African Entrepreneurship Record

July 4, 1894.

After a thorough field investigation, the East African Government dispatched the New Frankfurt City survey team, which ultimately selected the potential site for Rhein City after meticulously screening Ernst’s requirements one by one. The team leader, Bells, reported this to Ernst.

”Based on the survey around New Frankfurt City, and after considering various factors, we determined that the location approximately forty-nine kilometers southeast of New Frankfurt City and about seventy kilometers northeast of Kabwe is most suitable for the site of Rhein City.”

”First of all, the Renshaw Fowa River flows here, so there isn’t any issue with the city’s water supply. It’s undoubtedly best to build a city around rivers; most cities in the world are like this. For example, our capital First Town City was built relying on the Small Rhine River, and most of the city’s water comes from it, while also serving agricultural irrigation and navigation.”

”Of course, navigation is difficult to achieve on the Renshaw Fowa River. This river is a tributary of the Zambezi River, a stream of the Luangwa River, and neither the Zambezi River nor the Renshaw Fowa River can achieve large-scale navigation. The river has a large drop unless locks are built to enhance its navigation value.”

”However, contrariwise, there are benefits, such as the huge hydropower potential locally, especially near the area we selected. According to confirmation from the Ministry of Water Resources, it’s suitable for intercepting the river, building a dam, and establishing an artificial reservoir, thus forming a lake of substantial area.”

Ernst remembered this aspect because in a previous life, Zambia built the Renshaw Fowa Dam here, providing power to Kabwe City and enabling breeding functions, forming the fairly large Mitasa Reservoir.

So Ernst said, ”This idea is good, but we don’t currently intend to build a large dam. After all, the technology isn’t mature now, and it wouldn’t be good if an accident occurred or resources were wasted.”

This is a lesson learned from the Kariba Dam in a previous life. In Ernst’s view, the earlier a dam is built, the greater the risk and lower the efficiency, especially for large projects which are better developed later. Therefore, the current East African hydropower stations are being built on smaller rivers for this reason.

If the Renshaw Fowa River Reservoir were built, it wouldn’t be a small operation but rather a massive project.

On this point, Bells naturally had explanations as well: ”Your royal highness, we have also considered this. Therefore, Rhein City’s site is at a considerable distance from the Renshaw Fowa River, not like First Town which is built in the riverbank area. The Ministry of Water Resources, based on terrain calculations, has reserved enough safety distance, so even if there is future consideration of building the Renshaw Fowa River Reservoir, it will not threaten Rhein City’s safety.”

”At the same time, in the construction of Rhein City, the main transportation relies on railways and highways, so there’s no need to be too close to the river. Usage of the Renshaw Fowa River is mainly for city water supply and agricultural irrigation, which can be achieved through its tributaries. Like New Frankfurt City and Kabwe, one rose due to being a railway hub, and the other due to mineral development and not due to local rivers, otherwise, the site selection would have been near rivers.””

Ernst nodded and said, ”If that’s the case, then it’s indeed a feasible plan, and reserving future reservoir development space also facilitates Rhein City’s sustainable development. Continue telling me about the local strengths and weaknesses.”

Bells said, ”The local climate, terrain, soil, water, transportation, etc., mostly meet your highness’s requirements. The temperature is basically the same as New Frankfurt City, the terrain is relatively flat, though there are undulations, mainly in the downstream areas of the Renshaw Fowa River, so it won’t have a significant impact on the appointed place. It’s conducive to railway and highway construction, connecting to the New Frankfurt City railway hub. In any aspect, the local site has no obvious shortcomings.”

”Of course, all this still depends on the subsequent construction of Rhein City. If the following construction and planning are inadequate, it will certainly cause some negative influences, so this requires more opinions from your highness so that we can modify the city of Rhein according to your requirements.”

As for the new capital, Ernst indeed had some requirements, as East Africa hadn’t built a capital for the first time. There was some experience when First Town City was constructed, and being a long-term capital also reflected some issues.

After thinking for a while, Ernst said, ”Firstly, there is the scale of the city. First Town is still too small. Coupled with extravagant waste in city planning, it appears somewhat lonely. Ironically, this doesn’t fit well over time. Thus, Rhein City’s scale and population design should take lessons from European countries, not only limited to administrative functions.”

Previously, Ernst naturally didn’t think like this. Having been accustomed to large cities in the 21st century, Ernst felt small cities were better, plus First Town wasn’t the ideal capital location in his heart, so First Town City’s expansion hasn’t been significant over the years.

Thus, Ernst felt somewhat tired of the lifelessness after living in First Town City for so many years. Therefore, the new capital should have more people, be more lively.

Ernst then mentioned, ”Among many cities, Vienna is the one I am most satisfied with these years. Coupled with the future development prospects of East African cities, the best population scale for Rhein City should be between five hundred thousand and three million.”

This range is quite large, considering the current East Africa with only Dar es Salaam City having over five hundred thousand residents, while the second-largest city, Mombasa, is also nearing fifty thousand population.

Three million, which many cities in Europe haven’t reached this standard, including Berlin, Vienna, and Saint Petersburg.

Of course, Ernst naturally has his reasoning in presenting this number, first, Rhein City will certainly be built based on a city standard with at least three million people, avoiding future dilemmas caused by urban expansions like roads, urban streets, and basic living facilities.

For instance, Brazil’s later capital Brasilia was initially constructed for fifty thousand people, at first only thinking it would serve administrative functions, but by the 21st century it became apparently insufficient.

Ernst continued, ”Of course, although the city framework is large, the initial construction would certainly be at a scale for fifty thousand people. Currently, East Africa has only Dar es Salaam City’s population exceeding fifty thousand, so Rhein City won’t have a massive population influx in a short time. So I truly say that I want you to take a long-term view and reserve adequate urban land.”

East Africa isn’t a small country, and the capital is definitely a significant reference object that can reflect a nation’s demeanor. Although Ernst doesn’t pursue mega-cities like in previous life, he wants it to match East Africa’s great power temperament.

”Modern elements, especially diverse elements, must be best embodied, so the city doesn’t seem overly monotonous. Just like Paris, the homogeneity is too severe, lacking the lively atmosphere, this degree you also need to control well, reference objects should primarily select cities like Vienna with a strong blend of classical and modern atmosphere.”

”The key is not to design too idealistically, it needs to facilitate citizen life. Currently, many city designs in Europe and America are overly focused on artistic or visual impact, something East Africa should try to avoid...”

Afterward, Ernst spent more than an hour giving his opinions, which finally gave Bells a sense of pressure.

According to Ernst’s requirements, the new capital must grasp the ”degree,” but this degree is completely Ernst’s personal feeling without a uniform standard.

This is truly difficult; after all, no one knows if the final product will be ”favored” by the crown prince. If it’s like Paris with strict designs, it’s relatively easier, you can just copy the template directly.