Development of communications of the Northern Black Sea region at the beginning of the 20th century

Abstract

The article gives description of the transport system of Novorossia and Crimea at the beginning of the 20-th century: the state and functioning of horse-drawn, rail and river transport in the Ekaterinoslav, Taurida, Kherson and southeastern parts of the Kharkov provinces. It shows the influence of natural and climatic conditions on transport development. Based on a wide range of sources and scientific literature the author considers plans for highway construction, improvement of navigation along the Dnieper, Southern Bug, Seversky Donets, projects for new railways, the bridge across the Kerch Strait. He notes the role of transport in the transformation of the south of Russia into the second mining and metallurgical base of the country, into one of the leading industrial centers of the Russian Empire. The results of the discussion of the state of the road network and the protection of the country’s water resources in the work of the Special Council on the needs of the agricultural industry, the role of zemstvo institutions in the construction and operation of the local road network, and the importance of the special Road Fund are noted. The article also characterizes technical condition of the river and railway infrastructure.