In the article the author discusses the problem of the study of document's circulation in the Russian Empire in general and in the Altai Mountain Region in the 2nd half of the 19th century in particular. After analyzing literature on this theme the author came to conclusion that there are not any valuable monographs, only textbooks. The author proposes to begin the study of development in Russia by showing its development in deferent parts of the Empire to see the specificity of every region. On the example of the "Code of institutions and mountain charters of 1893" the author shows the specificity of document's circulation in the Altai Mountain District at the 2nd half of the 19th century.