Free economic society definition. Where did the free economic society come from?

VEO emblems previous years

In 1765, a group of well-known figures in Russia (Count R.I. Vorontsov, Prince G.G. Orlov, Count I.G. Chernyshev, Senator A.V. Olsufiev and others) sent a letter to Empress Catherine II with the following content:

All-Merciful, Most Sovereign, Great - Wise Empress and Autocrat of All-Russia, All-Merciful Empress!
The reign of YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY is the plan for the fatherland in which our bliss is apparently accomplished. With Your Majesty's tireless work and care for the affairs, the integrity and well-being of the constituent Empire, apparently, your patronage acts so much for the Sciences and Arts; and hereby your subjects are encouraged in the hearts of lovers in educating themselves and in enlightening others. Looking at this, we, all our subjects, will unite by voluntary agreement to establish a meeting among us, in which we intend to work together to improve Agriculture and Housekeeping. Our zeal and zeal, no matter how great, but when they are not supported by the patronage of the Monarchs, then our work will be without implementation.
Members of the Free Economic Society

In her response message, Catherine wrote:

Gentlemen members of the Free Economic Society,
The intention you have undertaken to improve agriculture and house-building is very pleasing to us, and the work resulting from it will be direct proof of your true zeal and love for your Fatherland. Your plan and charter, which you have committed to each other, WE praise and, in agreement with the All-Merciful, we test that you called yourself a Free Economic Society. Please be trustworthy that WE accept it under Our special protection; For the seal you request, we not only allow you to use Our Imperial coat of arms in all cases, during your labors, but also as a sign of Our excellent goodwill towards you, we allow you to put your own inside it Our motto , bees in a hive bringing honey with the inscription Useful. On top of this, we most graciously bestow six thousand rubles on your society to rent a decent house, both for your meeting and for the establishment of an Economic Library in it. Your work with God's help you and your descendants will be rewarded with your own benefit, and WE, as we multiply your efforts, will not leave Our Benevolence with you.
Catherine
October 31 days
1765

The date indicated on the letter is considered the beginning of the existence of the world's oldest scientific and public organization, the first institute civil society in Russia.

Founders of the Imperial Free Economic Society
Having expressed full agreement with the program and charter of the organization, she approved the name - “Imperial Free economic society Russia." And as a sign of favor, she allowed the use of her coat of arms and motto in the symbols of the Society: “Bees bringing honey to the hive” with the inscription: “useful.”

Catherine II defined two main principles of VEO activity: to be “Imperial” (sovereign)- serve the Russian state; be "Free"- provide an independent and objective approach, representing diverse points of view, uniting for this purpose the constructive forces of the country: from the ruling to the opposition.

A prominent role in the fate of the VEO of Russia was played by outstanding economists, scientists, educators, statesmen, different years who were members of the Society: Leonard Euler, Dmitry Mendeleev, Andrei Nartov, Nikolai Beketov, Samuel Gmelin, Mikhail Kutuzov, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Ivan Krusenstern, Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, Gabriel Derzhavin, Lev Tolstoy, Alexander Radishchev, Nikolai Mordvinov, Grigory Orlov, Roman Vorontsov , Mikhail Speransky, Pyotr Stolypin, Sergei Witte. VEO of Russia had great merits to Russian state, served the goals and practical affairs of enlightenment. The first Charter of the Society stated: “There is no more convenient means of increasing the people’s well-being in any state than to try to bring the economy to a better state, showing the proper ways in which natural crops can be used with greater benefit and previous shortcomings can be corrected.” Society determined not only pressing problems in the economic life of the country, but also ways to solve these problems. The practical impact of the Society’s activities, its focus on effective reform, and the dissemination of new methods and technologies were no less important than the theoretical research of VEO members.

To encourage creative search in VEO, an effective system of organizational measures was developed:
- announcement of competitive tasks and awarding of winners with medals and cash prizes. Already in 1766, the VEO held the first competition on the question sent by Catherine II: “What is the property of a farmer - is it in the land that he cultivates, or in movables, and what right can he have to both for the benefit of the whole people?” This competition marked the beginning of future socio-economic reforms in Russia;
- research by well-known specialists and even commissions into the proposals of domestic inventors. At the same time, complex projects were subjected to many years of testing in different natural and climatic zones and by various persons, specially invited for this work;
- organization of exhibitions and sales of the latest agricultural machinery. In the second half of the 19th century. agricultural exhibitions began to be organized not only by provincial government bodies and societies, but also by district ones;
- and much more.

From the first days of VEO’s life, practical work began- free distribution of seeds, introduction of potato culture, hitherto unknown to Russians. In 1766, the Society raised the issue of spare stores and public plowing. Soon, VEO began producing smallpox vaccine for the population. However, the main activity of VEO remained economic analytics.

In 1801, Alexander I issued the highest decree addressed to the governors, requiring them to carry out the tasks of the Free Economic Society for collaboration for the benefit of Russia. At the direction of Nicholas I, the VEO prepared a conclusion on the effectiveness of the introduction of technical advances in Russian economy Since the 20s of the 19th century, the Society has been actively involved in issues of agricultural education; for these purposes, in 1833, Emperor Nicholas I granted VEO capital, which VEO used to train rural teachers.

In 1790, the Society developed and published an extensive program of local research entitled: “An outline for the ongoing task and reward of those works that will inform it about the economic descriptions of private Russian governorships.” In 1801, the VEO achieved the highest order to “compel governors to answer,” and from 1829 it collected the necessary information from landowners and the clergy. In 1847, the Society collected and published data on bread prices, forests and the timber industry, two years later it equipped a special expedition to collect information about the black earth belt, and in 1853 it published materials on agricultural statistics.

On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, VEO organized a congress of rural owners of Russia, at which the question was comprehensively discussed: “What should be the measures for the study of Russia in economically, and what participation both the Free Economic Society and other scientists can take in this matter.” On next year together with the Geographical Society, an extensive study was undertaken of the grain trade and productivity in Russia, which resulted in a number of scientific works(Barkovsky, Yanson, Bezobrazov and others).

Since 1870, the VEO began studying the activities of zemstvos and published a special “Zemsky Yearbook”, and in 1877 it undertook a study of the Russian community, which culminated in the publication of a solid collection. In 1889, the Society conducted a study of the arrears of peasants using the example of one of the districts of the Russian outback; in 1896-1898, a study was conducted of agricultural cooperatives in the Kherson province. At the same time, based on the reports of Chuprov, Posnikov, Annensky, the question of the influence of harvests on different sides economic life, according to the reports of Tugan-Baranovsky and Struve, the question of the direction of economic development of Russia was debated.

The financial problems of the country were also in the field of view of the members of the Society. In 1886, the VEO raised the issue of income tax, in 1893 sharply protested against the introduction of the salt tax, in 1896 discussed a project of monetary reform in Russia, and in 1898 petitioned for a revision of customs tariffs.

Since the 20s of the 19th century, the Society has been actively involved in issues of agricultural education. For many years, VEO maintained its own agricultural school, beekeeping school, had its own workshop and even a museum. While working on the problems of soil science, the Society summarized the well-known works of Dokuchaev in the book “Russian Chernozem”.

The Society paid great attention to statistical issues, developing methodology and ways of organizing valuation work. In 1900, a congress of zemstvo statisticians was convened under the special statistical commission of the VEO.

Since 1849, under the auspices of the VEO, numerous exhibitions have been held: herded livestock, dairy farming, agricultural implements and machines, dried fruits and vegetables, etc. In 1850 and 1860, the Society organized exhibitions of “rural works” on a nationwide scale. At several international and world exhibitions (Paris, 1878, 1889; Prague, 1879; Chicago, 1893 and others), VEO expositions received the highest awards.

Among the most significant achievements of the VEO, which were of particular importance for the development of the country, the following should be noted: members of the Society initiated the abolition of serfdom, the introduction of universal primary education, and developed a reform mechanism implemented by Alexander II. The society became the founder Russian statistics, the initiator of the dissemination of new varieties of agricultural crops in the country, the development of soil science, the formation of the domestic cheese industry and much more.

In 1909, the VEO had more than 500 members, and there were correspondents in a number of foreign countries. The Society existed thanks to government subsidies, numerous private donations and membership fees, had its own house in St. Petersburg, and at one time owned part of Petrovsky Island and an experimental farm on the Okhta River.

All scientific and practical activities of the VEO are reflected in the “Proceedings of the Imperial Free Economic Society” published from its very foundation until 1915 (281 issues), not counting over 150 separate works on various issues and publications of the Literacy Committee, which worked under the Society from 1861 to 1895 year. In addition, under the auspices of VEO in different time Periodicals were published: “Economic News”, “Circle of Economic Information”, “Atlas of the Museum of the Imperial Free Economic Society”, “Forest Journal”, “Economic Notes”, “Russian Beekeeping Leaflet” and others.
Privileged position VEO and the rights given to him were confirmed by each of the successors of Catherine II (with the exception of Paul I) upon their accession to the throne. The last highest rescript, given on November 21, 1894, drew attention to the useful activities of the Society and declared favor for its labors.

From the second half of the 1890s, the period of rapid prosperity of the Society's activities gave way to a time of increasing decline, which was facilitated by the liberal sentiments of some of its members, which caused discontent with the authorities. In 1895, the “unreliable” Literacy Committee was torn away from the VEO, in 1898, the Famine Relief Committee operating under the Society was closed, some publications of the VEO were banned, and the minutes of its meetings were confiscated. In 1900, the authorities banned public meetings of the Society, placed its work under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property, and demanded that the Charter be revised to limit it to narrow practical issues. VEO actually curtailed its work, restoring it in full only after the Tsar's Manifesto of 1905.

When did the first one break out? World War, VEO organized assistance to war victims, while simultaneously discussing wartime state budget issues and the situation of economic breakdown. During one of these meetings in 1915, the activities of the Society were suddenly interrupted and prohibited. After February Revolution In 1917, the VEO became more active again, and under it they even created the Petrograd branch of the League of Agrarian Reforms. In 1919, the first public organization of Russian economists ceased to exist. Only many years later, in 1963, the Society, which had done so much for the good of the Fatherland, was remembered in connection with a letter to the CPSU Central Committee from historian A.P. Berdyshev, who proposed celebrating the 200th anniversary of the VEO. But functionaries from the CPSU Central Committee and VASKhNIL blocked the initiative, considering it “inappropriate.”

The revival of the Society began in the 1980s, when interest in the profession of economist re-emerged. At this time, the Scientific and Economic Society was created, which at the II Congress was renamed the All-Union Economic Society. In 1988, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “Issues of the All-Union Economic Society” was issued. Outstanding scientists, practical economists, academicians L.I. actively worked as part of the Society. Abalkin, A.G. Aganbegyan, A.Yu. Ishlinsky, N.Ya. Petrakov, T.S. Khachaturov, S.S. Shatalin; Professor G.Kh. Popov, P.G. Bunich, N.N. Gritsenko, O.V. Kozlova, V.N. Kirichenko, A.M. Rumyantsev, A.D. Sheremet, V.N. Cherkovets, E.G. Yasin; managers government agencies(planning, financial, statistical and other economic departments): N.V. Belov, A.I. Lebed, N.P. Lebedinsky, N.V. Garetovsky, L.A. Kostin, V.S. Pavlov, N.I. Ryzhkov, V.I. Shcherbakov and many others.

In 1992, the organization of economists was returned to its historical name - Free Economic Society of Russia. VEO of Russia is the spiritual successor and continuer of the traditions of the imperial Free Economic Society, which is legally enshrined by the Ministry of Justice Russian Federation.

A huge contribution to the development of the Society’s activities rightfully belongs to the President of the VEO of Russia, Professor G. Kh. Popov.

The Free Economic Society was created in order to disseminate among the nobility progressive ideas for organizing agricultural work to increase productivity and make labor more rational. The society was created on November 11, 1765 and was under the patronage of Catherine 2 (it was the first scientific society in Russia), as part of the implementation of the ideas of enlightened absolutism. Society members published books, magazines, and held exhibitions. The article is devoted to a description of the history of the organization of the Free Economic Society, as well as an analysis of the main results of its activities.

For what purpose was the Free Economic Society created?

In the 18th century, Enlightenment ideas began to gain popularity in Russia. The basis of these ideas is the role of science and education in social and state progress. For the first time, the ideas of the Enlightenment came to Russia under Peter 1, as a result of which the Academy of Sciences was opened. Later, the spread of Enlightenment ideas led to the opening of a university and other educational institutions in Moscow. The peak of popularity of Enlightenment thinkers occurred during the reign of Catherine II. The Empress herself was on friendly terms with Voltaire and Diderot, who were considered classics of the French Enlightenment. Communication with Diderot forced Catherine to think about creating scientific publications in Russia, following the example of the Encyclopedia. Correspondence with Voltaire pushed the empress to create organizations that would bring progressive ideas to the people. The main sector of the Russian economy was agriculture, which is why this area required reforms, using the best practices and progressive ideas of Europe.

Creation of the Society

In 1765, dignitaries close to Catherine, Grigory Orlov and Roman Vorontsov, approached the Empress with the idea of ​​creating an organization that would disseminate progressive ideas of farming among landowners, as well as knowledge of livestock breeding and agronomy. According to the initiators, the Russian nobles knew only one way to increase productivity - expanding the territory, as well as increasing peasant duties. This is how a free economic society was born.

On modern language economy, landowners chose the extensive way of farming, and the newly created Society, and in fact a public organization, will disseminate the ideas of the intensive way, that is, increasing productivity through rational policies and scientific achievements (fertilizers, and later technology). The Empress supported the idea, and the Free Economic Society was organized. The two creators were also joined by Adam Olsufiev and Ivan Chernyshev.

Concerning organizational moment, then the Society was to be headed by a president, who was elected by the participants and approved by the monarch. Until 1783, Grigory Orlov was president. In the first years of its activity, the society published the journal “Proceedings”, on the pages of which articles were published about the latest methods of soil treatment and information about fertilizers. In addition, members of the free economic society collected statistical information about climatic features regions of Russia. The magazine was published until 1855, and in total more than 30 volumes were printed. However, the most high-profile event in the activities of the Free Society was an essay competition on improving peasant life.

Peasant reform competition

Later Free Society announced a competition for the best plan for solving the peasant question in Russia. The peculiarity was that foreigners could participate in the competition. Several interesting projects were submitted this way.

Among the Russian works, A. Polenov was singled out, who proposed to weaken serfdom in Russia as much as possible, transferring large plots of land to the peasants, but in return giving them duties. Polenov's work was never published because it contained a detailed criticism of the serfdom system in Russia.

The most radical project was Voltaire, who proposed completely freeing the peasants by transferring land to their ownership. The very fact of the participation of the great philosopher and poet in this competition attracted the attention of all of Europe to this event.

The winner of the competition was the project of the Frenchman Bearde de Labey, who proposed to free the peasants, but transferring small plots of land into their ownership, which would force them to rent the land from the owners - the nobles.

Despite the great interest in the competition, its ideas remained projects. However, despite this, for the first time the nobility faced the question of the future of the serfdom system.

Free economic society in the 19th century

In the mid-19th century, the Society expanded significantly and consisted of three sections:

• Agriculture;
• Agricultural equipment;
• Agricultural Statistics.

An interesting fact is that the society bought land near St. Petersburg and created a site for experiments there. This was called the Okhtinskaya farm. In 1899, the Society began publishing the journal Soil Science.

During the reforms of Alexander II, the Free Society became a place for discussing liberal ideas. That is why at the end of the century it came under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture, effectively ceasing to be a public organization. In fact, the Free Society ceased to exist in 1915; the society was finally dissolved in 1919 during the Civil War.

Has the society achieved its objectives?

Despite much scientific and statistical work, as well as the popularization of progressive methods of farming, historians question the effectiveness of the Free Economic Society. Today, most historians believe that the Society did not fulfill its task, because, despite a large number of publications, only a few nobles became interested in the modernization of the village. However, the very fact of the Society’s existence prompted discussions about the future of the village in Russian Empire. It was the Society that first forced the nobles to think about the serfdom system and its problems. Thus, the main merits of the Free Economic Society lie in the theoretical sphere; the matter never reached large-scale practice.

Companions of Catherine

It could not have happened without Orlov and Vorontsov... however, academicians also participated in his education. This society, as is already clear, arose during the reign of Catherine the Great (Second). The founders were very respected people of the state. Why was there a need to form such an association? It is explained quite prosaically. Russia at that time lived mainly in villages, of which there were about 100 thousand. As for the peasants, approximately 60% were in serfdom. Therefore, the establishment of VEO is not an accident.

There are a number of other reasons for the emergence of an economic society. Since Catherine herself did not favor serfdom, she wanted to change the situation of the peasants, but she was afraid of losing the support of the nobility, and therefore did not dare to come out openly with radical changes, and this is the mission that this organization was supposed to serve. By the way, this was the first union in Rus' where it was possible to gather openly without fear of being caught in treason or freethinking.

The second main idea was the dissemination of new, innovative means of farming and peasant farm at all!

A remarkable fact: the promised reward of 1000 chervonets to the one who better solves the problem of what the peasant needs more: movable or immovable property? As always, there were more questions... and Eksterina herself was not very consistent on this issue...

The nobles did not support the idea...

In fact, the hopes associated with this free economic society were not justified. If we look at the situation of the peasantry, it has worsened. An example is in the picture below.

But! There was one ruined nobleman who took up Catherine’s idea, Mr. Polenov, who left an essay “on the serfdom of Russia,” the main ideas of which were included in the reform of Alexander the 2nd, who abolished serfdom.

Conclusions: choose an option agricultural development in Rus'.

Reviews of the competition in other age groups:

• Reforms of Catherine 2. which led to a deterioration in the life of society?

About some important achievements of VEO.

“My motto is a bee, which, flying from plant to plant, collects honey to take it to the hive, and the inscription to this is “Useful,” wrote the Russian Empress Catherine II to Voltaire. The Empress donated this idea of ​​her “brand,” as they would say in our time, to the Imperial Free Economic Society created in 1765, the first steps of which we wrote about in the last issue of “Free Economy.” Let's see how the Society justified this motto.

Dreams of enlightenment

The Empress, who lived in the spirit of the Enlightenment, was friends and corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot, dreamed of changing the Russian Empire and continuing the course of reforms begun by Peter I. While the industrial revolution was underway in Europe, in the Russian Empire the main issue was the agrarian issue. IN agriculture 9/10 of its population was occupied, and droughts and crop failures led to famine and death. Catherine dreamed of the abolition of serfdom, but the alliance of the autocracy with the nobility in those years could not be called into question and undermined by premature actions.

Under these conditions, Catherine acted wisely: she blessed the birth of a third force - a social one, which first appeared in our country with the creation of the Imperial Free Economic Society.

From the first meetings of the Society, the problem of the life and work of peasants often came first.

Despite the fact that during the reign of Catherine II, serfdom only grew stronger, this strengthening was rather a reaction of the ruling class to the natural movement towards the liberation of the peasants; this topic reached the level of public debate, and the Overton Window opened. Catherine was in no hurry to make decisions of this level - the abolition of serfdom with insufficient preparation would have led to the most dire consequences. And the Pugachev rebellion did not add to the resolve.

Competitions

One of the most effective ways research public opinion, on the basis of which it was possible to conduct analytics and conduct research, there were VEO competitions, the task of which was to collect the maximum number of opinions of caring people. During the first century of work, 243 problems were assigned to them, which were offered to everyone who wanted to solve them.

In addition to love for the Fatherland, the obvious motivation for participation in them was awards and medals, as well as the opportunity for a social lift and support from an influential organization for the author of the study. For example, Efim Andreevich Grachev, a seed specialist and gardener who grew 4 tons of champignons a year, was a regular participant in meetings of the Free Economic Society, it helped him get rare seeds from abroad and supported him in every possible way.

Grachev became the winner of a dozen world exhibitions and, unlike most gardeners of that time, did not hide his “secrets”, but easily shared them.

Grachev’s example is not unique. Competitions of the Free Economic Society became an opportunity not only to learn more about the people, to find talents in society, but to give them the opportunity to develop. True, so far we have been talking mainly about the noble class.

Research method

The meetings of the Imperial VEO were not an empty “talking shop”; from the first days it relied on practice, on real steps to improve life based on research into the economic, and not only economic, situation in the country.

One of the early documents of the VEO noted: “What is not in Russia - everything you need is there; It is necessary in nature to take advantage of what is offered, knowledge, care and observation are required...”

At first there were projects of the Society related only to the peasantry and agriculture (for example, distributing seeds, organizing agricultural exhibitions, promoting potatoes), then the development of industry became the agenda.

Fighting smallpox

VEO showed itself decisively and prudently during the period of smallpox fever in St. Petersburg. The Free Economic Society spent a lot of money to educate the population and put a lot of effort into defending the idea of ​​universal vaccination.

Wanting to set an example for her subjects, Catherine II was vaccinated against smallpox herself. In memory of the empress’s deed, a medal was made with the image of Catherine on one side and the temple ancient Greek god the medical art of Aesculapius, from which the healed empress and heir emerge, on the other.

Wanting to set an example for her subjects, Catherine II was vaccinated herself, and after a successful outcome she wrote to the Prussian King Frederick II, who pointed out to her the unreasonable risk that she was “taught from childhood to have a horror of smallpox,” and therefore she chose to expose herself to the least danger... and thereby save many people.

In memory of the empress’s deed, a medal was made with the image of Catherine on one side and the temple of the ancient Greek god of medical art Aesculapius, from which the healed empress and heir emerge, on the other. At the top there was an inscription: “She set an example”; at the bottom there was a date: “October 12, 1768.”

In 1846, the first permanent smallpox vaccination office in Russia was opened in the VEO building.

GREAT FIGURES OF THE IMPERIAL VEO

Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov(09/05/1745 - 04/16/1813) - commander-in-chief during the Patriotic War of 1812.

Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev(08/20/1749 - 09/12/1802) - writer, philosopher, author of “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow.”

Leonard Euler(04/15/1707, Switzerland - 09/07/1783, Russian Empire) - mathematician, physicist, astronomer, chemist, etc. Contributed huge contribution in the development of many sciences.

Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky(01/1/1772 - 02/11/1839) - Russian statesman, progressive reformer under Alexander I and Nicholas I.

Dmitriy Mendeleev(01/27/1834 - 01/20/1907) - encyclopedist scientist, author of the periodic system of elements - one of the basic laws of nature.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay(07/05/1846 - 04/2/1888) - ethnographer, researcher of peoples South-East Asia, Australia and Oceania.

Nikolai Semenovich Mordvinov(04/17/1754 - 03/30/1845) - admiral, one of the founders of the Black Sea Fleet, chairman of the Imperial VEO in 1823 - 1840.

Sergei Yulievich Witte(06/17/1849 - 02/28/1915) - statesman, head of government, author of the policy of industrial development of Russia.

Museum

“To monitor foreign farming and order from those places where agriculture flourishes, models of the best arable implements and store them with the Society,” read the first text of the Society’s Charter.

By 1792, a lot of models had accumulated, and a curator was assigned to them; 11 years later, in 1803, a permanent agricultural exhibition - a museum - was opened at the Society. It was very popular: subjects of the Empire sent the Society from all over the country samples of fabric, seeders, microscopes, and wood crafts.

Soon the museum grew so large that the list of names of artifacts on display alone took up one hundred pages in the catalog.

In 1829, workshops were also set up on the basis of the museum, where they produced their own equipment. All the cars from there were immediately sold out.

Prototype of VDNKh

The idea of ​​organizing an exhibition of achievements National economy appeared long before the advent of the USSR. And if under Peter I small technical exhibitions were organized “for our own people,” then in the 19th century they became public.

The Imperial Free Economic Society began holding economic exhibitions under its auspices in 1849. They presented, in addition to the agricultural means of production already familiar from the museum, new products produced by different farms, advanced varieties of fruits, vegetables and much more.

At many prestigious exhibitions, including in Paris in 1878 and 1889, in Prague in 1879, in Chicago in 1893 and others, VEO exhibitions received the highest awards.

Education

Since the 20s of the 19th century, VEO has been actively involved in the problems of what we would now call education and enlightenment, including in the field of economics or national economy.

In 1833, Nicholas I donated capital to the Society for these purposes, and VEO began training teachers for the village.

In 1880, VEO submitted its project for peasant rural schools to the Ministry of State Property. They were supposed to work for all classes, children and adults from 14 years old were accepted for training, students had to master the course in four years.

The disciplines were the following: Russian language, God's law, reading and penmanship, geometry and arithmetic, natural science and geography. “Cattle breeding with practical instructions on veterinary art and hygiene” was also studied. Optional subjects were gymnastics, accounting and singing.

The project was approved by the ministry. Already in 1898, there were 110 rural schools in the Russian Empire, with 4,033 students.

In 1904, a three-tier education system was formed in the country. By 1910 in Russia in 243 educational institutions More than 20,000 people were trained in agriculture.

Scientific work

In terms of the total number of scientific luminaries and “remarkable people” in its ranks, VEO confidently holds first place among public organizations in the history of the Russian Empire. These are hundreds of outstanding people

Let's list just a few: Sergei Witte, Leonard Euler, Dmitry Mendeleev, Mikhail Kutuzov, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Ivan Krusenstern, Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, Pyotr Stolypin, Gavriil Derzhavin, Lev Tolstoy, Alexander Radishchev, Nikolai Mordvinov, Grigory Orlov, Roman Vorontsov, Mikhail Speransky .

Such a “star cast” was assembled long years. By attracting ethnographers, geographers, chemists, physicists, mathematicians, biologists, travelers, industrialists, the Free Economic Society limitlessly expanded the range of its work, which means it brought more of the benefits commanded by Catherine the Great.

VEO as an expert institute

As we have already noted, one of the key areas of IVEO activity was economic analytics - information was collected from the regions, research and expeditions were carried out, and the Zemsky Yearbook was published.

From the first days of its existence, the society was actively involved in publishing activities - it distributed millions of copies of brochures and books free of charge, including more than 126 publications of its Literacy Committee.

During the First World War, a Special Commission was created in the Free Economic Society for the needs of the war.

At the expense of the Society, the famous Voentorg was created in Moscow and comprehensive assistance was organized for victims of the war - from collecting donations and supporting hospitals to organizing societies in villages that were provided with guardianship.

This is just a quick look at some outstanding milestones in the work of the Imperial Free Economic Society; of course, there are much more of them and it is worth talking about them in more detail, which we will do in the following issues of the magazine.

Text: Alexey Rudevich

EDUCATION IS THE BASIS OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS
DECEMBER 3, 1897 GENERAL MEETING OF THE IMPERIAL FREE ECONOMIC SOCIETY
From the Chairman's report III Division Professor Leonid Vladimirovich Khodsky on the issue of lowering duties on cast iron.
“The past 12 years of systematic patronage of iron-smelting and iron-making factories have not brought the desired results... If over the past decade all factories have not been able to catch up with Europe in technology in order to compete with it, this situation will continue. We are moving forward, but the progress of technology in the West does not stop, waiting for the East to catch up with it. In achieving the latter goal, duties are powerless. This could only be achieved by developing the Russian folk genius through general education and the dissemination of technical knowledge among the masses of the population. Only with such an internal patronage policy, sparing no effort and Money“You can conquer not only domestic but also foreign markets with your industry.”
REFERENCE

L.V. Chodsky (1854–1919) - Russian economist, publicist, professor at St. Petersburg University. In the 1890s he was chairman of the III Department of the Free Economic Society (agricultural statistics and political economy). He wrote several textbooks on political economy (2 editions, 1884 and 1887), on finance (“Fundamentals of State Economy”, 1894) and on statistics (1896).

You can learn more about the history of the VEO from volume 200 of the “Proceedings of the Free Economic Society of Russia,” which is entirely devoted to the activities of the Imperial Free Economic Society. It is available in .pdf format on the organization’s website - veorus.ru. There, in the “Library” section, digitized pre-revolutionary volumes of the Society’s works from the day of its founding are posted.

Our Society is the oldest non-governmental organization in the country. It was founded when economics did not even exist as a science. In the second half of the 18th century, when the industrial revolution was already underway in the West, the agrarian issue - the development of agriculture - came first in the Russian Empire. In the wake of this process, 250 years ago the Imperial Free Economic Society was created.

Catherine II, who was deservedly considered one of the most enlightened monarchs in Europe, announced a decree in the Senate on September 2, 1763: “to establish an agricultural class at the Academy, i.e. agriculture, and on what basis it should be.” The very next day, court librarian Ivan Taubert and academician Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov decided to “establish a special Commission.”

It is interesting that, although Lomonosov signed this document, he insisted that this institution should work outside the Academy of Sciences - Mikhail Vasilyevich knew too well the bureaucratic red tape that threatened to nullify all the empress’s dreams of quick solution agrarian question. Lomonosov himself sketched out the project of the College of Zemstvo House Construction. The scientist saw a way out of the current situation in agriculture in the use of “ scientific approach“, but for its formation, Mikhail Vasilyevich proposed using not so much the knowledge of foreign academicians as collecting information among the general public in Russia.

Lomonosov's wisdom was that he proposed creating an independent society working in the interests of the state, but at the same time remaining a platform for the expression of free opinions. At first it seemed impossible to do this, but the empress was convinced that if she did this, it would be easier and clearer for her to govern the empire, because she would be able to accept more right decisions and will be able to rely on the opinions of other people.

Although Lomonosov himself did not live to see the creation of the Imperial Free Economic Society, it is believed that it was his developments that formed the basis of the future first public organization in Russian history.

Creating a VEO in two letters

In 1765, a group of well-known figures in Russia (Count R.I. Vorontsov, Prince G.G. Orlov, Count I.G. Chernyshev, Senator A.V. Olsufiev and others) sent a letter to Empress Catherine II with the following content:

“The Most Merciful, the Most Powerful, the Great - the Wise Empress and Autocrat of All Russia, the Most Merciful Empress!
The reign of YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY is the plan for the fatherland in which our bliss is apparently accomplished. With Your Majesty's tireless work and care for the affairs, the integrity and well-being of the constituent Empire, apparently, your patronage acts so much for the Sciences and Arts; and hereby your subjects are encouraged in the hearts of lovers in educating themselves and in enlightening others. Looking at this, we, all our subjects, will unite by voluntary agreement to establish a meeting among us, in which we intend to work together to improve Agriculture and Housekeeping. Our zeal and zeal, no matter how great, but when they are not supported by the patronage of the Monarchs, then our work will be without implementation.

“...use our own motto: “useful.” Catherine II.

In her response message, Catherine wrote:

“Gentlemen, members of the Free Economic Society,
The intention you have undertaken to improve agriculture and house-building is very pleasing to us, and the work resulting from it will be direct proof of your true zeal and love for your Fatherland. Your plan and charter, which you have committed to each other, WE praise and, in agreement with the All-Merciful, we test that you called yourself a Free Economic Society. Please be trustworthy that WE accept it under Our special protection; For the seal you are requesting, we not only allow you to use in all cases, during your labors, Our Imperial coat of arms, but also as a sign of Our excellent goodwill towards you, we allow you to put Our own motto inside it, the bees bringing honey to the hive with the inscription Useful. On top of this, we most graciously bestow six thousand rubles on your society to rent a decent house, both for your meeting and for the establishment of an Economic Library in it. Your work, with God's help, will be rewarded to you and your descendants with your own benefit, and WE, as we multiply your efforts, will not leave Our Favor to you.

Catherine
October 31 days
1765."

The date the empress wrote the letter began to be considered the date of the foundation of the VEO, and the emblem proposed to her - a beehive with bees around and the motto “Useful” - was the symbolism of the Society.

The first fruit of the work

One of the main questions that was resolved in the first year of the Free Economic Society was the question of “Which of our earthly products is more consistent with the general benefit and spread of our commerce.” By the way, this first conclusion of the VEO is still relevant for Russia 250 years later. Having compared the information collected, VEO specialists came to the conclusion that it was wheat. It was not very popular among the people, but was highly valued abroad, that is, its export did not threaten the food security of the Russian Empire and was very profitable financially.

VERSATILITY
From the very beginning, the Free Economic Society dealt not only with strictly economic issues, but, for example, with health problems. In the first volume of the works there is an article on this topic: “It is known that many who come from remote places both strangers and local Russians, having been here for some time, you are possessed by an illness that is, although not dangerous, but boring. This is diarrhea, which, being small at first, is mostly neglected; but when it gains its strength, it does not stop soon and continues for several weeks in a row. Visitors to Paris also suffer from a similar disease, and there it is called le mal de Paris - the Parisian disease.”

In the proceedings of the Society, the first competition was announced with a reward: 25 red and Golden medal were promised to the one who “in the coming 1766, more than anyone else, will bring wheat grain for shipment overseas”, to the St. Petersburg or Arkhangelsk ports, “and prove that this amount was actually released to foreign lands on Russian and foreign ships, but not less than 500 to 1000 quarters.

Reward for labor

The first sketch of the awards was prepared by the chief librarian of Catherine II, actual state councilor Ivan Ivanovich Taubert.

The medals were cast at the Mint. The Empress personally reviewed the design drawing and gave her recommendations. On front side The gold medal depicted a portrait of Catherine II. On the reverse of the medal, against the backdrop of a rural landscape with a plowing peasant in the foreground on the right, Ceres is depicted sitting on a sheaf. Above the image is the inscription “REWARD FOR WORK.”

It is important to note that the medals of the Free Economic Society could be used as a means of payment and had their own value. During the first 100 years of VEO's work, almost 250 competitions with valuable awards were held. They were awarded for useful proposals for the modernization of rural and industrial equipment, for solving pressing problems of the agricultural complex, for describing and improving crafts, and for much, much more. Also, medals were awarded to the most active members of the VEO “in honor for their excellent work” medals at different prices.

VEO and potatoes

In Russia there is a special attitude towards potatoes. It is called “second bread”, and it is difficult to imagine a higher title in the Russian culinary hierarchy. It is all the more surprising that even 150 years ago, Russian peasants poisoned potatoes en masse, fought against its cultivation and staged so-called “potato riots,” in which up to half a million people took part.

The credit for the fact that potatoes have become the second most important product in the Russian diet goes to the Free Economic Society. In 1765, the year of its establishment, a special Senate Instruction “On the cultivation of earthen apples” was published. At the same time, the Novgorod governor Yakov Efimovich Sivers was sent from St. Petersburg four quadruples (more than 100 liters) of “red long-kind earthen apples.”

In accordance with the recently issued order, Sievers planted the resulting potatoes on his estate and in the villages. The harvest on different soils turned out to be so good that the very next year Sievers ordered the planting of “earth apples” throughout the province. Yakov Sivers passed on the results of his observations to the Free Economic Society. The Novgorod governor reported:

“Those planted in holes, one foot square, filled with manure and soil remained small, although others multiplied to two hundred. Those planted in small holes, in which only one part of the manure was placed, grew better and larger, numbering from 100 to 200. Planted under a plow, through two furrows into a third, and an apple half an arshin away from the other in the furrow, they brought it in a simple sandy soil up to 25 grains."

The potato cultivation program in Russia can be called one of the first successful large-scale actions of the Free Economic Society. By the middle of the 19th century, potatoes took root in Siberia and even in Yakutia, at which time potatoes began to move from garden crops into the field - and domestic potato growing began to emerge. Dozens of brochures and books about potatoes published by the Imperial VEO were very popular in Russia and were reprinted several times. The last re-edition of the book on potato cultivation, with reference to the Free Economic Society, was published in 1938.

National problem of VEO

The story about the beginning of the Free Economic Society would be incomplete if it were not said about the difficulties that the creators of the Free Economic Society had to overcome at the dawn of its existence.

The first problem was a national problem. As the botanist and memoirist Andrei Bolotov wrote in his “Notes”: “The first active and learned members of it were, besides Mr. Nartov, all Germans and foreigners who did not know briefly the consciousness of our people and their estates and had incomparably better thoughts about them and our housebuilders rather than what you should have.” Foreigners “wrote everything out of place and not in accordance with either our climate or customs.” This critical discrepancy with the people, according to Bolotov, led to the fact that the attitude towards the work of the Free Economic Society became frivolous, it “completely lost respect for itself.”

Despite the fact that VEO books were relatively inexpensive, they did not have the proper demand, no one was promoting them, and at that time there were only two bookstores in the country, according to Bolotov: in Moscow at the University, and in Petersburg at the Academy. It was only six years after the Society's founding that efforts began to market VEO books. All members of the Free Economic Society became obliged to have the works of the Society, and, if possible, they had to distribute them; volumes of the works of the Free Economic Society were sent to the provinces; control over their sales lay with the governors.

On the verge of loss

Also, postal costs, and not only monetary ones, became a problem for the Free Economic Society immediately after its creation. In many cities of the Russian Empire at that time there were no ordinary post offices, but only state offices, which not everyone could use. It is interesting that in the first version of the appeal to Catherine II there was a clause about free postal delivery for members of the Free Economic Society, but it was removed.

LINK TO ARCHIVE
The Free Economic Society is very careful and attentive to preserving its history. The entire archive of works since 1765 in digitized form can be found on the VEO website http://veorus.ru/ in the “Library” section

Also, the problem of the Society at first was its “saloniness”. Perceiving membership in the VEO as an opportunity to receive privileges, people who were not always the most useful to the Society joined it. Because of this, the importance of membership in the VEO was devalued, the Society began to be treated as something formally corporate and frivolous, works in 1776-1779 were published irregularly and the VEO was on the verge of losing itself.

Everything was changed by the return from abroad of Andrei Nartov, president of the Berg College and the Mint, and the election of the count, adjutant general of Catherine II, Fyodor Evstafievich Anhalt, to the presidency of the VEO. Their joint work revived the Society and returned its lost positions.