European Russia, who have voluntarily settled under Government supervision on the fertile lands of Western and Central Siberia. Even from the earliest times, the Government has aimed at colonizing the black earth zone, a large area of country, lying between the northern forest and the southern Tartar steppes, suitable in the highest degree for the agricultural development of the Slavonic people. This colonizing movement spread first along the banks of the rivers of Western and Central Siberia, and was principally directed along the shores of the Tura, Tobol, Tavda, Upper Irtish and Obi. To encourage this colonization, exemption from taxation for three years was granted by the Russian Government in 1889 to all authorized immigrants from European Russia. In addition to this, half the taxes were remitted for a subsequent period of three years, and exemption was also granted for a time from military service. In 1898 a loan of 80 roubles (about £9) was made to each family of immigrants, and this was ultimately increased to 140 roubles (about £15) in cases where special difficulty was experienced by settlers. At the present time grants often reach 200 roubles (about £22) a family in certain localities. These loans are repayable in instalments without interest over a period of years. Within the last ten years a Government survey staff has been appointed, and all new land set apart for immigrant communes is now carefully surveyed, plotted out and assessed for loans and subsequent taxation. In addition to loans in cash the Government now gives to every settler in his first year sufficient seed com to enable him to sow three desatynes (7½ acres) of land. Moreover, in many of the
