Economic System of Weyard

Excerpt from Economic System of Weyard

by Professors G.M. Stouffer, N. Relana,

Institute of The Sciences,

Economic Branch,

Tolbi.

N.C. 179

...SECTION 5. System of Economy.
The actual system of economy is a highly specialized trade system developed along the Eastern-Western Semicircle lines. All the countries in the Western Sea, as well as Vale and Gondowan, export raw materials to Tolbi. These materials are then taken to Lemuria, where they are developed into machines and finished products. These products are taken by sea to Lalivero and landed there, then shipped to their destinations. Madra-Osenia is shipped finished materials from Lemuria, which it then transforms into airships going to Tolbi. Tolbi is the epicenter of the back-and-forth trade, as can be seen.
Madra is also home to the airship training schools for up-and-coming pilots and mechanics. As can be seen, the system is a finely balanced machine in which all economies play a part. The produce of labor is consumed, keeping the law of supply and demand at bay. Each economy produces only what the others need, and if any one economy chooses to disrupt the system, the Exchange simply adjusts the fixed rates of that country’s currency and exports to adjust and rebalance.

The great beauty of the system, as in all great ideas, is elegant simplicity. Because everything made in the whole world is reducible to a common element, by two equations from an Accountant a nation or private investor can receive whatever it or he desires in return for his cargo. In this way, trade has been balanced in everyone’s interest for the last one hundred and eighty-odd years. (Note: Calculations of prices usually require the assistance of an Accountant due to sheer length, which is why all transactions generally pass through Tolbi. Although many airship captains and merchants possess the mathematical skills necessary for a transaction, the Counting Machines in the Exchange Building are the only ones that possess a full list of prices per their given amount at any one time. The system is simple, but transactions on national scale may require a middleman.)

The way the system works in practice is only possible because a carmot is divisible into tenths. Therefore, the system is simplified to the point where even a layman can calculate the prices of any element, though it is easier for a trained Accountant. Each object is reduced to near its lowest fraction to further facilitate trade.

For example, let us suppose A has just arrived in Tolbi with a half-ton of steel for trade. B wants his steel, so he converts the half-ton – 500 pounds – to carmot. Six pounds of steel is worth one pound of carmot, so A has three hundred pounds of carmot. B has five hundred yards of silk. One yard of silk is worth one and two-tenths pounds of carmot, so B has six hundred pounds of carmot. B trades half his silk to A for all A’s steel, and both are satisfied their trade was equal. As you can see, the system is complex on paper but works very well in actual practice, requiring only two simple ratios and a consultation of the Charts to perform.

FIGURE 1.3. Example problem.












SECTION 6...

History in the making.

Click for Enlarged Version.

Aquinas' Modern History of Lemuria

-Circulated excerpt from a 3rd tier educational textbook-

Introduction

The nation of Lemuria is one replete with a varied and fascinating history. Since its inception in the Lost Age of Man it has stood unfallen for more than two millenia, outlasting the Dark Age and returning prosperous and mighty in the New Age. At this time in N.C. 181 it rules an empire spanning from the eastern shores of Angara to the edge of the world, from Indra to Imil and everything in between, unrivalled politically, economically and militarily by any power extant in the age of Steam.

In this compendium of writings, I, Marcellus Aquinas, outline Lemuria's beginnings and foundation by the semi-legendary king Lemures in the Lost Age and its growth and development in the Lost Age and Dark ages. Tracing the forces that from these humble roots led to the powerful and noble nation of today. Ranging from the superior legacy technology, still as yet ill understood in the seemingly invincible fleet of Lemurian Ships that even now guard our borders, to the vast wealth of knowledge, tapped through the ages by our equally legendary draught, and the superlative knowledge bequeathed upon us in the Dark Age by our enlightened ancestors all combined at the outset of the New Age to propel Lemuria Forward.

This book will outline the political history, from the actions of the High King Hydros and his ever faithful companion in the senate Conservato to today's Senate led by Almarus, Conservato's brightest student and orator, and their deft navigation of Lemuria through brutal wars fought with the savages extant in the rest of the eastern sea to bring civilization to the rekindled world. Herein lies the tales of the noble Champa people, whom were entranced at the Lemur's power and life everlasting, the proud Izumans, whom knelt to no man, but instead chose to kneel before justice and side with Lemuria, to the ever lackadaisical Apojians, all the peoples of the eastern sea are chroniclled.

Here too is the history of technology, the revolution of the printing press reinvented in Vale, the harvest of the precious ore, carmot and its effects on life and technology in the New Age, as Lemuria brought about the era of reason with its own ancient wisdom. Now with Vesanis' Carmot Engine driving the new ships of Lemuria to trade with the far reaches of the world, it seems impossible that such deeds went undreampt of in the Dark Age, where even a sail was a marvel. Such are the wonders of the modern world.

I would like to acknowledge the Society of Eastern Literature for their generous contributions to my research in this venture, they do not go unappreciated.

-M. Aquinas

The Secret Language of the Gadgeteers, Part 1

You've probably seen them all over. They're the ones who run the trains and airships, the masters of automata and counting engines who build the technological wonders our world has produced. They've been given many names, from "Gadgeteers" to "Tech Adepts", and they are growing into one of the most powerful forces in modern Weyard.

Like most specialists, Gadgeteers have their own set of jargon that is difficult to understand, but as part of an ongoing series, your intrepid reporter will attempt to uncover this strange and glorious word set. As in previous columns on professional jargon, the more basic terms will appear toward the front, with the exception of derogatory terms, which do not have their place in here (and which my editor would fire me for at any rate). So, without further ado, the secret language of the Gadgeteers.

"Trainee": n, Apprentice to a gadgeteer. Usually signifies a teacher-student relationship similar to craftsmen of old. Nate's a good trainee, works hard and doesn't complain.

"Matchbox House": n, A factory dedicated to cranking out minor conveniences, especially textiles. It apparently comes from the fact that many of them contain large amounts of flammable materials. That old matchbox house on grand is gonna flicker one of these days.

"Gearbox": n, A gadgeteer's toolbox. So called because gadgeteers of a century ago often stored gears of varying sizes in their toolboxes. Don't touch the gearbox if you value your arm.

"Old Hand": n, A master gadgeteer. Usually used as a term of respect. Pete's an old hand, best in the country. Maybe even the continent.

"Flicker": v, To go up in flames. It can be used for anything flammable, although when I asked whether this included people I got a few strange looks and a tentative yes. You hear 'bout that loco that flickered last night?

"Loco": n, Train. Someone idiot tried to flicker the loco.

"Fat Bird": n, Airship. That moron couldn't get a skinny bird in the air, what makes him think he can wangle a fat one?

"Wangle": v, To get something to work. The term is usually disparaging, as it suggests a lack of skill. It usually involves a process called "Jury-rigging", which (contrary to popular belief) does not involve the Hesperian court system. He's gonna wangle an engine and it's gonna flicker on him, you wait and see.

"Skinny Bird": n, Bird in the traditional sense. That trainee's so blind he couldn't tell a gearbox from a skinny bird if you tied a one to each hand.