Chapter 1356: The Art of Selling
Chapter 1356: The Art of Selling
During the Paris World Expo, high-ranking officials from nations across Europe had personally witnessed the train's formidable transport capabilities. They now fully understood the immense value of constructing railways.
However, they soon learned from the French Ministry of Transport that France's railway construction plans, with the sole exception of a line within Baden connecting to Strasbourg, were entirely domestic. Naturally, the French government's funds were limited.
While the various governments felt a pang of disappointment, they weren't entirely surprised. After all, the cost of railways was calculated per kilometer, with even a single line demanding an astronomical investment of tens of millions of francs.
A few nations, Switzerland among them, eyed the tremendous economic benefits of railways. They resolved to grit their teeth, raise their own funds, and commission the French Railway Company to undertake the construction.
Most nations, however, opted to bide their time. Their hope was either for the French Ministry of Transport to eventually plan a line extending into their territory or to emulate the French model by rallying private capital to invest in railways.
But at that moment, the high-ranking officials present collectively realized a new option had emerged—
If France were to reveal its railway technology, every nation could invest in building its own railways!
This was entirely different from simply raising funds and hiring the French Railway Company for construction.
However, if they could acquire the railway technology, they could establish their own railway companies for construction. This way, no matter how substantial the investment, the funds would largely remain within their own borders.
Railway companies' profits would be taxed. Workers' wages, beyond their own tax obligations, would largely be spent on domestic goods or deposited into national banks.
Once the railway construction was complete, a substantial portion of the invested capital would cycle back into government coffers. Furthermore, this process would stimulate the development of other industries.
This was particularly true for resource-rich nations like Hesse and Cologne, where their domestic coal mining and steelmaking industries would experience a monumental uplift.
Even other countries could at least develop sectors like mechanical engineering and timber.
A wave of fervent excitement swept through them.
The Hesse Interior Minister, positioned at the very front, was the first to exclaim, "Praise be to the great Son of Divine Favor! It is he who truly manifests God's universal benevolence!"
"Mr. Wilfried," he continued, "my nation is exceedingly interested in railway-related technology. How might we acquire it?"
Wilfried was indeed the Deputy Director of the French Ministry of Transport's Planning Bureau, currently giving a presentation beside the train.
He offered a polite smile to the Hesse Minister. "Sir, as you are aware, railway technology involves a multitude of complex patents."
"The Ministry of Transport has secured agency authorization from the majority of patent holders, and the specific patent licensing fees will be announced right here tomorrow at noon."
A buzz of excited whispers immediately broke out among those present.
Paying patent fees was, of course, a given; no one found it surprising.
For such cutting-edge technology as railways and trains, France's willingness to sell it at all was already remarkably generous.
In those days, after the British invented the Spinning Jenny, they swiftly enacted a series of laws to prevent the technology from leaving their shores. Workers who had come into contact with the Spinning Jenny were strictly forbidden from traveling abroad and denied the purchase of ship tickets. Anyone caught attempting to remove machine models or blueprints from factories faced severe criminal charges. As for foreigners, they couldn't even dream of gaining entry to a textile mill.
It wasn't until more than two decades later that Samuel Slater, a textile apprentice who had smuggled himself into America, managed to recreate Arkwright's spinning frame—an advanced version of the Spinning Jenny—entirely from memory, earning him the title "Father of the American Industrial Revolution."
Yet now, the French, almost immediately after developing the train technology, were making it available for all nations to share!
As that day's World Expo exhibition drew to a close, officials from every nation immediately dispatched reports on the train technology back to their homelands using the Chappe Telegraph.
However, when everyone reconvened at the French exhibition area the following day and beheld the detailed list of patent licensing fees arrayed on the massive wooden board, they were instantly dumbfounded.
[Iron Rail Steel Smelting Technology: Patent No. FNS0012310. Technical Description.... Licensing Standard—One-time authorization: 1.2 million francs, or annual authorization: 1.5 million francs.]
[Iron Rail Forging Technology: Patent No. FNS0012571. Technical Description.... Licensing Standard—One-time authorization: 2.3 million francs.]
[Iron Rail Laying and Fixing Process: Patent No. FNS0012442. Technical Description.... Licensing Standard—One-time authorization: 1.8 million francs.]
[Iron Rail Quality Monitoring Technology.... One-time authorization: 1 million francs.]
[Sleeper and Track Foundation Process.... One-time authorization: 1.6 million francs.]
[Switching Technology.... One-time authorization: 700,000 francs.]
[Manual Railcar Manufacturing Technology.... One-time authorization: 600,000 francs.]
[Railway Signal Light Control and Standards.... One-time authorization: 900,000 francs.]
[Railway Maintenance Process.... One-time authorization: 1 million francs.]
[...]
[Train Steam Engine Related Technologies.... Total 34 items, comprehensive authorization: 6.5 million francs.]
[Train Mechanical Transmission Related Technologies.... Total 11 items, comprehensive authorization: 4 million francs.]
[Train Suspension and Braking Related Technologies.... Comprehensive authorization: 3.3 million francs.]
[Train Body Connection Technology.... Comprehensive authorization: 800,000 francs.]
[Train Carriage Related Technologies.... Comprehensive authorization: 2.4 million francs.]
[Train....]
When all was tallied, even if a nation only intended to lay down railways and purchase all trains from France, they would still face a staggering 14 million francs in licensing fees!
If they wished to produce trains themselves, an additional 21 million francs would be required.
A grand total of 35 million francs to bring the complete railway system technology back home.
Yet, among those present, only Spain boasted a treasury deep enough to afford such an outlay.
And Spain, traditionally a profligate spender, even with the immense income from the California gold mines, could barely maintain a balanced budget and certainly couldn't conjure up tens of millions of francs for this.
Still, not a single person present dared to complain that the price was too high.
Each item, viewed in isolation, represented a complex set of technologies, and a patent authorization costing hundreds of thousands of francs was entirely normal.
But the railway system was incredibly comprehensive, involving an immense number of patents, and the cumulative cost was simply overwhelming.
The Lucca Industrial Minister turned to Wilfried, speaking cautiously. "Mr. Wilfried, might there... be a slight discount?"
As he finished, he seemed to shrink slightly, clearly embarrassed by his own suggestion.
This was the most cutting-edge railway technology available, and he was haggling over a price that already exceeded ten million francs?
As expected, Wilfried offered him a regretful gesture.
Officials from every nation were thrown into a dilemma. Some rushed back to their accommodations immediately to dispatch reports and consult with their home governments.
Three days later, most nations began to entertain thoughts of retreat. However, the impassioned and stirring presentation by French officials on the exhibition stage, detailing the magnificent prospects that trains could usher in, made them hesitant to abandon the idea.
It was then that the Baden Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs suddenly brought forth a piece of news: the French Crown Prince had just concluded his inspection of the Kehl Railway Bridge and was now bound for Cologne, with a likely stop in Karlsruhe.
The officials from every nation felt a sudden stir within their hearts. They swiftly prepared lavish gifts and then congregated along the grand avenue south of the city.
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