The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-01-23
North Siberia, Unlike Other
Countries

North and South Siberia are two
areas Poles apart in relation to geo.
graphy, climate and way-of-life of its
inhabitants. The two parts differ con-
siderably in nearly all respects. While
the North portion is plenty wet, the
South part is plenty dry. The Southern
half is heavily industrialized and has
networks of railroads aside from the
Siberia railroad, the North has none,
nor even good highways, outside of
the Chuket Peninsula which is some
what industrialized and mining con-
siderable coal which comes in handy
as this place is said to be the cold
est spot on Earth.
A DUAL LIFE
outside the peninsula, the people of
North Siberia are leading a dual life
and are closer to nature than any peo-
pie Earth, barring the people of
Tibet. Here the people practically hi
bernate the winter months, making
prayer wheels while living in YAK
tents, eating Yak meat as their main
diet and using Yak dung as their only
fuel.
In no place on Earth does commerce
depend so much on river transporta-
ton as in North Siberia. In summer
time but little travel and no transpor-
tation is done East and West on ac-
count of bridgeless rivers, boys AMI
fic on the river boats makes this the
most important link in Russia's trans
portation system. Out of Leningrad's
machinery, oil and manufactured goods
coming over the ocean steamers on the
North Sea route is thus distributed over
North Siberia while timber, fur and
grain is taken back in return. 1t makes
this the worlds most important river
boat traffic. The only big drawbacks
are mosquitoes and gnats by the mil
lions.
WINTER CHANGES THE PICTURE
AS soon as the last boat is laid up
for the winter, there is a near chry-
sails void in all traffic until the ice
again becomes strong enough to let
sleds, motor buses and skis take
over. Now everything is changed and
it is like entering another world. All
restriction is lifted and the public
as well as all traffic can go in all
directions.
Barring the reindeer and fur farm
ing, everything else is turned into new
channels. Gold washing on the Lena
river has ceased for the season and
the Fur Collectives are busy breeding,
and processing their ermines
foxes and minks for the outside market,
RELOCATING hunting and trapping tC p
sideline. Schooling, unknown before, |
now has first priority By 1928, fifty
different savage tribes were given |
their first written language with a |
modern alphabet and now have their |
own schools, colleges and first class |
hospitals. In two decades they have
'isen from a hundred per cent litter |
ate to $3.50 literate people, something |
in any country before. AS |
proof of their rapid progress, they sold |
/ million reindeer to the u. S. to be |
Used for starving Eskimoes in Canada |
which have now shrunk to a measly |
wenty five thousand, thanks to the |
combined efforts of native butchers |
ind Canadian wolves.
Every year there is a Pilgrimage of |
women athletes from different parts
If Siberia making hundred mile trips |
IN skis to partake in the winter sport |
events in Moscow, and none were ever
eaten by wolves yet Native tribes dur
ng Tsar days were cheated by trad |
,rs prosecuted instead of protected by |
he Cossacks, living in tents made of |
lides and many in caves, were gradual
Y dying out, are now living in COM
ortable houses.
To reverse the flow of some of the
ivers running into the Arctic Ocean
low is under consideration, but that
S easier said than done. 1t would be
ike running some of the Big Hole river
nto the Pacific ocean, which by the
way is actually done here.
North Siberia would be a haven for
efugees in an Atomic war as it has |
tut few, if any, worthwhile targets,
making it safer there than in either
Ioscow or d. ca. E. ANDERSON,
Suite.