I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1306 A Mindset About the Steam Age

Joseph wasn't surprised.

Previously, France faced a full-scale war, and military spending alone almost depleted its finances, naturally reducing funding for new projects.

He reassured the dean, saying, "After this World Cup ends, the financial situation will improve, and the engineering design institute will receive funding with top priority."

“That’s wonderful, thank you, Your Highness!” Kano quickly bowed, then added hesitantly, “However, the Ministry of Industry has asked us to cancel nearly a third of our projects this month. You see, some of them were almost ready to be completed…”

"Oh?" Joseph stopped and frowned. "Why are so many cancelled? Is it because of funding?"

Under the current French administrative system, the Ministry of Industry is responsible for reviewing engineering design institutes' projects and approving funding.

Cano nodded, but before he could say anything more, he saw Mirabo and Tresagae hurrying over with several of their men.

Last night, Joseph confirmed with his father that the design and testing of the new steam forging machine were basically completed and that a production line could be set up for mass production at any time. So he sent someone to call the heads of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Transportation to arrange the matter.

Emmanuel reminded him that it was already 1:30 a.m., so they had to ask them to come early in the morning instead.

After Mirabeau and the others stepped forward to pay their respects, Joseph began by discussing the design institute project: "The importance of investment in technological research and development is second only to war. Even if funds are tight, projects should not be canceled easily. Moreover, canceling a third of them at once would have a serious impact on our country's industrial development."

Mirabeau was so frightened by the Crown Prince's stern tone that he broke out in a cold sweat. It took him three or four seconds to react. He first glared fiercely at Cano, then hurriedly explained to Joseph:
“Your Highness, perhaps Dean Cano did not explain this clearly to you. These canceled projects have all undergone careful evaluation by the Ministry of Industry and will not affect industrial production in any way.”

He glanced at the brick-red workshop not far away: "For example, that 'underwater walking boat' project has already cost 4 francs, but I swear, that thing can only be used by circuses for performances."

Cano immediately retorted, "No, that kind of ship could very well spark a shipping revolution!"
"Your Highness, it is powered by a steam engine and can continue to move regardless of river conditions, even during dry seasons or when it is stranded. It can even briefly cross the land between two rivers."

Joseph asked in surprise, "There's such a project? How's it progressing?"

“The model has been made, Your Highness.” Kano pointed to the brick-red workshop. “It’s right there.”

Joseph gestured to Mirabeau: "Let's go take a look."

“Very well, Your Highness, if you are interested.”

A few minutes later, Joseph stared at the wooden steamship, which was over two meters long, and his eyes twitched involuntarily.

The ship has four mechanical legs extending from its sides, driven by two steam engines through a series of linkages.

The four legs moved alternately, propelling the ship forward. As the steam engine billowed thick smoke, the entire ship exuded a strong steampunk aesthetic. [Note 1]

Carno continued to tout, "Once these ships are in service, we can maintain navigation even during the dry season. You know, the rivers across the country have an average of 27 days of dry season each year, which will bring huge commercial benefits..."

Joseph raised his hand to interrupt him: "How does it quickly adjust its balance when the riverbed's support is insufficient?"

He remembered that robot dogs in later generations would fall over when they suddenly stepped into a pit, which was controlled by chips that could operate hundreds of millions of times per second. This era could not possibly solve a similar problem.

Kano paused, then said, "This...is indeed a problem..."

Mirabeau smiled and said, "Your Highness, I actually had the experts calculate that these mechanical legs experience extremely high resistance in water. In water 3 meters deep, they would run out of coal after traveling only 2.6 kilometers." Joseph sighed, "Well, this project should indeed be terminated. Are there any others?"

Mirabeau immediately replied, “There are quite a few more, Your Highness. For example, the ‘automatic playing machine.’ It plays the flute by controlling a series of cams, gears, and air-blowing devices through perforated paper tape.”

"It can play smoothly," Cano said.

"Yes, but that 'beautiful' music will drive everyone crazy."

Joseph nodded silently. The only power source in this era was the steam engine, and it probably just sounded like a steam whistle.

Mirabo's assistant leaned over and whispered a few words to him, and the latter quickly said, "By the way, the most 'exciting' thing is still that 'city sanitation compressor'."

Joseph looked at Cano: "What's that?"

The latter lowered his head.

Mirabo said gloatingly, "Believe me, Your Highness, you absolutely do not want to see it."

This further piqued Joseph's curiosity: "Where is it? Is there a prototype?"

“Yes…” Kano whispered.

It took Joseph a full 20 minutes to finally spot a dark machine in a small hut in the corner of the design institute, along with a suffocating stench.

Mirabo pinched his nose and explained, "Your Highness, this thing is used to deal with 'things in the backyard'."

Joseph frowned. The so-called "backyard stuff" referred to excrement; no wonder it smelled so pungent.

Mirabo pointed to the opening at the top of the machine: "Pour those things in here first, then close the lid. After that, this screw, driven by the steam engine, will continuously squeeze the 'spices' in the iron can, eventually producing a golden 'wooden board'."

Kano argued, “Your Highness, the water in those filth will be squeezed out, leaving only 30% of the original weight, and it will be very hard.”

“What used to require five horse-drawn carts to transport the sludge can now be done with just one after processing. And the squeezed-out water can be poured directly onto the ground and will dry quickly.”

Well, under the Belle Paris decree, large quantities of excrement are collected daily and transported by horse-drawn carriages to the surrounding countryside. This invention seems to have some use.

But Joseph immediately put his hand to his forehead.

What kind of "heretical" technology is this...?

Is this about compressing feces? We need to build a comprehensive urban sewage system!
Mirabeau quipped, “The farmers really like the dried liquid. Besides, the compressed ‘hardboard’ needs to be broken up by hand, and the decomposition time will be extended several times over.”

His assistant added, "The tedious process of transporting waste to the treatment plant, then pouring it into the machine for compression is less efficient than simply transporting it out of the city."

[Note 1] The "walking boat" did actually exist in history, designed by a British designer in the early 19th century, but it was quickly proven to be useless. Several other peculiar inventions mentioned later were also products of the 19th-century imagination.

(End of this chapter)