Letter to the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council, October 16, 1922

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Comrade Bogdanov,

Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council

Copies:

to Comrades Krzhizhanovsky and Pyatakov, State Planning Commission ” Comrade Vladimirov, People’s Commissariat of Finance ” Presidium of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee ” Comrade Kamenev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars and ” Comrade L. B. Krasin

Comrade Krasin has sent me a letter in which he tells me of the very great successes of a group of engineers, headed by Comrade Gubkin, who, with stubbornness bordering on the heroic, and with insignificant support by state organisations, have not only developed from zero the detailed scientific investigation of combustible slates and sapropelite, but have also learned in practice to produce out of these minerals various useful products, such as ichthyol, black varnish, various soaps, paraffins, ammonium sulphate, etc.

In view of the fact that this work, as Comrade Krasin testifies, represents a firm foundation for an industry which in ten or twenty years will produce hundreds of millions for Russia, I propose that:

(1) the further development of this work be immediately guaranteed in the financial sense;

(2) all obstacles retarding it be eliminated, now and henceforth;

(3) this group of engineers be awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and a large sum of money.

Please inform me of further developments in writing through Comrade Gorbunov, Office Manager of the CPC In the event of any obstacles arising, inform me immediately through the same channel.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

and Council of Labour and Defence