1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 306 Pacific Railroad

After watching Nobel's experiments in Auburn Village, Liang Yao left for Sacramento.

Shareholders of the Fremont and California Railways and engineering team representatives have been waiting for Liang Yao in Sacramento to discuss matters related to the construction of the Pacific Railway.

When Liang Yao was waiting for the train at the Auburn Village Railway Station, when a train bound for Nevada arrived, Coney touched Liang Yao's elbow and said to Liang Yao.

"Boss, your cousin."

Liang Yao looked in the direction Connie pointed, and it really was his cousin Deng Ying.

"What is she doing here?" Liang Yao asked puzzledly.

Deng Ying works at the Bank of America and serves as the vice president. The Bank of America has not yet opened a branch in the small place of Auburn Village. What is Deng Ying doing here?
"I came to deliver meals to Nobel." Kony said with a smile, "Maybe it won't be long before I can eat the wedding banquet of the two of them."

"Isn't this little girl in love with Robinson?" Liang Yao was still a little confused, not sure how the two got together.

"Robinson, an old widower, is only interested in politics now, not in women and starting a family." Kony knows a lot, "That's good, that foolish boy Nobel is relatively simple, and I don't have to worry about my sister getting married. Being bullied."

"Your sister?" Liang Yao frowned, his brain circuits couldn't keep up with Kony's rhythm, and his thoughts were a little confused.

"I have pursued Deng Ying, you know, but Deng Ying is not interested in frivolous people like me, so I recognized her as my younger sister." Kony said sadly, "A lover will eventually become a brother and sister."

"I'm not interested in the relationship between you two." Liang Yao said to Coney, "Let Pinkerton send some CIA personnel to protect her. My second uncle only has this daughter. The way to explain to my second uncle."

When Liang Yao returned to Sacramento, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. Fremont and the shareholders of the California Railway Company and representatives of the engineering team were already waiting for him to have a meeting to discuss the Pacific Railway in his old Sacramento house.

"My team and I have investigated this line for more than a year. After our investigation, we have come to the conclusion that the construction of the Pacific Railway is theoretically feasible." Fremont took the lead in speaking and came A concise opening statement.

"It is theoretically feasible to build the Pacific Railway." Ward, the chief engineer of the California Railway Company, followed closely and made a speech with high emotional intelligence.

"However, in terms of engineering technology, this project is full of challenges. If it can be completed, it will be a miracle in the history of railway engineering. The Pacific Railway will also become the world's first transcontinental railway. Unfortunately, the current world Of all the railroads, there is not one railroad company capable of performing this miracle."

As the leader of the Pioneer locomotive development team, Ward now has a high voice in the American railway industry, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is an authority in the industry.

Of course, before developing the Pioneer locomotive, Ward from Belgium was a well-known railway engineer.

This is a technical assessment of the Pacific Railway from a technical level based on his own experience in the industry for many years.

Ward has worked for the British railway company and also worked for the Belgian railway company, so he has a full understanding of the industry.

"Difficulties in engineering and technology are only one aspect of it. The biggest difficulty in building the Pacific Railway is funding. Although the United States has a dense rail network, there is no ready-made railroad in the west of the Mississippi River, except for us in California. .

If we want to build the Pacific Railway, the railway mileage of this railway will be more than 3000 kilometers, more than three times the total mileage of the current California railway!The cost of this railway must be more than 1 million US dollars!And we, the California Railroad, are still losing money. "

As a shareholder, Sutter also had little confidence in the construction of the Pacific Railway.

This project is really too big, it is a national project, even a rich man like Liang Yao cannot afford such a huge project.

"To start this project, we need a lot of start-up capital. In addition, we also need the support of the federal government." California Railroad's shareholder, California Senator Ge Wen followed Sartre to speak.

"It's unrealistic for the California Railroad to take on such a large project alone. We need to share this project with our peers in the industry."

In the past few years since the establishment of the California Railway Company, it has been going smoothly along the way, which is inseparable from the fact that the projects undertaken by the California Railway Company are all projects in the state.

From the first railway built by the California Railway Company: the San Francisco-Sacramento Railway, to the later construction of the longest railway in California: the San Francisco-Los Angeles Railway, to the unfinished Sacramento-Reno, Carson Railroad.

These railways all have one thing in common, that is, they are all in California. The California Railway Company is escorted by the state government. There are almost no external interference factors. The California Railway Company only needs to bury its head in building the railway.

Except for the small section of the Nevada administrative region, the rest of the section of the Pacific Platform Railway is outside California, to be precise, the Zhuangzhou area.

The prefectures are currently under the jurisdiction of the federal government, and the construction of the Pacific Railway must obtain the support of the federal government, and it is still a relatively strong support.

"Currently, the fastest way of transportation between California and the eastern region is the Nicaragua route. This route takes 2 months one way, but limited by the navigation capacity of the Nicaragua Canal, the transport capacity of this route is very limited, which is far from meeting the current passenger and transportation needs in California. Freight needs.

Of course, there is also the option of going around Cape Horn, but it will take six months, or half a year, to take the fastest boat to go around Cape Horn from the eastern states to California. "

Liang Yao stood up and looked at the engineering map behind him. On the map, the Pacific Railway was like a thin black line, connecting California and the eastern United States.

Liang Yao pointed to the black line with his index finger and continued.

"If this railway is built, it will only take one week from New York to San Francisco, and before that, it would take half a year to travel from New York to San Francisco by land transportation in the smoothest case.

At that time, with our new gravity in California, we will attract more high-quality immigrants from the east. Our goods can also be transported to the east through this railway at the fastest speed, so that the shelves of stores in major cities in the east will be filled with us. Quality product made in California!

In modern business competition, time and efficiency are the gold of TMD!
For the future development of California to a higher level, more competitive, for the future of California, this railway must be built no matter what! "

After finishing his speech, Liang Yao sat down and added something.

"I am sure that this railway will be the most commercially valuable railway in the United States, and it will also be a business card of our California Railway Company, and even the United States, a business card that has created a miracle of railway engineering! And we are this miracle The founder of the ancient city has become the object of admiration for future generations.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are not many such opportunities, and I hope you will cherish this opportunity. "

What Liang Yao said made the participants feel excited. It is indeed very difficult to build the Pacific Railway, but once it is completed, it will be a matter of fame and fortune.

"If you want to start this project, the support of the federal government is essential. Now the presidential election is coming, which is a very unstable factor. The relationship between the Democratic Party and us is very stiff. We're very disadvantaged." Fremont asked a very real question.

"That's why we should spare no effort to support President Fillmore's re-election, and strive to complete the railway during President Fillmore's last term," Liang Yao said.

"According to recent polls, due to the victory of the expedition to Japan, President Fillmore has turned his tide and his approval rating has been rising all the way, surpassing his most powerful competitor, Democrat Pierce. I think as long as there is no accident, Phil President Moore's chances of being re-elected are still very good."

This is why Liang Yao invested in Fillmore very early, and even went to Japan to fight for the possibility of Fillmore's re-election.

The development of California has just started, and it needs a federal government that is friendly to California.

"As long as there are enough new explosives, enough workers, and a reasonable construction plan, it will be difficult to complete this project in four years, but it is not impossible." Ward said bravely.

Being able to win the support of the federal government greatly boosted Ward's confidence. Of course, if the project can be completed under his auspices, he will also become famous all over the world.Even those European counterparts will look at him high, this project is still very attractive to Devore.

"What about the funding issue?" Sartre is most worried about the funding issue. Such a huge amount of engineering funds required is undoubtedly an astronomical figure. "At least we have to raise start-up funds."

"Leave the money to me. You just need to do your job well, and you don't need to worry about the money." Liang Yao said, "We, the California Railroad, are not alone in building the Pacific Railway."

Liang Yao can find a way to raise funds on Wall Street. With his current reputation and the American Group as a guarantee, he can still raise some money.

"Is there any other railway company involved in this project?" Ward couldn't help asking.

"As Mr. Ge Wen said, such a huge project is difficult for the California Railway Company to complete alone." Liang Yao said.

"I have called Mr. Vanderbilt, the former ship magnate and today's railroad magnate, and we will work together with Mr. Vanderbilt to complete this project.

The Cal Railroad was in charge of the western section, from Reno to Promontory, and Mr. Vanderbilt was in charge of the eastern section, from Omaha to Promontory.Don't forget, everyone, that the American Group still has an Atlantic Railway Company in the east, and the Atlantic Railway Company will also participate in this great project. "

Although the railway construction in California was the focus of Liang Yao when he got involved in the railway industry, Liang Yao did not give up the railway market in the east. During his trip to the east the year before last, he bought some high-quality railway companies in the east and established the Atlantic Railway Company.

The company was, to some extent, an insurance policy for the eastern section of the Pacific Railroad.

Liang Yao believed in Vanderbilt, but he was a prudent person, and would not pin all his hopes on Vanderbilt, especially for a major project like the Pacific Railway that was related to the future of California. Others are unwise.

This is the meaning of the existence of the Atlantic Railway Company. Once Vanderbilt backed out, at least the Atlantic Railway could take over and clean up the mess.

"In this way, we are responsible for the most difficult section of the road, and Mr. Vanderbilt can be said to have taken advantage of it." Ward said.

The reason why the Pacific Railway project is said to be difficult mainly refers to the section from Reno to Promontory. This section needs to pass through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and it is necessary to open roads in the mountains and build bridges in the valleys.

Of course, the good news is that the rail mileage from Reno to Promontory is much shorter than that from Omaha to Promontory.

"No one takes advantage of the other. Although the terrain of the section from Omaha to Promontory is flatter than the western section we are responsible for, it is also a barren land. We will work together in this cooperation to carry out technical, financial, People share." Liang Yao said.

Liang Yao would definitely not be able to build the Pacific Railway by himself.He needs the support of Eastern Capital, and currently the most reliable and courageous partner he can find is Vanderbilt.

Even if other railway tycoons are rich, they may not have the courage to take on such a huge project.

"If I can win the support of the federal government and the capital of the Eastern Railway, this project is feasible for me." The hesitant Sartre quickly expressed his attitude.

Liang Yao propped his hands on the conference table, and looked around everyone with piercing eyes: "Whether the Pacific Railway should be repaired or not, let's vote with a show of hands."

After finishing speaking, Liang Yao was the first to raise his hand, and soon, everyone present also raised their hands, all of them agreed to build the Pacific Railway.

The internal opinions of the California Railway Company have reached an agreement, and the next job is to win the support of external forces.

Naturally, Liang Yao was in charge of lobbying for Vanderbilt, and the federal government and Congress also needed to seek supporters. After all, this is an American characteristic.

You can't do it without the support of the federal government, but you can't do it with the support of the federal government.

For such a major project, the federal government must come up with a bill and submit it to the Congress for voting. Only when the Congress passes the vote can the project proceed.

"Fremont, my good brother, you have worked hard, without you, there would be no sketches for the Pacific Railroad."

After the meeting, Liang Yao said to Fremont gratefully.

"I really don't know how to thank you."

Fremont couldn't help laughing: "I am the first American to arrive in California, I have deep feelings for this land, and I don't need to say such nasty words.

You boy just want our family and my father-in-law's family to support the Pacific Railroad proposal in Congress.Don't worry, even if you don't mention it, I will do it. "

Fremont has long seen through Liang Yao's mind. He was born in a family of Zhongming Dingshi, and now he is a shareholder of the California Railway Company and the United Mining Company. Money is no longer of great significance to him. He has more high-level pursuits.

This pursuit is California, a prosperous California.

"As long as they are willing to give us support in Congress, I can take out 20% of the shares of the Atlantic Railway Company and sell them at a favorable price. I can't buy it." Liang Yao said.

If you want to gain the support of these people, you can't do without some big sweets. Liang Yao also hopes to become a long-term partner with these American aristocratic families through benefit sharing.Of course, it would be great if some of the working capital can be withdrawn through the sale of shares. After all, Liang Yao's cash flow is relatively tight now.

After the signing of the "Land Grant Act" in 1850, the American railway ushered in its golden age of barbaric growth. The popularity of the railway industry in the United States in the middle of the 19th century was no less than that of real estate in China in the first decade of the 21st century. .

The two powerful economic weapons of railways and gold made the United States the first Western capitalist country to emerge from the global economic crisis in the 19s.

The Atlantic Railway Company is now a large railway company with assets of more than 300 million US dollars. The sweetness of 20% of the Atlantic Railway Company's shares is not insignificant, even for a family worth millions, it is attractive enough.

"You are really willing to spend your money." Fremont said with emotion.

"I'm willing to give up everything for California." Liang Yao smiled, and then Liang Yao turned to look at Ge Wen, "Ge Wen, I'm afraid you have to go to Ohio this time."

"Our family is just a small family, and has no influence in the Congress." Ge Wen spread his hands helplessly.

Compared with Fremont's prominent family background, Ge Wen's family influence is much less powerful.

"But many steel tycoons in Ohio have a good relationship with you." Liang Yao said.

"It's also thanks to you." Ge Wen replied.

"Building a railway requires a large number of qualified rails. You go to Ohio and tell the steel tycoons in Ohio that as long as they are willing to support the Pacific Railway's proposal in Congress and the Pacific Railway starts construction, we will give priority to purchasing the rails they produce." Liang Liang Yao said to Ge Wen, "This is a win-win deal."

Ge Wen nodded: "This matter is on me. I am also a member of California. I know what to do."

(End of this chapter)