Several days after the foundry began operating.
Arthur visited the industrial district. The place was busier than ever—foundry smoke rising, machine shop lathes turning, workshops humming with activity. The system was working.
But something was wrong.
A line of freight wagons waited outside the foundry. Some carried iron ore. Others carried charcoal, timber, and limestone. The foundry's workers stood idle, waiting for supplies. The machine shop had delayed production because a shipment of iron bars hadn't arrived.
Arthur checked the delivery records.
The problem wasn't the mines. The mines were producing steadily. It wasn't the foundry. The foundry was ready to process.
It was transportation.
The wagons spent too much time traveling between the mountain settlements and the industrial district. Their wheels broke on rough roads. Axles wore out. Horses tired. The roads became difficult during rain, turning to mud that swallowed wheels and slowed progress to a crawl.
