Russia's Problem of the Increased Cost of Living.
By V. Kusmin-Karavayev.[1]
A year ago the question of the increased cost of living in Russia was considered merely from the point of view of the outer effects. The prevailing prices were compared with those which had existed during the preceding year, and measures were adopted to keep the prices from rising very high above that level. Therefore, the means used were largely simple and elementary. Fixation of prices was the commonest of these measures, and it was strengthened by threats of severe punishment and requisition. But it was soon discovered that the question could not be settled in this way. Articles of prime necessity not only became expensive, but their supply in some places began to diminish rapidly. Then attention was directed to the problem of railroad transportation. But there, again, the measures adopted were not effective. The decrease of supply was soon followed by total disappearance of some of the prime necessities of life. Sugar, for example, could not be obtained at Petrograd for some time. It became a common thing to see hundreds of people waiting in line before a store to obtain a pound of sugar, or a bottle of milk, or a bag of flour.
This shortage of the prime necessities of life is felt very acutely by the consumers. Bitter reproaches are showered upon the officials of the Ministry of Railways for the failure of the country's railroad system to transport sufficient quantities of products. And great indignation is expressed against the municipal authorities for not providing supplies. These reproaches against the municipal authorities are indulged in even by those who ought to know perfectly well that these officials are powerless to do anything for the regulation of transportation, or the determining of prices.
There are two interesting facts which have been brought out by the conditions of the transportation system. As far as Petrograd is concerned, its connection with the interior of the country is maintained by one railroad line. But, in Moscow, as well as in Petrograd, there are hundreds of people waiting in
- ↑ From "Vestnik Evropi" (Messenger of Europe), of Petrograd.
