In fact, the "Prussian-Austrian Reparations Bonds" France had previously issued in the German Territories had raised a large amount of funds. After paying expenses such as soldiers' pensions, there were still about forty million francs left.
Together with the publicity for the railways during the World Cup, the French Railway Company had raised nearly eighty million francs from the public.
But this money first had to be invested in railway construction within France, especially the railway from Paris to the industrial district of Lyon. It concerned whether French textiles could defeat British goods; its importance needed no explanation.
If foreign railways had not been tied to French diplomacy, the Treasury Department would not have wanted to squeeze out even twenty million.
"In terms of importance, the central line still has the highest priority..." Joseph flipped through the railway investment plan, frowning as he muttered to himself.
Tressaguet, off to the side, was hesitating over another matter.
After quite a while, he remembered the pleading look of that distant brother-in-law of his wife, and his wife's nagging night after night. At last, he braced himself, edged half a step forward, and said carefully:
"Your Highness, there is also... Mr. Oberholzer's request to build a railway to Bern. They are willing to put up four million francs... Of course, that is far from enough, but they would only invest money and ask for no shares..."
Joseph did not catch on. "Oberholzer?"
The Minister of Transport hurriedly said, "He is the Swiss Speaker, Your Highness."
Joseph almost laughed. "Switzerland wants to build a railway too? How far is Bern?"
Switzerland had only 1.7 million people in the whole country. Even its richest city, Geneva, was only about the same as the mountainous regions of southern France, yet it had actually come to join