saries, and in some places, chiefly in Altai and Western Siberia, for the disposal of butter and dairy produce. These societies are generally worked and owned by the commune—i.e. the village authority elected by popular vote. Besides this in many districts the Government has started an agricultural supply store, for selling seed corn and implements to the peasants at reduced prices.
The above is typical of the economic conditions under which the Siberian peasants live in the more favourable districts of Western and Central Siberia, particularly in such places as the Kurgan steppes, the Altai foothills and the southern parts of the Yenisei Government. The condition of the peasant under these circumstances, where the land is rich and practically unpopulated, is everywhere very satisfactory, and this condition is aided by the fact that the standard of living among the peasants is simple, although by no means low. In fact the enormous latent energy which lies in Siberian peasant life awaiting development strikes the traveller very forcibly in these remote parts of Eastern Russia.[1]
On the next page is seen a table published in Tyan Shansky's book on Western Siberia (in Russian), giving figures as to the economic conditions of the immigrants in certain parts of Siberia after a few years' settlement in the country.
Turning now to the openings for private enterprise in this land of peasant communes, it must first be remembered that the raw material of all industry is in Siberia owned by the State, and the only private property in any appreciable quantity is that belonging to the Tsar and Cabinet Ministers in the Altai
- ↑ For an account of the Siberian peasant commune see Chapter V.
