be requisitioned as
taxes by the Soviet Government The
total amount for all Soviet Russia ex-
cept the Ukraine and Turkestan Is -
SEQ. 900 tons OF grain as against 1914
600 tons in 1920. The potatoes esti-
mated to be requisitioned this year
amount 10 los0,000 tons as compared
with 2,0ls.o00 tons In 1920 2i6,OO0 tons
OF oil seeds are to be requisitioned In
stead OF 432, 900 tons In 1920. The num-
ber OF provinces where any surplus Is
indicated for removal to other provinces
appears to have decreased from over
twenty prewar TO not more than four.
saThere has been such deterioration OF
TRANSFORMATION that there Is doubt as TO
ability to move the local surprises that
do exist in the richer grain producing
provinces in Siberia and the south TO
those areas which normally depend up
on them. The north Russian shortage
ia due not so much to local famine as
to general dep dence and especially TO
breakdown In transport from the south
and east This area Is nearer seaboard
- roEa m
the outside.
The decadence in fat production is
even more general and more acute than
bres dstuffs owing TO the requisition Of
animals and the diversion of animal
feeds TO breadstuffs. Consequently chill
dron are suffering more acutely In many
sections than adults.
Railroads in Bad shape.
"RaiIways-Out OF a total OF 1906
locomotives in good condition before the
ear there are at present from $500 to
1850 reported in working order by diff
ferent authorities or decrease of mo-
tive power by 60 TO 75 per cent. Ser
viceable cars are reported at from 150.-
600 TO 2Ss.000. or n decrease Of from
4s to 20 per cent. OF the prewar num-
her The roadbcds are reported In very
bad condition.
"The fuel situation Is very serious.
Cessat tion in production Of coal by so per
cent and deterioration OF the mines has
forced the railroads 10 depend more
,,pon wood Such wood must come from
forests OF northern Russia. and the haul
Is too long for supply to southern Rus
sia railways.
industrial Conditions--The following
table shows the Industrial production
during the year 1920 in percentages Of
prewar output: Pig iron. 2 per cent.
copper ore, per cent. iron ore, per
cent. maganese ore 2.6 per cent. salt.
10 per cent rubber Industry. per
cent. watch industry. 10 per cent
paper industry. 20 per cent sugar in
dustry. per cent printing. Is per
cent. production Of coal. 30 per cent.
cotton spindles operating, per cent.
woollen cloth. 4 per cent.
"It Is thus estimated that Industry IN
general has decreased over 90 per cent.
Foreign Comnerce-Under the Inn
pulse given by shipment OF the former
bank reserves OF gold there has been
some stimulation to imports The total
imports for six weeks. April 70 May
is. are given as $4,000 tons or less than
per cent. Of prewar averages for tho
same period. Exports aside from pine
logs were reported as LOO tons for
April. or about one-twentieth OF / per
cent OF the same period prewar Re-
cent reports as to instructions given 10
foreign agents OF the Russian Govern
,nant indicate the pracfica1 cxhat1stion