For the answer to the question above, millions of peasants came into the towns or worked in rural factories and mines. In the last half-century of the old regime, the Empire's urban population grew from 7 to 28 million people. Factory conditions were terrible. T<span>he worker 'raised on the frugal habits of rural life' was 'much more easily satisfied' than his counterpart in Europe or North America, so that 'low wages appeared as a fortunate gift to Russian enterprise'. </span><span>Shopfloors were crammed with dangerous machinery. There were frequent accidents. Yet most workers were denied a legal right to insurance and, if they lost an eye or limb, could expect no more than a few roubles' compensation.</span>
