The word "anonymous" means "joint-stock," i.e., with bearer shares, without indicating the shareholder’s name. The "Belgian Company of Odessa Horse-Railways" was founded in 1880 and was engaged in the construction and operation of tramcars with horse traction and later steam traction in the city of Odessa.
The coupons of the "anonymous company" appeared during World War I. They were intended so that, amid the near-complete disappearance of coins from circulation, conductors could give passengers change. Possibly, in an era of cash shortage and confusion, they could serve as small change. Only in 1924, when the monetary system was put in order, was a decree of the Council of Labor and Defense issued "On Prohibiting the Issuance of Monetary Substitutes."
At the very beginning of 1870, Messrs. Chizhevich, Scaramanga, Kolman, and Shmetov submitted a document to the Odessa City General Duma under which the above-mentioned gentlemen undertook to build horse railways in Odessa. On February 27, the concessionaires deposited 27,000 as a security with the city treasury. The City Duma spent exactly one year considering the concessionaires’ application. And now you demand that officials respond to your petitions within 30 days...
Thus, in February 1871, a "draft" contract was signed between the concessionaires and the Executive Duma. After that, the draft contract was sent for approval to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Yes, at that time the Ministry of Internal Affairs had far more "affairs" and powers. But by then changes had occurred in the city’s administrative structure, and the ministry returned the draft for discussion in the renewed Odessa Duma.
Less than three years passed before, in March 1874 (!), the new Duma finally approved and sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs the project to establish horse railways in Odessa. But at that time the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Internal Affairs began a debate over jurisdiction in this matter. In November 1874, a compromise was found: "Odessa within the city limits was under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while in the port it fell under the administration of the Ministry of Transport and Finance." In the end, this issue too was agreed upon. But in January 1875, a decision was made to revise the contract and approve it once again. The commission that was formed demanded widening the track spacing between lines from 4 to 7 feet (with the upkeep and repair of the paving to fall on the concessionaires). And, after 5 years of ordeals, the contract was signed (November 11, 1875). And already in January 1876, the concessionaires submitted to the City Duma three copies of the project (together with plans, drawings, and a description of the lines). The City Duma considered these documents incomplete and sent them back for revision (modern entrepreneurs may find this situation painfully familiar). In April 1876, all documents were signed. The concessionaires purchased materials and began work. But, as it turned out, the place allocated by the city for the tram track lay above a main water-supply pipe. On March 20, 1876, a collapse occurred, and the track ended up under water. The concessionaires appealed to the City Duma with a request to relocate the water pipe. But the Odessa Waterworks Company refused to move the pipe. Work on laying the first line of the Odessa tram was halted. In early May, a joint site visit by the entrepreneurs and city officials took place at the accident location. Next I will quote Chizhevich himself (1878): "We gathered, talked, came to the conclusion that it would be good to move the water pipe, and dispersed, having done nothing. And there the matter stopped, so the sinkhole can still be seen even now."
The concession to lay horse railways was a very costly undertaking (though it promised great profits in the future). Therefore, as early as 1875, negotiations with potential investors began in London. But as soon as the press published information about the issuance of shares of the Horse-Railway Company in Odessa, the entire London press erupted with articles about the impossibility of organizing horse railways in Odessa. For example, the well-known newspaper "Times" argued that Odessa was built on mountains, and therefore horse railways there were impossible! Despite this, in July 1876 permission to issue shares was obtained.
And then came 1877. The Odessa concessionaires were again very unlucky. The war between the Russian Empire and Turkey began. And most shareholders demanded the return of their initial contributions. The idea of the Odessa entrepreneurs was completely crushed.
And in August 1879, an agreement was concluded between the Odessa City Duma and representatives of the Belgian Horse-Railway Company (the contract on behalf of the company was signed by the French subject Pierre Clement Bonnet). And already in 1880 the first horse-railway line in Odessa was opened.