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annually。 At this rate in ten years the Russians could restore their
collection of engines to something like adequate numbers。 Today； thirty
years would be an inadequate estimate； for some factories； like the
Votkinsky； have been purposely ruined by the Whites； in others the lathes
and other machinery for building and repairing locomotives are worn out；
many of the skilled engineers were killed in the war with Germany； many
others in defending the revolution； and it will be long before it will be
possible to restore to the workmen or to the factories the favorable
material conditions of 1912…13。 Thus the main fact in the present crisis is
that Russia possesses one…fifth of the number of locomotives which in
1914 was just sufficient to maintain her railway system in a state of
efficiency which to English observers at that time was a joke。 For six
years she has been unable to import the necessary machinery for making
engines or repairing them。 Further； coal and oil have been； until recently；
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
cut off by the civil war。 The coal mines are left； after the civil war； in
such a condition that no considerable output may be expected from them
in the near future。 Thus； even those engines which exist have had their
efficiency lessened by being adapted in a rough and ready manner for
burning wood fuel instead of that for which they were designed。
Let us now examine the combined effect of ruined transport and the
six years' blockade on Russian life in town and country。 First of all
was cut off the import of manufactured
goods from abroad。 That has had a cumulative effect completed； as it
were； and rounded off by the breakdown of transport。 By making it
impossible to bring food； fuel and raw material to the factories； the wreck
of transport makes it impossible for Russian industry to produce even that
modicum which it contributed to the general supply of manufactured
goods which the Russian peasant was accustomed to receive in exchange
for his production of food。 On the whole the peasant himself eats rather
more than he did before the war。 But he has no matches； no salt； no
clothes； no boots； no tools。 The Communists are trying to put an end to
illiteracy in Russia； and in the villages the most frequent excuse for
keeping children from school is a request to come and see them； when
they will be found； as I have seen them myself； playing naked about the
stove； without boots or anything but a shirt； if that； in which to go and
learn to read and write。 Clothes and such things as matches are； however；
of less vital importance than tools； the lack of which is steadily reducing
Russia's actual power of food production。 Before the war Russia needed
from abroad huge quantities of agricultural implements； not only machines；
but simple things like axes； sickles； scythes。 In 1915 her own production
of these things had fallen to 15。1 per cent。 of her already inadequate
peacetime output。 In 1917 it had fallen to 2。1 per cent。 The Soviet
Government is making efforts to raise it； and is planning new factories
exclusively for the making of these things。 But； with transport in such a
condition； a new factory means merely a new demand for material and
fuel which there are neither engines nor wagons to bring。 Meanwhile； all
over Russia； spades are worn out； men are plowing with burnt staves
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
instead of with plowshares； scratching the surface of the ground； and
instead of harrowing with a steel…spiked harrow of some weight； are
brushing the ground with light constructions of wooden spikes bound
together with wattles。
The actual agricultural productive powers of Russia are consequently
sinking。 But things are no better if we turn from the rye and corn lands
to the forests。 Saws are worn out。 Axes are worn out。 Even apart
from that； the shortage of transport affects the production of wood fuel；
lack of which reacts on transport and on the factories and so on in a circle
from which nothing but a large import of engines and wagons will provide
an outlet。 Timber can be floated down
the rivers。 Yes； but it must be brought to the rivers。 Surely horses
can do that。 Yes； but； horses must be fed； and oats do not grow in the
forests。 For example； this spring （1920） the best organized timber
production was in Perm Government。 There sixteen thousand horses
have been mobilized for the work； but further development is impossible
for lack of forage。 A telegram bitterly reports； 〃Two trains of oats from
Ekaterinburg are expected day by day。 If the oats arrive in time a
considerable success will be possible。〃 And if the oats do not arrive in
time？ Besides； not horses alone require to be fed。 The men who cut the
wood cannot do it on empty stomachs。 And again rises a cry for trains；
that do not arrive； for food that exists somewhere； but not in the forest
where men work。 The general effect of the wreck of transport on food is
stated as follows： Less than 12 per cent。 of the oats required； less than 5
per cent。 of the bread and salt required for really efficient working； were
brought to the forests。 Nonetheless three times as much wood has been
prepared as the available transport has removed。
The towns suffer from lack of transport； and from the combined
effect on the country of their productive weakness and of the loss of their
old position as centres through which the country received its imports
from abroad。 Townsfolk and factory workers lack food； fuel； raw
materials and much else that in a civilized State is considered a necessary
of life。 Thus； ten million poods of fish were caught last year； bu