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Molteno is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was founded in 1874 and named for Sir John Molteno, the first prime minister of the Cape Colony. South Africa's first coal mine was opened here.〔(Molteno, ) ''routes.co.za'', Retrieved 23 November 2009〕 High in the Stormberg Mountains, Molteno is South Africa's coldest town and it is close to the country's only ski resort. Ouma Rusks originated here. ==History== Coal fields were discovered in this part of the Stormberg Mountains in 1859, and the town was founded for mining in 1874 by George Vice. He named it after the first Cape Prime Minister, John Molteno.〔〔 (Interestingly, because of this, the town's other namesake is his ancestral hometown in Italy, not far from Milan.) The town's principal streets are named after the members of Molteno's cabinet.〔Johannes Meintjes (1964) ''Portret van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse Dorp. Molteno 1894-1909'', Bamboesberg Publishers, South Africa.〕 Water was drawn from the nearby Stormberg river, and later also from the Jubilee Dam.〔Johannes Meintjes (1974). ''Die Geskiedenis van Molteno; 1874-1974'', Munisipaliteit Molteno, South Africa, Chapter 4, Stigting van die Dorp (Founding of the town), ISBN 0-620-01123-8〕 Soon after its founding, the town became the major supplier of coal to the Cape Colony, with a large portion going to supply the diamond fields in Kimberley. It was granted municipal status in 1883, and by 1892 around 6000 tons of coal were being extracted at Molteno. Much of this coal went to supplying the Cape's rapidly growing railway system. In 1887, the newly founded Molteno Chamber of Commerce was influential in urging the Cape Government to extend its railway system northwards into the Boer republics, so as to open up new markets. By 1897, production of coal in the region had risen to over 70,000 tons.〔R.F. Immelman: ''Men of Good Hope. 1804-1954.'' The Cape Town Chamber of Commerce. 1955.〕 However, by the 1920s the expansion of the railways made access to coal fields in Natal and the Transvaal possible, resulting in the decline of coal mining around Molteno. The mountains around Molteno are largely composed of sandstone of exceptional quality, and there were originally plans to build Molteno out of this beautiful rock, as a "Sandstone City". Nonetheless, several of the oldest buildings in the town are still made from local stone, fashioned by Italian artisans. The Old Mill is one example, built in 1874 and restored in 1991, as is the local Church and ''"Drostdy"'' (Magistrate's office). During the Second Boer War, Molteno was used as a mustering point for troops prior to the famous Battle of Stormberg, as it was the closest railway station. The area also saw extensive Boer guerilla activity. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Molteno, Eastern Cape」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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