PROFITS 153 



The total profit for the three years 1910-1912 was 

 as follows : 



Year. Roubles. 



1910 ..... 4,234,000 



1911 ..... 4,079,000 



1912 ..... 4,259,000 



The profit from the forests varies in different dis- 

 tricts, as would be expected, since in areas like parts 

 of the Steppe region we have seen that wood is of 

 comparatively high value. For instance, in 1912 in 

 the Akmolin district the better-class forest soil gave a 

 return of 33 kopeks per acre, whereas in the Tobolsk 

 Government it was just under 2 kopeks per acre, and 

 in Tomsk about 2\ kopeks. In other forest divisions 

 in the Tobolsk Government where exploitation is 

 easier, the profit is higher, amounting to 55^ kopeks 

 per acre of good forest soil. 



Such profits, however, from fine forests containing 

 large amounts of over-ripe timber, strongly emphasise 

 the backwardness of the areas in communications 

 and export facilities. With the extraordinary en- 

 hancement of timber prices which the war has brought 

 about, and which its termination will not see lowered 

 unless very careful steps are taken, there should be a 

 considerable future before these valuable forests of 

 Asiatic Russia, especially in Western Siberia and in 

 the favoured Amur region. 



