Mining, to one degree or another, constantly developed throughout the empire. The huge reserves of minerals in the Urals and Siberia known to us since school times can be safely ranked natural storehouses in other territories - from the Far North, Transcaucasia, the center and to the outskirts of the Russian Empire. The mining department had trades in the Kingdom of Poland, on the lands of the Don Army and in other places. He was in charge of state and private mining enterprises of Russia, mines, mines, salt, oil and other industries, metallurgical and arms factories, as well as mints. The mining department had its own armed force - a mountain police guard, subordinate only to its superiors. The mountain ranks who served were largely closed from the outside world,a privileged and financially secure caste of mining engineers and officials of the mining department. At the same time, the number of "openers of underground storerooms" was relatively small on the scale of the empire. So, just over 3 thousand mining engineers graduated from higher mining educational institutions for the entire period up to 1917.
Mining department device
In Russia, until the beginning of the 18th century, there was no state body in charge of mining. Only in the summer of 1700, by the decree of Peter I, the Order of Mining Affairs was established. Two decades later, the Berg Collegium was formed, headed by J. Bruce. Later, the Mint Department was established under her. With the advent of ministries in 1802, all mining issues were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. In 1811, the salt part was transferred to the Mining Department of the Ministry of Finance. From 1834 to 1867, the mining service received a military device. At the head of the Corps of Mining Engineers was the Minister of Finance of the empire. Later, the civil service in the mining department was restored. Mining fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property. Beginning in 1882, the Mining Department was subordinate to all factories producing cast iron, steel and rails. In 1905, the mining department was again transferred to the Ministry of Finance, and at the end of the same year it was transferred to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Over time, the structures of the mining department on the ground turned into virtually closed territories in the vast expanses of the empire. The mountain police guard, headed by the mountain police officer, was involved in maintaining law and order. The issues of his service were under the direct jurisdiction of the governors and governors-general. The issues of his service were under the direct jurisdiction of the governors and governors-general. The issues of his service were under the direct jurisdiction of the governors and governors-general.
According to article 18 of the Mining Regulations, the empire had 62 mountain districts and 6 factory districts within the mountain regions (districts). Mountainous areas included several provinces. Local mining authorities were in charge of all current issues. The heads of these administrations were appointed and dismissed only by the king. Mining officials and engineers with grades VI and above were appointed and dismissed by the authority of the minister at the time.
A general idea of the scale and complexities of mining management can be obtained by reviewing the relevant legislation of the Russian Empire. The first version of the Mining Charter (1832) was a normative document containing 1847 articles, set out on 413 pages of printed text. In the introduction, a definition of mining was given, which is practically preserved in all subsequent editions of the Charter. Mining was understood as the search, extraction, cleaning, processing of minerals located on the surface or in the depths of the earth: 1) lands and stones; 2) metals; 3) salts - cooking and stone, alum, etc.; 4) flammable substances.
In 1842, as part of the new edition of the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire in the VII volume "Monetary, mining, salt regulations", the 2nd official edition of the Mining Charter was published. Compared to the previous edition, the document has been substantially supplemented. The number of articles increased by more than 800 - up to 2653 articles. In 1857, when the Charter was reissued, the text of 1842 was reproduced.
It should be noted that until 1893 the empire had two laws regulating the relations of subsoil use: the Mining Charter, which regulates mainly the development of ore, coal and oil deposits, and the Charter of Salt, which regulates the development of deposits of table salt and rock salt, alum, etc. salt of 1857 had about 300 articles containing legal norms in the field of management of salt fields in Russia.
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In 1866, a commission to revise the Mining Charter published a new draft that differed from previous editions. In its final form in the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire, it was officially published only in 1893. Of the 2653 articles of the Mining Charter of 1857, the 1893 edition included only about 50 articles unchanged. Approximately 1200 articles were fundamentally revised or developed anew, about 1350 articles were excluded.
Mountain table of ranks
According to the mountain table of ranks, in effect since 1734, the ranks were distributed as follows:
• Oberberg-Hauptmann - general rank of IV class; corresponded to the rank of major general.
• Bergrath, Ober-berg-Hauptmann - general rank of V class; corresponded to the rank of foreman.
• Berg-Hauptmann - general rank of VI class, corresponding to the rank of colonel.
• Ober-berg-meister - a headquarters officer rank of the VII class, corresponding to a lieutenant colonel in the military report card.
• Bergmeister, Ober-Hittenferwalter - VIII class staff officer rank, corresponding to a major.
• Mine surveyor, mechanicus, forstmeister - a staff officer rank of the IX class, corresponding to the captain.
• Obercegentner - a staff officer rank of the IX-th class, corresponded to the captain.
• Gittenferwalter - senior officer rank of the X class, corresponded to the lieutenant captain (lieutenant).
• Berg-geshvoren - chief officer rank of the XII class, corresponded to an infantry lieutenant (engineer second lieutenant).
• Ober-berg-assayer, rank-master - chief officer rank of the XIII class, corresponded to the second lieutenant.
• Berg-Assayer, Shikhtmeister - the lowest chief officer rank of the XIV class, corresponded to a warrant officer.
Previously, mining officials were divided into generals, headquarters and chief officers, although they were not formally considered military. Until 1834, to distinguish them from the ranks of other civilian departments, they had mountain ranks. After the establishment of the Corps of Mining Engineers (KGI), mining ranks were discontinued. Military ranks were introduced in the mining department. Renaming into military ranks did not affect all employees in the mining (and monetary) department, but graduates of the KGI Institute were issued with a military rank (mainly lieutenants - a rank equal to the X class). In 1867, after the transformation of the KIG into a civilian department, mining engineers were given the right to be renamed to the corresponding civilian ranks or to retain the military until production in the next rank.
A special form of mining engineers
In the Russian Empire, for the first time, uniforms for officials of the mining department were installed in the 60s of the 18th century. At that time, special uniforms were bestowed on most officials of the paramilitary and civilian institutions and departments. The mountain uniform (in the form of a caftan) was sewn of red cloth with trim (collar, cuffs, lapels, etc.) in green cloth. The headpiece is a triangular black hat. However, the military units transferred to the jurisdiction of the mining department and assigned to the factories wore an army uniform. From 1804, uniforms of a new type were installed for mountain officials. Now they were made of blue cloth with red piping and trimming with black cloth. In 1834, mining ranks and engineers who became part of the Corps of Mining Engineers (KGI) receive a general army dark green uniform. The trim remains black, but the edges are light blue. A special emblem in the form of crossed hammers appeared on the buttons.
Mining training
In 1773, the Mining School was founded, which in 1804 was transformed into the Mining Cadet Corps. Training in the corps was conducted according to military programs. Four lower courses were called cadets, and the next two were called conductors. Officers studied in the upper classes.
The educational institution was of a closed type. Pupils were divided into state, half-board and self-employed, depending on the method of payment for education. Children of noble origin, the headquarters and chief officers and the merchant class were accepted. In the latter case, the children of merchant breeders were especially singled out. At the end of the 19th century, class rules were relaxed. Now even peasant and soldier children could get a mining engineer diploma.
Education began at the age of 12. The curriculum included foreign languages (at least two), dancing, singing, fencing, history, geography, zoology, architecture, etc. Particular importance was attached to the study of foreign languages, which were necessary for reading technical literature and the formation of a noble caste. And the teaching itself at the Mining Institute was conducted in German.
The state provided children of mining officials and engineers with free education "both to encourage their service itself, and to respect that these children, by their first upbringing, are naturally more disposed to this kind of title than others." From the treasury, travel to the capital and uniforms were paid. At the age of 20, the graduate received the rank of the X class, and after 3 years - the IX class, which, according to the Table of Ranks, gave the right to personal nobility. The training of lower-level specialists was carried out by various state and private factory primary mining schools and courses.
Later, an allowance for raising children began to be issued in the amount of 200 rubles. However, the treasury annually allocated only 15 thousand rubles for these purposes. It is easy to calculate that these funds could only support 75 fellows.
As of January 1, 1899, 527 people studied at the Mining Institute for 1-5 courses. More than half of them belonged to the privileged estates: 144 from hereditary nobles, 147 headquarters and officers' children, 34 from honorary citizens. True, among the students there were also 56 people from peasants and soldiers' children. According to incomplete data, in the period from 1801 to 1900 (over 100 years!) 1892 people were graduated from the Mining Institute, or on average, 19 mining engineers per year. The maximum graduation fell on 1900, when 79 people received the diploma of the institute at once.
In 1899, the 2nd mining university was created - the Yekaterinoslav Higher Mining School. In 1900, 128 students were admitted to study at it, of which 50 came from hereditary nobles, the headquarters and the chief officer's children.
Mountain class
In his publication, E. Zabolotsky examines the conditions for the formation of a special mountain (departmental) class in the Russian Empire, which began to take shape from the times of Peter the Great. In his opinion, a 3-level social community was gradually formed from the "mountain people". The lower level consisted of former tax-paying, registered, state peasants, fugitives, those who served their sentences and other persons who became miners of the lower level. The middle level was formed from the lower ministers, specialists of various specialties and mining professions, as a rule, who did not have a special mining education. And the highest level (professional caste) consisted of mining engineers, officials of the mining administration and other executives in the mining industry. It is the representatives of the highest mountain class level that are most characterized by the professional continuity of generations,the formation of dynasties of mining engineers in the Russian Empire.
Many dynasties worked in the mining industry, which contributed to the development of the natural treasures of the empire. Among them are several generations of mining engineers from the Kulibin dynasty. Ivan Kulibin was a self-taught mechanic who did not even have a school education behind him. However, his technical solutions were far ahead of their time. From his youthful years he mastered turning, locksmithing and watchmaking. The unique watch, made by him as a gift to Catherine II, delighted the empress. She put him in 1769 at the head of the mechanical workshop of the Academy of Sciences. Later, the inventor created a unique bridge across the Neva, the first elevator, a scooter carriage and other technical innovations.
A self-taught mechanic gave all his sons a higher education. His son Alexander became a mining engineer. At the age of 36, he already managed state-owned gold mines. However, after 3 years he accidentally died while hunting. His sons Vladimir, Konstantin and Nikolai continued their father's work, becoming famous mining engineers. As E. Zabolotsky notes, the total number of mountain dynasties from the end of the 18th century to 1917 was 256, and the number of their representatives was 763 people, or about 25% of all graduates of the Mining Institute. Mountain dynasties with three or more representatives accounted for about 40% of the total (99 mountain dynasties, 438 representatives).
Conditions of service in the mining department
Mining engineers wore a specially established insignia and departmental uniforms. Wearing a uniform outside of duty was optional. Patents for the rank of a mining engineer in the officer rank were made by the Headquarters of the Corps of Mining Engineers. Grade patents for mining officials were issued by way of production for civil service ranks.
Mining engineers who were hired received salaries and table money "according to rank." Those employed directly in production received additional benefits for the upbringing of children and were members of the emerging funds. Mining engineers served, as a rule, at state-owned enterprises.
The length of service went from the moment of production to the first officer or civilian rank. Beginning in 1858, at the request of private societies, the corps officers received the right to enter the service of private entrepreneurs for a period of up to 3 years. While working in commercial societies, they received salaries "by agreement" from the owners of private factories and trades, and "by rank" - from the treasury at the rate of half the salary. From 1861, the payment of salaries from the treasury was abolished. Mining engineers assigned to serve in Siberia and Transcaucasia received benefits in the production of regular ranks. In 1887, there were 498 mining engineers in the empire; in 1896 - 721 people; and in 1912 there were already 1112 people. In general, mining engineers held a high position in the social structure of Russian society in the 19th century. For example,a mining supervisor had to have a mining engineer diploma or at least a certificate of graduation from a mining school. He was provided with uniforms, "free" accommodation. His salary was originally 900 rubles a year. Every 5 years for work at one mine, he was additionally added 100 rubles. The social status and material security of mining engineers strengthened their social security. The mining engineer profession has always provided a good income. The mining engineer profession has always provided a good income. The mining engineer profession has always provided a good income.
Mining department pension
The charter on pensions and lump-sum benefits for the mining department determined that the rights to receive a pension are enjoyed by:
1) mining engineers serving in the central institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property;
2) Mining engineers serving in local mining and plant offices;
3) Mining engineers serving in the mining factories, the imperial lapidary factory and the marble factory;
4) Employees at the St. Petersburg Mint;
5) Mining engineers serving in the assay department and some other categories of ranks and servants of the mining department.
The main condition for the appointment of a state pension in the mining department is "blameless in class ranks" and continuously being "in the mining service." If in class ranks, then with a length of service of 20 years, a pension was assigned in the amount of half the salary. If the seniority in the lower ranks was taken into account together and always in the mining service, then the same pension, but already for 25 years of service. Blameless service for 30 years (later - 35 years) gave the right to a pension in the amount of a full salary.
The historian Remizov compared the pensions of mining engineers and military men in the mid-19th century. So the captain (mine surveyor) received a pension of 420 rubles, and the lieutenant (obermeister) - 300 rubles. The general's pension reached 4 thousand rubles. Was the pension enough to maintain a decent lifestyle? Estimate for yourself: a pood of wheat flour in 1818 cost 1 ruble. 18 kopecks, and by the end of the 19th century - 97 kopecks. Rye flour cost 50 kopecks. for a pood. A pood of potatoes cost 1 rub. and 8 kopecks. Sugar was expensive and cost 6 rubles 15 kopecks. for a pood. A good house for living was offered for 500 rubles, and a rented apartment in several rooms cost 12-13 rubles. A good suit and boots were sold for 8 and 5 rubles, respectively. Prices are indicated for the mid-19th century and territories that were part of the mountainous districts, therefore, they may differ from the average for the empire.
In the event of the loss of a breadwinner from among the mining engineers, pensions were assigned to the family according to the general rule - half for the widow, the other half for the children in equal shares. But there were certain limitations. So, if the husband did not earn a pension, then the widow was given a lump sum in the amount of an annual salary. With a length of service of less than 10 years, only a half-year salary was issued to the allowance.
For daughters who received a pension for the loss of their father, its size depended on whether he died in the service or is already retired. Upon marriage, each of them received, in the first case, a lump sum of the father's full salary, and in the second, a full pension at a time.
The charter on pensions provided for the deprivation of pensions from everyone, "no matter what gender and condition," in the specifically listed cases:
- if they behave depraved;
- commit crimes;
- will be tried and found guilty.
Family retirement benefits were also affected if their husbands and fathers were legally deprived of their pension rights. In this case, the widow received half of the due half of the pension, in other words, only a quarter of the assigned pension to her husband. However, the orphans' pension did not decrease. Children have never been deprived of their father's pension.
These are just some of the features of the service of mining engineers in the Russian Empire.
Author: Mikhail Sukhorukov