This paper discusses some aspects of the development of engineering education, training engineering staff for industrial enterprises and the relationship of the personnel issue with technical and technological re-equipment of old mining and plant production in the Urals in the 80-ies. XIX - early XX centuries. This article examines and peculiarities of the Russian State and public outreach, education and engineering fields. Analysis of various sources on the subject revealed the weaknesses of the processes of differentiation and specialization of the engineering activities in the Urals in the historical period.