Temiang (Tamiang usual spelling and pronunciation; correctly Temiang, At.-Teumièng) was a region on the north-east coast whose river system comprises Simpang-kiri and Simpang-kanan forming the Temiang river, formerly part of the gewest Oostkust van Sumatra until 1908 when it became underafdeeling of afdeeling Oostkust van Atjeh.
History and political background
Due to Malay and Batak population, it reasonably belongs to Oostkust van Sumatra. However Atjeh Sultanate already in 16th century inclined to southward power expansion and Temiang greats not resistant. When Atjehers wanted to harm Company, bands also visited Temiang for that purpose. First European entrepreneurs settlement attempts in Temiang suffered much under raids of Atjehers and Gajos, even first enterprises in Langkat experienced trouble.
Pepper planters, wanderers and robbers continuously disturbed regions near Aroe-baai, whole Temiang remained unsafe. Only in 1898 shared in general improvement condition. The Atjeh road would soon reach Koeala Simpang and opening Temiang for private industry held proof confidence in safety for oil winning and tobacco cultivation.
Economic history
Deli-Maatschappij got large land grant and opened tobacco enterprises Sekrah I, II and III. After couple years closed because tobacco not to wish succeeded and returned grounds. Similarly Tabak-Maatschappij Arendsburg acquired grounds opened enterprises Simpang and Soengei Lipoet and closed after one or two years. Finally Rotterdam Deli-Maatschappij booked at same time failure with enterprise Gedong Biara. Tobacco proved even orderly condition not able become Deli tobacco.
Around 1910 soft start; opening faster around 1915; first rubber and coffee, afterwards oil palm. Enterprises lie north and south Koeala Simpang, Atjeh-tram runs middle through region.
Major companies included:
- Soengei Lipoet Cultuur-Maatschappij founded 1908 with predominantly Belgian capital
- Temiang Landbouw-Syndicaat and Temiang Rubber-Syndicate formed 1910
- “Société financière des caoutchoucs” holding for many Temiang rubber enterprises such as Soengei Lipoet and Mopoli with rubber and oil palm, Batang Ara with rubber, Medang Ara and Semadam with oil palm and rubber
- Belgian company large rubber enterprise Simpang-kiri
- Rubber lands Rantau, Temiang and Oepah, formerly Temiang Landbouw-syndicaat, now Anglo Dutch
- Older Tandjong Semantoh now Borneo Rubber Compagnie, Japanese entity
- Aloer Djamboe of Handelsvereeniging Amsterdam, wholly from grafting obtained
Planters included H. C. Reuter owner Tandjong Semantoh transferred to Japanese, owner young Rimba Sawang recently died.
Geographic description and soils
According to F. C. van Heurn, tertiary hill country of Tamiang distinguishes at surface mainly clays and claystones, while marls or sandstones represented as sandy hills minority. Little sandy parts as infertile as sandy tertiary grounds Bengkalis, clays have proven with proper drainage for European cultures excellent properties.
Broersma observed neglect signs: clean weeding system and heavy tapping left traces; alang-alang in various gardens due to going to other extreme after leaving clean weeding, planting mimosa for green manure which now overgrows replaced by vigna oligosperma not everywhere immediately growing. Ditches not happily made water unwilling to leave. Are gardens where 10- and 12-year trees look as 6 year old, poor leaf yellow tops, oilpalms standing peat ground thereby lying and rooting anew, rubber trees show same art. Fruit bearing at such trees sometimes abundant temporary willingness waste strength on bad grounds common in Temiang cannot reach full growth.
Soengei Lipoet palm oil factory
Soengei Lipoet has plantation over 700 baoe oil palm besides 2800 baoe rubber. Situated at tram track not far Aroebaai, could consider self handling shipment of produce: acquire small ship capable voyage to Malaka and Java; on Java fetch own workforce.
Palm oil preparation started 1919. At first half manual half mechanical, gradually wholly mechanical. Process detailed by Broersma: fruits on narrow gauge, also from other enterprises nuts with Atjeh-tram supplied, after weighing bridge thrown on platforms for storage and sorting in 1st, 2nd, 3rd sort by ripeness size. All fruit within 24 hours already processed to oil. From platforms nuts into tank to desinfection where 5 minutes under direct steam heating (steam 6 atmospheres). Then ground 15 minutes in stirring kettle to pulp. Hydraulic press presses oil from pulp; falls into collection tank and therefrom automatically sucked through pipes to centrifuge. Organic substances separated from oil, now from collection tank pumped to purification tank heated indirect steam. Oil remains there 24 hours: water dirt sinks. Two taps: opening lower, water and dirt run away; through upper runs oil. First pressing best oil finished.
Oil comes into bleaching facility gets light brown tint by oxidation process. Still glowing must in collection tank during 24 hours cooled. In first press pulp remained which with kernels through gutters comes in tipping carts and there brought to drying facility. During 6 hours drying through hot air. Whole mass fed to rotating sieves to separation pulp and pits. Subsequently pulp anew heated and goes to main pressure press (360 atmospheres) where remaining oil obtained to then through purification tank and bleaching facility produce second quality.
Pits go through drying drum to loosening shell and kernel. Heated pits done now in nutcracker where shell broken and with pit falls in tank with mudwater. Shells sink, pits floating. Pits in sacks shipped to Europe, oil in barrels. Enterprise uses for oil shipment barrels able contain 550 kg oil. They are oak wood, old wine barrels arriving France in staves on enterprise. Staves thickness 3 cm. In shed put staves to barrel and keep together by iron bands on which press clamps presses and thus bands to place. Leak disadvantage shipping does not accept leaking barrels and waste harmful. Soengei Lipoet sometimes 16 percent waste.
First sort oil suitable for margarine manufacture and therefor better than coprah, because melting point higher. Margarine of this oil can be spread and not soon liquid. Likewise first also second sort soap made. Enterprise sends oil to Marseille, Antwerpen, Rotterdam, Londen and Liverpool, where large markets are, but soon itself soap preparation. Will make both perfumed and bar soap sell in Indies and Straits. Has specialist summoned. In soap factory German invention everything automatic so only 6 workers needed. Enterprise expects also for oil preparation new factory, Krupp factory with which counts higher percentage oil achieve than now possible.
Question oil preparation with or without further processing very important for Oostkust Sumatra and Temiang where most oilpalm plantings and without factory capital invested its reasonable profit not obtain. But factory expensive and experience Indies palm oil not yet broad front. Factory reported eight ton must cost, how much tied to installation which for Indies purposeful must be.
Land tenure and administration
It is no erfpacht granted here or elsewhere in this underafdeeling on grounds but permission to agriculture, so on ground no mortgage possible. Payment thereof comes to landscape.
Temiang in essence no Atjeh landscape. Main place Koeala Simpang got expansion in favorable years thanks presence twenties enterprises surroundings, and now shares silence imposed to cultures.
See Also
Source
Atjeh als land voor handel en bedrijf, by Dr. R. Broersma, Gebrs. Cohen, Utrecht, 1925, pp. 8-12.