Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

at would not be displeasing to the authorities. Sales were all completed when our representatives left Russia; but where supplies, such as grain, or horses, were on hand, the matter of disposal was left in the hands of trustworthy and efficient brethren. The fol- lowing is a sample of the first regular sale of fourteen Fordson tractors to the Old-Samara group of villages. SALE OF TRACTORS TO MENNONITE GRouUPS In keeping with the original plan of the Committee to eventually sell the tractors and plows to the Mennonites RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN RUSSIA 307 and then to utilize the funds in further relief, we give an extract of the first sale. 1. The American Mennonite Relief turns over to the Union of the Alexanderthaler Mennonite settlement 14 tractors marked “Fordson” under the following terms: a. For each tractor the American Mennonite Relief shall receive grain to the value of $560.00, which in turn shall be used exclusively for relief work. b. For the use of the tractors in the work already done 10% is to be deducted. 2. Terms of payment are: 30% on Oct 209 1925: 35% on Oct. 20, 1924. 35% on Oct. 20, 1925. 3. The grain or the money is due at Moscow, figured in American Dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. 4, The Alexanderthal Union is under obligation to plow for the poorer, especially those who possess no horses. 5. The tractors remain property of the A.M.R. until the last payment is made. Signed: A. J. Miller for the A.M.R. BE. F. Isaac Fo Bs Proese, and ©. F. Classen. for the All Russian Mennonite Agricultural Union. H. Riesen for the Alexanderthaler Semonoje, Chosjaistwo. SUPPLYING HorsEs TO THE MENNONITES Another form of reconstruction work consisted in several attempts at supplying Mennonites with horses. In certain districts of Volynia, not so far from our Men- nonite settlements, horses were plentiful and could be purchased at a low figure. Representatives were sent there with $5000.00, which had been set aside by the A.M.R. for this purpose. They purchased horses, brought them to the villages and sold them at cost plus the expense of transportation. The disposal of these horses is pictured by one of the relief-workers in Chapter XII of this Report. 308 FEEDING THE HUNGRY The money thus received from the farmers, was to be used to buy more horses, thus becoming a revolving fund. This plan would have worked out quite well, if it had not been for the fact that it became necessary to give the farmers from ten days to six months time on their pay- ments for the horses. As it was, the fund was soon tied up and the work halted. According to records 203 horses at a total cost of $10,554.00 were secured by the A.M.R. for the Menno- nite colonies in the Ukraine. This work also gave an impetus to individual importation of horses so that, quite a number of horses were bought with funds advanced by individuals. Under an agreement between the A.M.R.,