Chapter 373: Fifty Steps Laughing at Hundred Steps
Ernst and his party quickly arrived in Suojia via the newly built railway. Soga City, despite being under construction, had already taken shape. The southern urban area was complete, and the centerpiece was the impressive Soga National Library, which dwarfed even the Habsburg Royal Library in Austria. The library was a colossal Baroque-style structure, spanning 5 hectares with a total area of 39,500 square meters. The 30,000 books Ernst had brought hardly filled a fraction of its shelves.
Ernst considered Soga's strategic significance. It was essential to create a scientific research hub in the region, complementing the political and economic centers of the first town and Dar es Salaam, respectively. Ernst understood the need for talent recruitment in the future and believed that a city like Soga was crucial to facilitate this.
Suojia was designed as a garden city, featuring numerous parks throughout the urban area, benefiting from the tropical climate that allowed for year-round greenery. The roads were constructed to the highest standards, with wide masonry roads and designated pedestrian lanes, offering a level of urban development that even surpassed European cities of Ernst's time.
One key advantage of Soga City was its proximity to Dar es Salaam, accessible in less than half an hour by rail. This facilitated the movement of talent between Europe and East Africa, a critical factor in retaining skilled individuals in the region.
Ernst recognized that while Suojia excelled in many aspects, it would ultimately depend on employment opportunities, business environment, safety, entertainment, civic atmosphere, and city culture to attract and retain residents.
He inquired about any potential shortcomings in Suojia, and his subordinate raised the issue of employment, emphasizing its critical importance in attracting and retaining people. Ernst agreed and highlighted the significance of Suojia in East Africa's future development.
Ernst drew parallels between Soga City's current development and that of Paris in the past. He believed that Soga, although seemingly ahead of its time, could serve as a model for the transformation of other cities in the future.
The conversation shifted to the indigenous people's contribution to Soga City's construction. Ernst expressed the importance of using their labor effectively without resorting to actions like the extermination of Native Americans in the United States. He considered the skills they acquired through work in East Africa as valuable assets for their future, should they decide to leave the region.
One of Ernst's subordinates expressed pride in their approach compared to North America's treatment of indigenous populations. Ernst noted the differences between their methods and the United States' actions but refrained from further comment, acknowledging that East Africa's progress, even if slower, was a positive direction.
As the discussion concluded, Ernst reflected on the changes taking place in East Africa and the importance of building a better future for both the region's indigenous people and incoming talent.
(End of the chapter)