Who can stop the 'progress'? (April-June, 1882).
Transpacific telegraph]
* Perspective of Nikola Tesla.
At the end of April the Serbskaya Elektricheskaya i Proizvodstvennaya Kompaniya finished its planned project for the construction of the Bering telegraph. For this the Serbian-Russian engineer Nikola Tesla presented considerable improvements for the development of the electrical system of the Far East and had developed two additional devices, a primitive amplifier and a repeater that according to theory would allow a considerable improvement in the telegraphic line.
The problem was cash.
"...I have an idea." Nikola proposes in a meeting with Petar and Mihajlo (in short, the three main owners of the company). "We sell the patents on our inventions in exchange for shares to get more money."
"... You know, I don't think that's a good idea." Petar sustains.
"Why not?". Nikola asks.
"I don't think they will accept a deal like this. We are the competition." Petar responds. "I think the most sensible thing is to simply propose the project to the state ... and well. Wait for them to accept it, if not ...". The situation was a bit worrying.
"I have an idea!". Mihajlo finally speaks. "And no, it's not a stupid idea ... I think." The Serb is quick to say.
In the last days of April and first weeks of May, businessman Nikola Tesla and Mihajlo Ugljanin held various meetings with other small economic companies in the city of Vladivostok. The key was Ugljanin as head of public relations and the good impression that Nikola Tesla could make (although he was not a particularly sociable person).
This mainly between companies related to the resources and production of material of the electrical industry, engineering and telegraphs (as much as Russia grew in this regard, the electrical industry at an industrial level was new, generating small companies such as Tesla's SEiPK).
With SEiPK at the helm, some additional funding and support was secured for the presentation of the Berign telegraph project.
So to speak the SEiPK and affiliates were a public purpose conglomeration (to receive all the resulting prestige and money if they were successful), less refined and important than, for example, the Japanese Zaibatsu model.
"At first I had little confidence that we would be successful, there were just much bigger companies and probably better equipped for the task.
However, for reasons that are still beyond my understanding to this day, Tsar Alexander III decided to focus on a couple of his Serbian citizens. "
-Memoirs of Nikola Tesla.
*******
Tsar Alexander III adopted the project from the SEiPK of Vladovostok and associated companies, with the subcontracting of some German and American companies.
This marked the beginning of the construction of the Bering telegraph, and also the success of the Serbskaya Elektricheskaya i Proizvodstvennaya Kompaniy. It also impacted remarkable economic development within the Far East and Russia to some extent.
This showed that there were research and development sectors where Russia could be a leader, the possibilities of relations between companies and also to a certain extent Russian multiculturalism.
Partly because young Siberian Serbs could become successful, and partly because a sizable population of Korean migrants came to Vladivostok to work as cheap labor on Russian projects (partly at the invitation of Tsar Alexander III).
The Koreans became a reliable and loyal workforce that could integrate within the Russians, as well as bringing 'exotic' foods to the culinary business of the Russian Far East.
*******
[Russo-Polish Africa?]
Obviously it was not uncommon for Poles to get together and do their own projects, some more rare or dangerous than others. In the midst of a crossroads Europe, the Russian Pole Stefan Szolc-Rogoziński was raising funds for a 'National Expedition' to the African continent, with the intention of forming a colony.
This caught the attention of Tsar Alexander III, the expedition was called 'National' but there was no mention that it was (exclusively speaking) the Polish nation.
Suddenly Szolc-Rogoziński had found himself in negotiations with the Russian state to carry out such an expedition in a 'legal' way, according to the Russian state of course.
Faced with the possibility of investments, Szolc-Rogoziński agreed, and suddenly 50% of the expedition included Russians and Cossacks, which could pose a problem for any aspiration of Polish domination or 'crimes against native populations'.
The expedition embarked on West Africa with supplies, some rifles in case of animals (or worst case, violence of the natives towards the Russian-Poles), Russian money, clothes, fabrics and vodka.
The vodka would be more important than it seemed.
Based on three boxes of vodka, the Russians and the Poles giving some money, they bought from the natives of the island of Mondoleh, well, the island.
The strange new Russian property had some disputed rules among the government, members, and private financiers.
* All religions would be respected, including the religions of the natives of the island and the nearby coasts of the African continent.
* Russian and Polish would be accepted as languages.
* The Russian government was the beneficiary of the land but would grant commercial rights, property and legal terms within the 'colony' provided that other rules were met (respect for the natives, no extinction of local species, etc).
Among others more.
In the absence of a name that could satisfy both groups, democratically (for Poles, Cossacks and Russians) the name 'Slavic Africa' was chosen (Russian, Slavyanskaya Afrika, Славянская Африка and Polish, Słowiańska Afryka). Not very original, but it was the first name and the simplest (they still had to think if they would give Mandoleh another name or not).
The 'success' of the expedition undoubtedly fed the Russian-Polish collective imagination, although not enough for more settlers to arrive in the region (not in 1882 at least).
On the other hand, the United Kingdom, France and Germany were very busy, and it was a simple coastal island with no apparent valuable riches for white and western Europeans.
*******
[African colonization: Considerations]
* Alexandrian perspective.
"The conquest of Africa at the hands of Europeans seems almost impossible to stop, in an expansionist desire the Europeans will look for their own resources and markets to continue their development and cultural golden age.
Once this European dominance is removed, Africans will find themselves with the dilemma of maintaining their colonial borders or trying to redraw new borders. Paths that will eventually lead to conflict, being religious, cultural, economic, social, etc.
Unfortunately in some way, my actions will be part of this conflict, but I could try to establish a precedent and mechanisms to prevent such tribulations from happening. "
-A few notes from Alexander III, later kept among the many papers of the Tsar.
*******
[Soccer Diplomacy]
In international football matches, the matches continue:
* Bulgaria vs Italy: Italy beat the Bulgarian team 4-3.
* Russia vs Germany: Russia beats the German team 2-1.
With this the last international match of the year 1882 is finally marked, undoubtedly a milestone regardless of who is the winner.
Italy against Russia.
*******
[Economy and transportation: Transcaspian]
At the end of May, the Transcaspian railway is finished in the Russian Empire, so in June preparations begin for the following projects of the Russian state in the region, that is, to connect the Transcaspian with the Trans-Siberian railway from south to north and north to south.
In the first place, the transcaspian implies new economic advantages for the southern parts of Russian Turkestan and the military capabilities of the Russian army in case of problems, continues the policies of pacification and integration of the native population, generates employment and continues to be an advance within development. of the Russian infrastructure.
Now it only remained to unify it in a better way with the 'bertebral column' of the Russian Empire, the Trans-Siberian. A project for which the Russian Empire is taking into account historical sites, economic considerations, considering the natives and the local climate-ecosystems.
Tsar Alexander III has emphasized the importance of planning for any area of life within the Russian state, be it the administration or the army.
*******
[Transcaspian and Central Asia: Concerns]
Russian advancement and development in Central Asia may be good for humans and the economy, but it does not mean that there are serious considerations regarding the geography and ways of life of the region.
The Russian military and police forces must support livestock owners, but that also means that they sometimes have to kill predators, which can be bad for the ecosystem on a large scale.
The Russian emperor Alexander III before this created a series of natural reserves and zoos for the protection of diverse of the species of the Russian Turkestan.
These include the Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata), even receiving a pair of specimens at the Moscow Zoo.
*******
[Transport and economy: Moscow Metro]
Tsar Alexander III after years of successful operation, has proclaimed the expansion of the Moscow Metro for the creation of some new stations and metro lines.
For this project, engineers, architects, planners and artists have again been recruited to continue with the particular development of the place, not only to be functional but also a cultural icon of the city of Moscow.
For a part of the metro, Tsar Alexander III offered a job to the former French civil servant (in the time of Emperor Napoleon III) Georges-Eugène Haussmann, also offering the possibility in contract, for Haussmann to work on the development of other Russian cities.
The offer was accepted by Haussmann, who had nothing better to do and also Napoleon IV did not require his services.
*******
[Architecture: Antoni Gaudi]
The Russian-Spanish (or Russian-Catalan) architect Antoni Gaudi was once again called in by the Russian state, although the architect might think it was a new job for the Moscow Metro, he actually found himself surprised by a particular request.
Tsar Alexander III met with Gaudi to discuss his request.
"You see, I am planning the construction of a basilica. But not just any basilica." Tsar Alexander III begins his conversations with Gaudi.
"Why?". Gaudi asks curiously.
"You see, Russia already has the largest Orthodox cathedral in the world, Saint Isaac's Cathedral. But I want an even bigger building, the tallest Orthodox basilica in the world." Tsar Alexander III answers simply.
"Oh ... am I being chosen for this task?" Gaudi exclaims in surprise. "Does the Russian state already have a name planned?"
"I've been thinking about that currently, and I think I like the Cathedral of Atonement, but I have some other particular requests regarding style." Tsar Alexander III explains.
The Cathedral of the Atonement in Moscow followed an old Russian tradition, for example the Cathedral of the Dornition or the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of the Archangel. On the one hand, his name had its origin in religious tradition, Jesus' atonement for man's sins.
But there was also a strongly symbolic and ideological element, the cathedral included not only Gaudi's own style, but also Byzantine elements in honor of the Palaiologos dynasty (of influence in Russia, for Sophia Palaiologina was the grandmother of Tsar Ivan IV), the own Rurik dynasty and the Romanovs.
Mixing Western European styles, Byzantine and neo-Byzantine styles, and more 'Russian Orthodox' styles.
(OOC: This is basically ITL Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia, from Barcelona, Spain).
*******
[International]
On April 3, the outlaw Jesse James is shot by Robert Ford, a recent recruit from his criminal gang, Ford shoots waiting for a reward and amnesty for past crimes.
The murder of Jesse James turns him from a popular figure with sympathy to a figure of a hero, despite his crimes.
On May 1, 1882, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom is buried. An important event attended by various members of royalty and European states, either personally or in very specific cases, in the form of representatives.
In attendance are Emperor Napoleon IV, King of the United Kingdom Edward VII and other sons of Queen Victoria, Tsar Alexander III of Russia, Wilhelm I of Germany and Crown Prince Frederick, etc.
May 2 the English government of Edward VII attends to matters regarding Ireland, leading to the Kilmainham treaty between the British government and Charles Stewart Parnell. On the one hand, by releasing Parnell from prison and reducing the arrears of payments of Irish tenants.
Apparent progress, only for on May 6 the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Permanent Under Secretary (Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke) are fatally stabbed in Dublin.
May 8, Democratic President Winfield S. Hancock launches the Chinese Migrant Exclusion Act of 1880, passed by the United States Congress, the first major law to restrict migration to the United States.
Hancock's income-based fee is still under discussion, but limiting Chinese migration to the United States is less controversial and one where Democrats and Republicans can agree more.
The law prohibits the migration of Chinese workers, 'skilled and unskilled workers and Chinese employed in mining'. It is also a problem for already settled migrants, making it difficult for them to return home for a certain period and try to return to the United States without proper documentation (separating families or preventing families from forming, since Chinese women are also prohibited from migrating to the United States ), they were excluded from U.S. citizenship, etc.
It also ushers in an era where anti-Chinese Americans try to make Chinese communities migrate to other areas or leave the United States.
On June 6, a new Serbo-Croat-Bosnian revolt begins due to Ottoman policies regarding recruitment attempts on Bosnian lands.
This means that the Ottoman Empire has THREE revolts, where it cannot execute civilians or Russia will fall on top of them. On the one hand there is the Kurdish revolt, the Albanian revolt and the Bosnian revolt, where the Ottomans cannot deploy troops because they would have to cross through hostile independent territory (Montenegro, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, etc).
On June 11, the Urabi Revolt finally broke out in Egypt against the Khedive Tewfik Pasha (the son of the previous ruler, Ismail Pasha, placed by the British and French due to his father going against European interests) and the European influence of the region.
The native Egyptians are also angry that the Egyptians do not dominate their own region-country, instead Circassians, Albanians and Turks are the administrative elite of the region, but now Ahmed Urabi a native who grew up among the ranks of the Egyptian army along with his supporters lead a rebellion against this whole situation.
June 30, the murderer of Queen Victoria is hanged in the United Kingdom.
*******
[The funeral]
Tsar Alexander III attended more as a courtesy than for personal or political reasons, the Tsar personally detested attending such events. But it was the death of an important monarch and it was an important protocol.
There was Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck, Napoleon IV, Frederick of Prussia, and the new King Edward VII. In addition to all the children and grandchildren (etc) of Rein Victoria.
"What do you think of London?" Edward VII politely asks the Tsar of Russia.
"It is a nice city, but there is no place like home." Tsar Alexander III responds politely. "While it's always good to share with you, I think you should deal with the elephant in the room." The emperor refers to the issue of the Luxembourg crisis.
"I don't have to, the Germans themselves are falling apart." Edward VII mentions.
*******
Frederick, crown prince of Germany and married to a daughter of Queen Victoria, was in dispute with Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck was willing to keep pushing for the (German) 'regency' over the Netherlands, something the more liberal Frederick was opposed to, like many members of the British family.
The English were trying to bring things to a negotiating table, but Edward VII was obviously pro-French, as he wanted to hold discussions with Napoleon IV for an Anglo-French intervention in Egypt for colonial interests.
A scale too unbalanced to attract Bismarck.
In this case Russia offered to act as a more neutral and impartial judge, but Napoleon IV had little confidence in Alexander III and preferred relations with Edward VII.
The Germans were undoubtedly tearing each other apart, but it was the English, the Germans, and the Dutch.
Without a clear end, the Germans took Amsterdam installing William V as supposed king of the Netherlands under a regency council (awaiting members, since Bismarck wanted to select them). Edward VII was soon more fiercely opposed to this option, as did Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary and Emperor Napoleon IV.
But what could Austria-Hungary and France do, militarily speaking, against Germany? This initially led Edward VII to threaten an embargo on German products, but it did not serve very well as a deterrent.
Now the Germans marched in search of crushing the republican-liberal rebellion cells in the Netherlands.
Given this, arms and English money continue to flow considerably towards France, although the French royal reconstruction would occur in later periods, English money would mark a useful base ...
*******
[Dutch people and Russia?]
"I'll be honest with you, I'm so worried about the Dutch, also about Willem, they are being used as puppets in a game bigger than themselves." Emperor Alexander III shares his concerns with Nikolai de Girs.
"Are we going to do as we did during the Spanish and French civil war?" Nikolai de Girs asks curiously.
"Effectively." Tsar Alexander III responds.
Russian foreign policy with Nikolai de Girs was in a sense a continuation of the general policy of Alexander III, both were cautious and careful men, although perhaps Girs had a certain pro-German bias he also strove to maintain Russian neutrality with respect to neighbors (Germany and Austria-Hungary) as well as other powers in Europe (United Kingdom and France).
However, the Russians continued to benefit from foreign problems to some extent, allowing further Dutch migration to Russian land due to Germanic-monarchical repression and civil unrest.
A first-generation migrant population arrived in Russia, generally educated and willing to assimilate into the Russian Empire, with vast tracts of land, growing industry and agriculture, etc.
Later studies in the Russian Empire reveal that first-generation immigrants cost more, but due to the fact that they have to educate their children in Russian. Second-generation immigrants, on the other hand, are economically productive and beneficial to the state in several ways.
Generating a population loyal to Russian institutions, which help economic and demographic growth, etc.
*******
[Russia and Bali]
While Europe was in its conflicts, the Russian Far East continued to grow, in addition to Vladivostok various ports and settlements in Kamchatka, Avacha Bay and other Russian sites (naval bases) were growing considerably.
With this, Russia increased its trade to the Pacific, understand the Kingdom of Hawai'i, the Russian protectorate of Aceh, Novaya Gvineya, some tribal localities and the kingdom of Bali.
The fact of Aceh's growth (slowly but growing) and the successful resistance against Dutch power (more or less in decline) had set an interesting example for other still independent Pacific nations.
This produced a rapprochement between the Kingdom of Bali and the Russian Empire, which led Alexander III to offer the kings of Bali an offer of protection similar to what happened with Aceh.
An offer that is seriously discussed between both monarchies.