Part 2. From the history of khabarovsk

Vocabulary:

distinguished [ ] – выдающийся

to predetermine [ ] – предопределять

urgent [ ] – срочный

to sign a treaty – подписать договор

commander in chief – главнокомандующий

ancestor [ ] – предок

to submit to smth. – подчиняться

advantageous [ ] – выгодный

disadvantageous [ ] – невыгодный

colonel [ ] – полковник

to assemble – собирать

orthodox [ ] – православный

synagogue [ ] – синагога

joint-stock society – акционерное общество

lantern [ ] – фонарь

pious [ ] – набожный

exile [ ] – ссылка

achievement [ ] – достижение

Ex. 1. Read and translate the text.

From the history of Khabarovsk foundation and development.

Success of Russia at Amur was predetermined by joining of efforts of two distinguished state figures – Nikolay Nikolaevich Muravyov and Gennadiy Ivanovich Nevelskoy. The explorer admiral Nevelskoy made a lot for foundation and development of the Russian settlements in the Far East. He had a talent in choosing the geographical point for a settlement (Nikolaevsk is one of them). Nevelskoy understood the importance of the Priamurskiy and Priussuriyskiy regions for Russia and really felt the state strategic value of the place between the rivers Ussury and Amur for the foundation of a town. In February 1854 Nevelskoy wrote to Muravyov: ”I beg your excellency to order to set up a post of 30 people at the Ussury estuary…it is the place, where we should concentrate our activities and management of the region. Nowadays this post should become the starting point for communication with the harbor, chosen in the south, as well as for the research of Ussury and Low Amur basins.” The foundation of the range of settlements became necessary and urgent after signing Aigun treaty on the Russian-Chinese border by the general-governor of the Eastern Siberia count Muravyov and the Chinese amur Commander in Chief in May, 1858. The military post named after Khabarov was founded on May 31, 1858 by order of Muravyov-Amurskiy (awarded the additional name after signing the treaty). It was the military post of the 13-th linear battalion commanded by the captain Yakov Vassilievich Dyachenko. Muravyov-Amurskiy said on June 12, 1858 in Khabarovsk: “Let the memory of our ancestors live in the names of the Cossack villages. Their labor and heroic deeds made this land Russian.”

The Eastern-Siberian battalions had to become the first builders of most of the settlements, appeared along the Amur river and the coast of the Sea of Japan. The battalions of this type were to defend the border. The soldiers commanded by Dyachenko set up the part of the town which is still its historic center. The military post spread along the river from mountain Artilleriyskaya (now Radio building there) to mountain Kazachya (near river cargo port). The first street was about two kilometers. The first builders also made the first park.

In administrative connection Khabarovka submitted to Sofiysk (founded in November 1858), then it became the center of Sofiysk district. 15 years later it could compete with the capital of the region, Nikolaevsk. Its advantageous geographic position was seen better year after year. From 1858 new settlement became the center of the post communication for the whole Far East. In 1860 the percentage of civil citizens was only 8%, three years later it was 38%. Khabarovka became the fur and fish fair and the trade center. They sold up to 20 thousand sable skins during one season. Foreign capital prevailed here, in 1868 its share was 73%.

In summer 1873 the first distinguished visitor, Grand Prince Alexey Alexandrovich visited Khabarovka. He was traveling round the world and was going to Petersburg through Siberia. Due to his visit the first and main street in Khabarovka was named Alexeevskaya (now Shevchenko street), the first educational institution founded in 1875 was Alexeevskaya preliminary school. In 1891 Cesarevitch Nikolay followed the way of the Grand Prince. His visit was more pompous, with triumphal arch, church service and opening of the monument to Muravyov-Amursky. The new square was named Nikolaevskaya. The trade school named after Nikolay was built there in 1900-1903 (now Nechepayev Hospital).

The imperial decision on the transfer of the regional center was made on April 28 (May 10) 1880. It granted Khabarovka the status of a town. It caused a construction boom. More and more stone houses were built, some of them can be still seen in the central part of the city. In 1884 the Priamursskoe general-governorship was separated from the Vostochno-Sibirskoe general-governorship. Khabarovka became the residence of general-governors (the first Andrey Nikolaevich Korf, buried in the Usspenskiy Cathedral in 1893). In 1893 Khabarovka was renamed into Khabarovsk. Business and construction in the town was also caused by construction of Ussuriyskaya railroad (1891-1897, from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk) and later due to the Transsiberian railroad finished by the construction of the bridge (1916) – the real engineering masterpiece of that time. In 1900 a telephone station was built in Khabarovsk. The number of users was up to 900 (number of citizens – 17 thousand in 1903). In 1902 the artillery workshops, commanded by colonel Simeon Nikolaevich Vankov, assembled a small electric generator. He established join-stock society and built a power station. Street lightning was introduced in 1907. About 100 lanterns appeared in Alexeevskaya and Muravyov-Amurskiy streets. Not every regional center of Russian empire had such a luxury.

According to the architectural plan of 1907, the town territory was divided into three administrative parts, three “hills”: Artilleriyskaya (Lenin street), Srednyaya (Muravyov-Amurskiy street) and Voennaya (Seryshev street). A distinguished feature of Khabarovsk was that many streets were named after famous writers and poets: Pushkin street (1899), Gogol street (1902), Tolstoy street (1908), Turgenev street (1917). Another feature of the town was small number of churches for the town of its status. They built 14 orthodox churches, one synagogue, Roman Catholic church and a Chinese church. G. Grigorovich wrote in her memories: ”The inhabitants of the Far East were not very pious. Maybe it was the influence of the political exiles.”

In 1913 all Russia celebrated the 300 anniversary of the Romanov’s house. In Khabarovsk there was a large exhibition displaying all the achievements of the Far East. Special area was constructed for the exhibition (‘Dynamo” park) with more than 60 pavilions and some attractions. In 1914 the town population was 54 000, not included the army.

Ex. 2. Find Russian equivalents to the words from to the text:

Distinguished state figure, strategic value, point for communication, necessary and urgent, by order, awarded the additional name, in administrative connection, centre of the post communication, the imperial decision, engineering masterpiece, displaying all the achievements, joining of the efforts.

Ex. 3. Find English equivalents in the text:

географическая точка под поселение; Ваше превосходительство; должны были охранять границу; под командованием; Николаевское реальное училище; генерал-губернаторство; артиллерийские мастерские; "Пусть в названиях страниц будет жить память о наших предках, радением своим и подвигом своим сделавших эту землю русской".

Ex. 4. Insert the words from the text.

1. Nevelskoy understood … of the Priamurskiy and Priussuriyskiy regions for Russia.

2. It is the place, where we should concentrate our activities and … of the region.

3. The foundation of the range of settlements became necessary and urgent after … Aigun treaty.

4. The battalions of this type were … the Russian-Chinese border.

5. In administrative connection Khabarovka … Sofiysk.

6. Its … geographical position was seen better year after year.

7. From the very beginning Khabarovka became the centre of the post … for the whole Far East.

8. … of foreign capital was 73% in 1868.

9. Success of Russia at Amur was predetermined by joining efforts of two … state figures.

10. The emperial decision on … of the regional centre was made in 1880.

11. Vankov established … society.

12. Not every regional centre of the Russian empire such a … .

Ex. 5. Explain the dates:

February 1854, May 16, 1858, May 31, 1858, June 12, 1858, November 1858, 1860, 1868, 1873, 1875, 1891, 1880, 1884, 1893, 1907, 1903, 1902, 1916, 1899, 1908, 1917, 1913, 1914.

Ex. 6. Make up the sentences using these proper name:

N.N. Muravyov-Amurskiy, G.I. Nevelskoy, Y.V. Dyachenko, A.N. Korf, Y.P. Khabarov, Sofiysk, Nikolaevsk, Nikolay, S.N. Vankov, the Far East

Ex. 7. Expand the statements.

1. Nevelskoy had a talent in choosing the geographical point for a settlement.

2. Many Far Eastern settlements were founded in and after 1858.

3. A new military post was named Khabarovka.

4. The Eastern-Siberian battalions were the first builders of most of settlements.

5. The advantageous geographical position of Khabarovka was seen better year after year.

6. Khabarovka was granted the status of a town and it caused constitution boom.

7. Grand Prince Alexey Alexandrovich visited Khabarovka.

8. Street lightning was introduced in 1907.

9. In 1913 all Russia celebrated 300 anniversary of the Romaniv's house.

10. Cesarevitch Nikolay followed the way of the Grand Prince.

Ex. 8. Answer the questions:

1. When and why was Khabarovsk founded?

2. What role did G.I. Nevelskoy play in the foundation of the city?

3. What was the role of N.N. Muravyov in the foundation of settlements in the Far East?

4. What was Y.V. Dyachenko?

5. How did Khabarovsk get its name?

6. How long was the first street in Khabarovsk?

7. Where did the military post spread?

8. When did Khabarovsk become the centre of the post communication?

9. How did the visits of the members of Tsar's family influence the town?

10. When and why did Khabarovsk get the status of a town?

11. What caused construction and development of the town?

12. When was street lightning introduced? Who of a town?

13. What was the distinguished feature of naming streets in Khabarovsk?

14. How did G. Grigorovich explain the fact that the Far Easterners were not very pious?

15. What event look place in Khabarovsk in 1913?

16. What roles did Nevelskoy, Muravyov, Dyachenko, Khabarov play in the foundation of Khabarovsk? Could Khabarovsk get another name?

Ex. 9. Read information about the honored names of Khabarovsk.