"You have done very well," Joseph said to Murdock, not sparing any compliments. "Your effective work has brought much-needed irrigation water to hundreds of parishes, powering numerous mills that could still operate last winter despite the rivers freezing over."
"You and the United Steam Engine Company have been widely praised by all of France, including myself. In fact, I hold you in higher regard than anyone else."
While his words may have been slightly exaggerated, Murdock indeed deserved such praise.
In just half a year, he had helped to establish a full production line for the Steam Engine Company; to date, the produced LJ15 type 15-horsepower steam engines were very mature, with a failure rate very close to Watt's similar products.
Moreover, at Joseph's request, Murdock had also completed the compact design of the LJ15. Excluding the water tank and other accessories, it could be hauled around the world on a donkey cart. In this respect, he had even surpassed Watt.
