July 1st, 1800.
Napoleon presented the proposal to create the new ministry, which is the Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure to the Council of Ministers. The bill outlined the purpose, responsibilities, and funding required for the ministry's functioning. The Council of Ministers, composed of high-ranking government officials and ministers, discussed and approved the bill, endorsing the vision for progress.
The bill then faced scrutiny in the legislative body, which comprised the Tribunat and the Corps Législatif. There were debates, amendments, and votes, as lawmakers assessed the proposal's impact. Despite disagreements, the shared goal of modernizing France united them. The bill emerged stronger from this process and moved forward to the Senate.
In the Senate, the bill was carefully reviewed, and after thorough consideration, it received a majority of approving votes. Finally, Napoleon signed the bill into law, officially establishing the Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure.
The government wasted no time in announcing a series of public works projects that would reshape Paris. This ambitious initiative captured the public's attention, and enthusiasm spread like wildfire. In the face of new job opportunities, the unemployment rate in Paris, which was high during the revolutionary period, decreased as countless people eagerly signed up to be part of these transformative projects.
People from all parts of France took the trains and carriages to witness the grand transformation of the capital firsthand. As word spread about the vast employment opportunities arising from the public works projects, even those from distant towns and villages flocked to Paris in hopes of securing a job that would bring prosperity to their families.
Paris was now a hub of activity, with workers pouring in to contribute their skills to the construction efforts. Engineers, architects, masons, carpenters, and laborers formed a diverse and industrious workforce.
In two months, the Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure had already employed one million people, and the number was steadily increasing as more and more workers joined the ranks. Every day, new blueprints were drawn, new construction sites opened, and new teams were formed to turn Napoleon's vision of a modern Paris into reality.
However ambitious Napoleon's plan was, there was no denying the fact that it faced opposition. One of the major challenges was the relocation of existing communities and businesses. Many neighborhoods, some with centuries-old history, would be affected by the massive construction projects.
This is the same problem that faced Georges-Eugène Haussmann, the person who renovated and modernized Paris under Emperor Napoleon III in the mid-nineteenth century. Just like Napoleon's project, it involved massive demolitions, relocations, and the construction of wide boulevards.
To solve that, public forums were held, where representatives from the Ministry engaged with the affected residents and business owners. Their concerns and grievances were heard, and measures were proposed to provide fair compensation, suitable alternative locations, and support in the transition.
To further sway the public opinion to support the project enacted by the government, Ciela, advised by Napoleon, put their newspaper company into overdrive, printing articles, pamphlets, and advertisements to highlight the benefits of the modernization project. The media played a crucial role in shaping public perception, emphasizing the potential economic growth, job opportunities, and improved infrastructure that would result from the ambitious undertaking. Gradually, more and more Parisians began to see the long-term advantages of embracing the change.
While the majority of the public became supporters of the project, there were still pockets of resistance. Some were emotionally attached to their neighborhoods and found it hard to fathom leaving their ancestral homes. Others worried about the disruption to their daily lives and businesses during the construction phase.
But still, the government remained resolute in its mission to transform Paris into a modern metropolis.
As the first phase of the modernization project took shape, raw materials such as steel became a crucial element in the construction efforts. To meet the immense demand for construction materials and equipment, Bonaparte steel companies stepped up to supply most of the required resources. Their steel mills churned out vast quantities of steel beams, girders, and reinforcements.
Furthermore, steam-driven machinery and equipment that was invented alongside the steam locomotive almost fifteen years ago, such as steam cranes, pile drivers, dredges, pile hammers, tunneling machines, and steam-powered pile extractors, were used for most of the heavy lifting, earth-moving, and construction tasks. Another invention such as electric motors, which had been gaining traction, found its application in construction sites. Electric motors provided a cleaner and more efficient alternative to steam power for some of the lighter tasks, such as running conveyor belts, small lifts, and various tools used by workers.
Another major invention that Napoleon introduced before the construction began was a material called cement, which would play a significant role in almost all construction projects. It was simply made by mixing limestone and clay, both of which were readily available in the era. It would be used as a material to build roads for boulevards, bridges, buildings, and even monuments except for Arc de Triomphe, as it would be constructed using limestones and cobblestones, the original design materials.
November 25th, 1800
Napoleon was kept updated by the Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure on the progress of the construction. In those five months, Napoleon worked closely with Bouchard, ensuring the project's success.
In his office, Napoleon signed a bill for the annexation of eleven communes, including Auteuil, Batignolles-Monceau, Montmartre, La Chapelle, Passy, La Villette, Belleville, Charonne, Bercy, Grenelle, and Vaugirard. This move aimed to expand the borders of Paris, effectively doubling its size from twelve to twenty arrondissements and significantly increasing the population from 700,000 to 1,800,000 people.
After signing it, he handed it back to the President of the Sénat conservateur, Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes.
"Here it is," Napoleon said.
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
"How is my proposed education reform going on in the Senate?"
Sieyes cleared his throat before responding, "Your Excellency, the education reform proposal is still being debated in the Senate. While some senators support the idea, others have reservations about certain aspects of it. We are working to address their concerns and reach a consensus."
"What kind of reservations?" Napoleon asked curiously.
"There was a survey held in all prefects of France, asking about the state of education in this country. Most of the complaints were the lack of religious education in primary schools."
"Religious education huh?" Napoleon repeated. "Hmm…you may go now, Sieyes. I'll talk with Talleyrand and Lucien about these reservations."
Sieyes simply bowed his head and left his office.
Napoleon leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I guess it's time to bring back the church."
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