On the question of reforming private mining industry of the Urals in the 50's of the 19th century

The author studies the preparatory stage of reforming national metallurgy in the 40s and 50s of the 19th century. The contradictions between the Ural mine owners (great landowners) and governmental free trade customs policy directed to the creation in Russia a competitive environment on the ferrous metals market with the progressing at that time English metallurgy are shown. The paper considers the condition of the Ural mining industry, its peculiar and common features compared with wood charcoal metallurgy in European countries.