Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ably toward the purchase of Fordson tractors, and Bro. Mumaw was delegated to go to Detroit for personal investigation, with the understanding that if satisfactory terms could be arranged, he be authorized to buy. About the same time the Executive Committee for the Board of Colonization took similar action, also sending their in- structed delegate to Detroit. These men met at Detroit and completed the purchase under favorable terms. On June 26 they purchased twenty-five Fordson tractors and Oliver gang plows with twelve inch shares, together with necessary spare parts. The shipment left New York July 24, 1922 for Odessa, just twenty-four days after the order was given. The total cost of the shipment deliv- ered to Odessa, was $13,838.90. From Odessa to the Mennonite Colonies transportation was free according to our contract with the Soviet Authorities. Bro. G. G. Hiebert, of Reedley, Cal., an experienced. 298 FEEDING THE HUNGRY farmer, who had been well recommended, was appointed by the Central Committee to take charge of the tractor work in Russia. Mr. Hiebert sailed from New York on the 4th day of July, and arrived at Alexandrowsk, Russia, on August 1. When the news of the decision to send tractors came to our representatives in Russia, they ar- ranged to meet in Moscow in order to work out and present to the Soviet authorities plans of operation, such as would safeguard our interests and enable us to give as much help as possible to the needy people of Russia, both Mennonites and others living in their immediate vicinity. After careful consideration an agreement was worked out and finally accepted by the Soviet Authorities. INAUGURATING TRACTOR PLOWING The tractor outfits in the first shipment were received and unloaded at Odessa during the last days of August, and transported to Alexandrowsk, our headquarters in South Russia, as promptly as possible under the personal direction of Bro. G. G. Hiebert, arriving there September 9. That part of the shipment intended for the Chortitza region was unloaded and assembled; while the other trac- tors were forwarded to the Molotschna. Bro. Slagel reports that the number of horses, as ‘indicated in the earlier part of this chapter, and the ‘strategic locations of the Chortitza and Halbstadt Volosts from the angle of transportation and the possibility of ‘arranging a workable plan, served as a basis for the decision to begin work at those two places. The first plowing was done near Alexandrowsk on September 15; on September 22, eight outfits started plowing at Halb- stadt, and by September 23, all the outfits were at work. A shortage of American personnel, difficulty in training ‘native chauffers to handle American machinery, new ma- «chines which required careful working in, lack of autos RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN RUSSIA 299 to get about, rainy weather, heavy land, much of which: had not been worked from four to five seasons, fuel difi- c