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Show Russia, Richer in Spite of War, Will Offer Great Market to United States By HENRY S. BAKER U. S. Commercial Attache at Petrograd The two most significant facts concerning Russia as a market for imported goods are, first, stocks of goods of all kinds, except war material, were never so low as now; second, the savings of the people and their ability to purchase generously were never so great as now. The first condition has been due to railway facilities being so largely given up to military uses, thus restricting the transportation of the ordinary ordi-nary articles of commerce. Moreover, ocean freights have been enormous, and Archangel and Vladivostok were Russia's only ports for entry of goods. An immense amount of American railway equipment has been purchased, and more big orders 'will follow. In this way conditions of freight congestion should be gradually relieved. 1 The abolition of the vodka practice has had a tremendous effect in promoting savings, and increasing the efficiency of industry. The gain in savings since the war started has been in many villages up to 1,000 per cent. Individual efficiency has probably gained about 25 per cent. It is up to America to prepare for the immense business which will be offered in Russia. At present the business is enormous, but mostly war orders. However, when peace comes, and ordinary trade will be no longer hampered by war exigencies, the business in all kinds of articles of trade should bo very great, indeed, for there is a great scarcity of stocks which need replenishment, and there is more money and more purchasing pur-chasing power in this country than ever before. Russia, with about .170,000.000 people, whose standards of living are rapidly rising, is net a market which America should neglect. |