February 22, 1873.
Sweet Palace.
Ernst convened the entire leadership of the East African government and the East African Railway Company to discuss the construction of the East African Railway. Taking advantage of the economic crisis, the East African Railway could also begin construction.
During the meeting, Ernst detailed the preliminary construction plan for the East African Railway:
"The planned railway is divided into four parts. One is the extension of the First Railway, which will be renamed 'Central Railway' after completion, to connect East Africa's coast, the East African Plateau, the Katanga Plateau, the Longda Plateau, the Matebel Plateau, and the South African Plateau."
"The Central Railway is T-shaped, with a total mileage of over 4,600 kilometers, starting from Dar es Salaam, passing through First Town, Mbeya, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, Harare, Bulawayo, and Pretoria."
