Monday, May 31, 2010

The oldest steam roller?



This museum piece steam roller (steam-powered road roller) placed at the front yard of the West Java Provincial Office of Road Construction and Maintenance on Asia Afrika street could very well be one of the oldest steamroller in existence that is still intact outside the museum.

I have no information about the make or which year it was made (if any of you know, please let me know). But this steam roller is placed on the monument pedestal which marks Bandung Zero Kilometer and bears the following inscription:

N.W. DAENDELS, Governor General of the Dutch Indies (1808 - 1811) had one of his most important tasks given by his government, that was to build THE GREAT POST ROAD, DE GROOTE POSTWEG, stretching from Anyer (Banten) to Panarukan (East Java).

The main purpose of the construction of DE GROOTE POSTWEG was to intensify interprovincial communication in the frame of solidifying defense of the Island of Java.

When construction of the bride over the Cikapundung River was completed in 1810, on its inauguratin day, Governor General N.W. DAENDELS and the Regent of Bandung R.A.A. WIRANATAKUSUMAH II walked over it and reached this point. N.W. DAENDELS then struck a wooden rod into the ground while saying: "Zorg dat als igh terug kom nier een stad is geboud."

It means: "Make sure that when I return, a new city is built here."

At this particular point then people built a milestone signifying the Kilometer "0" (KILOMETER ZERO) point.




That moment twho hundered years ago when DAENDELS made the pronouncement is now considered to be the birthday of the city of Bandung.

4 comments:

Mahmud Yussop said...

Sdr Eki,
Very interesting history. Thank you for sharing. Harap semuanya baik belaka bagi anda dan keluarga. Salam dari Sarawak.
Mood.

Anonymous said...

Mostly people in Bandung dont know where the 0 km at. They assuming the 0 kilometer is at BIP or Balai Kota :D

Thomas C B Chua said...

Interesting machine. I have never set eyes on before. I have only seen those in the 60s, not so ancient as posted by you. Thanks.

Dina said...

That is so nice to know when and where and how one's city began.

Great old steam roller.