110 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



mines and estates they would long ago have put down 

 tramways intersecting all parts, by which would have been 

 brought up the ore and the fuel, especially from the 

 remote parts, at a much less cost. But it is too late now 

 for the owners to do so, as few of them have got the 

 spare cash necessary for even such a small improvement 

 as this ; and the patience and help of Government has 

 been all used up a long time since. And no wonder, 

 when the debt amounts to 8,000,000 roubles, as in this 

 one case it does. English capitalists would have bought 

 up these very works a long time back if it had not been 

 for the crippling, paralysing effect of authorised regula- 

 tions. The red tape is drawn too tight to admit of any 

 legitimate expansion, and a Briton must have elbow room.' 



The foregoing is a saddening picture of mining opera- 

 tions in the Ural range. I have no reason to suppose it 

 is exaggerated in any of its points. I accept it as credible 

 and correct. It is in accordance with much which I have 

 heard in regard to such matters. The salient points of 

 importance to students of forest scenes are these : — There 

 lias been a reckless consumption of forests in supplying 

 fuel for smelting ore. The ore is not exhausted, but the 

 fuel which was of easy access has been consumed. The 

 operations carried on have not proved continuously pro- 

 fitable to the proprietors ; but this is attributable largely, if 

 not mainly, to their living beyond their income and to 

 others fattening on the products of the works. Could forests 

 be restored the work might be prosecuted with vigour and 

 possibly with profit. If not, if this is to be done other 

 fuel must be found. 



My informant goes en to say : — 



' The only zavods said to be in a healthy condition are 

 those of Verkny Isetsky, BueluembaefP, and Kishteem, 

 belonging to Steinbok, Stroganoff, and Drazheinine. When 

 I was at NijniTagUsk, Demidoff's works, twelve years ago, 

 even firewood and charcoal were then scarce and dear. 



