Montana labor news., 1936-05-07
SOVIET PLANNING WILL DOUBLE STAND
ARDS OF LIVING in FIVE YEARS TIME
BY Anna Louise Strong.

Never before in history has any
government pledged itself to double
the standard of living OF its people in
five years as the Soviet government
did at the beginning OF 1888 in making
the second five-year plan. Already
the first three years OF the plan show
that the Soviets will more than redeem
their pledge.
In the last months OF 1885 and the
first months OF 1886 the total monthly
output of heavy industry was already
five times as high as the average
monthly output OF 1923, which itself was
higher than that OF any pre-war year.
Grain production has known three
record harvests in 1888, 1884 and 1885,
each of which surpassed all previous
years. The last Of these harvests in
1885 reached a total of nearly 100 mil
lion tons, almost 10 million tons higher
than any previous harvests. Moreover,
the harvest surplus, instead Of being
exported, is used TO increase livestock
and improve the standard Of living of
the country generally.
Great Gains in Production.
The year 1885 showed an IS per
cent increase in cattle, a rs per cent
increase in sheep and goats, a 3S per
cent increase in hogs, all increases OF a
single year based upon the surplus
grain harvest. Production of raw cot
ton was increased As per cent and
sugar 43 per cent due to the rapid inn
provement in farm organization and
the introduction of modern methods
under colleotivization.
Rapid increase in the standard OF
living-more food, better clothing, ex-
banding art and sciences evident in
all parts Of the country. The con-
sumption of goods, as shown by retail
trade turnover, went up from 90 bill
lion rubles in 1884 to 80 billions in 1885.
The actual consumption OF goods in
creased v more than this, since
prices marked in rubles were falling.
This indicates that the standard of liv-
ing has gone up by one-third in a sin
gle year.
Triumph of Efficiency.
The most important result Of the
year, however, was the Stakhanov
movement, which according to Molo-
tov. "Opens the first page OF the great
advance in Socialist productivity in la
Dor" It has shaken the whole coun-
try ike an explosions Cottea pickers
sugar beet growers, combine havest
operators, timber workers, machinists
and miners have been descending
triumphantly on Moscow all through
the winter months to celebrate achieve
ment in production and win the plaudit,
of the country. All these congresse.
are marked by tremendous enthusiasm
and confidence.
Conquering Space and Time.
If a map of the Soviet world could
be drawn pictorially and changed
with these changing years, it would
show countless new cities arising on
formerly barren land. 1t would show
LcuS Vi HlllilDla u klit4 uiCNCuplAl4N
farm plots merging into a rhythm OF
of notwithstanding fields. New tim
Der areas open new coal and oil fields
The conquering marching Of man
reaches northward to settle the Arctic
and eastward to the wild coast oppo-
site Alaska. And a long green strip OF
a million and a hall acres OF new for
est zone moves steadily southwark,
across t%reeless plains Of Kazakstan
deserts as a mighty screen TO protect
the grain lands OF South Russia from
the desert winds of Asia.
We young owners of our country,
called upon t conquer space and
time"-these challenging words OF a
young girl graduate last June strike the
keynote Of the confident young life Of
the country. 1t is a dynamic life Of
rapidly-growing prosperity based upon
the commonl y-owned wealth Of one
sixth of the world.