Crimea Jews Made Garden of Desert, Land Settlement Conference is Told

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Jewish settlers in the Crimea have turned a desert into a flourishing garden, was the statement made by J. Larin, representative of the Comzet, in a report of the prospects of Jewish land settlement in Russia, which he submitted at yester day’s session of the Jewish Land Settlement Conference.

The Jewish settlers are almost wholly organized in cooperatives. About 800 cooperative companies are in existence now. Thanks to cooperation and the application of the latest agricultural methods, the production cost in the Jewish settlements is four times cheaper and yields a better crop than the farms of the Russian peasants, Mr. Larin praised the work of the Agrojoint highly, declaring that the tractors furnished the Jewish settlers by the Agrojoint are also made use of in the neighboring fields of the Russian peasants. The methods employed by the Jewish settlers in raising cattle have also been of great advantage to the neighboring peasants. The thoroughbreds belonging to the Jews are improving the quality of the peasants’ stock. This leads to friendly relations between the peasants and the Jewish settlers.

In the future work, it will be necessary to place the Jewish farming on a better paying basis with higher forms of cattle breeding, dairying, etc. The majority of the funds will have to be invested in improvements and homesteads.

As to the question of land available for Jewish colonization, Mr. Larin stated that there is sufficient land to settle 100,000 Jews in the Crimea, even after settling as many non-Jews in that district. However, there are no Christian applicants as yet for land in Crimea.

The Conference heard yesterday an additional number of greetings, including messages from the Crimean government, the All Ukrainian Executive and from national minorities.