The Vedomosti: The First Russian Transportation System

Russia had to overcome a huge obstacles in order to industrialize, its immature transportation system. The poor system slowed down the spread of ideas, people, and materials thus barring Russian development. With the advancements made to the transportation system, Russia prevailed and began the road to industrialization (Ellis).
Due to Russia's large land area, transportation had been a major problem for its people (Fink). The government built a system of waterways hoping to link the country together (Ellis). The waterways were an efficient mode for the transportation of heavy goods and faster travel for people, but because they were inaccessible during the winter when they would freeze. In southern Russia, the rivers froze from three to four months per year, and in northern Russia, the rivers froze from six to seven months per year. The systems were only usable from four to six months per year. If goods did not reach their destinations before the waterways froze, they would either spoil or have to be stockpiled until next season (Fink). A voyage from Astrakhan to St. Petersburg often took two years to complete. Originally, the waterways seemed like a good idea but due to the harsh conditions of Russia’s winters they proved themselves an inefficient form of reliable transportation.

The road system utilized during this time period was even
The first issue was published on January 2, 1703 by Peter the Great (Sandia Corporation). The newspaper affected the lives of many Russians; enabling them to receive news that was more reliable than wprd-of-mouth. The Vedomosti was printed irregularly; sometimes sixty issues a year and other times only once a year (Gascoigne). The newspaper lost its most precious editor when Peter the Great died in 1725. The Vedomosti ownership was transferred to the Science Academy of Russia in 1727. Thanks to scholars at the Science Academy, the Vedomosti was issued twice a week