Restart Spain Sun Never Sets

Chapter 29 Railways and Morocco

Cuba's supply problem is still being resolved, while Alfonso in Spain has new ideas.

Spain is not famous in later generations, the only famous may be football and bullfighting.

But what is less well known is that Spain ranks second in the world in terms of high-speed rail mileage, after China.

In the 19th century today, the history of railway development in Spain lags behind the Western European countries by more than a little bit.

The Germans are 30,000 kilometers, the British are 23,000 kilometers, the French are 20,000 kilometers, and the Spanish are only 5,400 kilometers.

Spain, with a territory of 500,000 square kilometers, is only about 40,000 square kilometers smaller than Germany and France.

The other side's railway mileage is several times that of Spain.

There is a saying in my hometown that if you want to get rich first build roads, railways not only have huge benefits for the economy, but also have a huge impact on politics, people's livelihood and the military.

To this end, Alfonso specially notified Canovas and Parachides to come to discuss the construction of the railway.

Two, Spain is a big country in Western Europe, I think our railway mileage should catch up with the rest of the big countries.

Alfonso said directly, and did not mean to discuss.

After compulsory education and military reform, Alfonso's personal reputation in the country reached the peak at this time.

Your Majesty, my country's railways have already linked several major metropolises, which is enough. And because of the large-scale investment this year, the government does not have the money to invest in the construction of more railways.

The construction of the railway is a big one. Whether it is the consumption of steel, the construction of the railway, and the later operation and maintenance, it is a big hole like a bottomless pit.

To be honest, accumulating so many things to do in one year is a bit of a nuisance for the country.

But Alfonso knew that in a few years Europe would hold a conference to carve up Africa, and Spain, whose comprehensive strength was already far behind European countries, only got a small part of Morocco.

Britain, France, Germany and other countries ate their mouths full of oil in this feast of dividing up Africa.

The most basic element of a country's strength is the economy, and the construction of railways to promote transportation will be a great stimulus to the domestic economy.

Therefore, Alfonso needs to step up the development of national strength in the past few years, so that Spain has enough say in this feast of powers to divide Africa.

For the construction of each railway network, we directly bid for the public and implement a shareholding system.

The people who have the ability to invest in the construction of railways are no more than some big nobles and capitalists. Instead of letting them outflow their money on a large scale, it is better to stay in the country through bidding.

The government will provide land, policies, workers, and some funds, and will sell up to 49 percent of the shares to private capital based on the actual valuation of the railway.

It is also a last resort to give up profits to capitalists, which will lead to looting of railways in prosperous areas, and roads in remote areas will definitely become deserted.

Similarly, the railway line from Barcelona to Madrid must be looted, but the relative actual valuation must be high, and there is no worry about whether there is any investment.

But Your Majesty, if the government promises that the workers will be on duty, the wages of the workers alone will hit our country's finances heavily.

Canovas said with concern that the average income of Spaniards is not lower than that of Western European countries.

In 1875, Spain's per capita GDP was 1925. Although the total economic volume was not as good as that of other Western European countries, the population was a lot worse than others, and the per capita naturally increased.

The workers are really the problem, but I've figured out a solution.

If it were the 21st century, this problem would be difficult to solve, but it is the 19th century, especially in Europe.

Inform the mayors of Ceuta and Meria,

Post job advertisements to recruit railway workers in Morocco.

That's right, Alfonso set his sights on Morocco, which is just across the strait from Spain.

On the 450,000 square kilometers of Morocco, there are about 8 million indigenous people, most of whom are Arabs and Berbers.

Moroccans? It's a good choice, we can hire them cheaply.

Canovas nodded, thinking that Alfonso's doctrine was good.

Canovas, maybe we can lure them with a slightly lower salary than the Spaniards, you say.

Alfonso smiled, Hire? Canovas had a good suggestion, but Alfonso didn't intend to.

After attracting the Moroccans and transporting them back to Spain, maybe we can try to let them work for free and let the military use the way of managing slaves. I hope they will never go back when they come.

Canovas was obviously stunned by Alfonso's words, but he didn't react much.

Okay, Your Majesty, using Moroccans to build Spain requires money to buy slaves. If you lure them with high salaries and let them be buried in Spain forever, we only need to pay for shipping and a negligible amount of food.

Afraid that as the leader of the Liberal Party, Rashids is naturally more open, and even agrees with this inhumane way.

This approach is really good.

Canovas also agreed that Europeans in this period did not see any people of color getting cold, and although he was a conservative, he did not feel anything wrong.

In the early stage, we only need to use this method. After the Moroccans discover it, create conflicts on the border and send the Spanish army to occupy Morocco's land.

What should be done after the occupation of Morocco, Alfonso does not say that the two are clear, but the use of military is always the lowest method.

The hands and feet of the French have not yet reached here, and the first intervention of the great powers in Morocco would not be until the Madrid Conference in 1880.

But it was 1875, and Spain's move against Morocco would not suffer from European moral problems.

Then start preparing to implement the plan, and make sure that the railway workers are available.

Alfonso knocked on the table, and the plan was settled.

Although it may seem cruel to modern people, several countries in history have hurt our ancestors more severely, and North and South America is the worst hit area.

But a strong country must be accumulated on the flesh and blood of countless people. For the rapid development of Spain, this is an indispensable shortcut.

And the implementation of this policy Alfonso believes that the following people can do well, after all, the Spaniards have experience in this area.

The large number of blacks in South America proves that the Spaniards are not only experienced, but gifted for it...

As a Chinese in a previous life, he also reminded Alfonso that it is time to do his part for the huge Chinese workers in Cuba and the Philippines.

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