OCR
XeAsts December 52s — page two = for the opening of presebtly desert land are all parts of the new Soviet agricultural policy. imultaneously with draining and irrigation ¢chanels, goes the construction of powerful hydro-electric installations and of inland waterwayse Officially, this program promises increase in consumers! goods and higher living standards, The results of the two first years of the actual Plan however prove thas trategic aims have undiseussed priority. Wheat, meat, cotto bof eather are the essentials for maintenance and equipment of an Armye On the other hand, without eketric power and low-cost transportation, ahuge industrialization, as planned by the Soviets, is utterly unthinkable. News received on some of the specific projects involved prove seme ef the scope and of the aims of this over-all project wewté. - #dt_also involves thw whole satellite Hungary e. From all over Hungary, reports have been received this last month, relating that throughout September and October deportation have been going on at a large seale. The people transpaanted this automn were used nearly exclusively for work ón two large projects: the water constructions along the Tisza river and the fertilization of the Hortobágy steppe. The Tisza river projeet has started with the Tiszalék dam and, in connection with it, the Hajdusag chanel system. Many women and elderly people are among those used for the very heavy construction work. They are forced into ever-inereasing tempo of worke One of our informants could obtain detailed informations as to the extend of the vevjeet now started. After the Tiszalök dam will be completed, similar constructions will be made at two other sections of the river: at Tiszabod and Szeged. At certain points, the course of the Tisza itself will have to be changed. By this means, the waters of the river will be entirely regulated: a system of chanels will allow the systematic irrigation of the driedt parts of the Hungarian plains esvecially in the Hajuds&g and the Hortobégye Sach dam will give the waterpower needed for the establishment of electrical plants. The year-round regulation of the water moreover will make the Tisza usable for transportation even in the dry sumer months. All ealeulati are made for 1.000 ton boats, Our informant was not able to obtain — . the exact output expected from the future three hydro-electric plantse So much is known that, after completion of the Tisza project, a huge dam will be constructed on the Danube river. Its output in electrical power alone will be - according to existing plans - 30 times as large as that of each of the Tisza dams. Exact ficures are not revealede- | The other large project already under way is the fertilizata: of the nearly 230thousand hectar wide Hortobagy steppe. Known as an extensive eattle and horse raising plain, the Hungarian "puszta" (desert) is now rapidly disappearing. The forced labor groups used in that plain are mostly deportees from Northern Hungarian cities. In many instances they are not even housed in regular camps, but in abandonned stables, préviously used for cattle and horses. Roofs are ofiphe Leaning; therenispotprotection against bad weather and cold; peer & have To hie on The f= ‘ &