民国初年新疆水利管理近代化研究——基于新疆水利会报告书的考察

Modernization of Water Management in Xinjiang in the Early Republic of China:A Study Based on the Reports by Xinjiang Water Resource Association

现存的新疆水利会报告书翔实保留了民国四年至六年(1915-1917)期间新疆在水务机构、水务章程和灌溉工程兴修方面的情况,借由此批史料,探讨了民国初年新疆管水秩序的变革过程、影响与局限性。辛亥革命之后,杨增新确立了其对新疆的统治,继承并发展了清末开始的农田水利建设趋势。虽然民国初年的水利建设面临着币制混乱、地权混乱、分水原则混乱等诸多阻碍,仍造就了民国历史上新疆第一次水利建设高潮,取得了灌渠建设、推动置县和替代烟苗等成绩,在发展新疆农业经济、平衡政府财政、解决流民等方面发挥了重要的积极作用。民国初年新疆开启了水利近代化的进程,借由农田水利工程的兴修,杨增新当局政府的力量得以进一步深入基层社会和地方经济事务中,客观上起到了稳定边疆、建设边疆的积极作用。

The existing reports by the Xinjiang Water Resource Association provide a detailed account of the water agencies,water regulations and the construction of irrigation projects in Xinjiang in the early Republic of China(1915-1917).Based on these reports,the present paper examines the change process,impact and limitations of water management in Xinjiang then.After the Revolution of 1911,Yang Zengxin,who came to power as governor,inherited and developed the irrigation and water conservancy construction launched since the late Qing Dynasty.Though confronting many obstacles such as the disordered currency system,land ownership and principle of water allocation,water conservancy construction still witnessed the first climax in Xinjiang’s history,with such achievements as the construction of irrigation canals,the establishment of counties and the replacement of tobacco seedlings.While the water conservancy construction played positive role in developing the agricultural economy,balancing the government’s finances and settling the displaced people,it started the water resources modernization in Xinjiang.Besides,it helped Yang’s power penetrate into grassroots society and local economic affairs,which was actually beneficial for the stability and construction of the frontier.