Electricity in Ottoman Commercial Enterprises as a New Power Source

Until the last quarter of 19th century, steam power was the only available source of power for commercial enterprises. But this power required large amounts of investment. This requirement limited the spread of mechanization. But the invention of electrical motors changed the situation. With its practical usage opportunities, electricity took attention of several commercial enterprises in the Ottoman Empire. According to former steam power, electricity provides both usage easiness and lesser cost opportunity to commercial enterprises. Thanks to electrical engines, relatively small businesses were also able to take decision of mechanization. In this article, there were shown examples from six sectors, who wanted to benefit from electricity in their activities. Entrepreneurs made investments in mining, logistics, jewelry, transportation, ginning and milling, for this new technology. With electricity investments, entrepreneurs wanted to reach seven advantages that there were communication possibility, safer working environment, energy efficiency, better lighting, easy utilization, reduced cost and increased productivity. As to the Ottoman government's approach to these entrepreneurs, the officials did not always eagerly meet their demands. Most of the custom officials were reluctant to accept electrical appliances into the country. But in the end, demands of entrepreneurs were mostly accepted by the government. For the control of these demands, the Ottoman Empire wanted both the purpose of each request and the person responsible for that request to be clearly determined.