Paper long abstract:

The history of the presence of the Russian Empire in Central Asia knows examples of the implementation of various governance models, each of which was established depending on the problems that the government intended to solve on a particular territory. Among these tasks was chosen the main one, which determined not only the facade of any administration model but also its subordination. At the turn of the 1860s - 1870s. two objectives of the occupation of Krasnovodsk were defined in the decisions of the supreme authority: the development of transit trade with khanates and the pacification of Khiva. It is possible that the order of priorities made for the eastern Caspian coast was based on the foreign policy considerations rather than determined by the lack of familiarity with regional conditions. One way or another, the formulated goals predetermined the emergence of dual power in Krasnovodsk, when the security issues of servicemen, Russian and foreign traders were attributed to the competence of commander of the military detachment, but the trade promotion, legal proceedings for commercial disputes, the certification of various acts, customs operations, the collection of numerous information and the development of proposals for the administrative organization, an industrial development and improvement of the legal status of natives have become the areas of responsibility of the Agent of the Ministry of Finance. The further course of events put everything in its place. The Khiva campaign of 1873 predetermined the further existence of the Trans-Caspian region under the aegis of the War Ministry.

The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the framework of the research project No. 18-09-00078 "Policy of the Russian Empire in Central Asia. The late 19th and the early 20th centuries".

Paper long abstract:

During the First World War (1914-1918), speculation and inflation reached unprecedented proportions, which had a negative effect on the reproduction of agricultural products. Despite all the obstacles and obstacles on the part of the imperial administration, commercial banks increased lending to large usurers and firms in the Fergana Valley, which "captured" all cotton exports to central Russia. The excessive consolidation of large sums in the cotton sector had a negative impact on the entire economy of the Turkestan Governor-General.

The World War, which began in August 1914, had a positive impact on the Ferghana cotton market. "The termination of the correct delivery of the American fiber to the Russian market caused immediately among Moscow manufacturers an increased demand for Central Asian cotton. Prices for raw 4.20 ruble immediately rose to 5.50 ruble, and clean fiber with 15 ruble. It came to 17 ruble. The cotton stocks that remained at cotton firms that had not been sold since the last harvest were in great demand and some firms had the opportunity to make good money. " Firms spread rumors among the population that manufactory factories are closed and there is no demand for cotton, and bought cotton at low prices. The Kokand branch of the State Bank, through small loan inspectors, refuted these rumors and reported cotton prices on a weekly basis at the Moscow stock exchange.

Based on my observations, I believe that economic processes in 1914-1917 need to be interpreted as "a lot of stories" that unfolded in the "heterogeneous" (economically) Turkestan. Based on this, I think: 1) World War I intensified the integration of Turkestan into the imperial space (speculation, inflation); 2) speculation in the markets of Fergana, Samarkand and Tashkent increased the amount of money from the local population and thus it paid off from mobilization for logistical work.