This section is from the book "Manual Of Useful Information", by J. C Thomas. Also available from Amazon: Manual of useful Information.
There were 47,932,000 serfs in Russia in 1861, as follows: Crown serfs, 22,851,000; appanage, 3,326,000; held by nobles, 21,755,000. The cost of redemption was, in round numbers, about $325,000,000, as follows:
Mortgages remitted................................................................ | $152,000,000 |
Government scrip................................................................ | 101,000,000 |
Paid by serfs................................................................................ | 52,000,000 |
Balance due................................................................................................ | 20,000,000 |
The indemnity to the nobles was $15 per serf. The lands are mortgaged to the state till 1912. The lands ceded to Crown serfs are mortgaged only till 1901. The item of "mortgages remitted" is the amount due by nobles to the Imperial Bank and canceled.
 
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