Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Another week has passed since Wanderbilt and Moses arrived at the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company headquarters. They landed a contract worth twenty-five million dollars to retrofit all their passenger and freight trains with an air brake system and locomotive draft gear. Not only that, but the company is also responsible for designing railway signaling and interlocking for their existing railways to make sure that no collision-related accidents ever happen on Wanderbilt tracks.

In the main office, Poul and Jonathan were reading a newspaper while smoking their tobacco. Wanderbilt released a statement about the accident and stated that he deeply regretted the incident and swore to the public that he'll make his train transportation safe for everyone. Not only for everyone but for the goods it is carrying as well.

"So we have two years to install air brakes and locomotive draft gear and then design a new system," Jonathan repeated the terms they'd agreed with Mr. Wanderbilt's company. "This is going to be challenging. I can now imagine that we will be working day and night to overhaul Wanderbilt's railway system."

"You are right about that," Poul nodded his head sympathetically. "Though we have experience in railway engineering and design, we are dealing with primitive systems here. I actually called Moses if we can have a blueprint of their railway system so that I can start working now."

"What did they say?"

"They say they are going to deliver it by the end of the month," Poul said and let out a long deep sigh.

"You know if you sigh away like that. Happiness will drift away like clouds," Jonathan said as he folded his newspaper and glanced at him. He took another puff on his cigarette before placing the cigarette in the ashtray.

"The happiness has already drifted Jonathan." Poul corrected, shutting the newspaper close and driving the tip into the ashtray, putting it out.

He continued. "But look on the bright side. Twenty-five million dollars. That is a huge sum of money at this time. Well, it's not like we are going to get the full amount of it. Still, we are earning enough money to the point we can invest the profit on another venture."

"We have to slow down on adding a new venture, Poul," Jonathan advised. "The Union Switch and Signal Company just started. We have to focus on those two first. Once everything stabilizes, like we retrofitted most of the steam locomotives in the United States, we can go on and start that electric distribution venture. The one we truly planned but were beaten to it by James Russel. The good thing is, just like Edison, he chose the wrong horse. Oh, I forgot to ask you about this. What do you plan with the direct current electric motor?"

"I'm thinking of licensing it to James Russel. As they say, he is a famous individual and his name is known throughout the country. If we got him to license our electric motors, more and more industrialists in the manufacturing sector would want to get into action. I'm going to make him pay two dollars and fifty cents for every horsepower of direct current sold. Now it may seem little but if accumulated, it would be over a million dollars."

The way Poul's plan of licensing his electric motor to James Russel works is simple. If Russel successfully sold an electric motor with five horsepower, Russel would pay Poul twelve dollars and fifty cents in the form of royalties. The higher the horsepower of an electric motor, the higher the royalties Poul will receive. Now how would it turn into a million? Well, direct current electric motors have industrial applications. It can power tools and equipment. It's cheaper too since it runs on electricity. Not only that, it is cost-effective. Making the electric motor an attractive device for all industrialists. Imagine Russel sold 300,000 electric motors with five horsepower in two or three years. Then that would be around 3,750,000 dollars in royalties alone.

Jonathan chuckled. "I think that's a good move, considering that we can't shift on the electric distribution industry yet. Let James Russel do all the work of selling the idea of electrifying houses while we focus ourselves on making air brakes."

"That's right. Oh, since we have tons of orders to fulfill, I'm thinking of hiring new engineers and workers that could help us speed up our manufacturing processes. Five hundred workers and ten engineers who have the same caliber as Timothy and Walter would do."

"Your standards for engineers are too high, Poul, maybe if you can lower them down a bit then we can get your engineers," Jonathan said.

"Look, I don't care about the quantity of engineers. I care about the quality. If it's factory workers whose task is to do repetitive tasks again and again then we have no problem with the quality. I need above-average engineers like Walter and Timothy who can keep up with my designs."

Jonathan pulled out a pocketbook and pencil from his pocket. He opened it and wrote in it. "I'll create a recruitment poster and post it in the cities. Is there anything else?"

Poul shook his head, indicating that there is none for him to add. Jonathan nodded his head and rose to his feet.

"If nothing else then I'll go now. It is time that we have to pour concrete," Jonathan said while looking at the time from the pendulum clock. He grabbed his hat from the hatrack and left the office, leaving Poul alone.

Poul remained silent for a moment, planning ahead as to how they'll fulfill the orders from the giant railroad companies. It won't be easy but just like they always do, they'll manage and overcome any obstacles they find along the way.

***

It was Friday midnight in late October when Poul returned home, which is the main office, ready to rest. His mind was busy mulling over what he needs to do for the next couple of days in order to meet his quota of business. But just before he could go upstairs and jump to his bed and relax, a telephone rang from inside the office.

"Ah, shit…" Poul cursed inwardly, he doesn't want to deal with any business-related matters so far as he is just starting to feel the pressure from it for the past few days. He'd love to ignore the person who is calling right now but if it turns out to be an important client or Mister Edison, then it would be a lost opportunity.

What's more, the call could be important as no one usually calls at midnight.

So he reluctantly trudged towards the office. There was no one inside as Jonathan was at the City Hall, requesting permission from the Mayor of Pennsylvania to distribute recruitment posters in Harrisburg. He'll be staying there for two to three days.

Poul picked up the phone, stopping it from ringing, and wedged it between his ear and shoulder. "You have reached the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, how may I help you?"

"Polite as always," Morgan chuckled through the telephone.

Poul heaved a sigh of relief. He almost ignored the call from Mister Morgan.

"How can I help you, Mister Morgan?"

"I see that the business is doing well. You two kept surprising me. In just a year of operation, the valuation of your company skyrocketed to forty million dollars. I must say, I am impressed."

"Well, none of that would happen if you hadn't given us the fifty thousand dollars, which totally changed the direction of our life," Poul thanked gratefully.

"Hmm…it's a fateful encounter," Morgan scoffed softly. "I'll get down to business. James Russel wants to see your invention, the electric motor. You told me that you'd like to license it to him right? Well here's your chance. Go to 257 Pearl Street in Manhattan, New York on December 17."

"Why December?" Poul asked.

"Because he is going to open the first central station in New York, it is a historic moment in the history of our country. He wants you to be there, I want you to be there."

"Can I bring Jonathan with me?" Poul asked.

"You can. Actually, it's better that both of you come," Morgan said.

"I'll inform Jonathan," Poul said.

"Good, see you in New York in December."

After saying that, Morgan hung up the telephone.

Poul put the receiver on its cradle, turned around, left the office, and headed upstairs.

"I guess I can sleep now."