Development of Navigation and Merchant Trade on the Irtysh River in the Second half of the XIX century: Economic and Social Aspects of the Cities of the Irtysh Region

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of key aspects of the development of navigation and merchant trade on the Irtysh River in the second half of the XIX century, with a focus on the cities of the Irtysh region — Omsk, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. On the basis of archival documents, statistical reports and primary sources stored in the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the features of formation of river transport infrastructure and its influence on the economy and social structure of the region are considered. Special attention was paid to the introduction of the system of fees for transportation across the Irtysh in Pavlodar in 1864 as one of the first examples of local tax regulation of trade. It is shown that the fees contributed not only to the replenishment of the city budget, but also to the active development of infrastructure: construction of wharves, warehouses, and organization of river logistics. Shipping provided regular transportation
of grain, coal, industrial goods, which stimulated economic growth and the formation of new trade routes. The growth of transportation volumes was accompanied by an increase in the number of merchants, workers and artisans, which affected the social structure of cities. The development of water transport was accompanied by adaptation to seasonal limitations of navigation and integration with the railway network. In contrast to the Volga and Don rivers, where river transport gradually yielded to railroads, it retained its key role on the Irtysh until the beginning of the XX century. It contributed to their transformation into major trade
and transportation hubs, stimulated economic growth, formation of urban identity and development of international trade. It is concluded that the Irtysh navigation was strategically important for the economy, migration and social transformation of the cities of the Irtysh region. Thus, this study makes a significant contribution to understanding the role of water transport in the history of the Priirtysh region and demonstrates how local initiatives (introduction of fees, development of wharves) could influence macroeconomic processes in the imperial and international context.