Current State of Development – Romulus

CURRENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT

The initial shipload of colonists numbered 4000, but before a year passed more than 12,000 had arrived. Development of the colony proceeded peacefully and efficiently, for the colonists had the experience of six new worlds before them on which to base their plan. Rather than pursue a purely free enterprise economy, the Romulan plan called for the establishment of community-owned industry. Thus telecommunication, power generation, primary metal production, housing, appliance manufacture, production of transport vehicles, and medicine are the province of large monopolies in which all colonists own an interest. The planet-wide constitution reserves farming, clothing manufacture, and all other small-scale industries and industries not yet developed to individual entrepreneurs. The Constitution also guarantees the property rights of all citizens and no laws prohibit competition with the community-owned industry. It is too early to say how this form of economic organization will perform over the long term. To date, economic progress on Romulus has been as fast as can be expected on any new world.

Research and Development

At this writing, the lifestyle of people on Romulus is changing so quickly that detailed description of the state of development would be out of date by the time this bulletin reaches the reader. The map of Romulus shows how much of the planet remains unexplored and detailed aerial reconnaissance has not even taken place over large portions of the planet’s surface. At this writing, pioneers have explored only the continent of Bounty, the only one inhabited at this time. On the outboard hemisphere, little more than orbital reconnaissance has taken place over several of the unnamed continents. Within the next ten years, Romulans hope to complete shuttle fly-by reconnaissance of these regions.
For years to come, though, much territory will remain to be explored on the ground by adventurous pioneers. The Bounty population is spreading rapidly into the remote areas of the Wolf Peninsula thanks largely to the availability of crude but rugged antigravity cars. Improved transportation allowed the creation of a second industrial center named Reforma at the base of the Peninsula just 12 years after the colony commenced, and Romulans expect it to be a focal point for even more rapid development.

Industry

The Industrial Planning Board of Romulus has ventured some projections which should give the potential pioneer an idea of what he or she can expect of Romulus in 2386 adtc. Beginning in 2379, all pioneer’s spires will ground at Reforma instead of Sharam, to prevent excessive congestion at the original population center. Every ten or fifteen years, Romulans hope to found another city to absorb incoming colonists and to promote development of other areas of the planet. The industrial plan will emphasize increasing production of prefabricated building materials and consumer goods. At this writing, Romulan industry is confined primarily to assembly industries, relying on importation of many critical items such as electronic components, medical devices, biopolymeric materials, and nuclear fusion reactors. During the next decade Romulans hope to begin original manufacture of some of these critical items. First efforts will begin with those components that are needed as replacement parts for existing equipment and expand into items of original manufacture or design.