The Influence of Railways on the Economy of the North East of the Don Host Region (60s – 90s of the 19th Century)

Abstract

Introduction. The article deals with the issue of the influence of the railways built in the 1860s – 1890s in the northeast of the Don Cossack Host Region on the economic development of this region. Methods. Published reports of railway joint-stock companies and archival statistical materials, observations of contemporaries show that this influence was ambiguous. Analysis and results. Gryaz-Tsaritsyn railway, which passed through the densely populated and fertile areas of Khopyorsky and Ust-Medveditsky districts, had the most positive impact on the economy. As a result, grain and livestock production significantly increased, agricultural marketability increased, old major trade and industry centers (Uryupinskaya stanitsa) were developing and new ones (Mikhaylovka sloboda, Privokzalny khutor) appeared. At the same time, the very first Volga-Don railway was mainly transit and had no noticeable impact on the development of the surrounding area, except for Kalach terminal station. Tsaritsyn- Tikhoretsk and East-Donetsk railways passed through the sparsely populated and infertile margin of the region, far from large settlements. Their influence on the local economy at first was rather negative and led to the collapse of the traditional horse carriage. The old trade centers, Nizhne-Chirskaya stanitsa and Kalach-on-Don khutor, were put in unfavorable conditions, which led to the slowdown in their development and the outflow of goods and traders to Oblivskaya and Morozovskaya railway stations.