Leah and Daruis Wellman Superintendent of Aldridge Builders met in the dining room of the Belle-St. Regis Hotel to discuss the progress of the hospital. Progress and needs, which turned out to be local lumber for the spring, the ordering of nails, nuts, and bolts, and various pieces of hardware that had not yet arrived, or had not been ordered in time. That way the local businesses would be able to make some money from the construction. Of course, both the Lickskillet and the hotel kitchen were supplying meals for the work crews, not to mention the local workers on the construction payroll. These costs would be borne by both Aldridge Builders and Leah Steelgrave, operating the Kalispell Hospital Project.
A message had been sent to Christoph Alders inviting him to the meeting, and the two already in the dining room were patiently awaiting the Lumber mill's owner-operator's arrival. It was an exciting time, being able to do quite a bit for the community as the hospital, their hospital, was being built.
Tag: Bailey
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph believed in punctuality, so Leah and Darius did not have to wait long before he strolled into the hotel. Spotting Leah and Darius was not too difficult, and he headed over to their table without delay.
"Good day, Miss Steelgrave," he said cordially, inclining his head toward her. "And Mr. Wellman."
Taking off his hat and coat, he hung them on the back of his chair before sitting down and clearing his throat. Although this meeting had all the marks of just another business meeting, anything involving the Steelgrave name -- even Leah's -- needed an extra measure of caution and cunning. And maybe an extra cup or two of coffee. He'd already had one back at the house, but another wouldn't go amiss.
"One coffee, please. Cream and sugar." He caught the attention of a passing waiter and ordered, then turned to the business at hand, which hopefully was business. Lumber business. Glancing back and forth between Darius and Leah, he folded his hands on the table.
"What can I do for you both?"
"It's a matter of getting lumber ready for the spring so that we get this building up and finished," Leah said, realizing that there was always this cloak of suspicion and caution when anyone dealt with her, thanks to her father. "I realize that there may be some changes in your rates by then, so we should simply get the order in at today's prices, and I will expect a bill if there is a change."
Wellman looked at her wondering what he was dealing with here. If the order was placed and accepted today, then a change of price months down the road was not their problem, and he wanted to say something, but that was not his place. He was there to present his estimated needs to the lumberman.
Leah went on, "We've not done business together, Mister Alders, as Aldridge Builders brought enough to build at least the first story as well as the Trusses, however, we realize it is best to purchase the lumber locally as opposed to shipping it in from Helena. So that is why we are here, sir."
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
"Ah." Christoph nodded as Leah presented her proposition. A shrewd idea, fixing a price now. If the town continued to grow the way it had been or if the whispered rumors of the railroad did somehow come to bear, lumber would be in higher demand. Thus, higher-priced.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts, sipping his coffee. When he did speak, it was with deliberation. "I've already seen what this project has done for other local businesses. And that's nothing compared with what it will do for the whole town when completed. It would be my honor to have some part in it."
Nodding, and then taking one small sip of coffee to form his next words, he continued. "If we come to an agreement today, there is no reason to change it simply because prices change later on. That would be..." He pursed his lips, conscious of who he was talking to. "It would be underhanded of me," he finished. "A deal is a deal."
He then looked to Wellman. As the representative of Aldridge Builders, the man would know the estimated amount of lumber needed to complete the hospital. "And how much do you think will be required to complete the upper floors?" Assuming there would be more than one.
Although the most expedient action would probably be to come right out with how much lumber was going for at the moment, Christoph wanted to keep at least one card close to his chest. If the amount was very significant -- he figured it would be -- he could afford to undercut his normal price per foot a bit. Well, he could afford it anyway. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to.
Wellman looked up, "An exact number of board feet would run perhaps 12,600 board feet which will allow for overages." He stated. "Now, you are well aware that Miss Steelgrave is also looking at a second two-story affair, for the orphanage, but that may need to wait until late 1877, more realistically the spring of '78."
"We will have to wait and see how spring turns out, you understand, but the lumber for both projects is yours. This order will not include the lumber required for the orphanage." Leah explained. "We must wait on spring weather, first of all, the summer would not be in question." She smiled, "One step at a time."
"So then, I believe it is up to you as to what you want to charge for this order, the second, whatever the market will bear. All we as is a promise that you will provide this lumber for the orphanage." Wellman offered, "If the railroad were through, well then our company has mills that it can call on, but it is not, and transportation for more lumber, regardless of the project, is almost cost prohibitive."
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph did some quick calculating in his head. With the current rate for lumber ranging from $20 to $25 per thousand feet, the hospital job would be...quite profitable.
"At the current rate for such a job, I think $23 per thousand feet is a reasonable amount for the hospital." Although he'd named a number closer to the upper price range, Leah and Wellman were welcome to dispute it. If any negotiation was to take place, Christoph knew he'd want to offer a higher price in the beginning.
Since Leah's plans for the orphanage were so far in the future, he hadn't given the idea of providing the lumber any more than a cursory thought. But he nodded sagely. "Of course, I'm well aware. And quite willing to provide the lumber for the orphanage when the time comes. You asked for my promise, and you have it."
He glanced from Leah to Darius to gauge their reactions. It was too soon to offer to shake hands on the deal. No negotiating had been done yet. Perhaps there would be none. Leah had said charge what he wanted to, after all.
Wellman leaned over and said something to Leah then looked at Mister Alders. "Let us say for the sake of negotiating, Twenty-two fifty per thousand feet. You have proposed a fair price on your lumber, and I know the market east of us, so I'll not battle every last penny," Darrius Wellman put forward.
"Mister Alders" Leah cut in, Yes, you have made an equitable offer, and Mister Wellman has countered quite fairly, and we have your word as to provide the lumber for the orphanage. Now, Mister Wellman may disagree with this, but, should you be willing to accept his counter, then I am willy to agree here and now with ten percent over cost on the orphanage lumber."
Williams looked at her, almost stunned by her offer to the lumberman, but, he already knew that she was more than capable of doing business with men. So he smiled and sat back.
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
There was the negotiation.
Christoph pretended to think for a moment, but was prepared to accept the counter and even do a little bit of acting to convince Leah she was getting the better of him in this deal. It was still a reasonable price for such a large order.
If Wellman was almost stunned, Christoph truly was stunned by Leah's out-of-the-blue offer on the lumber for the orphanage. Ten percent! Although he prided himself on being unflappable in business situations, he was truly flapped.
"That--that is a very generous offer, Miss Steelgrave," he stammered. It was too generous. Why would Leah offer to buy the lumber at such a markup? She would need every bit of it to keep her charity projects going, especially if her father set himself against it.
Charity. That was it. Christoph collected his thoughts, cleared his throat, and leaned forward. "But I'm afraid I can't accept your offer. I accept Mr. Wellman's new price of twenty-two fifty for the hospital, but when it comes to the orphanage, I can't accept anything more than five percent over cost. Keep the other five percent and use it for furnishing rooms, hiring staff...that sort of thing."
He smiled now. "Think of it as my contribution to your charities. I know providing the lumber will be a big contribution to the town, but I want to do something more."
"Well then, Mister Alders, we have a deal." She said smoothly. "Five percent over cost. If that is your wish, would you like it drawn up, or will our handshake be sufficient?" She asked. Prices would change, she knew that. Prices on everything changed, most things perhaps by pennies, but lumber, with the railroad coming? However, Christoph Alders knew his business, and knew it well, or he would not be as wealthy as he was.
For Leah Steelgrave a lumber agreement for the orphanage was in place and that she viewed as a win. What the Territorial Government might do going forward was as yet an unknown, though she was not worried about it. The election of '78 may upend her relationship with the Territorial Governor's office, she had made numerous friends in the Territorial Legislature, men with power. Eventually, the government, Territorial or State, would assume control of the orphanage, that was a given.
"Mister Alders, you have certainly been most generous in our negotiations, and I appreciate that. Knowing that we can count on you going forward is a comfort amid all the insanity of construction and trying to beat the weather that is surely coming our way before long." She said. "My thanks to you for that."
Darius Wellman sat looking at the woman and the lumber man somewhat astonished at the ease with which Miss Steelgrave handled herself with Alders, who may well have had initial misgivings about dealing with a woman. It had been obvious before that she was not your average woman when it came to negotiations.
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
"If a handshake is sufficient for you, it is for me." Christoph smiled a little. Since Leah had been so generous in her dealings, the least courtesy he could afford her was to be generous back. A handshake between men was often considered sufficient in business dealings. Leah had shown herself to be as shrewd as most men, maybe even more.
His one qualm about treating her the same way he'd treat another businessman was her name. She didn't appear to have a great affiliation with the rest of her family, but she was still a Steelgrave. However, she was a Steelgrave trying to help those less fortunate than herself, which might balance that out. Only time would tell.
"You have also been most generous, Miss Steelgrave. If there is ever any way I or my company can help to diffuse any of the insanity, you have only to call upon us. I look forward to doing business together." Christoph stuck out his hand across the table to Leah first. Wellman would come after.