The Development of Transport System in Novorossia and Crimea on the eve and during the World War I

The article for the first time in historiography highlights a complex characteristics of transport system in Novorossia and the Crimea in the early 20th century. It shows an interrelation between the development of transportation routes in the region and the turning of Southern Russia into the Russian Empire's leading industrial centre and second-largest mining and metallurgical base. On the basis of previously unknown documents from the Russian State Historical Archives the author examines the state and the plans of further development of highway construction, measures for the improvement of navigation on the Dnieper and Southern Bug, and plans to join the basins of the Don and the Dnieper. Data about the work being done to improve railroad system during World War I are presented. It is concluded that the success in the development of the transport system was followed by further disarrangement of transportation as Russia's transport system failed to comply with the demands of Russia's industrial south particularly during the World War I.