RCM Canal



The RCM Canal is a canal located in eastern Eleutheria owned and operated by the Republica de Canciones Molestas, although the Fictian Empire also wields considerable influence on the canal. It is run by the RCM Canal Authority, a puppet organization made by the Cancionan government to manage the canal. Originally constructed by the PRA with considerable effort used at around 1900, the PRA would sell the canal to the RCM in 1908 for a huge quantity of iron.

Background:
The idea of a canal in the narrow eastern region of Eleutheria to compete with the at-the-time only method of trans-continental oceanic transport, the Straits of Punicea, was raised by multiple countries in the early 1890s, but the PRA proved to be the one state motivated to act on this potentially profitable strategy. Successfully purchasing a strip of land in east Eleutheria, the PRA constructed heavy machinery and put much effort and capital into constructing the canal, which was finally finished in 1900.

Although the canal was initially thought to be very profitable, the PRA required people to pay an excorbant one-time membership fee for canal transport, which they said was partially because anyone who used the fee could also use their railroad network. Unfortunately for them, this gave them practically no business except for themselves through the canal. A few years later, the PRA decided to remedy this situation by posting unlimited Canal Passes on the Universal Market for a cheaper price in Marks-but still an expensive one. The Canal remained unprofitable, and the PRA got little revenue for it.

Sale:
In 1908, when the Georgian Dynasty took over the RCM temporarily, the PRA approached the new regime and offered to sell the canal in exchange for 360K tons of the rare resource iron. Considering the value of the canal, neither King Hakalieu IV or the Ranoluvs could turn down the offer. The iron was granted to the PRA, and the canal was transferred to the RCM's control quickly (although Hakalieu gave the Fictian Empire a quarter share of the canal's revenues). The canal remains in their hands to this day.

Current Fees:
Currently, the RCM canal only charges an 8% tax on whatever is being brought through, which is competitive with the 10% rate charged at the Straits of Punicea. Of these taxes, 75% goes to the RCM and 25% to the Fictian Empire.

Current Memberships
Memberships, granting free passage through the canal to it's holder, have been granted to a few countries in the past but are currently unavailable. The following countries have a membership:


 * RCM (owns the canal since 1908, gets 75% of revenue)
 * Fictian Empire (helped negotiate the canal purchase, granted a membership at canal transfer, gets 25% of revenue)
 * W.C.C. (private but important company thanks to the Universal Market, granted a membership at canal transfer)
 * New Carthage (owner of Straits of Punicea and main competitor, granted a membership at the canal's construction)
 * PRA (built the canal, granted a membership at the canal's construction).