Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 593 I Can Talk Too! (Bonus Chapter 6)

"Twenty-five kilometers?" Director Laval repeated, his tone incredulous.

He immediately shook his head: "Even alternating current couldn't travel that far. I have electrical engineers under me; you can't fool me."

"Because we adopted a completely new 'secondary generator system,' which is a transformer."

Everyone turned their heads and saw three people walking in from the other side of the living room: Nikola Tesla, Pierre Curie, and Henri Poincaré.

Tesla was speaking; he looked excited, and his cheeks were starting to flush slightly.

Tesla walked to the center of the living room and began to explain: "This is the AC power technology we use! We built an AC power plant in a valley 25 kilometers away."

The generator outputs 2 kV of current, which is transmitted here through the power lines along the road, and then stepped down to 110 volts by a transformer to power these lights.

He pointed out the window: "Those wooden posts are utility poles. The black wires are insulated power lines. The whole system has been undergoing trial operation and testing since last month."

John Morgan Jr. stepped forward and asked with concern, "What is the transmission loss?"

Henri Poincaré stepped forward: "From the power plant to here, the total loss is less than thirty percent. Doesn't that sound high?"

However, if direct current is used, the power loss over 25 kilometers would be at least 70%, and at least twelve relay power stations would be needed to maintain the voltage.

This number once again shocked everyone present.

Director Laval stared at Poincaré: "Thirty percent? Is that figure accurate? How can you prove it?"

Pierre Curie continued, “We have complete test records. Voltage, current, power factor… all the data is in the laboratory. If the Director is interested, you can bring your engineers to view them at any time.”

Lionel clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back. "Ladies and gentlemen, we can discuss the technical details later."

Tonight, I'd like to invite you all to experience what electricity can do for us when it's used for more than just lighting.

"Please follow me." Lionel led the guests to the dining room, which was connected to the living room.

Glasses and a kettle were already set on the long table in the restaurant. But what caught everyone's attention was a uniquely shaped device next to the table—

A white ceramic sink with a brass faucet above it, which is connected to pipes inside the wall.

Next to the sink, there is a smaller, separate faucet with a glass holder attached below it.

Lionel walked up to the individual tap: "This is a drinking water tap."

He turned on the tap, and clear water gushed out, falling into the glass below. The water looked extremely clean, without any impurities, and was almost transparent.

“Please have a taste.” Lionel handed a glass full of water to Maupassant, who was closest to him.

Maupassant took the cup, examined it carefully, and then took a sip; he paused, then took a large gulp.

Then Maupassant smacked his lips: "The taste... is very clean, like spring water. Is it water from Evian?"

Lionel smiled and said, "It comes from the river next door, well, I mean the Seine."

Upon hearing this, Maupassant nearly spat out the water he had just drunk, then choked and coughed repeatedly.

Lionel quickly stepped forward and patted Maupassant on the back. After he calmed down, he said, "Guy, can you tell that this is Seine water?"

Maupassant then recovered and smacked his lips again: "It certainly doesn't have the rusty taste of the Seine, nor any other strange flavor. How did you manage that?"

Lionel poured himself a glass of water and gulped it down in one go: "I used a three-stage filtration system..." He then briefly explained the principle of filtration.

Finally, he said, "The water here has been tested in Mr. Pasteur's laboratory and is much cleaner than the tap water in Paris."

The other guests were relieved and eagerly took the water to taste. Ambassador Levi Morton remarked, "This is the sweetest water I've ever drunk!"

Lionel patted the faucet: "The filtered water is pressurized by an electric water pump and delivered to every water point in the villa."

The kitchen, the bathroom, and even this drinking water faucet all use the same standard of water.

After tasting it, Mrs. Rothschild looked at Lionel. "This system must be very expensive, right?"

Lionel nodded: "The initial investment is indeed quite large, but the maintenance cost is not high, and the water produced is drinkable and will not make people sick."

Imagine if this system were rolled out across all of Paris…

Director Laval's expression was serious. "Paris's water supply system is a municipal project and cannot be simply compared to private residences."

Lionel had no intention of delving into the topic in this setting; he simply wanted to plant a seed in everyone's hearts.

He then pulled another switch.

This time, a slight buzzing sound came from near the living room ceiling, followed by a cool breeze.

The guests looked up and saw that there were grilles at the four corners of the ceiling, and the wind was blowing out evenly from the grilles.

“The ventilation system. The electrically driven rotating fan blades inside the grille constantly expel the stuffy air from the room and draw in the cool air from outside.” Debussy stood under an air vent, letting the wind blow across his face: “It’s very comfortable, and the noise is almost negligible.”

Pierre Curie explained proudly, "The fan motor is a new design from our laboratory; it's not only small in size but also quiet."

Lionel led the guests on the tour.

He demonstrated the electric water heater—a tall metal cabinet that, when plugged in, could provide enough hot water for a shower within twenty minutes.

The bathroom features a flush toilet and a shower in the shower room—the shower and washbasin even offer “24-hour hot water”;
An electric washing machine was showcased—although it shredded one of Lionel's coats in full view of everyone…

Each exhibit drew gasps of amazement and inquiries.

These primitive electrical appliances, which seemed incredibly rudimentary to Lionel, gave every visitor a profound emotional experience.

Pressing a switch brings hot water, pulling a rope allows for a shower, and turning a knob produces cool air... all of this is now a reality powered by electricity.

Even some people who already knew the purpose of this trip only thought that electricity was used to power lights and had no idea that electricity had so many other uses.

Finally, Lionel led everyone back to the living room. He walked to a control panel against the wall, which had a dozen or so pull-cord switches—

"Now, I would like to ask everyone to look outside."

He pulled on three ropes.

In an instant, the garden lit up.

Along the garden path, one low-pillared street lamp after another is lit up, casting soft halos of light on the lawn.

The outline lights on the villa's exterior walls also lit up, outlining the building's lines.

Further away, along the driveway, lights also lit up on the utility poles, stretching to the horizon like a necklace of light.

The most stunning scene was in the distance—on another small hill at least a kilometer away, a standalone building was also lit up.

That was a hunting lodge that Lionel had secretly bought, now brightly lit, like a distant lighthouse.

"That small house is also powered by the same power station 25 kilometers away, through the same power transmission system."

The guests flocked to the windows, gazing at the distant points of light.

In the darkness, those points of light were so clear and so resolute, as if declaring that darkness would henceforth withdraw from human life.

Everyone watched intently, as if they had fallen into a beautiful, unattainable dream...

After a long silence, Lionel looked at everyone present and slowly began to speak: "Ladies and gentlemen, what I want to demonstrate tonight is not a specific invention."

What I'm trying to say is that electricity shouldn't be portrayed as a monster. It should be a public service, like running water, like roads, providing convenience for everyone.

He pointed to the brightly lit garden outside the window: "Imagine if every street in Paris had lights like these..."

He then pointed to the drinking water tap: "Imagine if every family could have access to clean drinking water..."

He concluded by pointing to the silently operating appliances: "Imagine if every household could use these 'appliances'..."

Finally, Lionel concluded: "Technology should liberate people, not enslave them; it should create life, not take it away."

The living room was quiet. The only sounds were the slight hum of the ventilation system and the faint sound of the Seine flowing in the distance.

Zola was the first to speak: "I think that if every family could have clean water and bright lights... then the word 'progress' would truly have meaning."

Maupassant smiled and said, "I probably couldn't write about such a grand theme. But as someone who hates the heat, I really want that 'ventilation system'."

Everyone present laughed, easing the serious atmosphere.

Paul Pigutt said to Lionel, "Mr. Sorel, will you allow us to report on everything we saw tonight? Is 'technical secrecy' required?"

"No, please tell the public everything you have seen truthfully. Don't exaggerate, and don't belittle. Let the facts speak for themselves!"

Georges Charpentier asked, "This villa...? Do you have the blueprints? Especially the electrical and plumbing designs. Oh, and where can I buy the 'electrical appliances'?"

"Of course, Mr. Charles Garnier and I designed this villa in the hope of providing everyone with a healthier, more comfortable and more efficient living environment."

Clean water supply, safe electricity, good ventilation... these should all be the standards for future buildings, and also the standards for future 'modern living'.

Mrs. Rothschild walked over to her husband and whispered a few words to him.

James Rothschild nodded, then said to Lionel, "Mr. Sorel, I think we need to discuss this in detail, regarding the investment..."

John Morgan Jr. grew anxious and quickly stepped forward to grasp Lionel's hand: "Mr. Sorel, I also need to speak with you in detail, the sooner the better!"

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(End of this chapter)