Stručni rad
Conditions on the Island of Lastovo during the 19th Century
Stanko Piplović
; Split, Hrvatska
Sažetak
After the ferment of war at the beginning of the 19th century in Europe Dalmatia and with it the island of Lastovo became a part of Austria. This political condition endured till the end of WWI. During the first part of the century Lastovo was a city administration within the district of Dubrovnik. At the time the island was inhabited by about a 1000 inhabitants. Of the public institutions it was the center of the political-juridical chief administrator of the third class, it was the tax-gathering center and it had a health deputy. Public charity existed as a caritative institution on the island. In 1838 a lower elementary school for boys was opened. In the second part of the century Lastovo became a political district within the county of Korčula where there was a court of justice. The district encompassed a surface of 53 square kilometers. In 1869 1042 people lived there. In 1810 that number had risen to 1417 inhabitants. The village of Lastovo was the only settlement on the island but a part of the population lived on some other localities. The main occupation was agriculture. The island was renowned for its southern fruits, the growing of vineyards and olive trees. Stock-breeding was also quite developed. In addition the population engaged in fishing particularly in the summer for sardines. During the seventies Lastovo had a parish office, a school with three grades, a harbor-health agency, the customs and a postal office. The turn of the century witnessed great political turbulence. The most intense conflict was waged between the Party of Right and the Croatian National party for deputies in the Dalmatian congress in Zadar, for the Emperor’s council in Wien and for the District council. Cultural life was underdeveloped. There were a number of cultural-artistic societies. There existed a Croatian Reading room and a branch-office of the Saints Cyril and Methodius society. Some cases of caring for the cultural heritage have been recorded. Thusly in 1900-1901 restoration works were undertaken on the artistic painting in the parish church and in the cemetery church with backing from the Central commission in Wien. Health services were poor. There was no doctor on the island which created great problems for the populace. Nevertheless care was taken that no infection by way of sea traffic come to the island so that a Harbor health board was established. There were almost no public infrastructural and communal services. The lack of water was particularly hard to deal with. In order to remedy this to a certain extent the district proceeded to construct a pool. The Dalmatian governorship took the initiative to build wells in the village. The system of communication was also poor. Mail arrived rarely and irregularly while for a long time there was no telegraph. Transportation was poorly developed. This applies equally to roads on the island and to sea routes. Boat connections were rare while the harbor of St. Michael was small and unprotected so that boats in bad weather could not moor. Finally works to make it better got under way. However progress was slow. During the first years of the 20th century it finally began to be deepened and broadened and a pier began to be built. Thusly, because of its distance from the coast the island was left to itself. Although its natural bounty was great the possibility to put its products on the market was small. The state and the district throughout the 19th century undertook some measure which ultimately improved the living conditions of the islanders.
Ključne riječi
the island of Lastovo; 19th century history
Hrčak ID:
26692
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.12.2007.
Posjeta: 4.819 *