Pyotr Arkadievich Stolypin was appointed to the highest leadership position in the Saratov province at the insistence of the Minister of Internal Affairs V. K. Pleve. Parting words to his protege, Vyacheslav Konstantinovich expressed the hope that exemplary order would be restored in the difficult province.
On the threshold of the twentieth century
The future fiefdom by 1900 covered an area of 85 thousand km2 with a population of about 2.5 million people. In addition to the Saratov district, the province included:
- Atkarsky, Balashovsky, Volsky;
- Kamyshinsky, Kuznetsky, Petrovsky;
- Serdobsky, Khvalynsky and Tsaritsyno counties.
The most acute socio-economic and socio-political crisis that struck autocratic Russia did not bypass the towns and villages of the Saratov province. Petrovsky and Atkarsky districts, headed by liberal councils, were engulfed in peasant unrest.
The general discontent of the population grew, caused by a powerful decline in industrial production. The closure of the metalworking, flour-grinding, cement factories, processing enterprises left sever althousand workers.
Radically minded representatives of the intelligentsia became more active. The Provincial Zemstvo Assembly consisted of a third of the liberal opposition.
Despite the fact that from an economic point of view, the Saratov province has always belonged to the category of prosperous and we althy areas, the situation was becoming critical.
New Governor
Assessing the state of affairs, Stolypin proposed a number of measures to remedy the situation. Actively using forceful methods of calming the peasantry, Pyotr Arkadyevich took practical steps to increase the land allotments of the poorest strata by renting public fund lands.
The staffing of zemstvo employees was revised: 10 people were fired, 38 were suspended from service. According to the new governor, officials of the Zemstvo officials of the Saratov province should be engaged exclusively in cultural and economic activities, and not in promoting their political ideas.
Implementing the government policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Stolypin saw his task in strengthening the existing regime and its main support - the nobility. Emperor Nicholas II, who visited the Kuznetsk district in 1904, highly appreciated the activities of the governor.
Revolution of 1905
Failures in the Russo-Japanese War exacerbated the nationwide crisis, giving it a massive character. The Saratov province did not stand aside either. Peasant uprisings seized the counties with renewed vigor. By autumn, 293 landowners' estates were looted (6 times more than the all-Russian level),the labor movement grew.
P. A. Stolypin saw the only way out in tougher extrajudicial reprisals and the involvement of government troops. The governor repeatedly personally led the military in restoring order in the countryside. The first attempts on the life of an official (four episodes) also date back to this time. Stolypin, according to his contemporaries, demonstrated rare self-control and courage. Indicative is the case in the Balashov district, when Pyotr Arkadyevich himself came to the aid of the Zemstvo doctors besieged by the Black Hundreds with an escort of Cossacks.
Arrests, detention and deportation of unreliable persons without any formal charges were used as preventive measures. The actions of the governor were supported by the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the emperor himself. To restore order, Pyotr Arkadyevich was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree.
Stolypin and Saratov province
Life has returned to normal. The active development of the city and the strengthening of the social sphere began. The Saratov province received a huge loan of 965 thousand rubles for asph alting city streets, developing a water supply network, creating a gas lighting system, and modernizing telephone communications.
The number of city hospitals, overnight institutions, educational institutions grew. The first students were accepted by the Mariinsky Women's Gymnasium and Aviation College. Already as prime minister, Stolypin insisted on the creation of the Saratov Imperial University. The first to open in 1909Faculty of Medicine.
In 1906, P. A. Stolypin left Saratov, having received the post of Minister of the Interior.
From grateful descendants
The memory of the legendary statesman is kept in the hearts of Saratov residents. The first monument in modern Russia to the great reformer was opened in the regional center, the leading university - the Volga Academy of Civil Service - was named after him.
The Saratov Regional Museum has a permanent exhibition dedicated to P. A. Stolypin. The exposition (693 items) contains unique items, including the uniform and military overcoat of Pyotr Arkadyevich, his personal signatures on archival documents, a series of photographs of the period of governor's activity and at the highest government posts.
Saratov province played an important role in Stolypin's life. It was here that the program of his innovative reforms was finally formed, and his political and economic outlook was strengthened.
