Chapter 361: K—001
In the following month, East Africa made extensive efforts to attract and retain the talents of the Far East Aid Group. They used various incentives, including high salaries, but with a twist—all payments were made in Rhine guilders that could only be spent within East Africa, ensuring that the money remained within the kingdom's economy. Despite these tempting offers, many Far East doctors still harbored a desire to return to their homeland.
The East African government also assigned professional titles to these doctors, treating them as public officials in the medical field. Li Ge and Ander could only watch as East Africa took control of the situation.
Although some were enticed by the generous offers, most Far East doctors retained their longing to return home. Being doctors, they were already in a well-paying profession, and many of them were deeply connected to their homeland.
East Africa understood this and was prepared for a continuous flow of Far Eastern talent to fill the vacancies they were leaving behind. Their ultimate goal was to fully develop East African medicine.
On September 13, 1871, King Constantine personally traveled to Dar es Salaam to attend the opening ceremony of the first railway in East Africa. The city had faced increased transportation pressure, leading to the construction of a new port southeast of the original one to alleviate the strain. This new port focused on handling bulk commodities, immigration, and crucial imported equipment.
Dar es Salaam Railway Station was situated in the suburbs, three kilometers southwest of the city. It was a simple facility with a small building and served as a critical transportation hub.
During the ceremony, technicians from Hechingen Vienna Energy Power Company introduced the first steam-powered locomotive in East Africa to Constantine. This locomotive was a joint effort between Hechingen Vienna Energy Power Company and the Austrian Royal Franz-Oriental Kaiser Railway Company. It had undergone extensive testing in Austria, including a three-month test run, to ensure it met East Africa's needs.
The locomotive was named "K—001" after King Constantine, and it marked a significant milestone in East Africa's transportation infrastructure. Concerns about the region's geography were addressed, and the locomotive had already proven its capabilities in mountainous areas, similar to the terrain in East Africa.
The construction of railways in East Africa was not hampered by mountainous terrain like in some other parts of the world. While East Africa had plateaus and highlands, they lacked towering mountains, making railway construction relatively straightforward.
This development marked a significant step forward in East Africa's transportation network, setting the stage for further economic growth and modernization.