“ Trade is limited to the export of corn, spirits, timber, hempseed-oil, tallow, hides, honey, wax, woollen cloth, potash and cattle, the chief centres for trade being Penza, Nizhni-Lomov, Mokshany, Saransk and Krasnoslobodsk. ”

“ Grain and flour are considerable exports. The local authorities have established dépots for the sale of modern agricultural machinery. There are several agricultural and horticultural schools, and two model dairy farms. ”

“ The population consists principally of Russians, together with Mordvinians, Meshcheryaks and Tatars. The Russians profess the Orthodox Greek faith, and very many, especially in the north, are Raskolniks or Nonconformists The chief occupation is agriculture. ”