The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-06
THE WORKERS REBUILD
MOSCOW

Indeed we have-gray, white or red brick dwell
ings constructed along modern lines with kinder
gartens, laundries and communal restaurants and
clubrooms, besides. In the last five years 5000
new apartment houses have been built housing
100000 people In addition, in this past year
alone, over sixty-one per cent of the old houses
have been repaired. In the next three years
another half million workers families will move
into new homes.
However" Comrade Khvesin tells US I'VE real
ize that what has been done is far from enough.
Moscow's population has tripled in the last ten
years-fron one to over three million. This has
naturally created tremendous housing problem
as well as increased our problems OF heating
transportation and other items.
The last plenum Of the Central Committee of
our Communist Party placed as one of the three
central tasks before us now tl1s improving
OF the general living conditions o. our Soviet
cities. We must hasten their Transformation
into socialist communities, at the same time that
completely new socialist towns are sprnging UP
around each new giant plant Of the Five-Year
Plan
Besides our housing program, 80 big indus
trial plants have been or are being built in Moe
COW, before 1888. The Lenin Library the second
largest library in the world will be completed
next year as well as the great Palace of Sovets
River. Also the gigantic task of joining the
Moscow and Voga Rivers will be carried thru"
This year, We learn $4,000 square meters of
new asphalt pavement were added, hundreds of
new trees planted, and plumbing and sewage
systems greatly extended. Ten central heating
plants are being installed which will supply free
heat for the entire city Two of these public
plants already installed, and two more will
be added within a short time. No city in Europe
or England has central heating plants while New
York City has only two, both operated, of course
on basis of private property.
Transportation presents a serious problem
In spite Of the extra miles OF track laid the
increase in numbers of street cars, buses and
taxis, all methods of transport are continually
crowded with people. In 1880 the Moscow cars
carried 965, 900 passengers, more than four
times as many as in 1917. However, the car SER
vice is being rapidly extended and fifty bus
lines added, SO that the next few months will
see big Improvement, while by 1888 it is ex-
pected that the new subway being constructed
will be ready for use.
All together 420000000, or a quarter of a
billion dollars have been spent this year by the
Moscow Soviet on city Improvement And what
Is taking place in the capitol is more or less
typical of what is happening throughout the
country.
Inc nedltI OF JHe working masses mas always
been one of the main concerns of the Soviet
Government. What has been accomplished in
Moscow in this respect is wildly brought out
by the fall in the death rates In 1918 81 babies
died out of every 1000 born; by 1880 the num-
Der had dropped to IL. The total mortality rate
in 1913 was Is 1000; in 1880 it was only 49,
We learned much more about the new Moscow
emerging out of the old-about the 200 recrea-
ton clubs maintained by the unions and city
for its members the system of free clinics estab
lshed, and many other things which space does
not allow me to describe here
Next year will see the end of Moscow's growth,
as far as size and numbers go; for 1t has been
decided that from the standpoint OF socialist
planning; the city will have reached the maxi
mum. No new industries will be brought here,
but all efforts concentrated on completing the
socialist transformation of the city; meanwhile
new giant factories, with their adjoining model
towns, will be built in other parts of the coun-
try, forming network of thriving socialist COM
munities Gall of medium size, with no problems
of congestion, of sharp, breaks between country
and city, OF unequal cultural advantages, etc).
AS we talked we sat near a window looking out
on the square, where the children were playing
around the memorial to the workers and peas
ants who had lain down their lives that this
new world might come to be. Comrade Khvesin's
face lit up in a way that told, better than any
words could of the motive power that drives
him on.
Moscow must become city worthy Of being
the capitol of this workers republic" he repeats,
worthy of being the center, the homeland OF
the world proletariat."