REPORT OF THE MILITARY GOVERNOR OF THE SEMIRECHEN REGION TO THE TURKESTAN GENERAL-GOVERNOR REQUESTING PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A CITY IN THE PISHPEK AREA IN CONNECTION WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CENTER
Verney, July 19, 1881
Due to the inconvenience of the location of the settlement of Bolshoi Tokmak for the presence of district institutions and the establishment of a city here, it was proposed back in 1869 to move the center of administration of the Tokmak district to Pishpek and to form a city here. The relocation of district institutions from Tokmak to Pishpek was carried out in May 1878.
At the same time, an order was issued to develop a plan for the establishment of the future city and the construction of buildings in this area, which plans were drawn up in August 1878, according to the given instructions, under the guidance of the Regional Engineer, approved by Your Excellency at the request of the Military Governor on August 31, 1878. These instructions consisted of marking separate quarters for private, municipal, and state buildings on the project plan, as well as for the construction of barracks, which should be arranged in such a way that, in case of any disturbances, they could serve as a stronghold.
The plan with six facade designs for buildings for guidance during the layout of the city and allocation of sites, as well as for the construction of private buildings, was sent to the Tokmak District Chief.
Against this project, objections were raised by the District Chief Major Sapozhnikov, stating that the Muslim cemetery, barracks, and hospital buildings would be located to the west of the city, i.e., in the direction from which the prevailing wind blows, which could adversely affect the sanitary conditions of the city with such a layout. Although the site for the Russian cemetery is indicated on the plan on the eastern side, it requires crossing three branches of the Alamedin River, which in the spring and summer is associated with significant difficulties due to high water levels, and the construction of bridges cannot be expected in the near future due to a lack of funds.
These objections cannot significantly affect the continuation of the relocation of the mentioned buildings and areas to other places, as the barracks and hospital buildings will be located near the northern outskirts of the city and, with their mandatory maintenance in cleanliness, cannot have a harmful influence on the city in terms of sanitation, while the Muslim cemetery will be located 300 sazhens from the city outskirts and, with such separation from residential buildings, cannot be considered harmful. The temporary impossibility of crossing the Alamedin River to the Orthodox cemetery can be resolved with temporary inexpensive structures for crossing. The objection that one quarter should be divided into ten nests, so that one site would be surrounded by external houses, as has indeed turned out according to the plan, is quite justified; this shortcoming can be corrected by eliminating sites No. 79, 82, and 83. In other parts, the project plan for the layout of quarters for private buildings, public and state buildings is considered entirely satisfactory. A project for the grazing land for the city has not yet been developed.
Regarding the specifics of the arrangement of the buildings themselves and the municipal economy in anticipation of the prompt resolution regarding the establishment of a city in Pishpek, instructions were already given to the District Chief in 1872, outlined in the order of that year dated September 28 under No. 4828, and consist of the following: considering that discussing and adopting specific measures for the better arrangement of the city is difficult for one District Chief, and that achieving this goal can be accomplished with the combined participation of several individuals, it was deemed necessary to establish a Committee, chaired by the Senior Assistant District Chief, consisting of members, including officials and residents, elected by the District Chief, with the Committee being tasked with making proposals on measures for the improvement of the city and exploring sources of municipal income, which proposals the Committee is obliged to present for the approval of the District Chief.
The settlement of the city should be carried out according to the plan of its layout. The quarters indicated on the plan should be divided into two categories, with the first category referring to the area around the market and church squares and generally central areas, while the others belong to the second category, so that houses on the first category sites are built with no less than 5 windows, and on the second category sites with no less than 3 windows. This directive was amended by the order of the Acting Military Governor to the District Chief on May 10, 1878, under No. 5299, regarding the allocation of sites exclusively for state and private buildings on the main street and square of the first category with no less than 7 windows on the facade, in the second category with 5 windows, and in the third category with no less than 3 windows.
Such a division of residential areas I find entirely justified, and accordingly, I consider it necessary to change the standard fee for sites of each category: to set the fee for the first category site at 10 rubles, the second category at 6 rubles, and the third category at 3 rubles.
Then, on September 28, 1872, under No. 1829, it was ordered: sites for construction should be granted to those wishing to own them only through public auctions, for which the person choosing a site must notify the District Chief, and if this site is not sold, the District Chief will set and conduct the auction for this site no later than one month from the time of notification, making the necessary publication in advance about the auction day. To maintain order in the allocation of sites to private individuals for house construction, all sites on the plan must be renumbered, and upon the sale of sites, marks should be made in a specially maintained book, indicating the numbers of the sites and the individuals to whom they will be sold, as well as the time of the auctions. Certificates or so-called "dannye" should be issued to those who purchase such sites.
The construction of houses must be carried out in accordance with Article 350 of the Urban Statute, with the permission of the District Chief according to the approved sample facades.
For guidance to urban residents when erecting buildings from adobe bricks, it is recommended to use the rules compiled by the Committee for the establishment of the city of Verny regarding the best methods and materials for such constructions, which are attached.
The construction of all kinds of buildings, fences, etc., from wood, as well as the transfer of wooden houses from other places, is prohibited.
Allow those wishing to purchase two adjacent sites and use one of them for a garden, enclosing it with a fence.
The purchaser of a site is obliged to commence construction within one year and complete the construction of a house on the first category sites no later than three years from the time of acquisition, on the second category sites no later than two years, and on the third category sites no later than one year; if houses in any category are built with more than a specified number of windows and from fired bricks, the construction completion period may be extended to five years.
Failure to fulfill these conditions will result in the loss of the site without any compensation, and the individual must bear the costs of the construction initiation.
Roofs for houses may be made from all permitted materials and, in addition, from shingles; houses in the outskirts of the city may be thatched with straw, reeds, and reed mats with clay covering according to the sartov method.
To supply the city with potable water, it is permitted to take two irrigation canals from the Alarchi River on the northern side and direct them into the already existing canal, arranging it in such a way that water remains in it at all times of the year, and to conduct one canal from the Alamedin River; irrigation canals must be laid along the streets, one for every two or three streets, allowing water from these irrigation canals to be diverted into gardens and yards through small irrigation canals, ensuring that water from these channels flows only into the main irrigation canal. The water supply canals and irrigation canals within the city limits must not be connected; both must be kept clean, and those responsible for polluting them must be subject to penalties according to Articles 25, 53, and 56 of the statutes on punishments imposed by magistrates. All types of canals crossing streets must be covered with solid bridges across the entire width of the streets at the expense of the owners of adjacent plots, and in the absence of such, at the expense of the city.
Although the establishment of shops in the market square would be more beneficial for the city to be funded from city funds, the available funds of 3000 rubles are insufficient; therefore, it remains to allow the District Chief to negotiate with local traders about whether they would like to build shops at their own expense with the right to use them for a specified period, after which they would transfer them to the ownership of the city or under other conditions not disadvantageous for the city.
Regarding the allocation of plots of land in the city grazing area, when it is designated for the cultivation of gardens, industrial enterprises, and for agriculture or sowing grass, it will be guided by Article 43 of the Urban and Rural Economy Statute.
Considering that the management of the municipal economy in the Semirechye region, according to the Draft Regulation on military-popular governance in this region, lies with the District Chiefs, I would propose to leave the management of the municipal economy in Pishpek under the authority of the District Chief until the introduction of the Urban Regulation in the cities of the region, based on the reasons outlined above, ensuring that general rules according to the Urban Economy Statute are followed.
The Acting Military Governor, Major General Eiler, in light of the establishment of the city in Pishpek, on February 13 of last year under No. 1350, approached the Chief of the Region with a proposal to allow those wishing to be enrolled in the merchant and petty bourgeois classes in Pishpek on the same basis as those enrolled in these classes in other cities, but His Excellency did not find it possible to grant this proposal in an affirmative sense until the renaming of the settlement of Pishpek into a city.
Meanwhile, there are many wishing to be enrolled in the merchant and petty bourgeois classes in Pishpek, and their prompt enrollment would invigorate this place with population, and the elevation of this settlement, built in 1880 with 90 houses, the number of which will continue to grow due to the influx of residents, as it is the central point of district administration, to the status of a city could follow without a plan, which could be presented later, as was done regarding the newly emerging city of Lepsinsk. Although the plan for the future city of Lepsinsk was ordered to be presented by the District Chief to the Regional Administration, in exchange for which it was promised to send a copy for guidance in the allocation of sites for construction, it has not been received to this day.
Presenting for Your Excellency's consideration the above reasons regarding the establishment of the city of Pishpek, I have the honor to request an order for the elevation of the mentioned settlement to the status of a city and to report that the Tokmak District Chief has simultaneously been instructed to send the plan prepared for the future city at this location directly to the Office of the Turkestan General-Governor.
Attachment: Rules on the best methods and materials for constructions from adobe bricks*.
Acting Military Governor, Chamberlain [signature]
CGA RUz. F. I-1. Op. 27. D. 1011. L. 18-23. Original.
Act on the Temporary Allocation of Grazing Land for the City of Pishpek. Document No. 8