Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Coal Mine

Tanzania possessed limited coal resources, primarily located in the southern plateau region. The reserves amounted to roughly one billion tons, primarily comprising high-quality, low-sulfur coal. This reserve wasn't particularly impressive when compared to other coal-producing regions globally, but Ernst's plans for the East African colonies necessitated the early development of Tanzania's coal resources.

In order to support the agricultural development in East Africa, Ernst recognized the importance of agricultural product processing. This couldn't rely solely on manual labor, and he had no intention of teaching the natives farming, as that would diverge from his principles. Ernst sought to prevent the natives from reestablishing their roots, which could potentially lead to population growth, similar to the European colonization experiences of previous centuries.

Historically, the indigenous population in Tanzania remained low due to their reliance on hunting for survival. However, European colonization, particularly by Germany and Britain, introduced agriculture, causing the indigenous population to grow from a few million to 60 million within two centuries. It was a stark contrast to the population decline brought about by the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which engaged in the slave trade, leading to a decrease in the indigenous population.

Ernst aimed to prevent the cycle of "teaching a man to fish" and instead focus on projects that consumed significant energy but required minimal technical skills, such as road construction, canal digging, and mining. These projects would employ the indigenous population.

One primary purpose of processing agricultural products in the colonies was to achieve higher profits and facilitate food transportation. Currently, immigration to East Africa was limited, totaling only a few hundred thousand people. To establish production, machines needed to be imported from Europe, which would rely on coal as a power source. Importing coal from Europe was impractical, hence the necessity to develop local Tanzanian coal resources.

Mbeya, the capital of the Upper Lake Malawi District, played a vital role in Tanzania's future development. It was known for gold, coal, and iron deposits. Gold mines were highly sought after by colonists worldwide, but Ernst's controlled and semi-militarized management ensured that all resources in East Africa fell under the jurisdiction of the Hexingen consortium.

Given Mbeya's inland location and the controlled flow of information, it was unlikely that other colonists would discover its resources. Even if they did, crossing the East African colony to reach the inland region was a challenging task. In contrast to California, where wealth was distributed to many, in the East African colonies, all riches were controlled by the Hexingen consortium.

Mining in this era was labor-intensive, and the indigenous people, captured by the East African colonial government, were employed in the mines. The government drove them into the mines, where they toiled tirelessly using basic tools and minimal safety measures.

A large pool of indigenous laborers was available in the East African colonies, predominantly engaged in building roads and water conservation projects. To connect various cities, villages, and towns, the colony aimed to construct approximately 10,000 kilometers of roads that year. These were gravel roads, as cement and asphalt roads were not yet feasible. These roads were essential for transportation in East Africa, especially during the rainy season when muddy conditions could impede movement.

Transporting mineral resources within the colony also relied on these gravel roads, as developing railways was hindered by the lack of manpower. Funds weren't the issue; the problem was the absence of a population base along the railways. The colony had recently expelled most of the indigenous population, leaving only hundreds of thousands of captive laborers. Feeding them all was a challenge, as the colony's food production couldn't support such numbers.

Most of the food in the East African colonies was intended for export, but due to the need to feed the natives and support road construction, exports had decreased. The limited energy of the colonists was focused on road construction and some water conservation projects. Ernst intended to initiate other significant projects once the primary road network was established, with the indigenous population playing a vital role in East Africa's future development.

(End of Chapter 81)