Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Chapter 51: Money Makes Things Easier

Translator: 549690339

Salzburg, inside a hotel. Motriche, an executive of the Austrian Federal Railway Company, was holding a mobilization meeting for the technical staff.

“Listen up, everyone. The board has made a decision. Within the next year, we must connect the railway to Adening.”

Those who worked on the construction site were seldom genteel folks, and Motriche didn’t beat around the bush; he stated the task straightforwardly.

He was responsible for administrative management, not from a technical background. After spending more than a year in this project group, he knew the progress of the engineering work inside out.

The current progress requirements from headquarters were likely difficult to meet. However, as a qualified manager, he knew not to shy away from difficulties.

The board had made a decision, no matter how immense the difficulties, he must attempt to complete the task. It was a matter of attitude.

If he didn’t take any practical action and only complained to the higher-ups about difficulties or impossibilities, then where would his value lie?

Private enterprises are very pragmatic. Without value, he could pack his bags. On this issue, his clout was even less than that of the technicians below him.

In this era, technical personnel were treasures. Irreplaceable talents no matter what project they were placed in, whereas administrative managers were a dime a dozen within the railway company.

Chief Engineer Salvador of the Project bluntly said, “Mr. Motriche, with our current construction progress, completing this task within two years would already be commendable. This was the originally planned schedule, and completing it ahead of time is simply impossible!”

In this section of the railway construction, Motriche was nominally responsible for overall management, but technical decisions were dictated by Salvador.

Motriche couldn’t really interfere with Salvador, or rather, he dared not interfere rashly. He was smart enough to know that ignorance could easily lead to problems.

Now, with the sudden increase in construction tasks, it was normal for the technical manager to be opposed. However, Motriche was not unprepared, he explained with a smile:

“Mr. Salvador, there is always a way to fix problems; just say what we’re lacking, and I’ll coordinate with the head office. However, we must complete the work on schedule.

In the coming days, everyone will have to work a little harder and sacrifice some rest days. Rest assured that the company will not let you suffer.

I guarantee everyone here that, as long as we finish the task ahead of schedule, the bonuses you receive will definitely not be lower than your current wages.

No, just completing the task on schedule will suffice. I will go to the head office and apply on your behalf. If it falls below this number, I will pay out of my own pocket to make up the difference!”

Motriche’s performance was successful. Many problems in this world can be solved with money, and naturally, accelerating construction progress was no exception.

To complete a two-year construction task within one year, by giving two years’ worth of wages was reasonable. Everyone was doing the same amount of work, and the labor budget of the railway company was not increased. Motriche was fully confident he could get the money.

Increased pay could pacify most of the technical staff, but Salvador still shook his head.

“Mr. Motriche, no one doubts your integrity, but the problem now is that the time is too short. We have already started construction from both ends towards the middle.

To increase the progress further, we would have to divide the current section into two and create another division from the middle. This would require not only additional labor but also more machinery and equipment. Our technical staff is already insufficient, and the difficulty of management will greatly increase.”

After some thought, Motriche said, “These problems can be overcome. I presume you’re all aware that, to accelerate the construction of the railroads, the national government has already introduced laws stating there will be no taxation on railway operation from the time the project is established for ten years.

We started construction in 1849, and it’s projected to be completed throughout by 1854, which means we’ll have only five years of tax-free operation.

The Austrian Federal Railway Company is a publicly-traded enterprise, and the head office must consider the opinions of the shareholders; everyone hopes the railway can be put into operation sooner.

If we can complete the construction of the railway foundation for section five by 1851, then by 1852 we can lay the tracks and install the related equipment, and by 1853 we can start trial operations.

Being able to start operations a year in advance will inevitably bring a substantial profit to the company, and everyone will receive a generous reward.”

“Profit” is just one aspect; more importantly, the Austrian Government has demanded that the railway company speed up the construction of the mainline, under the rationale that Austria is preparing for war with the Ottoman Empire and intends to use the railways for logistics transportation.

For this reason, nobody could refuse. Moreover, the government did not fail to provide compensation; the ten years of tax exemption came just for that purpose.

As for why the railway connecting to the Kingdom of Bavaria must also speed up construction when preparing for war with the Ottoman Empire was not the focus.

The focus was that His Majesty Franz himself had spoken. If he decreed an acceleration in the construction of the national mainline, then it had to be the entire mainline.

Could one possibly negotiate terms with His Majesty, the Emperor, busy with the affairs of state, over this matter?

In the end, after deliberation, the railway company management decided to concentrate efforts on accelerating the construction of the mainline, putting on hold the preparation for starting branches of the line.

In this day and age, railway technicians were in high demand. To retain talent, the Austrian Federal Railway Company even offered some stock options as bonuses to these technical staff.

While the amount that reached each person was not substantial, the effect was significant. With their own share in the enterprise, who wouldn’t want the railway to commence operations ahead of schedule?

Salvador thought for a moment and said, “I have no objections to the company’s decision, but Mr. Motriche, you’ll have to resolve these issues for me.

Also, the casualty rate during our construction process is too high. It would be best if you could restrain those managers from going too far.”

The so-called managers are, of course, the railway company’s hired muscle. Now, this batch of free laborers, are truly ‘prison labor.’ While costing less, they are not so convenient to manage.

Each of them wants to slack off, resorting to sloppy work whenever they’re not being watched, and even attempts to escape occur from time to time. If it weren’t for the military oversight, there might even be riots.

Although the army sends people to keep watch, they do not help with the management. To speed up construction, the railroad company’s managers naturally resort to whips and clubs.

This was distasteful to Salvador, whose morals had not completely deteriorated. Of course, he was no saint; he merely mentioned it casually, harboring a deep loathing for such rebel elements.

Motriche said cheerfully, “No problem, I will immediately report the issue of insufficient labor. There are still some in the equipment company’s warehouse; we can simply send someone to collect them.

As for the shortage of technical personnel, I will report it to the head office. However, Mr. Salvador, there is a shortage of technical staff everywhere, and the headquarters is already poaching people all over Europe. Don’t set your expectations too high.”

Indeed, the Austrian railway construction teams also included technical staff from various European countries. For strategic security reasons, these individuals could not be the main designers.

This was a requirement of His Majesty Franz, mainly because the British, when exporting railway standards abroad, snuck in many of their own elements, which resulted in many countries being swindled.

Now, all Austrian railway companies adopt the same practice. When short on technical staff, let the engineers take apprentices to fill in.

Since the construction followed designs, just a year and a half on the site was enough for learning to take on simple technical tasks. Experienced engineers giving daily guidance, assigning tasks, and then conducting inspections and acceptances was sufficient.

By the time a section of the railway was completed, these apprentices were nearly ready to graduate. In this era, most railway engineers came to be in this manner; those who graduated from schools were actually a minority.

Watching his upbeat subordinates, Salvador nodded with a wry smile. With new construction lines opening up, his task as chief engineer had become even heavier.

In this era, horseback riding was the mode of transport, and those who could not ride simply couldn’t manage in this field. Having to travel hundreds of kilometers every few days, such days were not easy.

In contrast, his subordinates, the technical personnel, had it easier, following the main force around without needing to run back and forth every couple of days.

This was the downside of having an insufficient number of engineers. If all the work were left to those below him, he wouldn’t have peace of mind. Salvador had to personally take charge whenever there were technical challenges.

Since the early 19th century, the construction of railways in Europe had just begun. By the year 1850, the total length of operational railways on the European Continent wouldn’t exceed fifteen thousand kilometers.

With such a background, when the construction boom in Austrian railways began, a fierce competition for talents erupted among the major railway companies.

For Salvador, it was a time of both pain and happiness. A heavy workload also meant high remuneration.

For instance, while serving as the chief engineer, he also took on the main technical guidance of two construction ends, which meant earning double salaries.

Now, with two more construction sites added, if the company didn’t send someone to share the burden, it would also mean two additional salaries for him, totaling five salaries in all.

If the remuneration wasn’t so attractive, he would have dropped the job long ago. How could he possibly accept such a day-and-night duty?

Such good days were not common. With the bonus promised by Motriche, once the task was completed, Salvador would have earned ten years’ worth of salary within a year.

Engineers like Salvador were, after all, a minority, and the railway companies would not always fail to send engineers to assist. After all, a person’s energy is limited; they could barely manage during the early phase, but as construction progressed to later stages, they were simply too busy.

However, it’s not uncommon for one person to take on the work tasks of two or three others in railway construction.

The capitalists are not philanthropists; they couldn’t always be so generous. Now, being irreplaceable meant excellent treatment, but once replaceable, their good days would end.

Salvador was very clear; once the railway construction was complete, they would have to be prepared to leave.

When the railway company was in operation, it did not need so many experienced engineers. The capitalists would naturally choose cheaper general technical personnel to be responsible for the subsequent maintenance of the railway.

Even when the number of engineers became greater than the demand, they might do the work of two people but, in the end, would only get one person’s salary.

The supply and demand in the market determine the price of the goods. The same applies to the human resources market. Capitalists offer high salaries when there’s a shortage of personnel, and naturally, they seek to recoup their expenses when there’s no shortage.

All in all, they were lucky to catch a good time to make a fortune. Once this opportunity passed, there would be no more such shops.

How long these good times would last, Salvador was not sure. If possible, he hoped they would last a bit longer.

He even entertained the thought of seeking a position in the Railway Department, not as well-paid but winning in stability and respectability.

As night fell, Salvador lay in his bed, lit a cigarette, and inhaled deeply, unable to fall asleep for a long time.