Supply of bread to Tobolsk Governorate by the merchants during the period of bad crops at the turn of 1860s– 1870s (On the example of the merchant V. D. Zharnikov)

The subject of this research is the supply of bread to Tobolsk Governorate by merchants during the period of bad crops at the turn of 1860s–1870s. The article is based on the principles of historicism, integrity, objectivity, and comprehensiveness; general scientific and traditional methods, such as systemic, historical-comparative, problem-historical. The scientific novelty lies in introduction of the new unpublished archival documents reflecting the role of merchantry in supplying bread to the region during bad crops. The source base is comprised of archival documents of the State Budget Archive of the Tyumen Region in Tobolsk. The statistical and clerical sources, as well as periodicals are also used in the article. The author is first to thoroughly examine the role of the merchant V. D. Zharnikov, who offered the provincial authorities to sell bread to the population at a lower price. Namely his initiative allowed the poor population to purchase bread at affordable prices during the period of bad crops, which mostly affected the residents of northern Tobolsk Governorate. Timely delivery of flour by inland transport to the north of the region has played a significant role. This prevented the rise in bread prices and its shortage. The initiative Vasily Dmitrievich Zharnikov to purchase, deliver and sell bread to northern Tobolsk Governorate at affordable made a crucial difference for the region.