Chapter 25 Italian Labor

After hearing Primo explain the financial preparation for industrial construction, Carlo nodded and asked: "When will the industrial construction start? What is our initial construction goal?"

"I plan to build a small industrial base in Seville, Andalusia, and increase our steel production.

After increasing steel production, we will invest in railway construction. It is expected that the railway mileage will be increased to more than 6,000 kilometers in the next five years, connecting the east, west, south and north regions of Spain." Primo replied.

Don't think it's just building railways, the improvement to industry is huge.

The steel rails needed for the railway require steel mills to work overtime to increase steel production, which can drive the development of a series of affiliated industries.

Spain has a large reserve of coal and iron ore resources in Andalusia, which is also convenient for the development of industry.

Although most of the coal mines in Spain are of relatively poor quality, there is no problem in carrying out initial industrial production.

After all, the total steel production of various countries in this era is not much, and it has not reached the exaggerated level of tens of millions of tons in later generations.

The strongest industry at present belongs to the British Empire, but the British steel production is only about 300,000 tons, not to such an exaggerated scale.

However, Spain's steel production is even less. Because the industrial construction was abandoned during the reign of Queen Isabel, Spain's annual steel production so far is only at the level of 1,000 tons, or a pitiful 2,000 tons.

Although part of the reason is that Spain does not have excellent iron ore and coal reserves, as a second-rate European country with a population of more than 16 million, such an industrial level is still too shabby.

"When our steel mills are put into production in large quantities, we hope to increase steel production to more than 10,000 tons in the next five years. At least our steel production must meet the needs of domestic industrial construction. Spain without industry is incomplete." Primo said.

Building 1,000 kilometers of railways in five years seems slow, but it is not easy for Spain, which has a very poor steel production.

Spain only built 5,000 kilometers of railways in the nearly 30 years from 1840 to 1869. This construction speed is far behind countries such as Britain, France, Germany and the United States.

Spain is mountainous, and in order to better strengthen the connection between regions, it is very necessary to build railways.

This will not only strengthen the royal government's control over various regions, but also speed up population mobility and economic exchanges between regions.

"I approve your plan, Prime Minister Primo." After hearing Primo's complete explanation, Carlo nodded and approved Prime Minister Primo's plan without hesitation.

Obviously, this industrial plan is very necessary for Spain. Although the investment is not that large, it is a good start for Spain's industrial development.

"Your Majesty, there is something that perhaps only you can do." After hearing Carlo approve the industrial plan, Primo first smiled and nodded, and then quickly made another request to Carlo.

"Oh? What's the matter?" Carlo asked curiously.

"Whether it is building an industrial base or laying railways, we need a large number of workers. But your majesty, you also know that the black workers we bought from Africa are not very peaceful, and they are also an unstable factor in Spain.

Compared to these lowly black workers, I think it is a more appropriate choice to introduce foreign white workers. When I went to Italy before, I found that a large number of agricultural population in Italy chose to immigrate overseas.

If possible, can we contact the Italian government to introduce some Italian immigrants and workers?

Doing so will not only solve our labor shortage problem, but also speed up our industrial construction. I think it is necessary to try it." Primo said.

If you want to build an industrial base and lay railways, you must prepare a large number of workers as labor.

This is very difficult for Spain to do. Although Spain has a large agricultural population, these agricultural populations are scattered across the vast Spanish territory and have their own land. It is impossible to cross half of Spain for a little income from labor.

But these farmers in Italy are different. They can hardly survive in Italy, which is why they choose to immigrate overseas.

In this case, why not find an opportunity to attract some Italian immigrants to Spain and make up for the shortage of Spanish workers?

You know, most of Italy's agricultural population is located in southern Italy, which was ruled by the autocratic Kingdom of the Two Sicilies not long ago.

These farmers have experienced a long period of autocratic monarchy and are much easier to rule than those black workers and republicans.

This is also one of the reasons why Primo targeted Italian workers. Workers who are down-to-earth, can work and don't make trouble will be welcomed everywhere.

Carlo was a little surprised to hear Primo say this.

Because the introduction of Italian workers was originally in Carlo's plan, it was also good for Carlo's rule.

After all, Carlo was born in the Italian royal family. These Italians who came to Spain would definitely not oppose Carlo's rule, and compared with the native Spaniards, Italians would be closer to Carlo.

Carlo certainly would not object to such a request that was completely beneficial to him.

"For the development of Spain, I am certainly willing to do this." Carlo said with a smile: "If the government is ready, then our industrial construction can start immediately.

I will take care of the labor issue, and I hope our industrial construction will go as smoothly as expected."

Primo nodded and said very respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After all, Carlo still has too few people.

Now only Giotti and Loren can be used. Giotti needs to be in charge of the palace guards, and Loren is the only one who can go to Italy to discuss labor issues.

Fortunately, this is not a big deal, and Italy is not short of thousands of laborers. In addition, the good father-son relationship between Carlo and Vittorio Emanuele II, it is no problem to sign an agreement with Italy to introduce laborers.

Sure enough, Loren took only more than ten days for the whole trip, and brought back a "Labor Introduction Agreement" for Carlo.

Carlo's requirements are not high. In the past few years, thousands of laborers from Italy every year can meet Spain's development needs.

When Spain's construction has achieved certain results and people's living standards and income continue to rise, it will naturally attract some Europeans who can't live in their hometowns to immigrate to Spain.

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