Ivan Denisov's search of the route from Zmievsky mihe to Kabanovskaya wharf (1753)

In the middle of the 18 century the intensive development of metallurgy in the Altai Mountains district started. That is why the problem of transportation of silver ore, which underwent the primary treatment, from Zmeinogorsky mine to Barnaul silver-refining plant arose. The quickest and cheapest way of transportation was river barges. In summer 1749 the chiefs of Kolyvano-Voskresensko mountain production organized an expedition headed by a land surveyor Pimen Startsov. This expedition explored the Aley and the Charysh rivers in detail. The Charysh River was the most suitable for transportation of ore during the whole summer period. The problem was that transportation of ore by river could be done only during the warm time of the year. Thus, a suitable horse road was to be found for transporting the enriched ore all year long. The archives of Altai region have the documents on first researches of ground roads from Zmeinogorsky mine to Kabanovskaya wharf. On December 12, 1753, Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna ordered to find the most short and convenient ground road for ore transportation from Zmeinogorsky mine to Barnaul plant. This way was to substitute the longer old road, which went from Zmeinogorsky mine across Kolyvansky plant to Kabanovskaya wharf. On May 24, 1753, the chiefs of Kolyvano-Voskresensko mountain office sent a scientific-investigative expedition headed by shihtmeyster Ivan Denisov. Later Ivan Denisov gave four variants of roads from Zmeinogorsky mine to Barnaul plant to Kolyvano-Voskresensko mountain chiefs. Each separate route had a detailed physical-geographical description. These descriptions included such important conditions as the precise length of roads, the quantity of the required bridges, ferries and winter cabins. Ivan Denisov attached a detailed map of 1 verst to 1 inch scale to his report. The map showed all the old roads and the four variants of the new roads. On October 27, 1753 Elizabeth Petrovna affirmed the third version of the road, which did not require building many brides and winter cabins. Building this road cost less money. Thus, shihtmeyster Ivan Denisov made a detailed physical-geographical research of four roads, which were most suitable for ore transportation from Zmeinogorsky mine to Barnaul silver-refining plant. The result of Denisov's expedition was the description and mapping of all big objects, which he met on his way.

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