The activities of the city government for the public utility development of the provincial cities of Left Bank Ukraine (19 – early 20 centuries)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the formation and modernization of the public utility system of provincial cities of Left Bank Ukraine late 18th – early 20th centuries. The Cossack regimental cities of the Left Bank Hetmanate-Chernihiv, Poltava and Kharkiv became the administrative centers of the Russian Empire at the end of the 18th century. The inclusion of these cities in the territorial structure of the empire becomes an impetus for the formation of municipal services of these cities. The functions of public utility institutions are performed by the Six-voice Duma, the police and the governor’s office during this period. These structures regulate urban space, illuminate the streets of the city and control the process of providing the population with water. The intensification of urbanization tendencies leads to the need to modernize the existing public utility complex in cities. The city government established after the 1870 City Reform is leading the process of modernizing the municipal sector. Water supply, electricity, and sewerage appeared in cities at this time. The functions of the city government changed. It focused on strategic planning for the development of the utility system. Special service centers were created to manage and maintain the facilities. The states of these structures consisted of qualified engineers and technicians who not only monitored the operation of the utility, but also provided services to the public.