NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1199: Railway Law
"The Railway Company?" Theresa asked cautiously, "Your Highness, isn't the railway supposed to be managed by the Ministry of Transportation?"
Joseph smiled and gestured for him to sit down, "Please trust me, the Ministry of Transportation certainly cannot handle it all.
"Not just the France Railway Company, there will be many more railway companies in the future.
"Here's a simple example. Suppose a small town in northern Rouergue wants to build a railway, what should the Ministry of Transportation do?"
Theresa was about to say "then allocate funds to build it," but suddenly stopped.
Rouergue is one of the poorest provinces in southern France, with many mountainous areas and a sparse population. The priority of building a railway there will be very low.
So the Ministry of Transportation's funds will surely be prioritized for places like Paris and Lyon, and Rouergue will probably have to wait sixty or seventy years before getting any funding.
Joseph continued, "Building railways must rely on private capital.
"The France Railway Company mainly handles the construction of rail lines needed for big cities or military strategy, raising funds nationwide by issuing shares.
"The government invests by contributing land ownership along the railway lines and gains management rights of the company. Any other capital can buy company shares and receive a share of the operational profits.
"At the same time, other companies are allowed to build railways independently and have independent operation rights. For example, in Rouergue, there's a high chance local businessmen would be willing to manage railway transportation there. This way, we can ensure railways are available throughout the country.
"Of course, these railway companies also have to be regulated by the Ministry of Transportation.
"And those private railway companies, after a certain period, say 90 years, must transfer railway ownership back to the government."
Joseph was describing a very common railway operation model from later generations, but Theresa kept nodding unconsciously, feeling that the plan casually spoken by the Crown Prince was so rigorous and comprehensive that his own ideas seemed childish in comparison.
Joseph pondered for a moment and added, "But even this might not guarantee that Rouergue will have railways, as it's too poor there. So, at least in the initial stage, the government must provide a minimum revenue guarantee for railways, so people dare to invest.
"Also, the construction and maintenance standards of railways, the access rights of different companies' railways, wartime requisition..."
Theresa was dumbfounded, having not thought of any of these issues.
Joseph rubbed his forehead, "This needs a decree to normatively govern it."
He initially wanted Eman to call the Minister of Justice, but upon realizing Baron Breti probably knew nothing about railway traffic, he decided to draft an outline himself and then hand it over to the Ministry of Justice for refinement.
He then instructed Theresa on some details of forming the France Railway Company, asking him to prepare a planning proposal to submit to him.
Once the Minister of Transportation left, Joseph took out pen and paper, under the glow of the gas lamp, and began drafting the world's first "Railway Law."
[First, standards for railway construction and maintenance...]
[Second, all railway routes must be planned by the Ministry of Transportation to ensure the railway network meets strategic needs...]
[Third, except for core strategic routes, the construction and operation rights of railways are determined by tender to select contractors. The government provides land and guarantees...]
[Fourth, restrictions and requirements on railway use, as well as development rights along railway lines...]
[Fifth, the sourcing and utilization of railway construction funds...]
These matters seem commonplace, but they were actually hard lessons learned from a lot of blunders many countries made after railways were widely used.
Take railway funding for example. Historically, France raised massive funds to build railways, but most of it was used for financial speculation. By 1850, less than one-third of the planned railways had actually been completed.
The most interesting part is, a significant portion of that money was invested in stocks of the British railway companies...
But Joseph, before French trains were even mass-produced, preemptively plugged all these holes. It is no exaggeration to say that this "Railway Law" could save France tens of millions of francs in expenses.
Meanwhile, Theresa returned home with a swollen head, only to be greeted by his nephew Previdish.
"Weren't you attending the ball tonight?" He handed his hat to his wife and said to his nephew, "Miss Nane would be disappointed."
Madame Theresa took his coat and said, "Jacques has something very important that needs your help."
"Oh?" The Minister of Transportation smiled, "Is he planning to propose to Miss Nane?"
"No, dear uncle, please don't tease me," Previdish seemed anxious, "You must have heard about the Crown Prince's recruitment of the 'Imperial Guard Grenadier Battalion,' haven't you?"
Theresa nodded, "There's been some talk, I heard the requirements are very high."
"Yes, a minimum height of 5 feet 4 inches... oh, I mean 176 centimeters. You see, I'm just 1 centimeter short, yet the recruitment officer rejected me!"
In this era, the French weren't as tall as in the 21st century. Being over 170 centimeters was considered tall.
Previdish continued, "This is a rare opportunity; I absolutely cannot miss it. The recruitment ends in three days, please, you must find a way to help me."
No young man at the Palace of Versailles could have ever not dreamed of following the Crown Prince into battle, and now join His Highness's Imperial Guard, the most majestic Grenadiers!
So when the recruitment news was released, there were over twenty thousand applications for only 1,500 available positions.
Those who did not apply merely didn't meet the height or appearance criteria.
Yes, this recruitment had appearance requirements too!
Looking at his nephew who was almost in tears, Theresa had no choice but to put on his coat and head to the home of a familiar officer from the General Staff.
By ten o'clock at night, he returned exhausted but showed his nephew a triumphant smile, "Three thousand francs, plus a self-provided standard breastplate and warhorse, oh, a horse with a shoulder height of over 148 centimeters, then you can get a spot."
"Great!" Previdish leaped up in excitement, "You saved my life, dear uncle! I love you so much!"
He seemed not to have even heard the part about three thousand francs.
Just joining the Crown Prince's Imperial Guard made those costs insignificant.
Three days later.
This tall, commanding, exceptionally well-dressed but hardly trained Grenadier Battalion had its first assembly.
Their majestic aura drove countless noble ladies at the Palace of Versailles insane.
Indeed, this unit not only incurred no expenses but also brought Joseph over 300,000 francs in military funds.
A week later, news of the Austrian main forces' movements reached Paris.
A total of 180,000 troops, commanded by Archduke Karl, had left the Klagenfurt Fortress.
This was just 80 kilometers from where the French Army, led by Udino, was stationed.
The next morning, Previdish received orders from the captain of the Imperial Guard Grenadier Battalion, demanding the entire army follow the Crown Prince to the Italian battlefield.