Chapter 208: A Difficult Decision
Jiaozhou had burgeoned into a sprawling Far Eastern city under the patronage of the Hexingen Consortium and East Africa, establishing itself as Germany's most influential eastern city.
In stark contrast to semi-colonial treaty ports, Jiaozhou operated under Qing government control. However, owing to distrust of Qing bureaucracy, the Hexingen Consortium chose to maintain a strong presence through force.
Even if the Manchu and Qing officials lacked the audacity to challenge this, the local gangs did not share the same hesitations. Local players were, after all, courageous, motivated by their financial interests, and largely unaffected by external deterrents.
Despite being foreigners, they couldn't assert their dominance like the British and the French—a privilege exclusive to those nations.
...
"Father, I plan to construct an experimental railway connecting Dar es Salaam to the first town. This will not only strengthen the bond between the two but also serve as a learning experience for future railway projects in East Africa," Ernst conveyed his intentions to Prince Constantine via the phone.
Prince Constantine held a deep fascination for railways, especially when it was a railway associated with his own family.
Hexingen, in Europe, was an isolated region bereft of navigable rivers or railways. Transportation primarily relied on horses, carts, and foot traffic. However, the state of roads in Hechingen was far from ideal, failing to compare even to the standards of East Africa. European roads had seen little improvement until the eighteenth century. Even the roads constructed during the ancient Roman era had been in use after various repairs. They represented the pinnacle of road development in Europe during that era.
It wasn't until the eighteenth century that Europeans began to emphasize transportation infrastructure, with roads and railways witnessing rapid development. Unfortunately, none of this progress extended to Hechingen. The geographical location, resources, products, and population of Hechingen were ill-suited to support road renovation. At most, modest repairs could be undertaken on existing dirt roads.
"Excellent idea, but railways are no ordinary undertaking. Do you have a concrete plan?" Prince Constantine inquired.
"Father, the Ronce Railway Company, which I have acquired, is currently en route to East Africa. Once they arrive, they will assess the local conditions to plan the route accordingly."
"Lone's Railway Company? I'm not familiar with it."
"It's a relatively small company based in the Grand Duchy of Baden, so it's not very renowned."
"Very well, entrust this project to them. Can they deliver?"
"You can rest assured, Father. They possess experience and have previously constructed railways in France."
"France?"
"Yes, though they mainly undertook outsourced projects. South Germany boasts an abundance of labor, which is both cost-effective and better managed compared to French workers."
Prince Constantine nodded in agreement, "That puts my mind at ease. My main concern was their lack of relevant experience. Regardless, how do you plan to secure the materials for railway construction?"
"We can currently source cement in East Africa. Materials such as sleepers can be fabricated locally. Land resources are not a concern. Locomotives, rails, and some parts and equipment will need to be imported from Germany. Additionally, the distance between Dar es Salaam and the first town is relatively short, and the terrain is rather flat. As a result, the final construction cost of this railway should not be exorbitant."
"What do you need from me, then?" Prince Constantine asked. He had presumed that this matter was already resolved and was puzzled by the call.
"Do not fret, Father. I require your input on certain details of this railway project. For example, you previously mentioned your intention to erect a defense project in the first town. The railway is a vital means of strategic transportation. Given the railway's potential to significantly expedite travel between Dar es Salaam and the first town, it is imperative to integrate the railway into this defense initiative. Hence, the government should establish a Ministry of Railways when this project commences."
"Any questions?" asked Ernst.
"Indeed, I do have one concern—the railway gauge. I'm currently undecided. We can choose from various gauges like 1000mm, 1435mm, 1520mm, and 1676mm, among others. The most popular gauge is 1435mm, but Prussia also employs it. By using this gauge, we could save on costs. Nevertheless, wider gauges allow for greater freight capacity, though construction costs rise with increased width."
Constantine considered this for a moment and responded, "I lack extensive knowledge about railways. Could you provide more information about the railway gauges used in various countries?"
"Railway gauge standards lack uniformity, and they offer varying degrees of flexibility. For instance, 1435mm is based on the width of Roman chariots, and European rail carriages also adopted this gauge. The British pioneered railways and, consequently, this gauge became prevalent in Britain, its colonies, the United States, and some European nations.
"1000mm, on the other hand, is chiefly used in France and its colonies, particularly in French overseas territories. It's particularly suited for mountainous regions and is cost-effective.
"1520mm is considered a broader gauge, primarily employed by the Russians, who employ it for military purposes to maintain a distance from Europe