Letter to Moisey Rukhimovich, October 11, 1921

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Lenin gave much energy and attention to the rehabilitation of the coal and the iron and steel industry in the Donets Basin, which he said was “the main centre of our large-scale industry” and a Soviet bastion (see present edition, Vol. 33, p. 157 and Lenin Miscellany XXIII, pp. 81–87).

11/X.

Comrade Rukhimovich:

I have read your report and am cursing you most severely.

The report is done carelessly. Why not take 2 or 3 hours here in Moscow (if you had no time in the Donbas) to put it into good shape?

It is unfinished and unclear.

The required table is not there, but the report itself is cluttered up with figures.

There is need for a short table: the price in terms of flour or in gold rubles, etc.

1,000 poods of coal net at the pit head or at the station, etc.

Before the war...——–

Now at the Central Board of the Coal Industry—————

(big pits).

There again, on the condition you mentioned (complete success of the whole programme of collective supply?)————

At small pits of leaseholders———–

The whole point is to have such a table!

Yet that is the one you have failed to give.

All your tables should he in a special little chapter, giving the details and precise proof of the main and basic table.

Furthermore, there is no clear statement: the authorities (name, record, rank?) say the small pits are harmful.

So-and-so (names, etc.) are against this.

This is important, but it has been glossed over.

Thirdly, the conclusion? You should take what is controversial.

The leasing of small pits?

This is now beyond doubt.

In your report this is slurred, over and it is not clear what now remains controversial.

Apparently,

it is that:

1) whether or not there is need right away for repairs on a number (such-and-such? names) of big pits, and their stoppage for repairs with transfer of their targets to the small pits?

2) The leasing of medium pits as well?

3)—–precisely through the Donets Economic Conference?

There is no clear statement about this. I or any other person reading the report has to complete it in your stead.

That is the way to ruin even a good case!

To clear things up we would need your plan: close down for repairs so and so. Within two years (or how many?) to have small pits yield 900 million, etc.

With communist greetings,

Lenin