The principle of borrowing is not only carbon filaments made from Japanese bamboo, but also electric wires.
Three years ago, when the electrolytic aluminum test workshop was built on "Panshi Island" to produce the so-called "Deville Silver", which is electrolytic aluminum, Zhu Xianhai had already had a batch of new wires manufactured.
The so-called "wire" is a high-purity copper core wire, and the so-called new type is a layer of rubber skin on the outer layer of the wire.
There is no problem with such wires in "silver mines", but problems arise when they are used in companies.
"Is it so expensive?"
Zhu Xianhai looked at the budget table and asked directly,
“Why are wires so expensive?”
"Lord, that's because our wires are made of rubber. Although rubber has good insulation, it is expensive. There is a saying in Brazil about "white gold", so wires made of it are of course expensive."
In fact, wires were originally telegraph wires, and telegraph wires were all bare wires, insulated with air. Then they started to be painted, and then materials such as fiber (that is, cotton, linen) and resin appeared in sequence.
Among all materials, rubber has the best insulation, but it is extremely expensive. Today's rubber is all produced in Brazil, and all natural rubber is obtained by black slaves going deep into the rainforest to cut down wild rubber trees. The natural rubber of these days is really
Very expensive.
How expensive is it?
Not to mention rubber-soled shoes, they are condoms. Well, that thing is also a patented product of Helen Pharmaceutical Company. The technology is not complicated, and the main thing is the principle. The result? Because of the price, the number of users is very limited.
There is nothing you can do. The raw materials are expensive!
One pound of rubber is worth a whopping three pounds! It is almost 24 grams of gold, which is equivalent to nearly 400 grams of silver. It can basically be understood as equivalent to silver.
“White gold” is no exaggeration at all!
"If we switch to using gum, the cost can be reduced a lot. Currently, telegraph lines in various countries use gum or tape."
Zhao Can's suggestion made Zhu Xianhai nod and said.
"Okay, let's use their method to do it."
After Zhao Can left, looking at the sky-high price of rubber wire, Zhu Xianhai leaned back on the thick chair and said to himself.
"Really? I actually forgot about that thing. That natural rubber... seems to have something to do with it?"
Zhu Xianhai leaned his head back against the back of the chair, which made him feel quite comfortable.
"It's not difficult to collect rubber seeds. The key is where to plant them! Nanhua..."
It’s definitely impossible here in Nanhua!
After all, growing rubber has very high requirements on the natural environment, the tropics! It can only be grown in the tropics.
Although there is no cold winter here in Nanhua, it is definitely not a tropical area. After thinking about it, Zhu Xianhai looked sideways at the map and said,
"It seems it's time to put their affairs on the agenda!"
The people Zhu Xianhai refers to are not others, but another group of "first generation South Chinese" - he rescued not only Chinese workers in the Brazilian gold mines, but also more than 1,500 black slaves. Among those black slaves,
Except for less than a hundred female slaves, most of the others were black slaves in their prime. Those black slaves could be considered to have sweated for the foundation of Nanhua.
It's almost time to solve their problems.
"Overall, it's quite stable. Although for black people, they don't think freedom is important, but Lord, they have always been very eager to have their own families and women, so I think their problems must be solved sooner or later.
The problem is, otherwise, we will have to shoot sooner or later, after all, even slaves have some normal needs."
Sitting in front of the lord, Qian Deshan reported truthfully. The identity of the black slaves in South China was extremely embarrassing. They were not only the first generation of immigrants in South China, they were also slaves, and they were also the private property of the lord.
"Actually, rescuing them back then was just a matter of convenience, not for the purpose of obtaining free labor."
Zhu Xianhai said.
"I have been thinking about how to settle those black slaves. As you said, it is time to solve this problem, so I plan to..."
Zhu Xianhai pointed at the map, and then said to him.
"Considering that Philip and others also sweated for the foundation of South China, I decided to give them freedom and send them back to Africa."
"What? Send it back to Africa?"
Qian Deshan opened his eyes wide in shock.
"Lord, what does this mean?"
"They are Africans, and their ancestors were slaves plundered from Africa by white people. Since they have been given freedom, they must be sent home. It was barbaric and inhumane for white people to forcibly take black people away from Africa.
, now that we have given them freedom, although we have no obligation to send them back to Africa, it is a kind of humanitarianism to allow black people to return to the land of their ancestors!"
Actually, to put it bluntly, Zhu Xianhai was not very happy to leave those black slaves in South China, and sending them to Africa could also play their role.
"Now in most African areas, there are only some local indigenous tribes. We can buy a piece of land locally from the indigenous chiefs, and then send Philip and those people there to build a land there..."
Zhu Xianhai, who originally wanted to talk about colonies, changed his tune as soon as the words came to his lips.
"A tropical plantation, a tropical plantation belonging to the company, growing tropical crops such as rubber, coffee, and cocoa. Of course, they can live and work freely there, and they can also start families with local black people."
In fact, someone has done this before.
As early as half a century before the outbreak of the Civil War, "liberating black slaves" was already the mainstream idea in the North of the United States, but the core concept of so-called "liberation" was to send black people back to Africa.
The northern United States established a "charitable organization" called the "American Colonization Society" in 1816. The founder was the nephew of the "Father of the Founding" Washington. Of course, you know whether it is "charity" or not.
It was this colonial association that bought a piece of land in Africa. By bribing local tribal chiefs and relying on the support of the U.S. Navy, it coerced and induced them to sell the land to the association at a low price. Then it began to transport black people to the local area. That place was "Liberia", meaning
As a "free and liberated country".
However, many former black slaves in the United States who were moved there regretted it after arriving in the "liberated country". Life there was worse than being a slave in the United States. So, they all expressed their opinions: I want the land of my ancestors.
Go back to the United States!
In fact, it sounds like this. Although in the 21st century, those individuals say that "life is precious", they will definitely be the first to not be happy if their property is dumped in Africa.
Although Liberia was full of problems, with free black slaves clamoring to return to the United States and constant conflicts with local blacks, the United States allowed Liberia to establish an independent country more than ten years ago in 1847.
In fact, the United States' positioning of Liberia was originally used to transfer black people who were regarded as domestic "burdens" from exile and to establish a foothold on the African coast, and to use it as a springboard to penetrate other parts of Africa in due course.
Although it ultimately backfired, it did not prevent Zhu Xianhai from learning from "advanced experience" - using those free black slaves to establish a foothold on the African coast, and using it as a springboard to penetrate other parts of Africa in due course.
This chapter has been completed!