following message to his boss, James Hayes Sadler, the Consul-General of the British-Somaliland: Dear Sir: BEFORE yesterday, Atto Marcha, Governor of Jildessa, who was in Jibuti arrived here. There were in Daranli (i.e., Dawale) 200 Abyssinians to protect the line against the Essa (i.e., Issa), the Company paying 12 dollars per month for each Abyssinian soldier; now the Company paid them 8 dollars, instead of 12 dollars, and the Abyssinians have withdrawn these 200 men. His prior experience as chief of Harar police must have prepared him for the challenges of the position The railway police was in charge of stability and peace Dire Dawa and its surroundings as well. which he held until the mid-1920s with the exception of his brief dismissal by Lij Iyasu in 1916. The Dawn of Modernization The desire to introduce European style modernization was not unique to Emperor Menelik II. However, it was under him that the country took important practical steps in terms of establishing modern institutions and structure of governance. Transport and communication got a huge boost. The first telephone and telegraph were introduced following the first railway. Major roads were built and bicycles and automobiles appeared for the first time. The tax system was restructured. A modern monetary system was created. The first bank (Bank of Abyssinia) was established. A national currency was launched. The governance system underwent significant reorganization. The first cabinet of ministers was formed. Each of the six districts had two judges appointed by Menelik himself. The position of a supreme judge was created. The first public schools; the first newspaper, the first hotels, the first hospitals and post offices emerged. The list goes on. Although Mersha was principally involved in the construction of the railway and establishment of "modern" customs, he also participated in other important reforms such as the creation of postal and telegraph services. After Menelik died in 1913, following a long illness, his grandson Iyasu V became the de facto ruler. Mersha was about sixty years of age at the time. During his brief reign (1913–1916), Iyasu seems to have continued some of the reforms that he inherited. However, he also made political miscalculations resulting in his removal from power. In 1915, for example, Iyasu appointed Hasib Ydlibi (or Idlibi), a Syrian merchant of Turkish citizenship, as governor of Dire Dawa and Neggadras of Harar. The appointment was kept secret from Dejazmach Teferi (Tafari)