Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 3 - From Marx to Mao

490
V. I. LENIN
see that the development of metallurgical industry is
proceeding faster in Russia than in Western Europe and in
some respects even faster than in the United States. In
1870 Russia produced 2.9% of the world output of pig-iron
(22 million poods out of 745 million), and in 1894—5.1%
(81.3 million poods out of 1,584.2) (Vestnik Finansov,
1897, No. 22). In the last 10 years (1886-1896) Russia has
trebled her output of pig-iron (322 to 962 million poods),
whereas it took France, for example, 28 years to do so (1852-
1880), the U.S.A. 23 years (1845-1868), England 22 (1824-
1846) and Germany 12 (1859-1871; see Vestnik Finansov,
1897, No. 50). The development of capitalism in the
young countries is greatly accelerated by the example and
the aid of the old countries. Of course, the last decade
(1888-1898) has been a period of exceptional boom, which,
like all capitalist prosperity, will inevitably lead to a
crisis; but capitalist development cannot proceed at all
except in spurts.
The introduction of machinery into production and the
increase in the number of workers have been much more
rapid in the South than in the Urals.*
complaints at last year’s congresses: “The historical services rendered
by the Urals are common knowledge. For two hundred years all Russia
ploughed and reaped, hammered, dug and hewed with the products
of Ural factories. The Russian people wore on their breasts crosses
made of Ural copper, rode on Ural axles, used fire-arms made of Ural
steel, cooked pancakes on Ural frying-pans, and rattled Ural pennies
in their pockets The Urals satisfied the requirements of the entire
Russian people ...” (who used scarcely any iron. In 1851 the consumption
of pig-iron in Russia was estimated at about 14 pounds per inhabitant,
in 1895—1.13 poods, and in 1897—1.33 poods) “... producing
articles to suit their needs and tastes. The Urals generously (?) squandered
their natural wealth, without chasing after fashion, or being
carried away by the making of rails, fire grates and monuments.
And in return for their centuries of service—they found themselves
one fine day forgotten and neglected” (Vestnik Finansov, 1897, No. 32;
Results of Mining Congresses in the Urals). Indeed, what neglect of
“time-hallowed” institutions. And it is all the fault of insidious capitalism,
which has introduced such “instability” into our national
economy. How much nicer it would be to live in the old way, without
“being carried away by the making of rails,” and to cook oneself pancakes
on Ural frying-pans!
* Mr. Bogolyubsky estimates the number of steam-engines used
in mining in 1868 at 526 with a total of 13,575 h.p.