Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1373 Capacity Expansion Period ([-])

The forest development company has been in business until today, and it is really in its early days!

After careful calculation, the forest development company jointly established by 13 investors from Genoa*, Lucca, Mantua, Tuscany, Parma and other places has been established for nine full years.During these nine years, the first three years were basically losses, because it purchased a large amount of materials from the old continent, recruited a large number of people (more than 6000 people) and livestock, and then spent a huge amount of money to transport them to the Jiaohe area on the east bank , it would be unreasonable not to lose money; and three years later, with the completion of the two inland waterway shipping nodes at Qingshan Wharf and South Wharf, as well as the successive completion of the Forest Railway, the company finally turned losses into profits and was no longer a pure In the past two years, with the gradual reduction of the total investment (it has exceeded 1400 million bank liras so far), the profitability of the forest development company has begun to improve greatly, and the annual profit in 1663 has exceeded 60 lire in the bank, of which the usage fees of the two piers alone accounted for one-third, and the rest was mostly the profits from the sale of grain, timber, leather, tallow and other commodities. up.

In fact, the existence of the forest development company is also very important for the resettlement and construction of the East Bank people in the Xinbo River (ie the Wakakai River) and the Jiaohe River.For example, Hualong County, which was newly established in October last year, has jurisdiction over four townships, Hualong Town, Zhongying Township, Houying Township, and Qianshu Township (located near the later Kasaiji Township), with a total population of about 10 The rest of them are mainly engaged in forest harvesting, grain planting and animal husbandry economically - they are greatly benefited by forest development companies, because the State Development Bureau purchases a large amount of grain, livestock, timber and other commodities from them nearby, and the outside world Most of the important materials are also transferred through Qingshan Wharf and South Wharf, which is more convenient.

In addition, after the forest railway continued to extend to Hualong Town, the economic continuity of the entire southern foot of the Dingjun Mountains was also greatly enhanced.After this railway, which is basically parallel to the Xinbo River, was extended to Hualong Town, the fertile grain and fruit plantations at the southern foot of Dingjun Mountain were pushed to the market, and a train of food was pulled from the east , and then consumed by a large number of farmers on the east bank who went westward to log and open up wasteland, which strongly supported their westward movement and greatly helped the country to open up the wilderness areas south of Dingjun Mountain and east of Wujiang River.At present, a series of new settlements established by the State Development Bureau in the west, such as Nanhua Township (near the small town of Santiago in later generations), Chengshi Township (near the small town of Rosario in later generations), Wanting Township (in the vicinity of Yaguali Township in later generations) near the town), Zuocheng and Rural (near the small town of Sao Franciscode Assis in San Francisco de Assis) and other places rely on this railway to supply food, and even a large number of bricks and tiles from the Jiaohe Branch of East Bank Construction Materials Company Construction materials such as lime, lime, and cement had to be transported to Hualong Town by rail first, and then find a way to transport them to these new settlements in the west by horses and carts.

Speaking of this, there is actually a very interesting thing, that is, the forest development company invested by the Italian many years ago was really not active in building the railway at all. It has been repaired for several years, and finally after the people from the east bank took out construction materials worth 15 yuan as a project completion award, these talents barely repaired and opened this section of railway, and then relied on the transportation of timber, grain, fruit and livestock, Reluctantly maintain no loss, but to recover the cost, it seems to be very difficult in four to fifty years.

Therefore, when Jiaohe District Commissioner Xu Xin urged them to continue to extend the forest railway westward to Hualong Town, the Italians unsurprisingly began to shirk in every possible way, because in their opinion, this would not make money at all, if it were not They're not even going to invest if there's a buyback clause.Therefore, in the last six years, the Jiaohe District Administrative Office has urged the Italians to extend the forest railway from time to time, and also provided certain railway equipment as rewards (or temptations) to urge the Italians to continue. The capital is on the railway, so this railway has been tenaciously and slowly extended.

Later, with the opening of Jiaohe County Branch of East Bank Building Materials Company, and the gradual development of logging camps, farms and orchards at the southern foot of Dingjun Mountain, the profit prospects of the forest railway gradually increased, which slightly raised the Italians’ expectations. Enthusiasm finally made this important railway in the deep inland extended to Hualong Town Railway Station at the end of 1662, becoming an important pillar for the westward migration of pioneers and immigrants on the east bank.And it is precisely because they are slowly optimistic about the operating situation of the forest railway that the senior management of the forest development company did not make the decision to activate the railway repurchase clause, and firmly grasped the ownership of this railway in their own hands-of course the railway's The daily operation, maintenance and personnel training are still controlled by Dongan people.

Well, having said so many past events between the forest development company and the Jiaohe area, now let’s talk about the recent incidents that made the general manager of the company, Mr. Luciano, laugh so hard.Without him!England and the United Provinces are about to go to war, and the people on the east coast have received a large order of supplies. All the large and small units in the country are destined to have a good year this time. As a foreign-funded enterprise rooted in the east coast, the forest development company can naturally enjoy this benefit up.No, recently, the timber orders from the outside world have increased by more than two-thirds, which is extremely surprising and joyful at the same time.

Some of the companies or enterprises that ordered timber came from Jiaohe County. The handicraft industry in Geyin County has developed very well under the rectification of the deputy county magistrate Cai Youguo, but the largest part actually comes from the counties in the North Yazi Lake Basin in the east. The artisans keep ordering all kinds of pine logs from the forest development company's lumberyard to make barrels——with the increase in exports to the United Provinces, the demand for consumables such as wooden barrels is also increasing. After all, salted fish , bacon, flour, salt, oil, soda ash and other commodities need to be shipped in wooden barrels. In short, this is a one-time consumable - and then exported to major companies to ship various materials .

In addition, the intensification of various domestic production activities has also contributed to the great consumption of timber resources. Currently, logging farms across the country are rushing to work day and night, such as forest development companies.Its general manager, Luciano, even sent someone to the headquarters of the Dong’an Gas Company in Ping’an County last month, asking them to send personnel to the Jiaohe and Hualong lines to help them install the gas lamp system so that workers can work at night. Also work for a while to increase the production of wood and earn more profit.It is reported that Wang Huadu, who is actually in charge of the company's business, has agreed to the application of the forest development company, and said that he will transport the equipment to Jiaohe County as soon as possible to help them establish a gas lamp system. It is conservatively estimated that more than 600 new-style lamps will be installed in the project. Three-nozzle gas lamps, the investment is not small.

"By the end of this year, the forest development company's revenue will reach an unprecedented 100 million bank lire, which is a huge sum of money. Among the many Italian companies investing in the east coast, probably only the Rocha United Textile Factory Well, that company mainly produces silk and linen, silk cotton, silk-wool blended cloth and silk brocade, and its profitability is indeed not comparable to that of your company, which mainly deals in clumsy affairs. Compared with the cheese workshops, wine workshops, butter workshops, and ham workshops operated by investors from central Italy, you are still far superior to them, yes, very good." In the office of the forest development company, Xu He, the commissioner of the Jiaohe District Administration Xin smiled and said to Luciano: "Recently, our country has entered a new period of capacity expansion. Almost every participating enterprise can achieve a certain degree of development, and you are no exception. The wheat and orchards in those farms recently The fruits here have all received orders from Dafeng Food Company and the Canned Food Factory, right? Did people from the Pastoral Ridge United Meat Factory come over to ask the price for the livestock? Not to mention the wood, the orders are flying around, so that you all have to It’s time to fight at night. How about it, Luciano, I didn’t lie to you, did I? Come to the east bank, come to Jiaohe, you are right! If you are still cramped in the one-third of an acre of land in Italy, everyone will smash their heads to loot Opportunities to invest in public bonds and annuities, how much income can you get?"

"Honorable Commissioner Xu, I have never doubted your promise. In fact, neither have the investors behind me. After all, if that were the case, I would not have the comfortable and decent job I am now. I’m going to work, and I’m going to go crazy.” Luciano’s Chinese is quite solid now, and he laughed and said, “The thirteen shareholders of the forest development company are interested in the company’s better and better profitability. I am very satisfied and confident, and firmly believe that the company will develop with the development of the East Coast Republic of China. I am not bragging. Mr. Zenoni, the third largest shareholder of the company, has immigrated to Shangcheng County with his family. Isn't it because he is optimistic about the investment prospects of your country? In addition, some other shareholders of the company have also sent some sons and nephews to immigrate to the east coast. These young people with rich knowledge and culture are now active in many parts of the east coast society. The place, like the forest development company, is deeply rooted in this fertile soil."

"It would be great if your determination is as smooth as your mouth." The old smoker Xu Xin lit himself a pipe, and while smoking the top-quality Virginia tobacco, he asked helplessly: "Say it, Luciano , when are you going to extend the Forest Railway to Zhongying Township or even further west? I won’t lie to you, this is really a strategic railway, although in terms of importance it is not as important as going north through the Dingjun Mountains and entering the Brazilian Plateau The Northern Railway, but a large railway that traverses the entire Beiyazihu ​​area and many counties in the Jiaohe area, I think you are very clear about the future profitability. I will not hide it from you now, the Executive Committee, the highest authority in our country It is determined to break through the road leading to the Wujiang River Basin, if the forest development company can cooperate with the executive committee's strategy in this matter, then the benefits in the future will be inexhaustible."

"Commissioner Xu, your reason cannot convince me, nor can it convince the thirteen shareholders of the company." Luciano also replied helplessly: "As you said, this is a strategic railway, which costs a lot of money. It is far from what the forest development company can afford. Even if the company's profitability has increased in recent years and may continue to grow in the future, it is far from being able to build such a long-distance railway. At present, the forest railway has a total of 136 kilometers. The mileage has made the company breathless at the beginning, and it has only slowed down a little in recent years. Commissioner Xu, as a qualified manager, I will not let the company fall into another huge financial quagmire Yes, even if this will be in the golden development period of capacity expansion as you say, I am really sorry. And, to take a step back, even if we really want to extend the forest railway, we would rather choose to expand it from wood Pai Township extends eastward to Yiling Township to share in the economic development of this prosperous county, rather than westward into desolate, impoverished Zhongying Township, where there is nothing."

"But Yiling County is not under my jurisdiction, and I won't be able to benefit if you go there." Xu Xin sighed, and said bitterly: "I originally wanted to settle this matter before retirement, and let my Jiaohe District Commissioner You have come to a perfect end to your career, and now you come to me like this, alas! Tell me, Luciano, how can you change your mind? Don't be a lion, it must be within my purview Within, otherwise nothing will be discussed.”

"Lease all the forest and land between Hualong Town and Zhongying Township to us. The lease term is 50 years, and the rent will be reduced by half on the current basis. In addition, your country's taxation department requires our company to start from next year. I would like to apply for a five-year suspension of implementation; ah, by the way, after the lease period of Qingshan Pier and South Pier expires, we are allowed to renew the lease for 5000 years; finally, we will provide the railway construction project The completion award can be either material or cash, and the total amount should not be less than 5 yuan, how about it, can you agree to this condition?" Luciano adjusted the lens on his right eye, looked at Xu Xin, and said slowly.

"You've raised a lot of conditions, but it's not that there is nothing to talk about. It's a big deal and we can discuss it later. I just want to ask, is it still in accordance with the old rules, and your company will fund the recruitment of personnel and purchase materials in the Old Continent, and then They were all transported to Jiaohe to repair the railway, and the newly merged New Forest Railway will still be operated by our personnel, so you only receive bonuses?" Xu Xin asked.

"Of course it is." Luciano said matter-of-factly.

"Very well then, I will fight for all of the above for you, Luciano. But don't expect too much, maybe only some of your conditions will be agreed, after all, the people in the Government Affairs Council are not all fools..." Xu Xin muttered and said: "But this is still far away from opening the road to the west. Alas, it is better to build a section of the road. Maybe I will never see the forest railway extending to the bank of Wujiang River in my life. This glorious task , it still has to be done by young people like Xiao Cai (Cai Youguo)."

(End of this chapter)