French railways in Algeria, 1850-1900 : A contribution to the study of colonial history
In nineteenth century colonial Algeria, railways were a necessary condition for the expansion of colonisation and for the economic development of this most important French colony. Railways were both political and military instruments as well as important to the development of trade and in the attraction and settlement of colonists. When they were constructed in Algeria, railways became passage ways for streams of settlers and bulky goods which it had hitherto been impossible to transport by land in quantity. Moreover, the development of commercial agriculture was made possible only after the construction of the first lines and the subsequent reduction of transportation charges. The fertile plains and the main ports of Algeria became targets for railway planners who were anxious to increase the volume of exports towards the Metropole. The impact of railways on agricultural patterns in terms of means of production and output was also significant. The development of colonial agriculture was in part a consequence of the influence of rail transport. Furthermore, railways had important effects on the availability of resources and the economic accessibility of various parts of the colony. The mineral areas of Algeria
Belkacemi, B.
History
French railways in Algeria, 1850-1900 : A contribution to the study of colonial history. In nineteenth century colonial Algeria, railways were a necessary condition for the expansion of colonisation and for the economic development of this most important French colony. Railways were both political and military instruments as well as important to the development of trade and in the attraction and settlement of colonists. When they were constructed in Algeria, railways became passage ways for streams of settlers and bulky goods which it had hitherto been impossible to transport by land in quantity. Moreover, the development of commercial agriculture was made possible only after the construction of the first lines and the subsequent reduction of transportation charges. The fertile plains and the main ports of Algeria became targets for railway planners who were anxious to increase the volume of exports towards the Metropole. The impact of railways on agricultural patterns in terms of means of production and output was also significant. The development of colonial agriculture was in part a consequence of the influence of rail transport. Furthermore, railways had important effects on the availability of resources and the economic accessibility of various parts of the colony. The mineral areas of Algeria
french railway algeria study colonial_history colonial algeria railways necessary_condition expansion colonisation economic_development important french colony railways political_military instrument well important development trade attraction settlement colonist construct algeria railways become passage way stream settler good hitherto impossible transport land quantity moreover development commercial agriculture make_possible construction first line subsequent reduction transportation charge fertile plain main port algeria become target railway planner anxious increase volume export towards metropole impact railways agricultural pattern term mean production output also significant development colonial agriculture part consequence influence rail transport furthermore railway important effect availability resource economic accessibility various part colony mineral area algeria