DOI issue:
Rozprawy
DOI article:Arciszewska, Barbara; Górzyński, Makary: Urban narratives in the age of revolutions: early 20th century ideas to modernize Warsaw
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42380#0114
112
BARBARA. ARCISZEWSKA, MAKARY GÓRZYŃSKI
towns. Before the outbreak of the World War in 1914, for instance, only
a few major cities in the Polish Kingdom (Warsaw, Lublin, Płock, Ży-
rardów and Łomża) were able to construct modem waterworks or sewers,
not to mention a proper communication infrastructure or public institu-
tions devoted to education or culture33.
Under these circumstances, how was the development of Warsaw
perceived at the time? Thanks to the energy and initiatives of general
Sokrat Ivanovic Starynkievic (1820-1902), the president of Warsaw mu-
nicipality between 1875—1892, the city was able to build modem sewers,
waterworks and start modernization of its public services34. It was his
leadership that guided the municipal administration through the Im-
perial agendas, navigating between their sometimes blurred competences
and ambiguous attitudes towards modernization of cities in Russia35. Su-
ligowski praised Starynkievic for his ability to introduce some regula-
tions exceeding the boundaries of the legal system established after 1870.
But he also stressed that Warsaw’s public investments, when compared
with other European cities, with Polish towns under the Prussian and
Austrian rule or even with communities in Russia, were inadequate;
probably because the actions of municipal bureaucrats lacked vitality36.
In 1906 the Journalist and historian Stefan Górski (1882-1941) pub-
lished a report entitled “The financial economy of Warsaw” (Gospodarka
finansowa Warszawy)2,1. According to his study, in 1874 Warsaw spent
18 times more money on police than on public schools38. The municipal
budget, controlled by the Russian authorities, was clearly impaired by
the excessive maintenance of state police and military units, while other
essential services suffered. In 1903 the Russian Ministry of Internal Af-
fairs permitted Warsaw municipality to take a 33-million ruble loan in
Credit Lyonais and Deutsche Bank. It ought to have been an investment
fund to finance a new central slaughterhouse, electric cable cars, three
new market halls, two buildings for elementary schools and the third
33 Chwalba, op. cit., p. 40.
34 A. Słoniowa, Sokrates Starynkiewicz, Warszawa 1981; „Pełniący obowiązki...” - So-
krates Starynkiewicz w Warszawie, ed. A. Sołtan, Warszawa 2011.
35 See: M. Rolf, Imperiale Herrschaft im städtischen Raum. Zarische Beamte und
urbane Öffentlichkeit in Warschau (1870-1914), in: Russlands imperiale Macht. Integra-
tionsstrategien und ihre Reichweite in transnationaler Perspektive, ed. B. Pietrow-Ennker,
Köln 2012, pp. 123-153.
36 J. Holewiński, Przyszły rozwój Warszawy, Warszawa 1911; Martyn, op. cit., p. 46
compares population density in Warsaw and other European capitals, stressing neglect of
Warsaw suburbs, lacking proper infrastructure and sanitation.
37 S. Górski, Gospodarka finansowa miasta Warszawy, Warszawa-Kraków 1906.
38 Ibidem, p. 19.
BARBARA. ARCISZEWSKA, MAKARY GÓRZYŃSKI
towns. Before the outbreak of the World War in 1914, for instance, only
a few major cities in the Polish Kingdom (Warsaw, Lublin, Płock, Ży-
rardów and Łomża) were able to construct modem waterworks or sewers,
not to mention a proper communication infrastructure or public institu-
tions devoted to education or culture33.
Under these circumstances, how was the development of Warsaw
perceived at the time? Thanks to the energy and initiatives of general
Sokrat Ivanovic Starynkievic (1820-1902), the president of Warsaw mu-
nicipality between 1875—1892, the city was able to build modem sewers,
waterworks and start modernization of its public services34. It was his
leadership that guided the municipal administration through the Im-
perial agendas, navigating between their sometimes blurred competences
and ambiguous attitudes towards modernization of cities in Russia35. Su-
ligowski praised Starynkievic for his ability to introduce some regula-
tions exceeding the boundaries of the legal system established after 1870.
But he also stressed that Warsaw’s public investments, when compared
with other European cities, with Polish towns under the Prussian and
Austrian rule or even with communities in Russia, were inadequate;
probably because the actions of municipal bureaucrats lacked vitality36.
In 1906 the Journalist and historian Stefan Górski (1882-1941) pub-
lished a report entitled “The financial economy of Warsaw” (Gospodarka
finansowa Warszawy)2,1. According to his study, in 1874 Warsaw spent
18 times more money on police than on public schools38. The municipal
budget, controlled by the Russian authorities, was clearly impaired by
the excessive maintenance of state police and military units, while other
essential services suffered. In 1903 the Russian Ministry of Internal Af-
fairs permitted Warsaw municipality to take a 33-million ruble loan in
Credit Lyonais and Deutsche Bank. It ought to have been an investment
fund to finance a new central slaughterhouse, electric cable cars, three
new market halls, two buildings for elementary schools and the third
33 Chwalba, op. cit., p. 40.
34 A. Słoniowa, Sokrates Starynkiewicz, Warszawa 1981; „Pełniący obowiązki...” - So-
krates Starynkiewicz w Warszawie, ed. A. Sołtan, Warszawa 2011.
35 See: M. Rolf, Imperiale Herrschaft im städtischen Raum. Zarische Beamte und
urbane Öffentlichkeit in Warschau (1870-1914), in: Russlands imperiale Macht. Integra-
tionsstrategien und ihre Reichweite in transnationaler Perspektive, ed. B. Pietrow-Ennker,
Köln 2012, pp. 123-153.
36 J. Holewiński, Przyszły rozwój Warszawy, Warszawa 1911; Martyn, op. cit., p. 46
compares population density in Warsaw and other European capitals, stressing neglect of
Warsaw suburbs, lacking proper infrastructure and sanitation.
37 S. Górski, Gospodarka finansowa miasta Warszawy, Warszawa-Kraków 1906.
38 Ibidem, p. 19.