Yeni Bir Güç Kaynağı Olarak Osmanlı Ticari İşletmelerinde Elektrik
19. Yüzyılın son çeyreğine kadar buhar enerjisi, ticari işletmeler için eldeki tek güç kaynağıydı. Fakat bu güç büyük miktarlarda yatırıma ihtiyaç duymaktaydı. Bu gereklilik ise makineleşmenin yaygınlaşmasını sınırlamaktaydı. Fakat elektrik motorlarının icadı durumu değiştirdi. Osmanlı Devleti’nde elektrik sağladığı kullanım kolaylıklarıyla, birçok ticari işletmenin dikkatini çekmiştir. Eski buhar gücüne göre elektrik, ticari işletmelere hem kullanım kolaylığı ve hem de daha düşük maliyet fırsatı sağlamaktadır. Elektrik motorları sayesinde görece küçük işletmeler de makineleşme kararı alabildiler. Bu makalede faaliyetlerinde elektrikten faydalanmak isteyen altı sektörden örnekler gösterilmiştir. Girişimciler bu yeni teknoloji için; madencilik, lojistik, kuyumculuk, ulaştırma, çırçır ve değirmencilikte yatırımlar yaptılar. Girişimciler, elektrik yatırımları ile iletişim imkânı, daha güvenli çalışma ortamı, enerji verimliliği, daha iyi aydınlatma, uygulama kolaylığı, azalan maliyet ve artan üretkenlik gibi yedi avantaja ulaşmak istediler. Osmanlı hükümetinin bu müteşebbislere yaklaşımına gelince, yetkililer taleplerini her zaman hevesle karşılamadılar. Gümrük görevlilerinin çoğu, ülkeye elektrikli aletlerin kabulü noktasında isteksizdi. Fakat yine de sonuçta, girişimcilerin talepleri çoğunlukla devlet tarafından kabul edildi. Bu taleplerin kontrolü için Osmanlı Devleti, hem her talebin amacının hem de o talepten sorumlu olan kişinin açıkça belirlenmesini istemiştir.
Electricity in Ottoman Commercial Enterprises as a New Power Source
Until the last quarter of 19th century, steam power was the only available source of power for commercial enterprises. But this power required large amounts of investment. This requirement limited the spread of mechanization. But the invention of electrical motors changed the situation. With its practical usage opportunities, electricity took attention of several commercial enterprises in the Ottoman Empire. According to former steam power, electricity provides both usage easiness and lesser cost opportunity to commercial enterprises. Thanks to electrical engines, relatively small businesses were also able to take decision of mechanization. In this article, there were shown examples from six sectors, who wanted to benefit from electricity in their activities. Entrepreneurs made investments in mining, logistics, jewelry, transportation, ginning and milling, for this new technology. With electricity investments, entrepreneurs wanted to reach seven advantages that there were communication possibility, safer working environment, energy efficiency, better lighting, easy utilization, reduced cost and increased productivity. As to the Ottoman government’s approach to these entrepreneurs, the officials did not always eagerly meet their demands. Most of the custom officials were reluctant to accept electrical appliances into the country. But in the end, demands of entrepreneurs were mostly accepted by the government. For the control of these demands, the Ottoman Empire wanted both the purpose of each request and the person responsible for that request to be clearly determined.
Up to the last quarter of 19th century, steam power was the only available source of power for commercial enterprises. Steam power provided reliable and abundant amount of energy. But it required great investments. This requirement limited the spread of mechanization. But the invention electrical motors changed the situation. With its practical usage opportunities, electricity took attention of several commercial enterprises in the Ottoman Empire. According to former steam power, electricity provides both usage easiness and lesser cost opportunity to commercial enterprises. Thanks to electrical engines, relatively small businesses were able to take decision of mechanization. In this article, there were shown examples from six sectors, who wanted to benefit from electricity in their activities. Entrepreneurs made investments in mining, logistics, jewelry, transportation, ginning and milling, for this new technology. In general with electricity investments, entrepreneurs wanted to reach seven advantages that there were communication possibility, safer working environment, energy efficiency, better lighting, easy utilization, reduced cost and increased productivity.
In this article, there were three examples from mining sector. Balya-Karaaydın Mining Company from Balıkesir established power station in Mancılık. This company wanted to bring microphones, for better communication in the any case of probable accident. Kesendire Mining Company from Thessaloniki planned to change its power source from steam to electricity. Thus, the company claimed that forest wealth of the region would be protected. In third example, Thasos Mines demanded permission for electricity using in lighting, because of different lighting equipment could cause various problems for this enterprise.
Apart from mining, there were some other sectors demanded electricity or electrical equipment. Firstly, Haydarpaşa Port Company was building a silo within the port. The company wanted to produce electrical power, for using in crane like machines of silo. Secondly, a jewelry artisan Pilus oğlu Bedros from Trabzon wanted to bring a galvanoplasty machine from Paris. This machine would be used for plating metals. Thirdly, Oriental Railways Operator Company would build a bridge in Kuleliburgaz. The company had declared that it would construct the bridge using the pneumatic method. For lighting during construction, the company wanted to use electric light, instead of oil or olive oil. All equipment would be brought from Austria. Fourthly, German Levant Cotton Company supported cotton production in the region. Later, this company prepared ginned cotton and sent them to German textile factories, for their raw material needs. The company demanded permission to import electric dynamo, in order to use in its factory. At the beginning, demand of German Levant Cotton Company was rejected. Ottoman custom administration ordered that mentioned machine must be sent back to arrival address. Later, with the intervention of German Embassy, the company was granted permission to import electric dynamo to the Ottoman Empire.
Lastly, some entrepreneurs in the field of milling requested permission for electricity using. There had been shown three examples about this sector. In the first example, a German person applied to the government regarding the lighting of the steam mill he operated in the city of Jerusalem. He wished to renew lamps of his mill. In the second example given about the mills, Mehmet from Yakova ran a mill in the İlhame district of Damascus. In his request in 1902, this person brought a water-powered electric machine from Europe. In the third example given about the mills, there is a prohibition. Ago Pasha had a flour factory built in Skopje. He also ordered an electrical machine from Europe to illuminate this factory. However, since the import of this machine was not allowed, the device in question was left to rot in the customs warehouse.
As to the Ottoman government’s approach to these entrepreneurs, the officials did not always eagerly meet their demands. Most of the custom officials were unwilling to take initiative. Unless Sultan’s very clear order, they rejected entrepreneurs. However in the end, demands of entrepreneurs were mostly accepted by the government. But, the Ottoman Empire did not ignore the evaluation of the necessity of demands. The government considered that it was important to clearly determine the purpose of the demands. Every machine must only be used in specifically permitted business. In addition, the responsible person of each machine or equipment must also be determined, in the case of probable accident or an inconvenient situation.
