Chapter 128 New Development Blueprint

  September 16, 1879

The streets and alleys of Brisbane, Queensland were lit up with lights and slogans and banners propagating to the public party were everywhere, and members of the public party were walking across the streets in groups holding slogans. The midterm elections of state councilors The results were announced today.

  This is a happy day, but also a day worth looking forward to.

   Approaching noon

  In the state assembly building next door to the State Self-Government Office, a few ecstatic key members of the Communist Party ran out and shouted all the way down the street;

  "Good news, very good news, the Zhi Gong Party obtained an absolute majority in the Parliament, and the Lord Earl of Queensland was successfully elected as the new Speaker. Queensland ushered in a new page."

   "My neighbors, young and old, our Zhi Gong Party has won, and the Honorable Earl of Queensland has been elected as the new Speaker. There is more and more hope in this prosperous day."

  Like a boulder falling on the surface of a calm lake, the ripples quickly spread to the entire Brisbane city. Cheers from near and far were one after another. Firecrackers were even exploded in the direction of Chinatown, and the crackling firecrackers conveyed infinite joy.

  One time

  The gongs and drums are noisy, and the sentiment is exciting.

  Lion dances, dragon dances, dry boating, and yangko twists that have been prepared for a long time have all walked onto the streets and alleys, warmly celebrating this historic moment in the cheerful sound of suona, gongs and drums.

  In the crowd, many white cowboys who like to lively follow the yangko twisting together, which drove more Chinese people to participate in it, just like a festival.

  Upstairs office of the Autonomous Government Office

Through the large glass windows, Governor Frank quietly watched the crowds singing and dancing in the nearby streets. The wide Brisbane River in the distance was like a silver jade belt, winding around the city into the blue Moreton Bay, on the top of the mountain. The emerald green hills of the district are undulating, and they are exceptionally beautiful and magnificent under the bright sunshine.

   Staring at this magnificent city, Frank’s heart was very complicated at this time, relying on corruption and bribery to seize millions of pounds of property, while tightly binding his own interests to the Red River Valley chariot, he can no longer look back.

  Today’s situation is largely due to Governor Frank, and it is under his full promotion that today’s one-sided situation emerges.

  The Earl of Queensland is now well-fed, and he no longer needs Frank to charge himself as before.

  The elders of the Zhi Gong Party have been named state councillors and entered various important departments of the Autonomous Commission. With this status, they can freely enter and exit the upper class of Queensland. Nowadays, the upper class is full of Chinese faces, which can be regarded as a major feature of Queensland.

   "My dear, what are you thinking?" Governor's assistant Aaron Johnson walked into the office and closed the door.

  Oh, no, now Mr. Aaron Johnson should be called the Deputy Director of the Immigration Department. This is the treatment that Governor Frank strongly requested.

  The new speaker, Li Fushou, did not stop him, and gave this favor along the way.

  Frank turned his head, his eyes showed a rare gentleness, and the bright bald forehead was dazzling in the sunlight.

  "I'm thinking about your leaving here. Immigration has a lot of things. There will be fewer opportunities for us to meet together in the future. When I think of this, it feels like a needle in my heart."

"do not……"

  Aaron Johnson gently blocked Frank's words with his fingers, and the loneliness in his expression flashed past, making Frank even more reluctant to look at him.

  I have to say that Aaron Johnson is a very good actor, who hides the disgust in his heart deeply and expresses his affectionate look.

"There have been some rumours that are not conducive to us in the governor’s office. At this time, dear Frank, you must restrain your emotions. I don’t want you to do anything reckless for me, and I don’t want to see any harm. , I pray you don’t confront the Zhi Gong Dang.” At this point, Aaron Johnson gently put his head on Frank’s chest and continued; “When we have enough capital to leave, we can leave here to live the life we ​​want. Wandering in the fascinating art gallery of Paris, the ancient castles of Vienna, and the spacious streets of Munich, it is exciting to think about it."

   "Don't worry, my dear, everything is up to you."

  Frank insincerely dealt with his sweetheart, the ghost knows where else to leave Queensland?

  He is a governor who is respected by everyone. When he came to Europe, he only respected the lower aristocracy who was the last seat. He was despised and disdainful. It is self-explanatory how he chose.

   Not to talk about Governor Frank’s troubles, that is a different kind of wonderful life.

  Now Li Fushou is sitting in the humble office of the Speaker, tapping the table with his slender fingers lightly, with a complacent look.

  If you gain, you will lose

  Red River Valley City and the other four cities located within the Red River Valley Ranch were upgraded. As the city boss, Li Fushou lost a lot of taxes, which had to be handed over to the state finance for overall arrangement.

at the same time

  Li Fushou also placed a large number of staff in various departments, receiving a generous salary, and firmly controlling all important cities in Queensland, including Brisbane.

  It is a bit exaggerated to say that, except for Brisbane and the five cities of Red River Valley, Queensland has a little influence, and the other are some immigrant towns.

   After all, the population is too small to form a large-scale urban agglomeration.

   Since 1879

  The number of Chinese immigrants arriving in Queensland every month has grown rapidly from 16,000 at the beginning of the year to more than 30,000. The population influx is like a flood bursting a bank.

  Red River Valley and the surrounding four cities, as well as Brisbane, have experienced overpopulation. This is a low level of overpopulation, and it is also a problem that Li Fushou currently needs to solve.

   Therefore, can’t wait for South Wales to pass a bill on private financing of new coastal railways, Queensland takes the lead.

  Li Fushou initiated the establishment of the 19th Century Union Railway Company with a registered capital of 2.6 million pounds. It raised funds for the entire Australian and British capitalists at 1,000 pounds per share. The Queensland Earl took the lead to subscribe for 60% of the shares, totaling 1.56 million pounds.

  Currently there are three leading projects;

  One is a double-track railway from Brisbane to Red River Valley, with a total length of 31.6 miles. The branch line extends to the heavy industrial area where the iron ore mine and the Red Mountain steel plant are located. The estimated investment is 414,700 pounds.

  The reason for the high investment in this route is that bridges and culverts need to be built to cross the valley, which leads to a sharp increase in the required labor costs and infrastructure costs.

One is the coastal railway of Red River Valley City going south through Zhuque City, all the way south and finally reaching Sydney. The project is now planned to reach Pine Town, 230 miles from Sydney, with a total length of about 287 miles and a public limit of about 900 miles. A single-track project is planned. Stay on the double line, with a total investment of 1.55 million pounds.

  Because it is located in a flat coastal plain area, covering the existing area of ​​the Red River Valley Ranch, all of which are the territory of the Queensland Earl, the land acquisition fee is greatly reduced, but only a symbolic payment.

  Li Fushou’s abacus is very sophisticated. In Australia, the land is not valuable at all. You don’t need to show the appearance of ugly food, just a symbolic charge.

  For example, a pound, doing so can show your generosity.

As the owner of this land, the construction of coastal railways will greatly promote the construction of Pearl-Chain towns. The price of related land around the towns will soar. In turn, they will take the position of the boss of the big city and extract part of the income from various taxes. .

  Different from cities, the towns of feudal lords are privately owned. The Earl of Queensland is free to set taxes and the proportion of industrial and agricultural output tax burden, and the income is used to support private armed forces and other expenses.

The third major project is the Port of Brisbane, four 10,000-ton-class berths and the expansion project of the ancillary terminal warehouses. This project will triple the cargo throughput of the existing Port of Brisbane to cope with the ever-increasing volume of international trade. Demand for exports of goods.

After the reconstruction, the area of ​​the Port of Brisbane will be expanded from the current 41.71 acres to 167.4 acres. Two 10,000-ton docks and two 30,000-ton docks will be built. Railway branch lines will be built all the way to the warehouse area to form a complete bulk cargo transportation and transshipment. system.

  The planned investment of the project is £778,000. More than 80% will be invested by the Queensland Earl. The remaining part will be supplemented by social financing. The construction project will be fully launched in the near future.

  Three major infrastructure projects were launched at the same time, diverting more than 30,000 laborers in the market. With the in-depth development of the projects, this has driven strong demand in the service industry, clothing, housing, and transportation, and provided more employment opportunities.

  This alone is not enough. There are more than 30,000 Chinese immigrants who arrive in Queensland every month. They come with full of hope and can't return in disappointment.

  From the beginning of the year

Going south from Suzaku City, the Pearl Chain towns spread along the planned coastal railway line, basically one every 40~50 miles, in the imperial system, it is 13-17 miles a town, mainly animal husbandry, agriculture As a supplement, there are no industrial projects.

   has reached the southernmost Pine Town, a total of 19 immigrant towns, after more than half a year of initial construction, ushered in the first climax of absorbing labor.

At the beginning, the scale of driving to the south was tens of millions of sheep and more than 30,000 cattle. Now the sheep herd has grown to 20 million, with more than 40,000 cattle. The shearing season requires more than 70,000 workers, and nearly half of them are hired for a long time. .

  This can solve the work needs of immigrant families with a population of more than 100,000, further promote the development of immigrant towns, and generate more business needs.

  Red River Valley City, about 150 miles south, Songjiang Town

  It is located on the plain at the eastern end of the Great Divide. It has abundant rainfall, abundant water and grass. The water flows vertically and horizontally in the area. There are several turbulent rivers originating from the Great Divide. There is a huge wetland forest in the southwest.

  This is due to the river overflow caused by heavy rains in the rainy season. The huge swamp wetland formed year after year, which breeds countless waterfowls, fish and insects, is a natural wetland park.

  (End of this chapter)