Discussion of the Routes of the Future Trans-Siberian Railway in Russian Scientific and Technical Societies in the 1870s - early 1890s.

Abstract

The search for the optimal route of the Trans- Siberian Railway took more than a decade in the second half of the XIX century. The discussions on this issue involved not only government officials, but also representatives of business circles, members of Russian scientific and technical societies, and broad public circles. Russian Geographical and Imperial Russian Technical Societies' activity in the 1870s - early 1890s to develop proposals on the route of the transcontinental railway, as well as on the use of waterways in the context of solving the problems of the construction of the Trans–Siberian Railway is considered in the article. The main sources were verbatim reports, reports and other materials published following the meetings of participants of these Russian scientific societies, as well as invited speakers. Discussions about possible directions of the future Trans-Siberian Railway line, which took place in the 1870s – early 1890s, contributed to the gradual formation of the main possible options for the route of the railway, taking into account, first of all, economic interests, financial opportunities, technical difficulties and construction deadlines. Some of the proposed solutions and recommendations were taken into account during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway in subsequent years. In addition, thanks to the participation of scientists, engineers and other specialists in these discussions, it was possible to formulate priority tasks for further topographic, geological, hydrological, climatic and other studies of the territories of Siberia and the Far East, which were planned to be carried out with the direct participation of the state, both in the context of railway construction tasks, and in general to expand knowledge about these territories.