"My suggestion would be," Pike began, "We rent the place rather than it lose business. make that business and wages."
"I would agree with that." Speed was quick to add. "It would certainly be the right thing to do."
"Agreed." Tyrell added, "Takin' care of the folks that we deal with is important." Rip nodded his agreement.
"So then, whot I'm hearin' is we hit the gound payin' our own way, an' thet's the right way ta go about it. Lucky we got us some financial backin' right off, elst ways we'd be meetin' in the field behind the livery." Amos added in, which drew a chuckle.
"Small price to lay out. Now I'd offer up the office, except we are in the process of adding office space to the upstairs as we'll need more room for our corporation, the assayer and whatever comes down the pike, not you Pronto. Speed explained, then added, "Shares are when investors, people, buy into the corporation, and they share proportionately. Of course we have to price the shares and I'll wire my partner in New York and get that ball rolling."
"I'm glad we agree on sharing what we have," Emeline commented, "and doing what we can to help the town." She had Barnabas had already done that on their honeymoon trip, and she'd enjoyed that. And so long as it wasn't harming their interests...well, why not? "We'd discussed establishing a library, although I think it wouldn't need to be large to begin with, until we know what the needs are."
She'd actually thought to have a small corner in the Lickskillet for books, but maybe a small room that they could rent somewhere would be better.
"We've a bright future, don't we? Just don't expect to see me in bustles very often! I have my limits!" Grinning, she glanced at Alice, whom she thought was likely a kindred spirit who leaned more to the practical than the high-fashion!
"Oh, I'd have to agree with you on what you've said, and not just about the bustles and bows either." Alice began, "I had never thought of a library, it is a grand idea! Long past time to get one started." She smiled at Emeline, and I know this is not exactly mining business, but perhaps there are other ventures this corporation could do to improve the quality of life in town."
Speed rubbed his jaw but before he could speak Rip spoke up, "Ya know, that school up there is gettin' too small even with all the kids that are too far out to get in for it. I know a couple boys who said as much. I mean when I was there."
"That wouldn't take much ta get 'er expanded." Pike added in, "I've got the men, we can bring that to the school board which I believe is this is not mining business, but if we are to make money in this town, then we need ta invest in her."
Amos burst out laughing, but not at them, "I do declare! You folks ain't turned a shove load an' yer already gettin' all community-minded. If thet don't beat all! I mean thet there's the proper thing ta do, help out the town. Yessiree-bob! The right thing to do." And that got the rest f them to chuckle along with him.
"Yes, helping the school, that would be a worthy venture," Emeline agreed, "if the council is agreeable, which could be in question after all the row they've caused over the hospital. Of course, we're not Steelgraves, so that should help. And I'm sure we can find projects around town."
With a little work and input, they could make Kalispell a place people would want to come to, to establish businesses and settle. "Maybe we could look into giving low-interest loans? Or would that be too much competition with the bank?" Again, Emeline was a little out of her element here, but she knew there were folks, like she'd once been, who needed some help and didn't want charity, but couldn't afford the rates the banks charged.
"Education of the children is one of the most important things we can do." Speed agreed quickly, "So yes, whatever we can do, and really, I doubt the new council will give us any grief over trying to help meet the needs of community children."
"Maybe you could suggest that they build another room and split the older and younger kids between 'em." Rip suggested. "I think things would be better and yeah, they'd need another teacher, but it would be worth a try."
There were memories that all of them had of the small schoolhouses where all of the children were crammed into one room, and lessons were split between the different aged students. If what Rip had suggested was accomplished, every child would benefit from the split.
"What a grand idea, Rip," Alice stated. "I've thought for some time that eventually schools would have grades by age, and the children would have lessons appropriate to their level."
"We could provide the materials and maybe even the labor, or some of it to get that addition built." Pike suggested. "Couldn't cost all that much to get a room built, not like a whole ranch." That drew laughter, but it was a grand idea.
Chuckling, Emeline patted her belly. "Well, we have at least six or seven years before we have to worry about that ourselves," she chuckled, "by then, we should have one of the best schools in the territory!"
Of course, getting their children to and from school might be a problem, the ranch was quite a ways out of town, but they'd have time to figure that out. "And splitting the children by age is a good idea, too, once there are enough students...and resources, since we'd need several teachers, but I do know that some schools back east are doing just that, and with good results."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"I would agree that at this time, the school needs expansion, but not additional teachers, not just yet, but, we have several older children as well as the younger ones, so that is a good point." Speed said, "The need to increase the number of educators is not that far off really. The size of the building, well, that is already here."
"Agreed, ain't gonna be this one room schoolhouse for long. And, with the railroad comin' well, gonna be more an' more families movin' in." Pike asserted, "Now maybe this is a Town Council problem, maybe they're the ones what need to solve it, but then again, maybe it is up to us citizens to see that it's done. Frankly, I don't know."
Ty shook his head, Ya know, I ain't real certain about none'a this but I figger Rip here an' the rest'a the kids, well, they deserve the best education that can be got! It that means we need ta do it, well, then I say we do."
"Yes! Point well made Ty." Alice exclaimed. "We need to take this to the Town Council and see just where they stand on this. If it's money, and it is, do they have it?"
"And if they have it, will they use it...or even admit it." Emeline wouldn't put it past the council to hedge and fib, after all the grief they'd given the hospital. "And I suppose that opinion will change if they have their own children in the school!"
Of course, everyone looked out for their own interests, and some had little caring for anything that didn't directly benefit them.
"It's something to keep in mind, drawing in more families, but not so much as to change the face of the town." She liked the small-town feel that Kalispell had, but it would be good for it to have the things that sparked creativity and ingenuity, especially in children.
"At least we do already have some good establishments, the food here is wonderful, almost as good as the Lickskillet!"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled, it was a good question, a pertinent one. "We here are paying between three and five percent tax to the town council, well the treasurer, I would say that we will be in the five percent bracket as we will be making over six hundred dollars annually." Speed informed them. "I know we are not a state, but understand that taxation s necessary even in the territories."
"So the idea of Kalispell having the money to improve the schoolhouse is like their responsibility?" Pike asked.
"Yes, exactly, but, do they have the money to improve the schoolhouse?" Speed asked, "In fact, I'm thinking that we might just do what needs doing ourselves. I mean to say, we let them know what it is we're about to do, and then do it. It needs doing, but it may not be high on their list." There was a murmur of agreement.
"Look, this corporation of ours ain't hardly ready to do anything on that scale, not with getting the mine up and running, so unless Em here reaches over and swats me, I'd be willin' to put up the cash to get that project done this spring. Pike offered, "I mean it's no secret that everyone knows we have money, and if that's okay, the corporation can repay us when they can, well except for what our share of the cost would be." He looked over at Em.
"Oh, I'm sure there's plenty of reasons to smack you!" Emeline chuckled, "but not for something that will benefit the town, and eventually our children." Yes, it would be several years still, but it would be a relief to know that their children would have a chance at a good education, and therefore a promising future.
"And I'm sure there is plenty that will come up where we can offer assistance. After all, something such as happened in Whitefish is unexpected. And there will be new business opportunities. The country as a whole is progressing so quickly, who knows what new gadgets are on the horizon that we may choose to invest in?"
The odder the better in her opinion! But then, she didn't know much about investing, she just knew what sounded fun!