1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 252 The Speaker is so mechanical

Facing the first large-scale demonstration in California, the inexperienced young politicians in California were very nervous.

Not only was San Francisco Mayor Strauss as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, but California Governor Charles Robinson was also nervous about the demonstrations.

In addition to being nervous, Robinson was also feeling angry at this time.

When Liang Yao didn't come back, everything was peaceful in California.

It had only been a month since Liang Yao returned to California, but he had caused such a big mess. This boy was born to be unstable and capable of causing trouble.

What makes Robinson even more angry is that this demonstration was entirely caused by Liang Yao. If Liang Yao had only held those companies that employed child labor accountable instead of fining them, those companies that were unwilling to pay the fines would not have incited this incident.

demonstrations.

When such a big thing happened, Liang Yao acted as if nothing had happened. He was in Tingtao Garden with a bunch of engineers and inventors studying various machine tools that had just arrived at Tingtao Garden.

"I really admire you. At this time, you are still in the mood to hide in Tingtao Garden and study these machine tools?!"

Luo Bingxun came to question Liang Yaoxing.

Strauss, who had just arrived at Tingtao Garden, also rushed to Liang Yao in a hurry.

"Sir, those demonstrators surrounded state government agencies and San Francisco city government agencies. The situation is very serious."

"As long as the steamed wood is pressed onto this wood bending machine, the wood can keep bending without breaking. Many of the wood used by river ships in the West are pressed by my wood bending machine."

Thomas Blanchard, a giant in the American machinery industry, proudly introduced this wood bending machine to Liang Yao that he was proud of.

The nineteenth century was an era of explosion of inventors in the United States, and Blanchard was one of the dazzling invention stars.

Unlike Walter who invented everything, Blanchard's inventions were concentrated in the mechanical field.

Blanchard held more than 25 patents in his lifetime, perhaps a fraction of those of Edison and others.

However, it is not an exaggeration to say that Blanchard's inventions in the field of machinery overturned the industrial production model of the 19th century and laid a solid foundation for American industry to catch up with Britain.

The pin-making machine that Blanchard invented when he was 18 and built when he was 24 is still in use today. This machine can stably produce 500 tacks per minute, and the effect is better than hand-made tacks.

In the mid-19th century, housing in the central and western regions of the United States were mainly log houses and wooden houses. The main method of fixing wooden houses in the United States was tacks. There was a huge demand for tacks.

Therefore, as an inventor, Blanchard's invention was very successful in commercialization.

In 1806, he made his first pot of gold by selling the patent for a tack-making machine for $5,000.

The purchasing power of US$5,000 in 1806 was much greater than that of US$5,000 in 1852. It was a huge sum of money at the time.

Blanchard's tack-making machine continued to be used into the 21st century without any improvements.

In addition, the profiling machines, engraving machines, etc. invented by Blanchard were also very popular among American industrial tycoons in the mid-to-late 19th century.

Of course, Blanchard's greatest contribution to the United States was not these great mechanical inventions, but the creation of the assembly line production model. The world's first automatic machining center was made by him, which enabled intensification, standardization, and large-scale production.

Large-scale assembly line production becomes possible.

Especially in terms of standardization, Blanchard reached the pinnacle and invented the lathe with interchangeable parts.

The industrial level of the United States surpassed that of the United Kingdom at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

But as early as the mid-to-early 19th century, the United States began a seventy-eight-year-long technological accumulation. It is no accident that American industry surpassed Great Britain to become the world's largest industrial power.

"Can I use him to press farm tools?"

Liang Yao was attracted by these magical machines, admiring them with great fascination and appreciating their charm.

"Of course!"

Blanchard said.

"You have a good sense. I think these machines of mine will be of great use in California!"

"I think so too, Mr. Blanchard, I sincerely invite you to serve as the president of the California Mechanical Association." Liang Yao extended his invitation to Blanchard.

Other mechanics and engineers around him also agreed. Blanchard has a high prestige in the American industry.

Liang Yao focused on talking to Blanchard, until Robinson, who had been ignored for a long time, couldn't stand Liang Yao anymore and shook Liang Yao's shoulders hard, and Liang Yao gave Robinson a reply.

"They're just a bunch of clowns. I've already sent someone to resolve the matter."

Liang Yao really didn't pay attention to the demonstrations organized by factory owners who refused to pay fines.

He controls the weakness of these factory owners, and it won't be long before these factory owners will obey.

"Have you sent people from the Loyalty Society to infiltrate them?" Robinson put his hand down from Liang Yao's shoulder, and his expression softened slightly.

"The Loyalty Society people are just collecting evidence. California has a new trump card to deal with them. Since they don't want to obediently pay the fine, then the fine will be doubled."

Liang Yao asked Kony, who had just returned from Nicaragua to escort machine tools, to entertain the machinists and engineers for him. He walked to a quiet place aside and said to Robinson.

"I have a new weapon against them. I heard that Boston Bank has provided loans to many factories in California?"

"The Bank of Boston is not as big as the Bank of America. More factories still borrow from your Bank of America. As for Barings Bank and Banque de France, their loan interest rates are relatively high, and there are fewer California companies seeking loans from them.

"

"I have already said hello to Barings Bank and Banque de France. Together with Bank of America, they will stop providing loans to companies and factories that refuse to pay fines and illegally employ child labor. Now it's your Boston bank."

Liang Yao smiled.

California's economy is in a period of rapid development, and all industrial and mining companies in California are increasing leverage to expand.

The California government's support policies for industrial and mining companies have also increased the confidence of these companies in their expansion.

In addition to raising funds from bond issuance, the funds for expansion are loans applied from Bank of America, Bank of Boston, Barings Bank, and Banque de France.

The capital chains of these rapidly expanding industrial and mining enterprises that are leveraging are very fragile. As long as banks cut off loans, these industrial and mining enterprises will soon fall into bankruptcy.

Not all industrial and mining enterprises in California are like the San Francisco Steel Plant, with powerful American groups behind them injecting a steady stream of capital into them.

Expansion with debt is the norm for California's industrial and mining companies, and of course, it is also their Achilles' heel.

Furthermore, in the name of illegal employment of child labor, the state government requires these industrial and mining enterprises to pay fines and stops providing loans to these enterprises that refuse to pay fines.

He, and his Bank of America, also stand on the high ground of morality and have an advantage in moral aspects, and the direction of public opinion will not be unfavorable to him.

"Boston Bank will also stop lending to these illegal businesses and factories."

Robinson expressed his position to Liang Yao. The most important thing at the moment was to quell the demonstration. At the same time, Robinson could not restrain his curiosity and asked Liang Yao curiously.

“What’s California’s new trump card you say?”

"CIA (California Intelligence Agency)." Liang Yao said calmly.

(End of chapter)