Interethnic division of labor in Semirechensk Oblast according to the 1897 Census

The article explores the interethnic division of labor in Semirechensk Oblast at the end of the 19th century. The analysis of the 1897 Census data for the region showed that, in Semirechensk Oblast, the census took into account only 987,863 people, including 217,581 working persons and 77,0282 persons living at their expense. Occupations of the population as a whole provided for an expanded reproduction of the labor force. One employed person supported himself and an average of 3.5 dependents. Of the total number of the working population, 32,050, or 14.7%, belonged to alien peoples; 185,531, or 85.3%, to the indigenous peoples (Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Taranchins (Uighurs), Sarts, Dungans); 77,715, or 10.1%, of the dependents belonged to alien peoples; 692,567, or 89.9%, to the indigenous peoples of Central Asia. The share of self-employed persons among the alien population was 29.2%, among the indigenous population of the region 21.1%. The difference of 8.1% indicates the presence of military personnel, workers without families among the alien element. The indigenous inhabitants of Semirechensk Oblast were mainly engaged in animal husbandry 89867 ( 41.3%), agriculture - 79130 ( 36.4%), services - 5390 (2.5%), industry - 5879 ( 2.7%), trade - 5321 ( 2.4%), transport - 900 (0.4%). Only 29,433 indigenous residents of the region lived in cities, including 9,929 working people. The share of the indigenous peoples in the population of the cities of Semirechensk Oblast was significant, in contrast to Akmola and Semipalatinsk Oblasts, - 46.7%, but as part of the main Kyrgyz ethnic group of the region, the townspeople amounted to 6,643 people, or 1.1%. Taranchins (Uighurs) (10,772 people), Sarts (5,889), and Dungans (5,829) lived in the cities. The census took them into account mainly as employed in service, industry, and trade (Table 1). Alien ethnic groups prevailed in the cities of the region. These were Russians (25,350 people), Little Russians (2,369), Tatars (4,283), Jews (130). Mainly urban ethnic groups were local Sarts and new peoples - Jews, Tatars, and Poles. The author came to the conclusion that, by the end of the 19th century, the interethnic division of labor in Semirechenk Oblast, like in other regions of the Governor-Generalship of the Steppes - Akmola and Semipalatinsk, was preserved in relation to the largest Kyrgyz (Kazakh) ethnic group, still engaged in traditional cattle breeding. The Kyrgyz-Kaysaks of the region, like in other regions of Siberia, shunned cities and almost did not engage in industrial labor. However, in this region, Kazakhs resorted to agriculture as the main way of life support much more often. Taking into account the agricultural peoples (Uighurs and Dungans), the region had agriculture as the main source of food. The new peoples, with the Russian majority, differed little in their work in rural areas: they were also engaged in agriculture. The Great Russian population performed the main binding economic, cultural and managerial functions, preserving traditional agriculture as the leading occupation for peasants.