Mehmed Salih Efendi

The life of Mehmed Salih Efendi began in Burdur in 1850/51 (AH 1267). At about 20, in 1871/72, Mehmed Salih began work in Denizli, on a first salary of 300 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1871/72, with Mehmed Salih as Denizli Kazası kâtibi in Denizli, where the entries run to 1873/74. Alongside, the lists for 1871/72 give a second post, in Aydın as Aydın Aşar İdaresi ikinci kâtibi. Mehmed Salih then moved to Canik from 1873 to 1875. Alongside, the lists for 1874 to 1876 give a second post, in Bafra as Bafra Duhan Aşar başkâtibi. The annual lists then follow Mehmed Salih to Istanbul from 1876 to 1882. Alongside, the lists for 1881 to 1895 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Orman Kontrol müfettiş yardımcısı. Alongside, the lists for 1894 to 1909 give a second post, in Istanbul as Ziraat kâtibi.

The salary went from 500 kuruş a month in 1871/72 to 1,050 in 1895/96, the peak, in Istanbul, when 83 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 24 years of salary come to 252,180 kuruş, 2.1 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The last annual entry is for 1908/09.