1 Looking over these ciphers we see that for the 83 desatins the first valuation is not only not higher than the market prices, but even much lower than this; the second valuation is still lower; but with regard to the 112 desatins the first valuation is nearly twice as high as the market price, and the second valuation is lower than the market price by 24 per cent. Separating each estate, the difference presents great fluctuations, but in general the first valuation approaches nearer to the market price valuation, the difference between them is 4,500 roubles, whereas the difference between the market price value and the second valuation is 5,800 roubles.
' If one were to judge by the per centage addition at the sales, then the second valuation will of course give other results than the first. Many think that the per centage addition at the sales may be considered as a sign of the great activity of the local management, but we think that per centage additions may be rather considered a sign of the incorrectness of the estimates, or that the estimates were incorrectly applied; the removal of the unfavourable results from both the incorrectnesses, we attribute to the circumstance that the rules confirmed by the Emperor for ready money sales of forest materials by public sales are quite practicable, and are more suitable to the present state of our forest economy,
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Remarks on the Wood Trade of the Government of Ekatherinoslav.
The government of Ekatherinoslav is divided into two principal parts — 1st, the Don basin, and 2d, the Dnieper basin. The local wood markets in the Don basin receive wood from the banks of the Volga and Don; and those in the Dnieper basin, principally from the ports of the Dnieper. In the Don part are situated much more important wood marts than in the Dnieper, as much judged by the higher price as by the variety of forest materials required in the markets.
' The wood trade in the Dnieper part is centred principally at the ports on the Dnieper above the rapids, particularly at Ekatherinoslav. The reason is — 1st, because the port of Ekatherinoslav is the nearest to the great eastern part of the government; 2d, because the purchase of forest materials before the rapids is much more profitable, as high prices have to be paid to traders for the risk of floating over the rapids. Therefore from Ekatherinoslav, as from ports lying before the rapids, forest materials are taken in every direction — to the government of Poltava as far as Constantingrad, to the Taurid government as far as Bezodiansk, and the Kherson government as far as the river Ingul. All this transportation is done by laud, and principally during summer. In winter the roads are not reliable. Although there are are snowy winters, more frequently the snow appears and disappears several times during winter, and on sledge roads one cannot count even on January. One strong wind from the south or south-east produces a thaw sufficient for melting away the snow. Exposed places and strong winds cause the snow to be distributed unequally. In the steppe, in exposed places, snow barely covers the ground, but in ravines and thickets it forms a layer of considerable thickness. Therefore one cannot rely on winter roads for the transport of forest materials, so the winter is here considered the most unfavourable for the transport of forest materials. Successive thaws in winter, and rains in spring and late autumn, make the transport of forest materials more difficult on wheels. The black soil gets wet through for some eighteen inches, and the cartage of heavy loads is difficult. Only in summer, the end of spring, and beginning of autumn, are the roads passable for burdens; the dried soil becomes even and hard, and at this time loads can go with the same ease as on a macadamised road. Hains during the summer produce mud about three inches deep, but this dries soon; one or two sunny days, and a strong wind, and the road becomes practicable — this is the time most suitable for transporting burdens, and consequently forest materials. But at this time field labours take place, and the want of means make the transport of forest materials unprofitable; the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, set free from field labours a considerable number of transport means, but at this time commences the cartage of the products of rural economy to the ports on the Dnieper, and only after the sale of these products are the transport means free. In order not to return home empty from the ports of the Dnieper forest materials are bought and taken back to Ekatherinoslav, and the neighbouring governments.
' By such means the forests of the government of Ekatherinoslav meet with difficulties in transportation, so that they sometimes remain partially nnsold, notwithstanding the general want of forest materials.