French colonial development in West Africa centered on linking interior to coast by rail

Evidence

By the end of the nineteeth century, then, mise en valeur connoted a program of rational, scientific, and progressive colonial development, in which the state would play a central role. What exactly this meant in practice can be seen in the actions of Governor General Roume. For him, inaugurating a program of mise en valeur required first the construction of modern communications, which all colonial propagandists supported. Roume also adapted to West Africa a host of other European technological innovations, including specialized agricultural research, scientific laboratories, and modern sanitation and health facilities; but railroads would always receive the lion’s portion of available funds. Not long after his arrival, the new governor general unveiled plans for constructing a rail and telegraph network in the federation that would remain the centerpiece of his years in office. This network would link the various colonies in such a way that no part of the vast West African interior would be inaccessible from the coast. Roume’s tour through the federation encouraged his early preoccupation with infrastructure. During this tour, Roume experienced firsthand the difficulties in communication and transportation created by the enormous distances that separated the various colonies under his administration; until these distances were conquered, he concluded, no real mise en valeur or administrative unification of French West Africa was possible. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 150

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies what mise en valeur concretely meant as French colonial development policy.