Chapter 1200: The Railway Law
"A railway company?" Trésaguet inquired cautiously. "Your Highness, shouldn't the railways be managed by the Ministry of Transport?"
Joseph smiled and gestured for him to sit. "Believe me, the Ministry of Transport will never be able to handle it alone.
"It won't just be the French Railway Company; many more railway companies will emerge in the future.
"Take a simple example. Suppose a small town in northern Rouergue wants to build a railway. What should the Ministry of Transport do?"
Trésaguet was about to say, "Then allocate the funds to build it," but he suddenly paused.
Rouergue was one of the poorest provinces in southern France—it was heavily mountainous and sparsely populated. The priority for building a railway there would be extremely low.
The Ministry of Transport's budget would undoubtedly be prioritized for places like Paris and Lyon. Rouergue would likely have to wait sixty or seventy years before it ever saw a single franc of funding.
Joseph continued, "Railway construction must rely on private capital.
"The French Railway Company will primarily be responsible for the construction of railway lines required for major cities or military strategy, and it will raise capital by issuing shares to the public nationwide.
"At the same time, other companies will be permitted to build their own railways and possess independent operating rights. For instance, in Rouergue, there is a high probability that local merchants would be willing to operate the railway transport there. This is the only way to ensure that railways are available throughout the country.
"Of course, these railway companies must also be subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Transport.
"Furthermore, those private railway companies must return ownership of the railways to the government after a certain period—say, ninety years."
Joseph was describing railway operation models that were common in the future, but Trésaguet listened while nodding incessantly. He felt that the scheme the Crown Prince had casually proposed was so comprehensive that he seemed like a child by comparison.
Joseph thought for a moment and added, "However, even then, it might be difficult to guarantee that Rouergue gets a railway, given how poor it is. Therefore, at least in the early stages, the government must provide a minimum revenue guarantee for railways so that people will dare to invest.
"There are also the construction and maintenance standards for railways, as well as the access rights for different companies' tracks, wartime requisitioning..."
Trésaguet was stunned; he hadn't considered a single one of these issues.
Joseph rubbed his forehead. "This will require the promulgation of a decree to regulate it properly."
He initially thought about having Eman call the Minister of Justice, but then he realized that Baron Breteuil likely knew next to nothing about railway transportation. He decided it was better to draft an outline himself first and then hand it over to the Ministry of Justice for refinement.
He then instructed Trésaguet on some details for the formation of the French Railway Company and told him to first organize a planning proposal to submit to him.
Once the Minister of Transport had departed, Joseph took out his pen and paper. Under the light of the gas lamp, he began to draft the world's first Railway Law.
1. Railway construction and maintenance standards...
2. All railway routes must be subject to overall planning by the Ministry of Transport to ensure the railway network meets strategic needs...
3. Except for core strategic routes, the construction and operation rights of railways shall be decided through bidding to determine contractors. The government shall provide land and guarantees...
4. Restrictions and requirements for railway use, as well as development rights along the railway lines...
5. The raising and use of railway construction funds...
These matters might seem ordinary, but they were actually bloody lessons learned by many countries after they had stumbled countless times during the large-scale implementation of railways.
For instance, regarding railway funding: historically, France had raised staggering amounts of capital for railway construction, only for much of it to be diverted into financial speculation. By 1850, less than a third of the planned railways had actually been completed.
The most amusing part was that a significant portion of that money had been used to invest in the stocks of British railway companies...
Joseph, however, was plugging all these holes in advance, even before French trains had entered mass production. It was no exaggeration to say that this Railway Law could save France tens of millions of francs in expenditures.
Meanwhile, Trésaguet had just arrived home with an aching head when he saw his nephew, Prevedish, coming to meet him.
"Weren't you attending the ball tonight?" he asked as he handed his hat to his wife. "Mademoiselle Jeannet will be heartbroken."
Madame Trésaguet took his coat and said, "Jacques has a very important matter he needs your help with."
"Oh?" The Minister of Transport chuckled. "Is he going to propose to Mademoiselle Jeannet?"
"No, dear Uncle, please don't tease me." Prevedish looked anxious. "You must have heard about His Royal Highness's recruitment for the Guard Grenadier Battalion, haven't you?"
Trésaguet nodded. "I've heard of it. I heard the requirements are very high."
"Yes, a height of at least 5 feet 4 inches... ah, I mean 176 centimeters. As you know, I'm only one centimeter short, but the recruiting officer rejected me!"
Frenchmen of this era were not as tall as those in the 21st century; anyone over 170 centimeters was considered quite tall.
Prevedish continued, "This is an extremely rare opportunity, and I cannot miss it! Recruitment ends in three days. I beg of you, you must help me find a way."
No young man in Versailles could have failed to dream of following the Crown Prince onto the battlefield—especially in His Highness's personal guard, and as the most magnificent grenadiers at that!
Consequently, when the news of the recruitment broke, over 30,000 applications were received for only 1,500 slots.
Those who didn't apply weren't unwilling; it was simply that their height or appearance was far too lacking.
Indeed, this recruitment even had requirements for appearance!
Seeing his nephew on the verge of tears, Trésaguet had no choice but to put his coat back on and rush to the home of a military officer he knew in the General Staff.
At ten o'clock that night, he finally returned, exhausted, but with a triumphant smile for his nephew. "Three thousand francs, plus you must provide your own standard cuirass and a warhorse. Oh, and the horse's shoulder height must exceed 148 centimeters, and you'll have a spot."
"That's wonderful!" Prevedish leaped up in excitement. "You've saved my life, dear Uncle! I love you so much!"
He seemed not to have heard the mention of three thousand francs at all.
As long as he could join the Crown Prince's personal guard, he was willing to do anything, let alone spend a bit of money.
Three days later.
This legion of grenadiers—tall, imposing, and dressed in extremely brilliant uniforms, yet having undergone little training—assembled for the first time.
Their majestic presence caused countless noble ladies of Versailles to scream with excitement.
In the end, this unit not only cost nothing to maintain but also earned Joseph over 300,000 francs in military funds.
Another week passed, and news reached Paris that the main Austrian force had appeared.
A total of 180,000 troops, commanded by Archduke Charles, had just departed from the fortress of Klagenfurt.
This location was a mere 50 miles from Udine, where the French army was stationed.
The following morning, Prevedish received orders from the commander of the Guard Grenadier Battalion. The entire unit was to follow His Royal Highness to the Italian theater of war.
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