Transportation of Train in Java Island

History – Teak wood – Utilization

Idea build railroad of train in Java for proposal Colonel J. Van Der Wijk at date of 15 Augustus 1840, according to him, levying of railways in Java will a lot of bringing advantage especially from military aspect.

He proposes development of train railroads band from Surabaya until Jakarta of through Surakarta, Jogyakarta and Bandung therewith its deviation. This proposal had been agreed by government of like decanted in KB of number 270 date of 28 May 1842; the letter decide that while will be develop first band of train from Semarang - Kedu - Jogyakarta of through Surakarta.

In phase strive to realize the plan emerge a number of opinion among Dutch elite: if development of railroad done by a government were hence needed by reserve of fund or from loan; but if party of private sector permitted hence the government have to provide land and support facility of other physical; approval about concession rights; nor guarantee of capital flower; some circle also ask in order to development of railways also troughs of plantation area to port Semarang; there were also the opinion which ask so that the train also become public utilities and extend to entire Java.

By immeasurable existence of the demand - in the year 1860 - King Willem III ask sir T.J. Stieltjes [minister adviser of country business] to lead a research about problem of transportation and solution in Java; and the result, Stieltjes suggest to government to develop band of railroad which passing by Ungaran, Ambarawa and Salatiga.

Meanwhile W. Polman; A. Frasen; and E.H. Kol raise a concession for development of Train of band Semarang - Surakarta - Jogyakarta. At that moment Jogyakarta and Surakarta referred as also Vorstenlanden or area of all Java king [Sunan Pakubuwono and Sultan of Hamengku Buwono]. Entrepreneur of this Construction [Polman; Frasen and Kol] also objection with proposal Stieltjes: because building band of train which area of hill will be costly of expense and need longer time.

Through his decision - KB of number 1 date of 26 Augustus 1862 - Governor General Baron Sloet Van Den Beele then grant application of concession by Polman and friend on the promise that development of railways have to according to opinion of Minister of Country Business [Fransen Van de Putte] wishing railroads also passing Kedungjati and Ambarawa; other conditions: that is wide of spoor also as according to wide of spoor in Europe [1,435 millimeters].

After getting governmental permission, Polman with his partners and found company of train by the name of Naamlooze Venootschap Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg-Maatschappij [N.V. NISM] in year 1863; and is first time led by sir J.P. de Bordes.
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