DESCRIPTION OF CITY OF STALINABAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700100057-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 57
• Publication Date: January 3, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
CLASSIFICATIQ~J CONFIDENTIAL
a CURITY INFORFtATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FORFION DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
L53R
Economic - Caastruction
Geographic -
8ociological
Transportation
Book, daily newspaper
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
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INFORMATION 1950 - 1952
REPORT
cD r:o,
DATE OF
DATE DIST. .3~a., 1953
NO. OF PAGES 5
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION OF CITY OF STALIRABAD
~umbere in parenih=see rrfer to appended aources_]
Stalinabad, the capital of Tadzhik BSR, is located on the Varsob River in
the center of the Giesaraksya Valley. The city has straight blocks, and wide,
straight streets paved with asphalt; industrial plants are located on the out-
skirts, especially on the southern side, Ronda and railroads stretch out in
the shape of a San Crom the center of the city and peas between fields of cotton
and trees.
1 eaTheSt~erritory of pr.eaeat-day Stallnabad was formerly occupied by threw vil-
a8 y Assiya to the north, Sakhmaaeur to the south, sad between them,
Dyushambe. Translated Srom the Tadzhik, Dyushambe means second night and corrA-
sponds to the Russian for Monday. In 1921F, Dyushembe was made the center of
Autonomous Tadzhikistan, and one year later it was established ae a city. In
1929 it became the capital of the reorganized Tadzhik republic, was connected
with Termez by railroad, and its name was changed from Dyusheabe to Stalinabad.
At that time, Stalinabad had no water pipelines, bridges, electricity, industrial
enterprises, or labor cadres. Its mineral resaurcea were not developed and its
trsde was iaeigaif.icant. Th. new city was to become the center of all future weans
of communications o. the agricultural country which was backward at gnat time.
Zn 1929, industry made up only 20 percent of the gross national product of
the republic, Ready all the industries ware concentrated in northern Tadzhiki-
stan. They included small cotton-cleaning plants, creameries, the Shurabi Coal Mince,
petroleum industries, and is addition outstanding domestic-type industries.
Southern Tadzhikistan?s industry was extremely backward and undeveloped: 30 lit-
tle cotton was grown, especially is the Gissarskiy Valley, that it was all consumed
where it was grown,
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aatez? for city irrigation passes through open irrigation ditches and partly
through pipe~ines. Water for daily needs ie pumped from the Dyuehambinka River
and is purified by filters before it is passed on to the mains. The length of
the water main is 50 kilometers and 22,000 cubic meters are piped to the pnpula-
tlon every 24 hours. Shortage of water for daily needs is not foreseen at the
present ti~te.
The development of resources and industrial activity in Stalinabad began
with the building of sci~:ntific research institutes. During the first years of
development, aevercl scientific research institutes were organized and the ground-
work was laid for the Tadzhik branch of the Academy of Sciences USSR. In 1926,
the town had 5,607 residents and several elementary schools. In 1939, Stalinabad
had 82,540 residents and three VUZ, nine tekhnikums and special institutes, and
four FZO schools, ell of which were attended by a total of about 3,000 students.
Elementary, secondary, and higher institutions in Stalinabad had over 17,000 per-
sons enrolled, or more than one fifth of the total population.
During the first 10 years oP the city's existence, a cotton-spinning plant (1926),
a rolling mill (1927), a meat combine (1930}, silk-spinning factory (1932), and
a tannery were built.. All these enterprises process local raw materials. In 1936,
a large cotton combine was built which was already producing during the war, and
in 1939 a silk-weaving factory wen put into operation. The population of 3talin-
abed also began to grow rapidly and other enterprises were built, among them a
soft-drink p;.snt (1932), a sewing factory {1933), footwear factory (1937), mech-
anized bread-baking plant (1938), and a brewery (1939). In the northern part of
the city, Crick (1930), alabaster (1937), asphalt and concrete (1938), and cement (1941)
pleats were built, In addition to these main enterprises, there exist many artels,
shops, bakeries, creameries, and other minor industries. Acoal-mining center,
Ravatekoye, is located 135 kilometers from 3talinabad. Nearer the city are two
other coal-mining centers, Taehkutanskoye, 75 kilometer~e away, and Ziddiaskoye,
80 kilometers. All three places era high in the mountains. The coal mined in
Ravatskoye is of high quality and plays an important role in the Stalinabad economy,
:?hile in the other places *.he coal is of low quality and is not used in Stalina-
bad. By 19;0, only traces of petroleum had beeo Pound in the Gissarekaya Valley.
The city's popul.atiou bee increased primarily because of newcomers. In 1926
the population was 5,607 persons; in 1923 it increased to 15,000, in 1929 to 19,000,
1n 1930 to 24,000, in 1938 to 42,000, and in 1939 to 82,540 persons.
Off to one side of the main street are s number of settlements. Moat of them
are on hills to the northeast on 'the perip}Iery of the city. In 1940, there were
over ten such settlements. They were named the first, second, snd thL'd Negornyy
(rieaning on a hill) sad the first, second, and third Podgornyy (at the base of
a hill), Staryy and Novyy Shakhmanaur (at the village), Zavodakiy (at the cotton
plant), Klinicheskiy (at the polyclinic) Privokzel'nyy, and so on. Several of
the settlements have become quite large. Nagornyy, founded in 1937, had over
100 ho~:ees in 1940. It was settled primarily by Russians and Ukrainians, Most
of the settlemoote will Le integrated i..to Stalinabad.
The moat important scientific, educational., theatrical, and other cultural
institutions of the republic are located in Stalinabad. The Tadzhik branch of
the Academy of Sciences USSR is being built on ulitsa Ayni. It was begun in 1932
and combines nix scientific research institutes, an astronomical observatory, and
several regional stations. Geologists have Pound over 250 deposits of useful
minerals. Many crops of subtropical plants and new varieties of cotton, grain,
sad alfalfa are being rsiaed. During the school year 1948-49, the State Univer-
sity was opened. New institutes, tekknikuma, and special schools are now being
built. At present, there are ove-_ 3G primary and secondary schools, a special
scientific research institute of schools, and an institute for the advanced
training of teachers. Tadzhiiegosizdat (Tadzhik State Publishing Rouse), which
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is located on ulitea Leniaa, publishes aeversl republic newspapers in Tadzhik,
Russian, aqd Uzbek, including the periodical Bolshevik Tedzhikistana is Tadzhik,
political, scientific, and art literature, and a series of special magazines.
During its 25 years of operation, Tadzhikgosizdat has published over 40 million
books in Tadzhik. An opera sad ballet theatre has been built on the new ploahchad'
imeai Moskvy. The level of literacy has igcreased nearly 20 times from 1926 when
it was only 3.q percent of the level oP literacy in 1939.
Stalinabad occupies nearly the entire third bench of the Dyuahambe River.
The city can expand in a southern direction or b? extended over to the right bank,
whidi at prea.agt is only slightly inhabited. It is here that Lake Komsomol'skaya
and its water station era locates. It is here also that the Large Gissarakiy
Canal begins end the wide ulitsr. 3~ani Putovskogo leads into the long bridge. which
crosses the Dyushambinka. In general, the city stretches southward, beginning
at the railroad, then crosses the second terrace where many new indvatriel enter-
prises are being built. In the future, some of the enterprises xi11 be moved south
or north, or even outside the city's boundaries.
The southernmost tip of Stailnabad has a tannery which is separated from
the city by a green zone. This area was formerly a desalt, but now it has bees
built up with enterpriseK which era locste2 along the Kiu?gan_Tyubigskiy higi,way.
So Par, a meat cemLine, textile combine, and machine 4h~n have been bui12 p
majority of the enterprises planned during the postwar Five-Year ~,aq were being
built in thla area in 1950.
The length of Stslinabed Prom the north side ~~ the city tc? the tannery is
about 10 kilometers and its width at the wldest point le 6.; ~ilov.etera. The main
highways correspond to the four possible avenues, or apgroachea, to the city:
?from the north, Tashkegtskiy Trakt, changing farther south into the Ura-Tyubinskiy
highway which leads to the Vakahskaya plain; i~om the west, Termezakiy highway
which farther asst ,7o1ns the Novo, Pamirskiy highway. The dividing line which
separates the city into twc parts conaiats of Kirov, Lenin, and Lakhuti atreete?
It is also the main artery which all incoming and outgoing reads croon. To ease
traffic, a wide automobile highway will pass even farther eastwar3 along the edge
of the city to take care of the extra plow 4P freight.
In architectiu?e, three atagea are easily noticeable. During the fi at stage,
which may be called utilltarian, the necessity was quantity and not teauty. Many
standard houses wire built at this time, The second atsge repz?eaents the search
Por an architectural style, and is represente3 by ouch buildings as the ?rinting
House, House oP Communicationa~ Building for the Supreme Sovi_'t of Tadzhik SSR
and the Ministry of Agriculture of the republic, and so on. The third stage is
a modern one, during which Soviet architec+,vre has found its own style. It is
represented by the Aouse of the TsY. KP(b) of Tadzhikistan, the State House, the
hotel, the Tadzhik Theater of Opera snd Ballet, the Medical Igatitute, az,d many
others. The predominance oP small, and too- or three-story houses is explained
by geological conditions, since the region where Stalinabad ie loca.ted is a highly
aeiamic ens (7-8 Sells}.
Sparsn.ness of coneiruction is characteristic of Stalinabad. The city is
growing wide, and keeping its large, green areas free of consiruction. The aver-
age density oP th:- population during the last census was under 30 persona per
hectare. The mist densely populated section of the city was thct formerly
occupied by Dyuahambe (up to i40 persons per hectare)e Frnm bare the population
decrea3ea in all directions. An especially sparsely settled section cP the city
is the southern ore, which is also spread out. but whPSe dwelling houses are be-
ing built at present. A wide-gauge railroad, coming from the west, continues
eastward bo Ordzhonikidze Por 2? kilometers. Local trains go there daily. In
addition, two narrow-gauge railroads mee~ in Stalinabad; one goes south to the
cotton-growing Vakshakays Plain to Pyandzha (240 kilometers), and another stretches
CONFIDENTIAL
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earthward to the Varsob Canyon to the settlement Pugus (32 kilometers), from where
it goes to the Ziddinskoye Ccal Mines (80 kilometers). This railroad, following
the eastern boundary of Stalinabad, serves a group of enterprises, a stone quarry
on the Dyushambiaka River, and, further north, cement and lime plants located in
the vicinity of large deposits of construction materials. A large glass plant
is being built and brick and alabaster plants will be moved here later from the
city. This northern industrial area, where a group of industries is now located,
is separated from the populated section by a 10-kilometer-wide unpopulated strip.
On tte central Hart of the prospekt on the large ploahc'SSd' imeni Moskvy
stand the Tadzhik Opera and Ballet Building, A large three-story hotel is also
located on this ploahchad. Not far from these buildings is the House of TaK'KP(b)
of Tadzhikistan and farther down ie the two-story printing house. At the bend
in u).itsa Lenina is the small ploshchad' Pravitel'atva, where the House of Com-
munications and, nrxt to it, the State House are located. Farther north, where
ulitsa Lenina crosses ulitsa Putovskogo,.atanda a large general store. Across
from it is the park imeni Frunze and next to it the Tadzhlk Drama Theater, the
theater imeni Lakhuti, and the Zelenyy Theater. A trolley-bus?line runs 3etween
this ploshchad' and the station.
Stalinabad continues to grow. Three kolkhoz settlements for migratory work-
ers are being built i.n thN Vakhshskaya Plain. Next to the enterprises processing
agricultural raw mste:lalF are industries which eerve the needs of the agricultural
economy, traaspcrt, and industry growing up outside the capita:.. During World
War II, machine-building and repair plnnts were built. The machine-building plant
lmeni Ordzhonikidze produces petroleum equipment and parts for agricultural machines.
An electromecbanical plant, "Sel?elektro," produces equipment Yor electric power
stations, including small turbines for agricultural electric power stations.
The repair of aotar?a, c^mbines, and 'the production of parts for them ie done. by
the Motor R=pair Plant. Sparc. parts for automobiles and tractor~a are produced
by the "Traktorodstal"' and "Avtozapaachaet"' plan?ta.
Such a rnpid growth of the city naceaaitatea expanding its preaen~c source
of power sapnly. The problem cf supplying the city with local foal has aot been
solved. One powerful source of electric energy Par S+,slinabad is tte Varsob River.
The second hydroelectric power station, tb=. Nizhniy Varaob GES, fa being built
between the Varsob GES and Stallnabsd; it will be almost Loire as powerful as the
first GES. Both atstions are automatically controlled and in the future it is
planned to change them to remote control from a distsnce of 10 kilameter~. Accord-
ing to the postwar Five=Tear Plan, new enterprises were to provide e,9ditional
sources of power, In addition, the construction of cloth, weaving, knitted fabric,
dyeing and finishing factories, milk and margarine plants, large confectionery
factories, glass plants and "Metalloshirpotreb" were to be completed. At +,he
same time, seversl operating enterprises are being expanded and reconstructed.
For exemple, the mechanized bread-baking plant is setting up s macaroni shop, a
sewer-pipe chop at the ceramics plant, and so on.
The population of Stalinabad grove because of thq arrival cf nev people and
also, to a large extent, because of natural processes. The total number oP Ted-
zhikistan reaiderts greatly exceeds 100,000; thst ie, it hss increased by more
than 20 times during the past 20 years.(1)
During 1952, a dwelling house for workers of the Ministry of Justice use put
into operation and a six-apartment building for timb:r-industry workers was
built. The Kurgan-Tyubioskiy Construction Administration is building new cul-
tural and public service buildings Sn Stalinat,ad.(2) Several 18-apartment buildings
are also under censtruction.(3)
50X1-HUM
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sow+cES
1. Stallnabea,,8tolitea Tadzhikakoy 68R (Stalioabad, Capital of Tsazhik 8SR),
Moec.~r, 195U
2. 3talinabad, Ko?muniat Taazhikistana, 12 Jun 52
3. Ibia., to pub 52
cor~'mx~Tinr.
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