Settlements Moscow, Oct. 29.
The Far Eastern regions of Soviet Russia are developing rapidly, a recent survey revealed. Last September, the population of Vladivostok, chief eastern port, reached the 250,- 000 mark, whereas in 1992, it was only 170,000 and in 1926, 100,000.
This growth of population has led the Government to divide the Far Eastern territories into two new administrative areas; one, the Khabarovsk region and the other the maritime districts with Vladivostok as capital. Previously, the maritime province was included in the "Far Eastern territory," but the actual separation was militarily accomplished some time ago, and it is known that the autonomous Far Eastern Army of the Soviet exists no more.
The authorities are now trying to accelerate the peopling of the eastern Soviet lands to form a barrier agarist Japan. Soldiers who have finished their military service or who have been placed upon long leave, have been persuaded to install themselves as farmers in Kholkhozes newly-formed to house them.
These men are given special houses built at the State's expense and are exempt from wheat taxes during the first years of their labour. They also benefit from part reductions of other taxes in kind, such as of meat and milk.
Last September, it is also noted, at Khabarovsk was held the first congress of young men jand women who had come out to take up life in the Far Eastern areas, answering the appeal made 15 months before by Valentine Khetogourova, wife of an officer in the Soviet Army. Fourteen thousand of these young people have already arrived and taken úp work. Moscow yielded a contingent of 2380 young men and 3,45 young girls came from the Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Commissariat for the Interior has established a new concentration camp to exploit the coal mines in the Raitchich and Kivda districts. The doubling of tracks on the trans-Siberian riilway increases possibilities for the development of the eastern lands of vast Russia. And a regular air service between Moscow and Vladivostok aids in shortening distances and bringing closer together Central and Far Eastern Russia.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.