The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-08
The Job of Rebuilding Russia


livery month the organization Of
- Russia improves, under the slim
illus of the new economic policy ana
the continued peace. When / first
entered Russia, in August, 1921, at
the beginning of the famine, l car
ried my own bedding and food with
me, and prepared for disinfection at
the journeys end. Nine months later,
in June, 1922, when again l entered,
there was already on the fast trains
an attempt to provide blankets for
those who had none, but sheets were
only available for the first corners.
| succeeded in getting one sheet,
which appeared to have been washed,
but not ironed.
By midsummer, even a year and
a half ago, it was possible to take
trips in all directions without fear
of disease. A strong and we'll or
ganized health department, reinforced
at last with hospital and disinfecting
supplies thru the American Relief
Administration, had cleaned up the
centers Of disease along the railroads.
Until autumn there were regulations
against travelling south of Moscow
without a certificate of incubation
against cholera, but step by step, as
the months advanced, the area of
cholera was limited.
Travel Is Easy.
At present, travel is easy and not
very expensive thruout Russia. 1
have been so far north as the Arctic
Circle, three days above Petrograd,
visiting mica mines and feldspar quar-
ries; and as far south as the Crimes,
where the entire coast is one great
health resort under the Department
of Health. / have been to the oil
fields of Baku, where 157 new wells
were being drilled, and where pro-
duction was steadily increasing ac-
cording to program which will reach
pre-war about 1925, from the pro-
ceeds of the fields alone and without
foreign capital. have been in Tifis,
capitol of the Caucasus, which suf-
fered less from civil war than any
city in the Soviet Federation, and
which is gay with home-woven silks
and delicious nougat and Georgian
wine. To Kiev also have been, the
ancient capitol of the Ukraine, which
endured during the civil war some
sixteen bombardments, as it changed
hands to Germans, Poles, Denikin,
and many other bands. but which is
now rebuilding its shattered dwellings
under the capable and sacrificing d.
rection of a tired-looking youth
named Vidensky, who dreams Of MAX
ing here on the banks of the Dneiper
the greatest garden city of the world.
In all these directions, and in many
others-out across Siberia to Vladi-
vostok or Peking, southeast across
the plains of Turkestan to the heart
of Asia traffic is regular, equipped
with sleeping-cars and dining-cars,
and, most surprising of all, on time.
The Russian trains run slowly, but
for the past year, travelling in all
directions, / have not once been no.
ticeably late. An accumulated delay
of two hours on four days journey
to Baku, reduced by one hour on the
following days run to Tifiis, is some
thing that might happen on any
American railroad.
City Life Improving.
City life in Russia has also vastly
improved. The stores all over Mos
cow are open, and many of them
have the appearance of flourishing
greatly, tho others close spasmodical-
ly from time to time, saying that they
have been ruined by their heavy taxes.
Under the hotel where | lived in
Moscow was bakery which would do
credit to any American city. Some
thirty or forty varieties of bread and
rolls might be obtained here fresh
every morning. Inhabitants of the
hotel above developed extreme indi-
viduality of choice among raisin
breads, whole wheat, French rolls,
and various mixtures Of rye and white
flour.
Clothing also has improved percep-
tibly. Two years ago / saw a red
-. L. Il.