Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27

The emigres Of the Russian nobility.
according to news from Europe, have
elected Prince Niklta as Emperor OF
Russia to succeed the Grand Duke
Nicholas, who died a short time ago.
The election as Emperor means merely
that the young prince has been selected
as pretender to the throne of Russia.
Its only significance is that II there
should be counter-revolution in
Russia, restoring the monarchy and the
house of Romanoff, there would be
agreement among the supporters of the
old Czarist regime as to who should
take the throne. Meantime, the young
prince works at job in Paris.
While the Russian royalists, scattered
over the world. but centered chiefly in
and around Paris, feel stimulated by
this decision and the hope that young
and worthy man, as Prince Nikita is
described to be, may bring about some
restoration coup, the Soviets in control
of the homeland are proceeding steadily
with the breaking up of the old estates
on which this exiled nobility formerly
Subsisted.
With the revolution the land was all
nationalized and the vast estates OF the
nobility were confiScated by the state.
Some of these estates are OF. tremendous
proportions, containing thousands upon
thousands of acres of land. Some are
SO large they have been little more
than explored. Great forests In ad-
dition to wide spreading farmlands
constituted them. They were Chiefly
grants from the crown.
It was only in the last century that
serfdom, practically comparable to
Negro slavery in America, was abolished,
and that abolition found the Russian
peasant in little better case. The labor
cost of farming these great estates was
almost nothing, so great riches accrued
to the noble owners.
Since the revolution and during the
period of transition and readjuStmene
much of this land has lain fallow. Also,
there have been years of drought. Now,
however, an organized effort IS being
made to farm on a grand scale. IL
probably seems quite ironical to the
russian noblemen exiled abroad, but
what formerly were their immense do
mains now are called the estates OF the
Soviet.
All of this land being now under So
Wet control, the farming activities have
been rearranged. In some OF the old
estates there was quite naturally much
untillable land, poor soil, sections es-
pecially subject to drought. and the like.
The Soviets have rearranged the estates
SO that no effort will be wasted on I'M
profitable land, cultivation being con-
fined to the acreage which can be relied
upon to give q sure return.
Old Estates Made Productive.
Approximately 100000 acres OF
these old estates are being brought UNI
der scientific cultivation by the Soviets.
Capital has been needed for this great
state farming enterprise and sum OF
$3.50 ,OOO, 900 has been authorized for
surveying, purchase of farming ma
chinery and such operating expenses.
The reallocation Of acreage began last
year, and blowing and other prelim-
mary preparation of the soil was begun.
Only about 10000 acres of Winter grain
actually was seeded last Fall, however
This figure is expected to be greatly
multiplied next season. Reallocation OF
more than 100000 acres already has
been made in readiness for the Spring
planting.
The Soviet program for operating
these farms calls chiefly for grain pro-
duction, as grain is useful in interna-
tional trade and can be exported or no