V. I. Lenin

Source: en:CW/CW45; ru:PSS/v52;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

February 2, No. 785/up, I sent you, through Gorbunov,* a letter from Comrade Kotlyarov with a proposal to utilise the idle hoisting machines in the big cities, with all their equipment, for the mining industry, with the following resolution:

“We must collect information and find out whether something cannot be done here to help the mining industry. Take away everything superfluous.” In pursuance of this assignment, as can be seen from the documents in the Supreme Economic Council, five commissions worked:

1) A conference under the Production and Raw Materials Distribution Board on the utilisation of lift equipment for the Donets Basin (February 11).

2) A special commission to inspect lifts in buildings (worked until February 23).

3) A technical conference of experts under the Technical Department of the Metals Section (approximately March 22–24).

4) A conference on the question of utilising the hoists of the city of Moscow and other big cities for the mining needs of the coal industry in the Mining and Technical Department of the Chief Coal Board (April 16), and, finally,

5) A meeting of the Central Production Commission of April 22, Minutes No. 321, Item 238.

Commission No. 3 already established with certainty that lift equipment can unquestionably be partially utilised for the mining industry. But up to now

practically nothing whatever has been done; the matter has been dragging on endlessly and aimlessly.

I propose that the question be placed on the agenda of the Council of Labour and Defence for May 25, with a draft decision approximately as follows:

“Instruct the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council, in agreement with the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, to utilise the parts of hoists in Moscow, Petrograd and other big cities that are suitable for the mining industry, such as: winches, drums, cables.

Simultaneously, carry out the necessary experiments on the utilisation of hoist equipment in accordance with the minutes of the conference under the Technical Department of the Metals Section of March 24, 1921, and, in view of their importance, declare these experiments to be of a shock nature.”

I add:* (a) Appoint a responsible person.
(b) Punish for red tape (from March to May).

Report to N. P. Gorbunov. 290.

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)