Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

In the bustling city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Poul found himself carefully overseeing the packaging processes for the newly minted AN-M1 rifles. The factory floor buzzed with energy as dedicated workers diligently inspected each gleaming firearm, ensuring they met the highest standards of quality and performance.

Poul's keen eyes followed the rhythmic motions of the assembly line, taking note of the precision and skill demonstrated by each worker. They moved with well-practiced ease, their hands expertly assembling, checking, and packaging the rifles into sturdy wooden crates, ready for shipment to various destinations.

The atmosphere in the factory was a harmonious blend of focus and camaraderie. Workers shared nods of appreciation and encouraging smiles, knowing they were part of a team producing cutting-edge weaponry that would make a difference in the hands of those who wielded them.

As Poul observed the seamless operation, he felt a sense of pride swell within him. He knew that his diligent supervision and the tireless efforts of his team played a crucial role in maintaining the exceptional quality and reputation of the AN-M1 rifle. But when he approached one of the workers, his satisfaction fell into disappointment.

He suddenly grabbed three AN-M1 rifles and laid them on the table. After that, he looked up to the workers who were working on them.

"One of these rifles is not up to Axelsen & Nielsen standards. You choose what you think is the defective one, and tell me why," Poul said, his tone firm yet calm.

The workers exchanged nervous glances, each hoping they hadn't been responsible for the lapse in quality. One by one, they approached the table and carefully examined the three rifles laid out before them.

After several tense moments, a young worker named Sam stepped forward, pointing to the middle rifle.

"Sir, I believe this one is not up to our standards," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "The alignment of the barrel appears to be slightly off, which could affect the accuracy of the firearm."

Poul nodded, appreciating Sam's keen eye for detail. "Well spotted," he said, before turning to address the entire team. "This serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant in maintaining our high standards. A single oversight could mean the difference between life and death for those who rely on our craftsmanship."

Determined to prevent further slip-ups, Poul took note of the decision he made just now by implementing additional quality checks and training sessions for his team.

This was supposed to be Jonathan's work as he is the one managing this enterprise of theirs. But, given the fact that he is in New York and is to return to Pittsburgh tomorrow means that he has to take charge first.

***

A day later, in the main office of the Axelsen & Nielsen Companies, Poul was sifting through the paperwork that had accumulated over time.

He signed and stamped the papers before setting them aside to work on another. Moments later, the door opened, and Jonathan stepped inside the office.

Poul glanced up, acknowledging his arrival, before looking down at the documents again.

"Jonathan, good to see you back," Poul said.

"It's good to be back," Jonathan sighed and stepped forward. He opened his briefcase, pulled a file out, and set it on Poul's table.

"What is this?" Poul asked.

"That is the contract that Caroline and I signed, securing a two-million dollar investment in our electric distribution company enterprises. She was hoping that with this, we may be able to start it up and compete with James Russell's direct electric distribution system," Jonathan explained and looked around the office. He noticed something. "Is Ms. Weiss here about?"

"Ms. Weiss is at City Hall to file our taxes. She should be back soon," Poul replied, keeping his eyes on the contract before him.

Jonathan nodded, satisfied with the update. "Well, in that case, let's go over this contract together. We need to make sure we're on the same page with this investment."

Poul set aside the documents he was working on, focusing his attention on the new file. The two men poured over the details, discussing the implications of the investment and the potential challenges they might face in the electric distribution market.

As they reviewed the contract, Poul couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of expanding their company into new territory. In the past four years, they have been hopping from one industry to another, making the best out of every opportunity that came their way.

Later that afternoon, Ms. Weiss returned to the office, her face flushed with a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment. "The taxes have been filed," she announced, handing Poul a receipt as proof.

"Excellent, thank you, Ms. Weiss," Poul said, placing the receipt in a folder for safekeeping.

With their business matters in order, the three of them sat down to strategize their next steps.

Poul took the helm, standing in front of the chalkboard. Written on the chalkboard are the steps that they are going to take to officially open their new venture, the Axelsen & Nielsen Electric Manufacturing Company.

"First, we have to discuss what our business is going to be. Are we going to be a utility company that provides electricity to homes and buildings? Or are we going to manufacture electrical equipment, parts, and tools for our clients? Well, why not both?"

"We are going to set up a power plant and then manufacture electrical equipment that we can sell to the other utility companies from different states and countries."

Jonathan raised his hand. "You are going to build a power plant, where are you going to set it up?"

"Good question," Poul grabbed a map and displayed it on the chalkboard. It was a map of the state of Pennsylvania. "The location I chose is here, in Scranton, which is situated in the Anthracite Coal Region. This area is known for its high-quality anthracite coal, which has a higher carbon content, lower sulfur levels, and burns more efficiently compared to bituminous coal."

"Aside from the reason, what factors did you consider in choosing that?" Jonathan asked again.

"Well, there are four factors that I considered before making my decision. They are proximity to coal mines, access to transportation infrastructure, availability of water in the region, and availability of labor. Scranton is located near the coal mines, it also has access to transportation such as rails. The power plant needs a lot of water for steam and cooling purposes, Scranton being near the Lackawanna River would provide us a stable water source. Lastly, Scranton has a huge population which we can hire as workers and laborers."