The Pearl of the East : The Economic Impact of the Colonial Railways in the Age of High Imperialism in Southeast Asia

This book analyzes the economic impact of the early development of railways in different Asian countries, linking the inlands with port cities and with a global network of connections. This is looked at in the context of the rise of imperialism in the last decades of the 19th century and the redistribution of spheres of influence in Asia. The book considers the increase of exports of plantation economies in the context of the global market and the importance of China, and the struggle between the great powers for the economic penetration in the Chinese empire. Its comparative approach provides an original contribution to global economic history and will be valuable reading for students and researchers of economic history, transport economics, and Asian history more broadly. Dídac Cubeiro Rodríguez has a PhD in history, and is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, teaching 'Applied Economics in East Asia' and 'National and International Markets in East Asia' on the East Asian Studies program. He also collaborates as a researcher with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Inter Asia Research Group concerning the topic of the impact of the infrastructures in the economic history of the Philippines Contents 6 List of Figures 7 1 Introduction: Ports, Telegraphs, and Railways at the New Globalization Era in Southeast Asia 12 An Empire of Engineers 12 The Advent of Steam Navigation: The Control of Rivers and Seas 17 Motivations of the Western Powers in Asia in the Nineteenth Century 21 The Strategic Importance of Southeast Asia in the Nineteenth Century 25 The Markets of China and Japan in the Nineteenth Century 29 The Rise of Port Cities in the Nineteenth Century 35 References 42 2 Four Colonies and the Race for the Chinese Market 44 A Favorable Environment 44 Trade Policy 54 A Note on Growth 56 References 60 3 The French Railway to China: The Red River Railway 61 The French sphere of Influence in the China Sea 61 The Treaty of Tianjin of 1885 62 Western Investment in China 67 Yunnan Railway 69 Burmese Competition 73 Yunnan Economy and Main Exports 78 Opium Distribution Networks 79 Tin Mining in Yunnan 81 French Control over Yunnan Railway 82 Connection to the International Market 84 Yunnan's Growing Autonomy 87 References 89 4 The Burmese Railway to China: The Irrawaddy River Railway 92 Historical Introduction 92 The Impact of Colonialism 96 Colonial Economy 97 Investment in Transportation Networks 99 Railroad Expansion in Burmese Territory 100 The Commitment to the Expansion of Burmese Investments 103 The Integration of the Shan States 110 Toward Privatization of the Railroads 114 The Link to an Internationalized Economy: The City of Rangoon 117 Rangoon Port Expansion 118 Port Administration 120 Expansion Works 121 References 126 5 The Philippines Railway: A Link with Hong Kong 130 Philippines in the Nineteenth Century 130 An Increasingly Interconnected World 137 The Railway Under Spanish Administration 139 The Link with Hong Kong 146 The Railroad Under North American Administration 148 The Port of Manila 153 The Manila Streetcar 164 The Road Network 165 Economic Development at the Turn of the Century 167 References 170 6 The Dutch East Indies Railway in Java 174 Introduction 174 Historical Scenario of the Dutch East Indies in the Nineteenth Century 175 The Railroad Between Semarang and the Vorstenlanden (N.I.S.M.) 182 The Fort of Willem I and the Railway Connection with the N.I.S.M. Line 185 State Railroads or Staats Spoorwegen 188 Light Rail to Cirebon or SCS 190 Private Railroads: Light Railroad to Cepu (Jowana) or SJS 191 Connection Between the Three Main Lines: N.I.S.M, S.S., and S.C.S. 192 Narrow-Gauge Railroad Batavia–Buitenzorg (N.I.S.M.)—Cilacap (S.S.) 192 Batavia's Connection to the Port of Tanjung Priok (S.S.) 193 Magelang–Yogyakarta Railway Line 194 Toward a Railway Network in Java 197 Impact of the Railroad on Java 202 The Growth of Cities 202 References 205 7 Epilogue: The Economic Impact of the Railways on the Colonial Budget 209 State Planning and Colonial Development 209 Colonial Administration 212 Public Spending, Infrastructure, and Social Coverage 214 Rising Social Inequality 219 Foreign Investment Stimulus Policies: The Open Door Policy 222 The Railroad as a Key Element in Export Logistics Platforms 223 References 224 Index 227 This book analyzes the economic impact of the early development of railways in different Asian countries, linking the inlands with port cities and with a global network of connections. This is looked at in the context of the rise of imperialism in the last decades of the 19th century and the redistribution of spheres of influence in Asia. The book considers the increase of exports of plantation economies in the context of the global market and the importance of China, and the struggle between the great powers for the economic penetration in the Chinese empire. Its comparative approach provides an original contribution to global economic history and will be valuable reading for students and researchers of economic history, transport economics, and Asian history more broadly. Dídac Cubeiro Rodríguez has a PhD in history, and is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, teaching 'Applied Economics in East Asia' and 'National and International Markets in East Asia' on the East Asian Studies program. He also collaborates as a researcher with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Inter Asia Research Group concerning the topic of the impact of the infrastructures in the economic history of the Philippines