African Entrepreneurship Records

  Chapter 65 Electric Light

   February 7, 1867.

  The situation in the East African colonies has not been reported to Europe, and Ernst does not yet know that the colonies have taken Zanzibar.

  Today is an important day for Ernst, the improved electric light is finally ready for commercial use.

In fact, the first person to invent the electric lamp was the British Humphrey David. He used two thousand batteries and two carbon rods to make an arc lamp, but this arc lamp was too bright, had serious heat, and was not It is durable and cannot be promoted on a large scale.

  In 1854, Henry Goebel, a German who immigrated to the United States, invented the first practical electric light, which lasted for four hundred hours, but he did not apply for a patent.

In 1860, the British Joseph Swan made a carbon filament electric lamp, which was already the most mature solution, but Swan was limited by the vacuum technology of the current era, so the electric lamp he invented could not work for a long time. It was not until 1878 that he improved and applied for a patent.

   As for now! Ernst is about to say goodbye to him. The Berlin Electric Power Company, which has broken through vacuum technology, has become the first company in this time and space to apply for a mature commercial electric light patent and mass-produce it.

   "Ernst, it has been on for more than ten hours, and there is no problem at all. This is definitely a cross-generational invention."

  Prince Constantine looked at the still shining electric light in surprise and said.

  As the promoter and investor of the invention of electric light, Ernst naturally installed this cross-age product in his home first.

  Just yesterday, after the installation workers installed them, in order to test the effect of the company’s lights, Ernst turned on more than 20 bulbs overnight. After checking today, none of them had any problems.

   The servants and Prince Constantine felt miraculous when they saw this novelty.

"Father, this is not only a great invention, it represents huge interests behind it, think about it, if from Berlin to Vienna, from Moscow to London, the whole of Europe, and even the world, installed this lamp representing "light" What a tempting and considerable profit that is." Ernst said excitedly.

   "Yes, it's better to promote this world-changing invention as soon as possible, let's start in Berlin!" Prince Constantine set the tone.

   "You and I, go to the palace today, we are going to recommend this thing to His Majesty the King."

  …

  William I and Crown Prince Frederick, as well as the kid William II and the nobles in the palace, looked at the electric light in amazement.

   More than a dozen arc-shaped light bulbs exuded a unique dim light, illuminating the entire hall of the Prussian Royal Palace.

   "Konstantin, this is really a good thing. It doesn't need to be as fragile as the flame of a candle, nor as dim as a kerosene lamp, and it doesn't have the smell of a gas lamp."

   William I said to Constantine.

   "Your Majesty, Prussia has always attached great importance to the development and progress of education and technology. These achievements have already been predetermined in the course of Prussia's promotion of educational development." Prince Constantine praised.

   "Well, we have to arrange the installation of electric lights in Berlin first, so that other countries can see the development of Prussia. We are already at the forefront of the world." William I said.

  When the whole world is still lit by candles and gas lamps, Berlin has already used electricity to illuminate the streets of Berlin. It is exciting to think about it.

   In order to promote electric lights, Ernst's Berlin Power Company will install lighting systems for the Prussian royal family and the Austrian royal family free of charge.

  As for the urban lighting in Berlin and Vienna, the governments of the two countries will pay for it. With the royal families of the two countries as examples, other nobles and rich people will also have to have a set at home.

  …

   Three days later.

   "This is what Ernst called the electric light, and it sure looks good!"

   Franz said to his family.

   Queen Mother Sophie also exclaimed: "Yes! Such a small thing can be used for lighting without fuel and open flames. This is really an unimaginable miracle."

   "I heard that William I will also replace the lighting system in Berlin with electric lights, and we in Vienna can't fall behind." Franz said to the ministers around him.

   His Majesty the Emperor had spoken, so naturally he followed suit.

   In this way, Berlin and Vienna successively became the first and second cities to replace candles and gas lamps with electric lights.

  The news was spread all over the world with the newspapers, and many people went to the two cities to see this great invention.

  In the bustling downtown, the lights began to be brightly lit for the first time.

  Because of this achievement, the Berlin Electric Power Company is well-known to the world, and the company's stock price has risen sharply, becoming one of the most valuable companies in Ernst's hands.

  …

   "Tom, have you contacted the people over there?" Ernst asked Tom.

   "Master, this time we have contacted the tsar's cronies and others. By bribing Russian officials, they are willing to act as lobbyists. As long as the money is in place, they promise to persuade the tsar to sell the Alaska region." Tom said.

   "Very well, as long as we win this land before the Americans, we can instantly own a territory larger than the East African colony." Ernst said with satisfaction.

   "Master, as far as I know, Alaska is a land of ice and snow, and it has no value except animal fur." ​​Tom still reminded, in Tom's view, it is completely unnecessary to spend money to take over this so-called Alaska region.

   "Okay, I have my own plan. This matter is not as simple as it seems. When did you meet the young master, I suffered a lot." Ernst said.

   "By the way, master, the news from the East African colony just now." Tom passed the information from the East African colony to Ernst.

   Ernst picked up the information and read it.

   Gradually, a smile appeared in the corner of Ernst's eyes.

   "Very good. I have long had a headache about the existence of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. I didn't expect them to send the opportunity to us."

Ernst naturally knew the influence of the Sultanate of Zanzibar on the East African colonies. He basically monopolized the coastal area between the East African colonies and the ocean. Then the East African colonies would be threatened.

   This time the Sultanate of Zanzibar hit the gunpoint by itself, and Ernst naturally would not let go of this opportunity.

  He sat on a chair, picked up the pen in front of him, and began to write down the solution to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. This time, the East African colony will completely solve the security problem at the seaport.

   "Tom, you send this document to the East African colony, and let them act according to the requirements above." Ernst ordered.

   "Yes, sir." Tom replied.

  Turn around and take the document to the telegraph room, send the document to Trieste, and then bring it back to East Africa by sea ship.

  (end of this chapter)