Michael Speransky. Statesman of Imperial Russia, 1772–1839 - Marc Raeff

268 GOVERNING RUSSIA'S PROVINCES

result, not much time passed ere several new markets and fairs opened
up in Siberia and developed into most active trading centers.^1
In the hands of Treskin, the state granaries had become perhaps the
most important pretext for state interference in the economy and for
the administration's abuse of power. A reform of their organization
was a most pressing need. The state granaries could not be abolished
outright, for quite a few peasants and natives, especially in the remote
areas of the Northeast where harvests were very precarious, depended
on them to help them over lean periods. Speransky recognized this

function of the granaries, but he made it quite clear that in no case

should their essentially humanitarian and social function be perverted

for the benefit of the Treasury or of a few officials.^2 To this end, the

grain stores were put under the direct supervision of the president of

the Provincial Administration, i.e. the Civilian Governor and his

representatives in the district. In this way, it was hoped, the stores

would be used for the general interest of the entire population and

and not only for narrow local and selfish purposes.^3 Faithful to his

fundamental belief in the state's role of moral and spiritual leadership,

Speransky also emphasized the pedagogical aspect of the grain stores.

They could play a leading part in the promotion of agriculture in

areas where it was not practiced as yet. By their example, and with

their help, agriculture would be stimulated among the nomadic natives

and other backward groups. 4 In spite of defects in their implementa-

tion, the rules of 1822 did put an end to direct bureaucratic interference

in state stores, and their new organization did offer more incentive

for the peasantry's efforts and labor.

Naturally, the stability and prosperity of Siberia's economy, and more

particularly of its agriculture, depended on the increase of its land-

tilling population. Earlier in the century, Treskin and others had

endeavored to promote agricultural settlement and colonization. Speran-

to the first, in years of crop failure, is the network of village stores in the coun-

tryside and communal stores in the towns. But because in Siberia, due to the

character of its population, communal supplies cannot be established in every town,

there must be added a third means to the former two, state supplies." PSZ 29,133,

par. 26.

1 I. D. Zavalishin, Opisanie Zapadnoi Sibiri (Moscow 1862) I, p. 60; S. M. Seredonin,

lstoricheskii obzor deiatel'nosti Komiteta Ministrov (St. Pbg. 1902), vol. II, part 2,

pp. 228-229.

2 " •.• 2. not to prevent, but by all means foster private grain trade; 3. that state

grain stores serve only as aid in case of necessity, but not as a means of introducing

exclusive grain trade by the Treasury." PSZ 29,133, par. 7.

3 PSZ 29,133, pars. 9, 10.

4 The need of enlightening examples to stimulate agriculture was also felt by

Spcramky's old ~(hool Iriclld and Sihcria "cxpcrt," 1' .. . Slovlwv. See 1' .. . SlovlsoV,

Pis'ma iz Sibiri (Moscow 1828), p. 92. Also, PSZ 29,127, pars. 163. 164.