History of science and technology

7-9

Authors: Oleh Pylypchuk, Oleh Strelko, Yulia Berdnychenko

This issue of the journal “History of Science and Technology” has been prepared in difficult conditions. In difficult conditions for authors… In difficult conditions for reviewers ... In difficult conditions for the editorial board… In difficult conditions for the whole world in general!!! This issue contains ten articles. The first of these articles came in late 2019, when the world did not know yet these terrible words: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19); severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)… COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread worldwide, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As on May 29, 2020, when these lines were written, more than 5 800 000 cases were recorded in 188 countries, killing more than 359 000 people. We hope that humanity will invent a vaccine as soon as possible, and these horrific death statistics will first stop growing and then stop altogether. For this, many events and activities are important, as history shows. Including the history of the development of science and technology, that is the subject area of our publication. In many sources on the history of electric power production the evolution of electric power production was studied both in developed and developing countries and its impact on economy. The growing demand for electric power became the most problem that stood before the power sector of Ghana. This issue begins with an article examining activities that in many ways helped to create a sustainable electricity supply for households and industries in Ghana, especially in the cities of Accra and Kumasi, between 1900 and 1960. Scientific-technical borrowings are one of those types of scientific support for the work of industrial sectors, whose role in the conditions of exiting the crisis to acquiring the particular importance. Since the mid-1920s, they have become the main way of scientific support for the organization of the development of Ukrainian electric machine-building industry in the context of large-scale electrification of the country. That was due to the need for a quick withdrawal of this industry from the previous crisis in the absence in the Ukrainian SSR of its own scientific support system for the electric machine engineering. An example of this measure, which was considered in the study, was an attempt to achieve the fastest possible increase in productivity of the Kharkiv Electromechanical Plant at minimal financial cost. The next article analyzes the activities of the mining industry in the south of the Russian Empire, of which Ukraine was a part of that time. An analysis of the so-called “coal crisis” and the role of large miners in collusion has been made. Market monopolization has been considered. Emphasis is made on the customs policy of the tsarist government, speculation on temporary fuel difficulties. The study shows that in the last quarter of the nineteenth century there was a consolidation and monopolization of the mining industry in the south of the Russian Empire. In the 21st century, every reputable journal also has an online version, which makes the dissemination of scientific information almost instantaneous. We are so accustomed to the conveniences of the information age that it is difficult for us to imagine the difficulties that scientists faced a little over 150 years ago. The genesis of science launched the process of forming branch of scientific communities and demanded stable ways of communication for productive and effective development of the branch. Scientific journals have become an ideal means of disseminating information, and a scientific article has been transformed from an ordinary letter into a modern form and has taken on an ideal form. The importance of international communication between scientists, on the example of consideration of the activities of Valerian Mykolaiovych Lihin, is discussed in the following study. He became the first Russian-speaking member of one of the oldest Mathematical Societies in Europe - the French. V. Lihin broke the tradition of “isolated” science when discoveries in the Russian Empire (and later in the USSR) were made separately from the rest of the world. In the next article an attempt to investigate in a chronological order the historical circumstances on the formation and development of the mainline electric locomotives engineering at the Luhansk diesel locomotives engineering plant (1957–2014) has been made. Historical and biographical research is continued by the article, which considers the factors shaping the scientific worldview of Mykola Pavlovych Petrov - an outstanding scientist and engineer against the background of his initiative and organizational efforts to develop the domestic scientific and technical space of the late nineteenth - early twentieth The article devoted to highlighting the contribution of academician Mariia Vasylivna Pavlova (Gortynska) in the development of palaeozoology science at the end of the XIX – the first third of the XX centuries continues the cycle of historical and biographical researches. We hope that our readers will be interested in scientific work, examining the research of Russian women in the field of human genetics in 1920-1930. The main task of the article was to determine the contribution of women scientists to the development of different fields of human genetics. Particular attention was given to reconstructing women’s geneticists’ research work, reviewing the content of their publications, and analyzing the theoretical and methodological approaches they employed in solving various scientific problems. In the history of Ukrainian archeology, there are many names of outstanding researchers who have devoted their lives to the study of our antiquity. Among them is Yulian Kulakovskyi, a well-known domestic historian and archeologist. In 1883 Yu. A. Kulakovskyi joined the Nestor Chronicler Historical Society. Since that time, his life and career have been closely linked to this scientific union. The analysis of the results of researches in the field of late antique archeology of the Crimea, published on the pages of “Readings of the Historical Society of Nestor the Chronicler”, is discussed in the next article. The development of the spread of COVID-19 shows that in the fight against it in the first place are such measures and actions as unrestricted access to information on methods of combating the spread of the virus; exchange of data at the international level on treatment methods of the disease; communication between scientists from different countries; timely quarantine measures, etc. In this sense, it is important to study the historical experience of mankind in the fight against pandemics. This issue of the journal History of Science and Technology concludes with an article on a critical analysis of nineteenth-century military interventions as the main cause of the spread of infectious diseases internationally. Emerging problems and solutions obtained as a result of a critical analysis of the materials of the International Sanitary Conferences reveal the history of the spread of infectious diseases and the methods of early statistics used for epidemiological purposes. Concluding this Preface, we emphasize once again the importance of a comprehensive study of international historical experience in the development of science and technology. Not limited to any one field or field of science, we are ready to provide the pages of our journal for the opportunity to exchange views with the international scientific community. Let peace and health be with everyone in these hard times!

36-49

Authors: Ihor Annienkov

Scientific-technical borrowings are one of those types of scientific support for the work of industrial sectors, whose role in the conditions of exiting the crisis to acquiring the particular importance. Since the mid-1920s, they have become the main how of scientific support for the organization of the development of Ukrainian electric machine-building industry in the context of large-scale electrification of the country. That was due to the need for a quick withdrawal of this industry from the previous crisis in the absence in the Ukrainian SSR of its own scientific support system for the electric machine engineering. The first form of scientific-technical borrowings for the republican segment of the Soviet Union profile industry was the agreement between the State Electrotechnical Trust and the German electrotechnical company Allgemeine Elektricitäts Gesellschaft on scientific-technical cooperation. The main objective of this act was to achieve at the lowest possible financial cost the fastest possible increase in productivity of the Kharkiv Electromechanical Plant. To do this, it was supposed using the American technologies for the production of electrical machines but implemented them on German technological equipment. Allgemeine Elektricitäts Gesellschaft was the company that already made such it at the beginning of the twentieth century using the technologies of the General Electric Company. Moreover, in the pre-Soviet period, it made an attempt to hold a similar act at the Kharkiv Electromechanical Plant, which it owned in this time; however it ended in failure due to the revolutionary upheavals that began in Ukraine. Thus, the agreement concluded with the German company was a continuation of the same actions, what itself had begun, but, already in new historical realities. That is, the Allgemeine Elektricitäts Gesellschaft actions were copied by the Soviet government, however, adapted to the Soviet way of organizing industrial production. Despite the fundamental difference between the latter and the working conditions of the Allgemeine Elektricitäts Gesellschaft in Germany, the concentration of the parties precisely on the scientific and technical component of the project made it possible to achieve the expected result in full. However, at the same time, Ukrainian electric machine builders focused specifically on the speed of duplication of scientific-technical knowledge missed the opportunity to study the methodology for obtaining them. This became the reason that these scientific-technical borrowings did not become the proper basis for the formation of the scientific component of the scientific-technical potential of the domestic electric machine-building industry.

62-71

Authors: Olha Oliinyk

In the 21st century, we live in the stage of human history when any information is as accessible as possible. The modern scientific world is based on an extensive network of journals. Thanks to them, we have the opportunity to get acquainted with the latest research results. In the 21st century, every reputable journal also has an online version, which makes the dissemination of scientific information almost instantaneous. We are so accustomed to the conveniences of the information age that it is difficult for us to imagine the difficulties that scientists faced a little over 150 years ago. In the second half of the nineteenth century, almost most of the sciences known to mankind were formed. The genesis of science launched the process of forming branch scientific communities and demanded stable ways of communication for productive and effective development of the branch. Scientific journals have become an ideal means of disseminating information, and a scientific article has been transformed from an ordinary letter into a modern form and has taken on an ideal form. Given all the above, it is important to consider the experience of V. Lihin in publishing articles in scientific journals abroad. Valerian Mykolaiovych was the first scientist from Odessa to join a new type of scientific communication. He became the first Russian-speaking member of one of the oldest Mathematical Societies in Europe - the French. The young mathematician conquered with his erudition, attention to detail, thorough approach and comprehensive analysis of research issues. During his life, V. Lihin wrote more than 30 scientific papers, a third of which were presented in scientific journals abroad. These were complete author's translations or articles based on part of the study. Not infrequently, on the pages of magazines, you could see scientific discussions, in which our compatriot also took an active part. In Odessa, the fate of Valerian Mykolaiovych changed quite radically several times: he was a professor and dean of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Novorossiysk University; an adviser of the mayor, and later the mayor; became a trustee of the Warsaw Educational District. And in Europe, his authority as a scientist was highly valued. He showed that science has no state borders, that it can develop harmoniously - imitating the results of research from all over the world. V. Lihin broke the tradition of "isolated" science when discoveries in the Russian Empire (and later in the USSR) were made separately from the rest of the world. Scientists, who speak the language of science - speak the language of peace and development. And so, in 2020, the language of medical science has united the world despite its borders, nations and religions.

88-99

Authors: Volodymyr Yanin

The article reviews the factors of the scientific views’ formation of Mykola Pavlovych Petrov – formidable Russian scientist and engineer in relation to his administrative efforts of development of the native scientific and technical community XIX–XX. The special focus was made on the biographical component, especially his study in Petersburg institutions. The crucial impact on the scientific destiny of M. P. Petrov was made by his studying in the Engineer Academy. In that time the intellectual basement for the future activities was formed. As a matter of fact, later M.P. Petrov became the formidable engineer and scientist. M. P. Petrov was the student of the formidable mathematician, academician of the Petersburg Academy of Science Mykhailo Vasylovych Ostrohradskyi (1801–1862). M. P. Petrov gained a lot of useful skills and knowledge from his teacher. Among those the following: high mathematical culture, abstract thinking, knowledge of the theoretical and practical problems in various areas of science, especially the ones that were related to railway transport. Work as the lecturer in the Technological Institute, communication with I. A. Vyshniehradskyi, A. P. Borodin and other scientists and specialists played a role of some kind of push for M. P. Petrov to study applied disciplines, mainly related to the friction of lubricated materials. Among the teachers of M. P. Petrov in the Academy was Herman Yehorovych Pauker (1822–1889). M. P. Petrov always recalled him as the wonderful engineer and teacher, who was the creator of the school for the engineers-teachers. The main goal of the school was the harmonious connection between engineer work and science. In the Academy M. P. Petrov met the lecturer of mechanics of the Institute of the communication paths engineer corps Stanislav Valerianovych Kerbedz. During the studying in the Academy M. P. Petrov was formed as the future scientist and specialist, who had the character which helped him to communicate easily with people. He had humane views and always acted alone and fairly. These features of his character in conjunction with his great mind helped him to achieve all his goals while solving the complicated engineer and administrative tasks. Aspiration to knowledge, original and brave thinking were among the main features of M. P. Petrov`s nature.

110-126

Authors: Roman Fando

This paper reviews the studies on human genetics, carried out by Russian women in the 1920s and 1930s. Its main objective is to determine the contribution of women scientists to the development of different fields of human genetics. Particular attention is given to reconstructing women geneticists’ research work, reviewing the content of their publications, and analysing the theoretical and methodological approaches they employed to tackle different scientific problems. The biographies of the pioneers in Russian “anthropogenetics” (knowledge of human heredity), R. I. Serebrovskaya, G. V. Soboleva, and N. N. Malkova, were restored on the basis of archival sources. The first women geneticists received their higher education at the Higher Women’s Courses, as, in the Russian Empire, it was prohibited for women to study at the universities. These women came into genetics from traditional biological sciences or medicine at the time when human genetics as a discipline began to emerge in Russia in the 1920s. The first works in the field of anthropogenetics, conducted by these women on their own, began to appear in 1923. By the mid ‒ 1920s, women geneticists began to use genealogical and twin methods for studying human heredity extensively. The number of women’s publications peaked in the late 1920s. Studies in the field of population genetics and medical genetics gained popularity and new biochemical and cytological methods of analysis were added to the repertoire of analytical techniques. In the 1930s, with the beginning of attacks on eugenics, studies in human genetics were rapidly wound down to be completely arrested by the 1940s. The results of the studies carried out by the Russian women anthropogeneticists in the 1920s ‒ 1930s included demonstrating hereditary nature of premature graying (R. I. Serebrovskaya), hemorrhagic diathesis and inguinal hernia (N. N. Malkova), deaf-mutism and stutter (G. V. Soboleva); determining the incidence of different genes in the populations; organizing large-scale twin studies to elucidate the role of heredity and environment in the manifestation of psychological traits; and introducing new methods for hereditary disease diagnostics and the effective practices for teaching preschool and school age children.

138-150

Authors: Enrique Wulff

This article involves a critical examination of XIXth century military interventions, as the basic cause of the international contagion. Challenges arising and choices made in a critical reading of the International Sanitary Conferences (ISC) proceedings, reveal case histories and early statistical techniques at use with epidemiological purposes. These episodes in the history of the diseases suggest that relevant military information was circulated among health professionals through the ISCs. Although the evolution of the epidemic process during the latter half of the XIXth century made the Conferences fail to cure the diseases that the Western medicine own expansion engendered. By discussing the ways that prophylactic measures and international interventions were used by medical scientists and diplomats alike, from the detailed records of troop mortality to such ubiquitous terms as "contagion" and "quarantine", the article seriously reflect on what happened when action taken by military forces was a mass phenomenon. As evidenced from the study of the proceedings when comparing different populations, in the pathologies associated with the mass-transport era the rationale of interaction outlined the challenges involved in the train transport of troops. Also, the existence of an environmental risk factor can answer the question on the action taken by military forces as a mass phenomenon with huge impacts on hospitals, harbors and prisons. Materials intended for these international epidemics studies and commissions were prepared by experimented military and civil medical doctors who believed that evidence and common sense proved epidemic diseases capable of being prevented, treated, and controlled by a military approach. This essay demonstrates that Army forces' capability to take control over their host governing apparatus, emphasizes the importance of their aim to follow and accompany the control of the disease in the imperialist competition for land. It grows out of its specific historical context, which due to its origin could become uniform and international, but constituted the principal obstacle on the road to an international health office.

139-146

Authors: Yuliia Berdnychenko, Olha Petrykovets

An in-depth and comprehensive study of internal combustion engines creation, the prominent figures’ contribution to the formation and development of domestic and world science, remains a crucial task of historical studies at their present stage. The steam engine did not completely solve the energy problem, the humanity was facing. Small workshops and enterprises in the 19th century, which made up a significant part of the industrial sector, were not always able to use it. The small steam engine had a low efficiency. Besides, using such an engine meant high costs and troubles. Small industry required an engine that would take up minimum space and could be turned on and off at any time without much preparation. The article is devoted to highlighting and dividing the development of gas, kerosene, gasoline and diesel engines into stages. The idea of such an engine was first proposed in the early 19th century. The prerequisites for the emergence of each engine type have been considered. The important role of Philippe Lebon as the founder of gas engine design has been shown. Several inventors from different countries worked on the idea of creating engines using various types of fuel. Among them is the Belgian engineer Jean Étienne Lenoir, who suggested starting the engine with an electric spark. The engineer Augustus Otto’s role in the development and construction of the first gas engine, which was more economical than a steam engine, has been shown. Thus, all the theoretical and constructive background for inventing a new type of internal combustion engine was there, the designer of which was Rudolf Diesel. He created and patented an internal combustion engine – “diesel”, which today remains one of the most economical heat engines.

160-174

Authors: Svitlana Hurinchuk

The article is devoted to the consideration of the features on the development of railways and railway engineering in the second half of the ХІХ th century. It is well known that railway transport in European countries emerged in the eighteenth century, and the nineteenth century was a period of rapid development of raiway systems, railway technology and the creation of operation technologies. The author of the article shows that the development of railway transport engineering in the Russian Empire began in the 30s of the XIX century and went on at a rapid pace. It is clear that foreign technology was used at first, and foreign technology thought was significantly influenced by technology. As the whole policy of the tsarist government was aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on potential opponents, the idea of forming a Corps of national transport engineers was greatly supported. Among its graduates were such well-known engineers as P. P. Melnykov, M. I. Lypyn, V. P. Sobolevskyi, M. A. Beleliubskyi, D. I. Zhuravskyi and others who managed to create a national scientific school in the field of railway transport. Almost all problems were solved independently without the help of foreign specialists. Among them, according to the author, the most significant were “Track bed structure”, “The development of signalling systems, centralization and block signal system” and “The development of rolling stock”. Based on the analysis of a large number of sources, the author concludes, that in the second half of the nineteenth century the development of industry in the Russian Empire went through capitalist reforms. Expansion of domestic and foreign markets, active domestic and foreign trade led to the need to develop means of communication. The railways proved to be the most powerful and economically effective. They connected different regions, places of production and consumption, facilitating, speeding up and reducing the cost of delivery of raw materials and goods. In the 60-80’s of the XIX century there was a significant increase of the railway network. The construction was mainly carried out at the expense of private joint stock companies. During that period, foreign specialists who were not interested in the qualitative development of the Russian railway network played a major role in the construction and management of the railway tracks. With the increasing demand for this new type of transportation, there was a need for technical modernization of the entire industry.

186-196

Authors: Denis Kislov

This publication presents the emergence of the new sciences that are most important for today’s world: communication science, cybernetics, the theory of information, and the theory of the noosphere in the 1940s – 1950s. The purpose of this article is to analyze the total scientific achievements in Eurasia at the time of the Second World War. This was a bright phenomenon in the formation of new revolutionary theories. Works of Chicago-based and Frankfurt-based schools of thought, the theoretical concepts of T. Adorno, M. Horkheimer, H. Lasswell, P. Lazarsfeld, аnd other researchers laid the foundations of the communication science and contributed to the breakthrough in a number of the key subject areas. A system approach to and a comparative analysis of the causes and subsequent consequences of the achievements at that time for today’s world served as a methodological basis for a comprehensive consideration of large-scale studies of the past. The scientific novelty of this historic study consists in the interdependence and complementarity of the theoretical and practical achievements in the 1940s and rethinking of their importance in the structure of concepts in the 20th century. Industrial and military goals associated with the automatic management and communication processes required fundamentally new approaches and achievements. When World War II broke out, N. Wiener worked on these problems aiming at creating a computer, which pushed him to the idea that the principles of managing biotic and abiotic systems are the same and to the cybernetic concept development. In the mid-1940s, J. von Neumann built the first digital computer. In 1945-1947, A. Turing worked, as an inventor of “a universal machine”, on the “electronic brain” project and was the first to develop a number of programs for it. In 1942, C. Shannon published his work dedicated to the theory of information permitting a constellation of researchers to lay the foundations of the theory of communication. V. Vernadsky’s noosphere concept proposed in 1944 was particularly important. At present, the ideas of that period are gaining new importance as a basis for the single planetary management system.

211-224

Authors: Anhelina Korobchenko

The article reveals the importance of the Naturalists Society at Kharkiv University in the development of scientific research and the popularization of scientific knowledge in Ukraine. Social, economic, political processes that occur today in Ukraine actualize historical memory and direct historical science to comprehend the scientific processes that took place in Ukraine in ancient times. The reconstruction of scientific Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries would be incomplete without an indication of the role and importance of the Naturalists Society at Kharkiv University. The author proves that the activity of the Society was versatile, large-scale, imbued with high scientific ideas and democratic tendencies. It is stated that the effectiveness of this activity was ensured by the active work of the most prominent figures of science, culture, education, namely: V. M. Arnoldi, P. I. Biletskyi, O. A. Hrosheim, O. V. Hurov, V. Ya. Danylevskyi, A. M. Krasnov, I. F. Levakovskyi, O. V. Nahornyi, O. M. Nikolskyi, Ya. V. Roll, M. M. Somov, P. P. Sushkin, V. I. Taliev, L. S. Tsenkovskyi, O. V. Chernaуa, V. O. Yaroshevskyi. In particular, the role of scientists in deployment of a wide range of floristic, faunistic, geological and geographical researches as in the territory of provinces of the Kharkov educational district, and it is far beyond its limits is shown. It is emphasized that thanks to the fruitful activity of members of society considerable scientific results which promoted the development of many branches of domestic natural sciences were received. It was a company with an effective organizational structure and program of activities; it achieved outstanding results both in applied research and in the popularization of science. The Society was one of the channels for ensuring the interconnection of science and society. It acted as a certain social institute, which envisaged conducting active communication activity both within the Society and beyond. Besides, training of future generations of scientists was carried out at a high level, which testified to another feature of the Society as a social institute and a phenomenon in the system of science. The author provides little-known information about the Society, specifies evaluations and conclusions, which relate to separate parts of the scientific and popularizing activity of the Society.

5-18

Authors: Oleksandr Isaienko, Svitlana Isaienko

One of the most important tasks of the modern history of science and technologies is the study of the activities of leading scientists and practitioners of the past, the influence of their ideas on the development of world science and the process of training specialists in the relevant sectors of the national economy. In the opinion of the authors of the article, one of such figures of the early twentieth century is Academician I. H. Aleksandrov. Historical and scientific analysis of life and activity of I. H. Aleksandrov as a scientist, engineer, organizer of science is of high topicality due to the scale and versatility of his scientific contribution. In the context of the development of hydro-engineering and hydropower, the development of transport communications, I. H. Aleksandrov had world-class achievements that glorified national science. Scientific creative work of I. H. Aleksandrov can be divided into five main directions of development of science and technologies: hydro-engineering, hydropower, geographic zoning, railway transport and irrigation. The construction of the Dnipro hydroelectric power station near Zaporizhzhia (1927-1932) (he prepared a project and directed the construction of the largest hydroelectric power station in Europe at that time), the development of the general plan for the electrification of the USSR (compiled projects of electrification of Central Asia and Eastern Siberia), participation in the construction plan Baikal-Amur railway line, development of the methodology of economic zoning of the Soviet Union and the theory of railway “super-mainlines” can be ascribed to the academician. The article concludes that the highly qualified teaching staff of the Moscow Higher Technical School and the Moscow Engineering School of the Office of the Ways of Communications contributed to the thorough theoretical training of a young engineer I. H. Aleksandrov. On the basis of a significant number of sources it was found that occupying different positions, I. H. Aleksandrov participated in solving complex technical issues of contemporary epoch, and scientific research was carried out by I. H. Aleksandrov in the context of the tasks of the engineering science of his time. I. H. Aleksandrov initiated scientific discussions on the construction of ports and canals, in his work he contributed in every way to the development of home industry and the introduction of progressive forms of transport, in particular railway. The authors assert that the modern view on the scientific heritage of I. H. Aleksandrov in the context of the development of hydro-engineering, hydropower and rail transport unambiguously acknowledges that in a concentrated-generalized form ideas, theories and concepts, put forward and scientifically grounded by academician I. H. Aleksandrov, today contribute to the development of scientific and technological process.

33-49

Authors: Liubov Soloviova

Analysis of the creative heritage of Vsevolod Yevhenovych Timonov (1862-1936) - a prominent communications engineer, professor of the Institute of Engineers of Railway Transport of Emperor Olexandr I, a hydrotechnical expert, a specialist in the field of water transport, a port administrator, head of the Petersburg divission of railway transport (1899-1907), the founder and Director of the First Hydrotechnical Laboratory in the Russian Empire (1907-1920) and the Hydrotechnical Research Institute at the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers, a member of the Engineering Council of the Ministry of Railway Transport, Head of Statistics and Cartography of Ministry of Railway Transport (since 1907), head of the International section of the High Technology Council of the People's Commissariat of Railway Transport (since 1918), is especially important to understand the processes of development of homeland hydrotechnical science and water transport. His scientific works are devoted to the construction of ports, bridges, and lighthouses, to improvement of the conditions of navigation on the large rivers of the country, to regulation of their beds with rapids. He was the first who pointed to the advantage of mechanical excavation in improving navigable conditions on large rivers. Since 1886, V .Ye. Timonov worked at the Office of Railway Transport, while at the same time taking up construction and administrative and teaching positions. V .Ye. Timonov carried out the first works on the laying of quay-piers from rock body in the Baltic Sea (1887), organized and conducted the first dredging work (1887), explored the mouths of the Dnipro, Don and Volga rivers (1890) and defined the branches of each river for the improvement of navigation, made a draft of the rapids’ parts of the Dnipro and conducted research works on one of the thresholds (1894), researched the coasts of the Pacific ocean to select the location of the Pacific port of Siberian Railway and chose a place for this port (Vladyvostok), investigated the rivers of the Amur region and proposed measures to improve them (1895), etc. V .Ye. Timonov is the founder of the original direction in the construction industry, one of the founders of the doctrine of ports, the founder of the theory of the framework of hydraulic structures, the developer of the theory of port infrastructure, the historian of science and technology. Vsevolod Yevhenovych occupies one of the honorary places in the world of hydraulic engineering, water, and partly rail transport. Common factors in problems, defined by him on the basis of his numerous and original works, as well as works of his students, made a significant contribution to the further development of hydraulic engineering not only in our country but also in the world. Scientific ideas of V .Ye. Timonov significantly expanded and deepened our understanding of the regularities of development of hydraulic engineering science. In the context of his original beliefs, he analyzed the previously accumulated scientific material and showed it in a new and correct interpretation. His works, his ideas, theories and views revealed unprecedented opportunities for hydraulic engineers.

64-76

Authors: Viacheslav Bandus

The article describes the activities of the famous Ukrainian researcher, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Odessa Polytechnic Institute Victor Opanasovich Dobrovolsky on the preparation of seven editions of the textbook «Parts of Machines». At the present stage of development of the history of science and technology, a comprehensive analysis of the scientific activities of V. O. Dobrovolsky, in the field of general engineering is extremely limited, and coverage of its role in the organization and development of higher technical education in Ukraine is practically absent. The scientist was one of the first who responded to the lack of a full-fledged manual on the discipline «Parts of Machines» for higher education and devoted most of his work at the Odessa Polytechnic Institute to solving this issue. The evolution of the textbook, from the publication of scientists in 1926 the first edition «Lecture notes» to the last, the seventh, personal edition of the «Parts of Machines» 1954 has been analyzed. The main directions and priorities that were identifying by the researcher in each of the publications for the preparation of students and technician have been defined. The place of personal scientific achievements, developments, inventions of V. O. Dobrovolsky and his colleagues and students in the preparation of materials of the textbook, conformity of the given information to the courses' programs and all sorts of recommendations from the Ministry of Education and a wide stake of scientists with whom Viktor Opanasovich collaborated have been considered. The correspondence of textbooks to modern achievements of science and technology and the scientist's constant attention to new home and foreign developments and inventions have been described. The common features and differences in the structure of textbook, causes of reductions, additions, and the emergence of new sections, in accordance with the tasks, which were faced V. O. Dobrovolsky in different periods of its activities have been established. The great popularity and widespread use of the textbook by the majority of higher technical institutions throughout the USSR which was a consequence of the general availability and in-depth processing of the stated theoretical and practical material, its relevance and compliance with the challenges of time have been noted

89-98

Authors: Hanna Deforzh

One of the most important tasks of the modern history of Biology is the study of natural museums work at universities, their influence on the development of world science and their importance in the process of training the relevant specialists. One of the tasks is to study the role of the personalities of prominent scholars who have made a significant contribution to the formation and development of natural science. The article is devoted to the analysis of the formation, development, and work of the university natural museums of Ukraine, the creation of collections, systematization of the collected material, equipment of specialized premises and buildings. On the basis of the analyzed sources, the work of university natural museums, the state of collections, their quantity, filling, and cost are highlighted. The names of scholars of museums, patrons who donated collections and people who sold their own collections to natural museums are given. The article reveals a rather long history of universities in Ukraine. The oldest of them, Lviv University, was created in 1661 on the basis of the Jesuit College. A number of universities appear in the nineteenth century. In 1805 Kharkiv University was opened, and then in 1834 Kyiv University. Later, in 1865, the Novorosiysk University was founded in Odesa on the basis of the Rishelie Lyceum; in 1875 the Chernivtsi University was opened on the basis of the seminary. Together with universities, natural museums are created, which were becoming centers of knowledge and research. Universities opened geological, mineralogical, zoological, botanical, paleontological museums with appropriate collections. During the writing of the article, the materials from reports on the state and work of Kharkiv, Novorosiysk, Kyiv and Lviv universities were used. The functions of museums at universities are considered. This is, first of all, the identification and selection of materials for collections, the study, systematization, organization of the registration and storage of museum collections and as a result the exhibition. The role of the use of museum collections for the training and education of future specialists is also considered. Not the last role is assigned to university museums as popularizers of a positive image of an educational institution, and hence prospective recruitment of a new generation of students. It can be said with certainty that the natural museums of Ukrainian universities of the 19th and early 20th centuries were advanced and in no way inferior to the university museums of Europe concerning the organization, collection, systematization and conducting of scientific research.

109-119

Authors: Olha Oliinyk

The article deals with the facts of the life and work of the prominent Odessa scientist, doctor of mechanics, professor of the Novorossiisk University Valerian Lihin (1846-1900). At the present stage of development of the history of science and technology, a comprehensive analysis of the scientific work of V. Lihin, presented in the field of mechanics and mathematics, while work in other directions remained beyond the curiosity of historians. The role of Lihin in the organization of the scientific school of theoretical and applied kinematics is shown. As a teacher, Valerian Mykolayovych formed a new approach to teaching applied mechanics, constantly emphasizing the important influence of this science on the development of technical progress and the industrial complex of the economy. And his activities in the number of scientific, technical and charitable societies are almost unknown. Thus, Valerian Lihin was a member and held management positions in the three most famous scientific and technical societies of Odessa. Their influence on the socio-economic development of the city and region is analyzed. The basic directions of activity of Lihin in the structure of the Association are established and their expediency from the point of view of historical retrospective is considered. Particular attention is paid to the Odessa branch of the Russian Technical Society, which Lihin has been managing for 15 years. This time has become a period of intensive and extensive development, and its activity has actively contributed to the development of the city and the economic prosperity of the region. Equally important, in our opinion, is the research and organizational work of Valerian Lihin in the Society of Naturalists, which contributed to the dissemination of the results of his research work in broad circles. Also the work of a scientist within the Society of Horticulture is noted, where he demonstrated his talent as an organizer of the educational process. The gardening school, created on the initiative of Lihin, contributed to the transformation of Odessa into a flowered garden among the steppe. The article highlights his role in the organization and development of special technical education in the South of Ukraine. It was this talent that contributed to his rapid career growth.

284-296

Authors: Yu. A. Berdnychenko, H. I. Kyrychenko

An up-to-date task of modern historical science is a comprehensive study of prominent personalities having made a significant contribution to the formation and development of world science. The article is devoted to the analysis and systematized generalization of a set of scientific facts that objectively characterize various aspects of the activities of outstanding railroad engineer Liudwih Mavrykiiovych Levi in the consultative congresses of the rolling stock department engineers. In the history of science and technology, L.M Levi is known as a prominent locomotive designer, who almost all his life devoted to the development and improvement of locomotives. While preparing this paper chronological, typological, comparative methods of historical knowledge, as well as the classification and systematization of historical sources and bibliographic material which allowed to systematize and critically evaluate the used sources have been applied. Using these methods we highlighted the main point in the current state of studying the topic and the results of other researchers, characterized previous works on this problem and clearly singled out issues not having been sufficiently studied yet. The sources analysis made it possible to give an objective appraisal of the contribution made by L. Levi during his participation in the consultative congress of rolling stock and traction engineers. His role in solving the problems on implementing the “Compound system” on steam engines has been shown. Further development and improvement of which became possible only with the introduction of steam. There was an increase in traction force of locomotives and rolling stock of freight trains. It was found that thanks to the personal contribution of L. M. Levi to the unification of parts for different types of rolling stock, water supply and signaling devices, there was a reduction in the operating costs of railways. This was achieved thanks to the mass production of spare parts, as well as individual locomotives and wagons with the help of specially adapted workshops. The study of transport science through the biography of a scientist, is an integral part of a complex of diverse knowledge, involves the use of a systematic approach as a methodological means of scientific knowledge. It opens up the possibility to combine the structure and content of empirical tools from one point of view with theoretical ideas and requires the consideration of controversial views on the inheritance of national railway scientists and L.M. Levi in particular.

307-318

Authors: O. H. Kryvokon

The publication is devoted to the analysis of the biography and creativity of Gilil Pesakhovich Gindin (1923 – 1998), the designer in the field of domestic aircraft engineering, a specialist in the development of the aircraft wing. In the national history of science and technology, in particular in the aircraft engineering industry, there is almost no information about the biographies, design, technical, engineering or other achievements of those people who under the guidance of O.K. Antonov, created the world-famous domestic transport aircraft. For various reasons, the vast majority of those who directly develop and create airplanes remain in the shadow of the names of general designers - top managers. Therefore, we decided to devote a number of publications to research and description of the domestic aircraft industry personalities. On the basis of personal documents, interview materials of colleagues, contemporaries and information kindly provided by Gilil Peisakhovich’s son, the life path and facts characterizing Gindin G.P. professional achievements during his work at the enterprise, both under the guidance of O.K. Antonov, and afterwards are reproduced. Namely, data on the exploits of G. P. Gindin during the Great Patriotic War are presented, and a list of his military awards is given. Gilil Peisakhovich’s career path is described from a rank-and-file worker, a designer in the wing department to the brigade chief and the head of the KV-22 department. The main design achievements and innovative developments of Gindin G.P. are briefly described. In particular, the fact that with his direct participation the pressed panels of the wing with a length of 28 meters with one ending for the AN-124 "Ruslan" were developed, designed and worked out in production, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as a wing, which passed the entire stage of life tests without a single remark and breakdown. For the first time, some little-known data on the activities of the wing department and other features of the creation of the world-famous AN-124 "Ruslan" aircraft are published. In addition, the memoirs of contemporaries about personal, organizational, managerial and business qualities of a famous aircraft manufacturer are given. The publication concluded that Gilil Peisakhovich Gindin undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the development of the domestic aircraft industry, in particular in the field of designing, developing and improving the wing and its mechanization.

328-339

Authors: O. V. Lavrinenko

The work is devoted to the study of life, scientific, methodological and educational activities of the professor of the Kharkov Polytechnic Institute Volodymyr Lvovych Benin. In preparing the article, historical and biographical methods were applied, in order to gradually review the stages of life and evaluate the results of a scientist's activity. Нistoriographical analysis of publications V.L. Benin in the context of the dynamics of his scientific work also was made.The analysis of sources and the used archival materials made it possible to objectively evaluate the contribution of the scientist to the development of the industry of automatic regulation, control and statistical power conversion of large power plants, the creation of new measurement circuits and devices while regulating the rotation speed of hydroelectric turbines. It is shown that in the first post-war years his work under the direction of Professor A.L. Matvieiev in the Kharkov electrical laboratory, which at that time was a part of the Institute of Electrical Engineering of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, was of great importance for the restoration of the country's energy potential and led to a few technological developments in the energy industry. The result of this work was the defense of V.L. Benin's dissertation under the guidance of an outstanding scientist and innovator S. О. Lebediev. The further scientific activities of V.L. Benin is already in KPI, first of all, as an associate professor of the department of power stations, and then as the head of several important topics and developments in the field of diagnostics and control of diesel generator sets, already at the stage of working on a doctoral dissertation. The talent of V.L. Benin as a teacher and leader, on the example of his students and colleagues, who continued their research, started under his leadership. In the status of the head of the department of theoretical framework of electrical engineering, ethodical and pedagogical contribution of Volodymyr Lvovych in the development and formation of basic discipline for all electrical specialties KhPI was reviewed. His many years of teaching experience allowed him to gradually develop this course, improve certain chapter, supplement individual tasks and expand the laboratory practice of the department. It has also been established that thanks to the many years of hard work by V.L. Benin as a part of the scientific and methodical commission of the Ministry of Higher Education of the USSR, since 1975, the department of TFEE of KPI has become the main department of the Kharkov University Center of theoretical electrical engineering

353-367

Authors: O. Ya. Pylypchuk, O. H. Strelko

The article is devoted to the activity of Serhii Yuliyovych Witte (Vitte) (1849-1915) – an outstanding statesperson and reformer. The authors make an analysis and evaluation of the activity of S.Yu. Witte focused on the development of rail transport in the Russian Empire in general and of his activity on the post of Minister of Ways of Communication, in particular. The carried studies allowed the authors to systematize and critically assess the sources describing the impact of S.Yu. Witte for the development of rail transport in the Russian Empire, as well as to depict the stages of life and professional activity of S.Yu. Witte in this direction. The authors prove that the main achievements of S.Yu. Witte to develop rail transport in the Russian Empire should be considered the following: the purchase of private railways and the concentration of the main railways network in the hands of the state; the construction of new railways on public funds; the transformation of the railway industry into a stable, profitable one; the settlement and further development of customs and tariff systems; the beginning of the construction of the Great Siberian Route. The article traces the main achievements of S.Yu. Witte as the Minister of Ways Communication of the Russian Empire. In the article it is shown that as a result of the step-by-step introducing of railway control and financial reform, which lasted for a decade, S.Yu. Witte managed to create an effective system of control over the public and private sectors of railways. The scope of the influence of S.Yu. Witte for the economic and political development of the Russian Empire is determined. The literary sources analysis suggests that S.Yu. Witte's policy was subordinated to the sole goal of: the industrialization of the state, the successful development of the economy of the Russian Empire, without affecting the political system, without changing anything in the state administration of the country. The analysis allowed the authors to state that it was S.Yu. Witte who attained coordinated and clear actions of the two most important departments of the Russian Empire – the Ministry of Ways of Communication and the Ministry of Finance – since they were the most interested in the construction of rail transport. Only through the coordination of the activities of these governmental structures, attained by S.Yu. Witte, it became possible to overcome the unprofitability of rail transport, which ultimately helped to stabilize the financial situation of the Russian Empire in general.

376-388

Authors: O. V. Romenska

In the article the author considers peculiarities of structural arrangements of lighthouses in Ukraine since times of the first lighthouse to appear on the territory of Ukraine till present, traces when and how they have been improved and which innovations have been implemented. During the research the author used methods of historicism, chronological sequence of giving the material. The author considers scientist-engineers’ key achievements in building lighthouses in different periods. Special emphasis is laid on key historical events that lead to the development or decay of lighthouses designing. The author describes first lighthouses built by Cossacks, determines major conditions for lighthouses creation and functioning. Short description of all types of lighthouse structures, namely lighthouses made of stone, metal, wood and so on, is given in the article. First metal and ferroconcrete structures of lighthouses are considered in detail. Dr. Pots' tubular pile, one of the highest in Europe unique hyperboloid Stanislav-Adzhigolskiy lighthouses, designed by famous engineer V. Shukhov, Dzharilgach lattice lighthouse designed by G. Eiffel followers, and first in Ukraine ferroconcrete Ozharskiy lighthouse, designed by engineers K. Piatnytskyi and Baryshnikov, known also as designers of first funiculars in Ukraine are among them. These lighthouses became vivid examples of Ukrainian engineering and some of them are protected by the state. Key problems, designing engineers with while looking for the best structural shapes of lighthouses, as well as building materials for them are determined in the article. Great attention was paid to not only strength and stability of the structure under adverse weather conditions, but also to cost-efficiency, accessibility for delivery and mounting and durability of the structure. In addition to that, the author touches upon current problems and perspectives of lighthouses creation in Ukraine, taking into account achievements and miscounts of the past. At the current stage of lighthouses construction, important role has introduction of laser beacons to create laser lighthouses as well as equipping lighthouses with modern monitoring and controlling navigational equipment. Importance of issues related to operational readiness of navigational equipment and introduction of systems used for monitoring navigational situation as well as means of traffic handling are highlighted in the article.

406-416

Authors: N. V. Ustiak

This article depicts the main stages of life, research and scientific, scientifically-organizational, pedagogic and public activity of the outstanding national scholar in the area of mechanics and railway transport, National Ukrainian prize-winner, academician of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine - Vsevolod Arutyunovich Lazarian. This article indicates that he is the author of more than 300 published works in the field of mechanics- monographs, articles, manuals, and more than 20 invention certificates and patents. The theoretical studies of transitional modes of trains of V. A. Lazarian has always been supported by experimental research in trains and staging in test laboratories for experiments on electronic models of rolling stock.The work of V. A. Lazarian is also essential for practice, in which transition modes of motion of complex mechanical systems are investigated, with elements in the form of capacities, which are partially filled with liquid. The results of studies of transitional modes of trains are described and summarized in the monograph V. A. Lazarian"Investigation of Unspecified Traffic Train Mode", as well as in a number of articles. The great importance to theory and practice had the creation of V. A. Lazarian the theory of stability of motion of rail vehicles. Relying on the results of fundamental research of O. M. Liapunov in the direction of stability of movement, V. A. Lazarian has developed and used a number of methods for studying the stability of the movement of rail carriages. These methods allowed not only to develop engineering methods for assessing the stages of stability of the existing types of rolling stock, but also to put and solve the problem of finding such parameters of vehicles, in which their motion is stable in a given range of speeds. And these studies were supported by well-established experiments. 1972-1973 years under the guidance of V.A. Lazarian tests of a high-speed wagon-lab were carried out, during which for the first time in the former USSR the speed of rail transport was reached 250 km/h. Parameters of the spring suspension of the tested wagon-lab were determined earlier by V.А. Lazarian and his students on the basis of the developed theory of the stability of movement of rail carriage. They were such that the carriage movement, as it turned out from the theory, proved to be stable throughout the range of speeds. There was also a series of special experiments in which a high-speed wagon-lab with some structural changes was used. The results of these experiments convincingly confirmed the main provisions of the theory.

425-435

Authors: V. O. Volovodovska

The way of life and creative victories of P.F. Tushkan, his achievements in the field of formation and development of agrarian science in Ukraine are analyzed. Among them, the Kharkiv period occupies a special place during which the scientist worked as a senior researcher of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1934-1936), and in 1936 he was freelance to the Ukrainian Research Institute of Socialist Agriculture, where he worked on the scientific task «Drought and their impact on the crops of the Ukrainian SSR». He argued that taking measures to deal with drought is not necessary when it came, but in advance. According to research results P.F. Tushkan forms a publication, which, based on the recommendations of the Institute and the РCCLA of the Ukrainian SSR, was decided to publish after receiving expert reviews. After their getting, the book was revised, but the Institute was not able to print it. The treatment of Pavlo Fedorovych to the president of VASKHNIL, and later on May 24, 1940, to the Presidium of VUAN, in order to facilitate a review of the book and its publication, were not successful. Almost a year later, on August 20, 1941, the scientist appealed to the leadership of the Ukrainian Research Institute for Socialist Agriculture, with a request to publish his article «Agricultural drought and their study» and at the same time wrote a letter to the academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and VASGNIL O.N. Sokolovskyi concerning the promotion of his long-term research work on the study of drought in the press. After studying the publication, Sokolovskyi gave a conclusion to P.F. Tushkan in which he noticed the importance and usefulness of publishing a book for specialists. In October 1941, the scientist appealed to the Ukrainian Research Institute of Socialist Agriculture with a desire to transfer the materials of his work on the study of droughts in the Ukrainian SSR, but as a result of the invasion of the German troops to Kharkov, the Institute did not have time to evacuate and their fate remained unknown. The health of Pavlo Fedorovich has deteriorated significantly owing to the exhaustion of malnutrition, which in turn provoked paralysis of the heart and in the winter of 1942 the scientist died. Now, once the pioneering discovery of the world dimension is made by P.F. Tushkan, in connection with the fact that droughts in the steppes of Ukraine are of a periodic nature and associated with solar activity, has become axiomatic, but its authorship belongs to others.

446-461

Authors: H. V. Deforzh

The article is devoted to the analysis of the development of Paleozoology science in the world in the era of the victory of evolutionism (1859-1895). Historical, comparative and biographical methods were used while making this article. It allowed to systematize and critically evaluate the used sources, to compare the assessment of the results of activities of different scientists, and to describe those works that contributed to the development of the science of Paleozoology. An analysis of the sources allowed an objective assessment of the contribution from the representatives of different countries to the development of the science of Paleozoology. The merits of our domestic zoologists in the marked process are shown. The multi-vector activity of the Kovalevskys brothers and M.V. Pavlova was analyzed in the context of the theory of evolution development. Based on the comparison of assessments made by different zoological scientists regarding the development of Paleozoology, the role of these scientists in solving evolutionary issues is shown. It is established that the development of the science of Paleozoology quickly found support from the evolutionists of the second half of the nineteenth century thanks to their personal contribution. This analysis enabled to draw the paths of development in both Paleozoology and Evolutionism in general. The victory of evolutionism was not simultaneous; this victory went a long and painful way of rejection and ruthless criticism. And it was the eminent scientists paleozoologists who played a significant role in the formation and strengthening of evolutionary theory in the world. They are such scholars as: Austrian geologist and paleontologist Melchior Neumayr, French paleontologist and geologist Albert Gaudry, Swiss zoologist and paleontologist Ludwig Rutimeyer, American naturalist, paleontologist and comparative anatomist Edward Соре, American paleontologist Othniel Marsh, German geologist, paleontologist and mineralogist Karl Zittel, American geologist and paleontologist Henry Osborn, and many others. The article analyzes the works of these scientists, thanks to which paleontology was able to separate from geology, since for a long time paleontology was a “helper”, “maid” of geology. This separation later contributed to the division of paleontology into paleozoology itself and paleobotany. The use of the biographical method made it possible to consider the persons of evolutionary paleozoologists as separate individuals, which made it possible to evaluate their contribution to the development of the theory of evolution, to re-evaluate their scientific achievements.

475-488

Authors: S. D. Kovalenko

The development of beet industry of Ukraine in the times of collective farm researching work (1930th-1950th) was investigated in the article with the method of historical-scientific analysis. It has defended that achievements took place on a collective basis in accordance with the implementation of government decisions, addressed to the rural population. It was found out that activity in collective farms has been carried out at the head of agronomic organizations in the village in the form of houses-laboratories, then houses of agricultural culture and collective farm research stations as leaders of collective research. It has found out that research on agrotechnique of sugar beet cultivation were carried out on the most common soils in the sugar beet regions of Ukraine – chernozems. These scientific researches were carried by the guidance of research institutes and stations on agrotechnique of cultivation, breeding, dynamics of cultivation of sugar beets for ensuring sugar production in Ukraine and solving the feeding problem in livestock breeding. The crop rotations have also introduced - plans for multi-year use of fields and alternation of cultivated plants as an important step towards improving the activity of the beet-breeding industry. Its aimed at fulfilling the main state tasks of growing beets and other crops, ensuring sustainable and rapid increase of yield, creation of a strong forage base for animal breeding, proper use of labor, tractors, livestock and agricultural machinery of a certain collective farm. It has noted the industrialization of the industry that made it possible to equip the beet farms with tractors and other equipment and the wave of the Stakhanov movement in beet production in the middle of the 1930's. The representation of the achievements in production of beet growing through the constantly-functioning All-Union Agricultural Exhibition and periodicals which represented experience leading figures of agricultural science and practice, news on agrotechnics, mechanization, chemicalization of crops, issues of beet crop rotation, pest control of the crops, organization of labor in beet farms, brigades, houses-laboratories, specific information on training and other problems of collective farms has highlighted. The condition of beet growing in the 1940s-1950s was studied, in particular the influence of the war in 1941-1945 on this branch and its rebuilding.

500-514

Authors: O. O. Pylypchuk

The article highlights the contribution of scientists of the Kyiv Law Society to solving the problems of licit land tenure in the second half of the nineteenth century, which was an example of the Institutution of limited real rights, which is also called the right to other people's things. In the historical context, the basic principles of the activity of the rents law in the Ukrainian lands are reflected, where it was very popular since the fifteenth century and until the end of the nineteenth century, and it was shown that the rents land tenure was for a long time the right to inherit possession and disposal of land belonging to the private owner, for which the latter received an annual unchanging payment – rents. The main stages of the emergence and development of the rents legal relations from the time of the Lithuanian-Ruskoi state and up to the last decades of the existence of the Russian Empire have been considered. It is shown how in the various historical periods at the legislative level, the actual legal relations were maintained in the most important normative legal acts that acted on the territory of modern Ukraine. The main changes in this issue after 1840 are shown, when on the Ukrainian lands the Lithuanian statute was abolished and the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire was introduced, which banned the rents legal relationship. That also led to a number of problems, because Rents land tenure after 1840 was no longer legal regulation. It was traced as members of the Kyiv Law Society raised this issue and initiated its decision at the legislative level. The analysis of scientific works of the members of the Kyiv Law Society has been carried out, which showed that the development of the economy in the conditions of capitalist relations in the second half of the nineteenth century led to the fact that the existing legal relations became unfavorable for landowners. Therefore, they tried to resolve the problem for several decades by their efforts in a situation that required the implementation of a large-scale reform, transferring the existing legal relations to the term lease. The contribution of the members of the KLS to the implementation of the actual reform, in particular, in the work on the "Regulations on the land structure of village perpetual rents in the provinces of West and Biloruskykh" in 1886, which finally abolished the rents legal relations and began the transformation of civil legal relations between large landowners and former rents owners who lived on the lands of the latter, in the conditions of the new socio-economic realities of the country.

527-535

Authors: Z. P. Sokolivska, V. A. Shenderovsky

The paper contains a sketch of thinker and publicist Roman Bzheskyi’s life and creative path whose creative contribution was not explored properly. He was a bright representative and notable figure in the history of European scientific thought. However, his name is known only within a narrow circle of experts. Roman Bzheskyi was one of those scholars and public-political figures in the twentieth century whose activity in Soviet times was hushed up, and the study of life and creative heritage has been tabooed for a long time. Mikhnovskyi 's ideology, whom he worked with at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, substantially influenced Bzheskyi’s political views. Their correspondence has been stored in the archives of Warsaw. R. Bzheskyi’s ideology was strengthened particularly by the influence of D. Dontsov's "Nationalism" philosophy that he considered to be the philosophical basis of natural sciences and psychology. The creative work of the scientist consists of criticism and analysis of Ukrainian politicians and artists, whose activities had a significant impact on all spheres of life of Ukrainian society. Perhaps the criticism of Russia has the most important place in R. Bzheskyi’s researches. Besides the matters of Russian state policy, its economic and political control, Bzheskyi in one of the papers concerns the Russian state’s formation. Roman Bzheskyi understood that the Soviet Union peoples’ denationalization was the most important Russian problem at that time. He emphasized that the Kremlin authorities mixed Ukrainian and Moscow history for a long time, so that Ukrainians felt themselves "the sons of a province" and were deprived of their own world outlook and self-identity. Russian language, literature, music and culture as a whole are created by many powerful contributions from outside. In addition, the painful R. Bzheskyi’s topic was not only the political but also the cultural life of Ukraine. He reacted keenly to the world’s underestimating Ukrainian poets, writers, and playwriters. R. Bzheskyi closely connected the analysis and criticism of the works by Ukrainian thinkers, writers or politicians with the cultural and spiritual realm that was the backbone of Ukrainianry. After all, to preserve the past of the Nation for the next generations, we must know the history well.

545-559

Authors: G. P. Tomashina

In the process of researches, it was established that one of the main premises for the becoming of an agricultural experimental business in the northern part of Kherson province was solving the issue of improving use of lands caused by uncontrolled destruction of virgin lands and non-observance of crop rotations, which affected black soil fertility. Among the main tasks of the Adzhams`ka Experimental Station, which began its activity in 1912, was the search for the best methods of field culture in the conditions of the northern part of the Kherson province. The solution of these problems was carried out by studying the effect of black and cropped fallow on the formation of productivity of grain crops and fodder crops and justifying the optimal time for sowing, seeding rates and applying different doses of organic and mineral fertilizers. It has been established that the distinctive features of activity of the Adzhams`ka Experimental Station from similar research institutions of Ukraine were: a highly specialized areas of ​​researches; a small number of scientific departments and workers; the location of the zone of the northern Steppe of Ukraine on the verge of several large provinces (Kherson, Kiyv, Katery`noslavs`k, Poltava, Podil`s`k), which in the first third of the XX century caused frequent changes in administrative subordination. The scientific work of the Ajamskaya Experimental station was based on the study of the influence on winter, spring and fodder crops of various predecessors, methods and terms of sowing, cropping systems, varietal assortment of agricultural crops. Beside, researches were carried out on the application of organic and mineral fertilizers, were studied the number of little known and infrequent plants , and testing of agricultural machinery and equipment, in particular those produced by the Yelisavetgrad Plant of Elvorti brothers. The main conclusions of the department of field crop cultivation, which were made on the results of the experiments in 1912-1931 became the statement that black fallow was the best way to increase the yield of winter grain crops, despite the fact that the depth of the fallow was not essential for sowing of winter crops, and organic fertilizer was a powerful mean of increasing the yield of agricultural crops. The dissemination and popularization of the research results by the application department of the Adzhams`ka Experimental Station was one of the first steps towards the transfer of agriculture in the region to scientific support.

5-11

Authors: O. V. Aleksandrov

The article delivers the personal contribution of the outstanding engineer and scientist in the field of heat engineering, honorary academician V.G. Shukhov in development of boiler construction. The features of rational designs of V.G. Shukhov's boilers are shown in comparison with the boilers of other foreign systems. We also considered the main solutions to the design and construction of boilers used by V.G. Shukhov in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The influence of Shukhov's ideas on the formation and development of home boiler construction has been shown.

23-30

Authors: T. S. Kletska

This article highlights the life and work of the Kyiv outstanding physicist and educator Mikhailo Petrovich Avenarius, who made a great contribution to the development of physics education in Ukraine. Avenarius was one of the founders of Kyiv Physical-Mathematical Society. Based on archival sources, scientific publications and memoirs of his colleagues and students, the main stages of his biography have been restored and his professional career has been examined. His work at the Kyiv University of St. Vladimir has been detailed throughout 25 years, as well as his achievements as a scientist, teacher and popularizer of science.

39-52

Authors: O. Ya. Pylypchuk, O. H. Strelko

The article is devoted to the analysis and systematized generalization of the totality of scientific facts that objectively characterize various aspects of life and activities of the thirteenth Minister of Railways of the Russian Empire, Adolf Yakovych Hiubbenet. In preparing the work were used, historical, comparative and biographical methods which made it possible to systematize and critically evaluate the sources used, compare assessment results of A.Ya. Hiubbenet by various authors, to highlight the main thing in the current state of studying the topic and the results of other researchers, to give a description of previous works on this issue and clearly separate the issues haven’t been solved yet. The sources analysis allowed giving an objective assessment of the contribution made by A.Ya. Hiubbenet into projects of nation-wide significance devoted to the subordination of the railway affairs to the state control, settlement of railway tariffs, subordination of railway tariffs to government supervision, determination of the access roads state and many others. It has been shoved that being the Minister of Railways A.Ya. Hiubbenet played an important role in the Institute of the Corps of Civil Engineers established in St. Petersburg. The paper has analyzed multi-vector activity of A.Ya. Hiubbenet as Minister of Railways of the Russian Empire. Based on assessments comparison made by various researchers as for measures adopted by A.Ya. Hiubbenet to improve the waterways of the Russian Empire, his role in solving the problem on restructuring of the Mariinska water system as a large-scale nationwide project, which provided for an immediate survey of all artificial waterways of the state with a view to resolving the issue of their future use has been shown. The paper establishes that due to A.Ya. Hiubbenet, the project quickly found support and was approved in 1890 by Emperor Alexander III, thanks to which the Special Commission was created, which in 1890-1892 researched Vyshnevolotsky, Berezinsky, Ohinsky and Dnipro-Bug water systems. This allowed us to outline a number of measures to improve radically and rapidly develop the waterways of the Russian Empire. The use of the biographical method allowed considering the personality of the thirteenth Minister of Communications of the Russian Empire Adolf Yakovych Hiubbenet as an individual, which made it possible to re-evaluate his life path.

66-74

Authors: L. I. Suhoterina

This article is devoted to organizational, teaching and scientific activity of professor and general-lieutenant Andrii Nilus. A. Nilus was the first head of Serhiiv Artillery School opened in 1913 (Military academy in Odessa nowadays). In 1918 – 1919 he was the Rector of newly created Odessa Polytechnic Institute. Professor A. Nilus was a specialist in the field of artillery, specifically in history of artillery. Even now his scientific works in history of artillery haven`t lost their significance.

83-93

Authors: N. V. Ustiak

The article is devoted to the contribution of Professor M. V. Vinokurov to solving the problem of increasing technical speed of trains and improving the running qualities of railway carriage. The analyze of experimental studies of M. V. Vinokurov showed a close connection between the well-being of passengers with smoothness of motion, the magnitude of the amplitudes and the frequency of the carriage vibrations. Particular attention was paid to the brake application of the rolling stock of trains.

107-116

Authors: V. A. Yanin

The article describes the freight steam FD locomotive creation process and the participation of the designer L.S. Lebedyanskyi in the creation of that locomotive. Moreover, the article reviews the technical characteristics of the main locomotive`s parts and the process of their gradual upgrade. Furthermore, the article describes the usage of the freight steam FD locomotives on the former Soviet Union`s railways and reveals the information about the amount of those steam locomotives and the years of their creation.

127-138

Authors: V. V. Koblosh

The article reveals one of the important achievements of the national soil science in the 1930s – creation of classification and nomenclature of soils of Ukraine. With application in the study of the principles of objectivity, historicism, as well as actual historical methods (problem-chronological, personification, biographical, etc.), it was found out, new soil typology was developed based on creative developments employees Ukrainian Research Institute socialist agriculture, including Professor N.B. Vernander. In the present characterization of soil types soil formation factors, geographical factors and partly physical and chemical properties of soils are prevalent. The recommendations of scientists concerning methods of rational use and improvement of soil fertility are generalized.

149-157

Authors: V. H. Nichkaluk

On the basis of the method of the historical and scientific analysis of the works of the scientist-economist professor K. G. Vobliy and the historical-comparative method, the historical aspects of the development of the land question have been reproduced. The creative work of the scientist was reflected in the publications «The Land Issue in the Programs of Different Parties» (1917) and «On the Agricultural Issue in Russia (Thoughts and Figures)» (1917). He compared the positions of the Populist, Marxist (Social-Democratic) and Constitutional-Democratic (popular liberation) parties in resolving the land issue. The essence of the latter was to solve the scarcity of the population. It was stated that this issue had not been resolved to this day and remains relevant in the current conditions of market relations.

169-178

Authors: N. O. Patkevic

The article covers the problematic issues of protectionism and introduction of railroad protective tariffs and the problem of introducing protective railway tariffs for the development of industry and agriculture as to limiting imports of industrial goods and granting of privileges to their own producers. Also in the article the issue of creating protective barriers and changes in railway policy, as well as its reform, is being discussed.

191-200

Authors: M. M. Ponomarenko

In 2015, political economy, as a science, dates back 400 years since the emergence and the beginning of its formation, as a separate science. This is a sufficient period for making general conclusions, but these conclusions are ambiguous. Political economy, as science was formed as a result of historical development of the initial economic relations - socially divided labor, which is the subject of studying political economy. The main historical stages of the development of political economy as a science in Ukraine are revealed, the objective foundations of the existence of periods of its de actualization and new actualization, аnd a place in the system of economic sciences, the unity and difference between the subjects and methods of political economy and other components of economic theory.

210-217

Authors: M. V. Prysyazhnyuk

The history of the launch of agricultural exhibitions is explored. The list of participants of participants is analyzed, the characteristics of animals presented at exhibitions by species, age, gender, etc. are given. The list of provinces and counties that participated in them is presented. The role of agricultural exhibitions in improving livestock breeding status has been established.

228-232

Authors: I. L. Sergyeyeva

The article covers a separate stage in the scientific biography of Boris Karlovich Yenken – one of the founders of social agronomy, his contribution to the organization and building of agricultural researches, development of their directions and methods for the further development of agrarian science. The scientific work of B.K. Yenken during his work at the Kharkiv Breeding Station and his participation in the 1st All-Russian Agricultural Congress. The place and role of the scientist in the formation of contemporary theoretical and methodological foundations in social agronomy, breeding and seed production are shown.

244-256

Authors: O. V. Shadrina

The method of historical and scientific analysis highlights the contribution of the organizer of domestic research on the culture of medicinal plants, a scientist, an outstanding personality – P.I. Gavsevich. His scientific and popular scientific works were devoted to the creation in 1916 of the specialized branch research institute ‒ the plantation of medicinal plants in Lubny in the Poltava region (now – the Experimental station of medicinal plants of the Institute of Agro-ecology and Nature Management of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine). Some biographical information obtained from archival documents is given.