Buildings (April-June, 1874)

Electricity]

At the headquarters of the Electric Lighting Company, Pavel Nikolayevich Yablochkov, Aleksandr Nikolaevich Lodygin and Vladimir Nikolaevich Chikolev were reunited with Tsar Alexander III.

But there was also a new addition, a 23-year-old boy, who went by the name of Vasily Fedorovich Didrikhson.

"This is an incandescent light bulb, with a carbon filament in vacuum." Lodygin presents excitedly, turning on the light bulb. "Our experiments have so far reached a duration of 40 hours with this model."

"I have to admit, originally I didn't see a future for it, but we hit a bigger vacuum thanks to a Sprengel pump, and overall it seems to be quite efficient." Yablochkov adds.

"Excellent work! And this one here?" Tsar Alexander III asks about the light bulb in front of Didrikhson, who is quite nervous and excited by the attention of the Tsar in his project.

"Didrikhson and I worked on that model, I just had to explain to him the differential principle of an arc lamp. But his invention continues to be brilliant." 29-year-old Chikolev explains. "Explain it a little more!" Chikolev calls young Didrikhson.

"I only used Lodygin bulbs as a base, but by using four or more carbon filaments we have been able to develop a light bulb that instead of lasting 40 hours, lasts about 400 hours." Didrikhson starts. "We have also developed a method to convert wood fibers to carbon fibers but it is not necessary to make one of these bulbs."

*******

"I must say that I am totally impressed by the progress of him." Emperor Alexander III mentions. "But I must ask, do we have enough energy to power the use of these bulbs throughout Russia?"

"... We should discuss it further with other members of the ELC and the Committee of State Urban Planning." Yablochkov mentions.

"Sounds good ... but let's say we use hydroelectric resources from the Russian Far East." Emperor Alexander III proposes early.

The Russian Far East was growing considerably fast through trade lines, further industrialization, increased quality of life and food, and projects carried out (the Trans-Siberian among them).

The main potential hydroelectric resources of Russia are in this region in 1874, but the demand would be (demographically speaking) in the west of the Empire. Although the Far East was more populated than before, it still pitied the western Russian Empire.

Fortunately Yablochkov still had ideas for the Russian Empire's power plants and their electrification, extremely useful ideas for the further increase in Russian electrical engineering in the following years.

Lodygin and Didrikhson received funds and patents for their inventions in Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany based on money from Tsar Alexander III (being the emperor has enormous benefits).

The implementation of Lodygin's incandescent bulbs would still take a few years while the needs were discussed and the construction of power plants was planned.

Yet the ELC's inventions were a clear demonstration of Russian science and its considerable advancement.

*******

[Dynasty]

It is June when Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, second son of Tsar Alexander III, finally turns 5 years old. At this, Tsar Alexander II placed his youngest son under the same guardianship as his eldest son, Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich.

The tutor in question being Karl Osipovich Heath.

"Any particular instruction?" Mr. Heath asks the emperor.

"Very simple, the same as with Nikolai, besides teaching them the necessary courses, I want a normal Russian boy." Emperor Alexander III responds.

"Understood, his highness." Tutor Heath responds and says goodbye to take the Grand Duke to his first class with his older brother.

From the beginning Heath noted that the two brothers were quite different, the Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich was much more focused and down to earth, much more thinker or intelligent. His physique was more like that of his cousins (George V of the UK and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich).

Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich on the other hand was less focused more focused on physical activity, inheriting the body from his father.

Regarding the classes, the courses consisted of history, mathematics and basic science, in addition to etiquette and languages (Russian, English, German and French).

Over the years the education of the children of Emperor Alexander III would improve to more difficult degrees, which were considered necessary to educate an heir (unlike in the case of Alexander III himself, the Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was educated in the same way as to Tsesarevich, in case something might happen to him).

*******

[Romanov Scholarship and the Wild East]

Northern Siberia, mid-April.

The cold hit the faces of young Russian Serbs, born in Austria-Hungary or the Otomaan Empire, the group ranged from 16 to 20 years old. This group traveled through the gigantic Russian Empire on their vacations from study, having departed from conventional paths like roads or railways.

"Look, the Lena river!" One of the youngest on the excursion exclaims in surprise.

One of them was a 17-year-old young man, who was in the middle of the group, lowering the scarf a little from his face, observing the immense landscape from a high position with the rest.

On the horizon was predominantly the "wild" landscape of Russia, the north of the Lena was growing more slowly than the south (because the south of the Lena had one of the sections of the Trans-Siberian railway) but even in regions of northern Siberia there were growing towns and opportunities (mainly mining, lumber industry and miscellaneous factories).

"Let's see what's around here." One of the older men on the Serbian club excursion mentions, and the rest have little objection, in fact they are quite excited.

It didn't take long for the 17-year-old to find himself in one of the village markets, animal skins from the region, food, drink (including alcohol, it can help keep warm in these temperatures ...), some crafts, etc. There he soon found a group of men willing to play cards with him.

One of the men laughed, had once again won against the stranger, who had to settle into his seat.

"Tesla, we found a guide!" One of the young Serbs calls his partner.

"I have to go". Nikola Tesla rushes to take his stuff and leave, at least saving some of his pride after losing the game.

The group encountered a man on horseback, ready to guide them through the northern Lena region, even to the river delta.

"The northern regions of Siberia still had a mystical essence surrounding them, they were industrializing but they also were much less welcoming than the southern regions.

Exploring them strengthened me physically and even spiritually. I went in my late 17s, and came back to European Russia at 18 to try to finish my studies.

The north of Siberia was very romanticized in the times of my youth, many moved to the east but mainly to the south, there cities, industries and railways grew. In the north too, but the north was much slower, although towns were also growing, they were even more scattered, smaller and scarce.

There were strange stories, of golden statues, magical creatures, and secrets yet to be discovered. A region inhabited by natives of all kinds, some still nomads. Wild animals of all kinds, and adventurers roaming the region to find mineral deposits or skins. "

-Writings of Nikola Tesla about his youth.

*******

[Railways]

Siberia, southern Lena.

Tsar Alexander III, accompanied by Deputy Minister Alexei Pavlovich Bobrinsky and the Minister of Railways Pavel Petrovich Melnikov, inspecting how the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway was going at the beginning of this period.

"So? How is this section here?" Tsar Alexander III asks the ministers about him.

"Almost finished. In fact we have done it a little faster than expected, we have a little more than half of the railway finished." Bobrinsky certainly mentions optimistic.

"Even so at the most we will have it finished by the end of the decade, or the beginning of 1881. Your Highness." Minister Melnikov was quick to call to correct Bobrinsky's answer.

"I must say that regardless, it is a remarkable feat. I am truly proud of the work of the ministry." The emperor assures. "Now. How about we go celebrate a bit?"

During the inspection, Tsar Alexander III took the opportunity to greet the Russian citizens of the region, citizens that included other Slavs, Cossacks, native Siberians, etc.

Laborers and nobles alike were the focus of Tsar Alexander III's attention. The cities visited by the emperor and his ministers were in celebration to receive the monarch.

Factories and farms grew in southern Siberia, as far as Tsar Alexander III and his subjects could observe. The economy was still in shape despite situations abroad.

The railway lines were increasingly connecting the east with the west, heavy industry (metallurgy, chemicals, etc.), agricultural-livestock production (and dairy-meat) and the primary economic sector (mining, agriculture, lumbering, etc.) grew.

Economic reasons and state support increasingly motivated migration to the region, undoubtedly allowing a demographic increase along with infrastructure.

Towns and churches grew alongside the railways, giving rise to cities.

Vladivostok was growing considerably, and with this also increased the capabilities of the Pacific navy in eastern Russia.

The first truly great expansion of the navy in the region.

*******

Southern Russia, Bessarabia.

It is June when the emperor watches as the railways of southern Russia advance in an exercise performed with remarkable secrecy, leaving a group of soldiers in training at a station just at the indicated time.

"Magnificent". Tsar Alexander III exclaims.

Bobrinsky pats young Sergei Witte on the back. "It is an honor such a compliment." Witte quickly responds.

"Well deserved, but now we have to continue discussing future plans." The emperor responds quickly.

The young Sergei Witte (25 years old at the time) was put in charge of a commission for military mobilizations in case of war in southern Russia (Bessarabia-Malorossiya). Another commission was made in the Caucasus.

In this job within the civil service, Witte had to ensure the efficiency and punctuality of the rail lines in moving troops and supplies to the military front.

Work in which Witte soon proved to be remarkably capable.

*******

[International]

The Carlist forces in Estella, Navarra suffer a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Republicans, which endangers the city of Pamplona, in Carlist hands.

The Carlist armies of western Navarre are moving to try to lock up the Republican armies while the Carlist east and the city of Pamplona resist the Republican forces.

In Catalonia instead of trying more assaults on Aragon, the Carlists try to move in other directions to conquer more of Catalonia in favor of King Carlos VII. Surprisingly having success with some of the rural Catalans (convincing them or simply conquering them by force ...).

In the south the Spanish cantons continue to pose problems, nothing too new in reality in the third Carlist war.

In 1867 Carlos VII was offered the crown of Spain as long as he was constitutional monarch, but he refused to leave behind the ideals of his family (mainly conservatism). In part, all of this has led Spain to this current situation.

In France the war between Legitimists-Orleanists and Bonapartists continues harshly with the lines in Paris, in the west the armies of Henry V resist despite their losses in the south. But he fails to lift the siege of Paris and the Bonapartists continue to control most of France.

Germany meanwhile continues (in secret) to give money and arms to the republicans most annoying to the pretenders to the throne, and to socialist radicals.

Henry V's armies have been taking up arms from defeated Republicans to continue the fight against Napoleon IV, but some are wondering where the Republican rebels have been able to get their weapons from.

Other minor news occurs, such as the first commercially successful horse-drawn carriage from the British city of Bombay.

Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive patent for blue jeans, etc.

In surprising facts, very well received by her parents of course, Princess Maria of Romania, daughter of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, survives scarlet fever thanks to the work of various doctors (the main one named Theodori)