The Cordova daily times., 1922-10-26
REGION TRADE ROUTE
 RUSSIAN PLAN

! WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-A trade route through the polar seas is the latest project of the Russian Soviet government which appears likely to become an accomplished fact The plan involves t fleet of Russian steam trs carrying farming implements, tools and other manufactured articles from European ports through the Kara Straits, which separate Nova | Zembla from the mainland, thence the Obi and Yenisei rivers, where their cargoes are to be exchanged for the hides, furs and other products of Eastern Siberia.
 FLEET OF FIVE SHIPS Already a fleet of five cargo ships is gathering at Archangel for the ex- petition, according to advices just re- ceived here from Helsingfors, and others are expected. Among the yes sells scheduled for the Kara Sea voy- age are the Trotsky and the Arcos, l 3,0O0-ton steamers belonging to the Russian government, which have car goes, taken on at Liverpool and Ham, burg.
 Under present plans the fleet will carry approximately 10000 tons of cargo, including agricultural machin- cry of an estimated value of $750,O00. Listed among the consignments aboard the Trotsky and Arcos are 10000 ploughs, saws and other tim ber-working tools, 1000 tons of sheaf- binder twine, chemicals for tanning hides and skins, and shotguns and rifles for hunting. All this material is urgently needed by the peasants of Eastern Siberia, which is scarcely touched by railroads.
 The fleet will be accompanied by the ice-breaker Lenin, which has just been fitted out at Newcastle, England. Since the presence of ice prevents entering the mouths of the Obi and Yenisei rivers except during about SIX weeks of the season, the expedition must be exceedinly well timed.
 DEPoTS ESTABLISHED For months Soviet officials in East ern Siberia have been preparing for the visit of the fleet. Depots have been established near the mouths of the rivers, that of the Obi being at Novi and the hides, furs and other products are being brought down to i the depots on barges. In some in stances the barge shipments are being made over a distance of 2,000 miles.
 An experimental voyage was made last year under Soviet auspices and according to Soviet officials proved the entire feasibility of making at least one expedition a season. It IS now planned to make the expedition regular yearly service.
 Actual organization of the project is in the hands of the All-Russian Co., operative Society of London, which acts for the Russian government. rms organization has had full charge of purchases for the cargOes of the ships already loaded, and will also assume responsibility for the disposition or the return cargoes. The "Arcos. as the organization is called, has made it's purchases in England, Germany and Austria, some of the ploughs hay ing come from Germany but the great
 or mart of the farm implements having
 been purchased in England.
 PROJECT OLD ONE
 Before the overthrow of the Czarist regime explorers and merchants had repeatedly urged the feasibility of es-
 tablishing a trade route through the Kara Sea to Siberia, but the dangers kof the route, combined with official red tape, prevented the carrying out of the plan. The ships which made the
 voyage last year encOunteleu lce-
 bergs, snowstorms and for many days were compelled to plough their way
 through ice floes. As an aid to navl- eation the Soviet Government has set
 up a series of wireless stations, which are expected to be used in directing
 the movements of the ships and keep
 ing in touch with them. There are ; four of these stations now in opera
 tion, according to reports, and the
 fleet at Archangel has been kept ln- formed of weather and ice conditions