142 SIBERIA 



The enormous increase in the trade of this district 

 is directly due to the presence of the New Siberian 

 railway. Although agriculture is by far the most 

 important industry, apiculture, cattle -rearing, hunting, 

 trapping, and forestry, are not unimportant. The 

 growth of the dairy industry and particularly of the 

 production of butter, has been wonderful, although 

 the existing creameries are only small concerns, and 

 much inferior to those situated nearer the railway 

 line. This state of affairs will soon be remedied, 

 however, as an agricultural school is about to be 

 established at Barnaoul, at a cost of £10,300, at 

 which the dairy man will be taught the essentials of 

 the business, so that Barnaoul bids fair to become 

 the leading centre for the collection of butter and 

 other dairy produce in Siberia. By way of en- 

 couragement, further, the Government has awarded 

 gold medals to dairy owners in competition, for the 

 best butter. 



It would be difficult to parallel the enormous 

 growth in the exports of the town since it was 

 brought into comparatively easy connection with the 

 West. In 1899 the total quantity of butter sent out 

 did not exceed 36 tons ; but in 1902 it had reached 

 the respectable figure of 8,050 tons, no less than 

 233 times as much. What the future can produce 

 is left to the imagination. The war demanded one 

 man in every five and, as many of them are dairy- 

 men, the industry was seriously afifected. About one- 

 fifth of the butter comes through Barnaoul from 

 Bysk direct to Europe ; but most of it is sold at 

 Barnaoul, being brought from Bysk by sledge in 

 winter and by boat in summer. The butter is accom- 

 panied by a salesman, who is required to bring the 

 purchase -money back with him. For this reason it 

 is usually disposed of for any price that offers ; much 

 of it changes hands, is weighed, and sent forward 



