Abstract:

The article discusses the evolution of the urban industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The criteria for separating the “craft work” from the “factory work” are noted. In this paper, the author focuses on the fact that in 1850 a special Committee for the determination of large and small industry at the Ministry of Finance was formed. In conclusion, it was noted that the statistical accounting of crafts (primarily handicrafts) does not provide a complete description and don’t describe the change in the number of such crafts.