I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1314 The Most Prosperous City in Europe

Mrs. Walsh chimed in, "The Paris City Hall is also planning an 'indoor water supply system,' which we could have there as early as next summer."

This time, Broad showed a disdainful expression: "Doesn't Paris even have piped water? You can find that kind of thing almost everywhere in The Hague."

He was obviously exaggerating. Only a very small number of upscale residences in The Hague have access to piped water, which is a primitive form of tap water, and the location of the building is also important, such as being close to a river or having windmills nearby.

Mrs. Walsh smiled kindly: "It's a new water supply system that's completely different from piped water. Apparently, you can install a switch in each room, and when you turn it on, water will flow out."

"Oh, they call it 'tap water'."

Walsh added, "They built many water towers in the city, pumped water into them with steam-powered pumps, and then sent the water into buildings through iron pipes."

"The water company has been established for several months now. They will filter the Seine water first, so the water used in the home will be very clean. And they can maintain a normal water supply regardless of the weather."

"The water company's posters say that the monthly usage fee is only 6 francs, and I estimate that half of the people in Paris will install this."

Well, he was exaggerating too. Less than 10% of households in Paris can afford 6 francs a month for tap water, not to mention the 45 francs installation fee alone.

However, this is already an extremely high percentage, considering that Paris's population currently exceeds 110 million. Once the water company has been operating for a while and costs gradually decrease, it's estimated that 2 francs per month will be sufficient, at which point true universal access will be possible.

Broad immediately pressed for details about the "tap water" in disbelief.

When he learned that this thing could deliver water to every corner of the city, and that with just a small valve called a "faucet," water could be conveniently used in any room, and even flush the toilet immediately after using it, he was overjoyed.

These things, which seem insignificant to later generations, were engineering marvels at the end of the 18th century!

It's important to understand that the most advanced "piped water" systems today simply use water trucks or windmills to lift river water to higher ground, and then allow it to flow into buildings through pipes.

In the user's home, there's a contraption resembling a small fountain. When water is needed, a spoonful is scooped from the "fountain." During periods of low river flow or flooding, the water supply is immediately cut off.

Wind and rain can severely degrade water quality, and mud and water can even clog waterways, requiring dedicated personnel to maintain each building.

Mrs. Broad was already envisioning the convenient scene of having water readily available at home by simply turning on a tap, while wastewater could be easily poured down the drain. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart: This is true elegance.

Yes, the most important factor in whether a city is livable is water – the ability to easily access water and drainage is far more attractive than the grandeur of its buildings.

As the group was discussing the tap water, the steam railcar slowly came to a stop in front of the "Royal Palace Garden Station".

Mrs. Broad got out of the car and looked up to see a cluster of buildings surrounded by neatly trimmed flowerbeds—she didn't know the word "neighborhood" yet.

A wide, paved avenue leads directly to the entrance of the complex. The road is divided in the middle by precious young cedar trees, with carriageways on both sides and pedestrian walkways on the outer perimeter; everything appears well-organized.

She glanced at the exquisite villa behind the entrance and whispered to Mrs. Walsh, "The houses here must be very expensive, right?"

The latter nodded slightly with a reserved air: "We bought it for over two thousand pounds, it's probably more expensive now."

Mrs. Broadbill figured that she could afford the price if she gritted her teeth. What she didn't know was that when Mrs. Walsh said "more expensive," she meant that the average price of a house here had risen to 20 francs, which is more than 8 pounds.

Moreover, once the tap water and sewage systems are completed, the housing prices will continue to soar.

Walsh instructed the servants to help the Broad family settle their luggage, and seeing that it was still early, he took them to the famous Saschaft Zoo in Paris. On the way, the steam railcar passed an extremely imposing stone building, and Broad exclaimed, "This must be the Arc de Triomphe, right?"

Walsh nodded and introduced it in the tone of an old Parisian: "Yes, the Arc de Triomphe. More than 50 meters high."

"It's said to be completed by the end of the year. Actually, it's just a very large rock, nothing special to see."

Broad looked at the artists carving patterns on the scaffolding and said in surprise, "So fast? I remember seeing news of its commencement just a few years ago."

Walsh gestured toward several huge wooden machines parked in the distance: "The craftsmen used steam cranes and even laid tracks specifically for transporting the stones, so it was built very quickly."

"This is nothing. I heard that there will be cranes mounted on neat track vehicles in the future, which will be more flexible and efficient."

Broad looked up at the craftsmen on the Arc de Triomphe, who had shrunk to the size of sparrows, and couldn't help but exclaim, "This is simply a miracle!"

It's worth noting that similar stone buildings, even those only half the height, would take at least ten years to complete. The French are practically building these colossal structures as if they were ordinary residences.

At 6 p.m., Walsh and his companions emerged from the zoo, still feeling quite exhilarated.

Mrs. Broad still glanced back from time to time: "We should have brought Ernst with us; he would have loved it here."

Ernst was her child, only 4 years old, whom she left in The Hague because she was worried about the hardship of the journey.

Mrs. Walsh then started talking to her about children, and the conversation quickly turned to public childcare in Paris and the most advanced medical system in all of Europe.

Mrs. Broad had already begun to consider whether she could persuade her husband to settle in Paris.

As the sun disappeared below the horizon, Brod followed Walsh back to the villa in the palace gardens.

He thought Walsh was going to host a dinner party for him at his home, but to his surprise, the latter simply changed carriages and took the couple to a restaurant two blocks away.

He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, because this was clearly just a perfunctory response.

Restaurants in this era were still a very niche business, mostly evolving from cafes or taverns that offered desserts, and the food they could provide was far inferior to that of chefs in aristocratic households.

However, once inside the restaurant, Broad's eyes widened instantly.

The decor here is extremely luxurious and sophisticated—golden gas chandeliers, polished marble floors, and expensive mirrors lining the walls.

It was several times more luxurious than his own home.

Walsh politely handed over the menu, and Broad saw all sorts of rare and expensive dishes on it, many of which he had never even heard of before.

Yes, as the urban bourgeoisie gradually developed in France, restaurants, as a convenient and quick way to dine, began to gain popularity and thus experienced rapid growth.

With some retired chefs from Versailles joining the restaurant, hosting guests here has become a very sophisticated affair.

(End of this chapter)