POPULATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE URALS (SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURIES)

Perebeynos Artem Evgenievich, Ptashko Tatyana Gennadyevna, Pavlenko Elena Fedorovna, Trofimova Natalya Vasilyevna, Vladykina Larisa Borisovna

This article examines the role of the population and local governments in the public improvement of cities and towns in the Ural region (second half of the 19th to early 20th centuries). The research is based on statistical data, periodicals, and state archives. This article examines issues of urban improvement in the second half of the 19th to early 20th centuries. It describes the condition of buildings, squares, and roads in the towns and cities of Orenburg, Perm, Yekaterinburg, and Ufa. The reasons why these problems took a long time to resolve are identified, including the poor performance of local governments and the low level of public culture among the population. The role of the press in addressing urban improvement issues is analyzed (newspapers such as «Ekaterinburgskaya Nedelya», «Golos Priuralya», and «Troichanin»). The article describes the primary focus of local governments – compliance with the rules of the Construction Charter – which allowed for more effective urban improvement.

Keywords:urban improvement, local governments, press.