Since the Age of Discovery, commercial prosperity had been inseparable from ports. Fine ports could better promote economic development, drawing populations toward the coast. The Industrial Revolution, however, brought the rise of rail transport, greatly enhancing overland transportation capacity and allowing inland regions to develop as well.
Yet the limitations of such development were far greater than those of sea transport. Railway construction was constrained by all manner of factors, and this also sparked disputes between regions. Areas through which railways passed could have their local economies driven forward, even directly giving rise to new cities. But if a railway did not pass through, even an ancient city might decline because of it.
"Many regions in East Africa had railways before they had settlements. These villages and towns formed along the railways may well continue to flourish as long as the railways do not decline in the future."
"More than that, railway construction has increased East Africa's transport efficiency by over threefold. In the past, we needed vast amounts of manpower and livestock to transport goods to the port regions. Now, inland areas only need to deliver their goods to the nearest railway station, and from there they can be shipped to the ports by rail."
"East Africa's railway construction had been a loss-making venture from the very beginning, an investment made without considering returns. But now we have seen the returns on that investment: inland regions are developing rapidly, and the gap between the kingdom's eastern and western regions is narrowing. This holds positive significance for the kingdom's rule."
"Since 1875, we have found that the German government's targeting of our enterprises has become markedly more severe, especially those enterprises bearing the Hechingen name. The difficulties they face have clearly increased. Evidently, in the German government's eyes, we