A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph listened to Guyer and Sykes elaborate on their idea for working together. He understood having men who needed to work, and that was what would make this deal interesting. Finding a balance that would be beneficial for both his men and Guyer's men was of the utmost importance.
"It is my custom to have my men do the cutting, but there's no reason we can't fly in the face of custom every once in a while." Christoph fell into silence, doing some calculating on what amount of the cutting he could hand over to Guyer's crew. Just as he'd come to a decision, Addy Chappel swept in with the enthusiastic energy she always brought to a room.
"A pleasure to see you, Miss Chappel," Christoph said with a smile.
Guyer was laying out a grand plan for the future of the mine, which would need investors for things like a stamp mill. Sykes laughed, "You'll excuse Mister Guyer, he gets excited when it comes to seein' thing grow an' prosper."
Christoph waved a hand in the air. "Excitement is warranted for such improvements. Mr. Guyer, I can't promise anything right now as far as investments are concerned, but the prospect is inviting. Keep me updated." He turned to Addy with a grin. "As for the noise, Miss Chappel, I can't speak for everyone on the council, but I've become used to the sounds of progress and as long as the stamp mill was slightly distanced from town would see no problem with allowing one to be built nearby."
He clasped his hands together, going back to the topic at hand: the timber. "Mr. Guyer, Mr. Sykes, here's what I propose. Your men cut the timber needed to shore up the interior of the mine and I'll mill it for you at three-quarters cost. Alternatively, your men work in tandem with mine to cut the timber and I'll give it to you at half cost."
Either of those options was amenable to him, as one gave his men actual work to do, and one gave him a little extra profit to supplement the income his men would lose to Guyer's.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed looked at Sykes who was grinning from ear to ear at the prop[osal, "Yes sir, that's a great deal, we working with your people in this, everyone works and gets paid. I like it! And you sir, have yourself a deal!"
"My men are ready whenever you have your men ready." Sykes offered, "The land was bought so all we need to do is pick a day to start. If you look here on the map this area, that's ours. And we'd prefer not to log it out if possible. I know there's timber everywhere, but there won't be if it's logged out."
"Yes, that would be how we'd like to get this done. Plenty of land and plenty of trees to take, as well as leave," Speed added.
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph returned Sykes' ear-to-ear smile with a more reserved one of his own. "I'm glad that's acceptable to you both." He bent to study the map and nodded. It was a fair-sized piece of land, well-suited to the way the two men wanted it cleared. "I'll give my men instructions to just thin the trees, so to speak."
Well, that had been easy. A good deal all around as far as cutting and milling the timber went. Now all that was left was to work Addy Chappel's wagons in and set a date to start the work. Christoph turned to the wagoneer to bring her back into the conversation. "My men can be ready to start this job either tomorrow or the day after. And since I'm not using all my men, I can begin milling timbers as soon as they're brought to me. Miss Chappel, how soon do you think you'll be up and running with your new team?"
@ [Bongo
@ [Flip]
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"I got me one rig right now," Addy commented, "and I'm sure I can get another in a couple'a days...know of a freight wagon fer sale in town here an' can borrow a team until I can get more horses."
There was a lot to consider, but the barn she used could handle several more horses and wagons, so the next issue was drivers. Of those, she had some ideas, and once her brother was back, he could pitch in, too.
"Might be a little slow th' first week or so, until I can get things up an' runnin', but I can give ya...say, four rigs?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"I think that we can get by. Beings we'll all be a bit slow at the start of the project." Speed said, "So getting that second wagon, and a borrowed team, that will help get things moving."
"I kin drive jest about anything with wheels, so if ya get in a spot I'll drive for ya." Sykes offered up, "We'll have us enough cutters ta git the job done, that's fer shore, an' what's more, we got men ta set them timbers without me was I needed somewhares else, so, you kin count on thet, by God!"
Speed looked at all of them with a smile, "This will move the Copper Queen forward and start really getting the ore out of the ground then off to the closest mill, And that's what we've been waiting for. Making the investment start paying off." The incoming cash flow from the ore would pay salaries and equipment costs, then bank the first real profits.
This deal with Christoph Alders was just the beginning of what could be a lucrative partnership with him, and with Addy Chapple. Time would tell, and, there was still the Falcon Mine to be developed. Who knew what else might come their way, but, the copper would make them all rich!
@Bailey @Bongo
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph nodded along as the arrangements for transporting the timber were made. This was a good arrangement, and the more he heard, the more he liked it. This was what he liked to see: people coming together for the common good of each other and for Kalispell.
"Well, then," he said, "things are off to a good start. If any of you have any questions over the coming days or weeks, you know where to find me." He gestured around his office with a smile. "Can I offer you all a drink before you head back out into the cold?" He moved over to a cabinet where he kept a few decanters of whiskey for occasions like this one.
@ [Bongo
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled, this was what he had hoped for when the negotiations had begun, something fair and equitable for all parties involved. They had succeeded in getting that done quickly. This was good! Sometimes he had known simple negotiations to drag on for days with little to no movement from either side. this had been a real pleasure, and everyone would stand to make money because of it, and after all, wasn't that what business was about, making money?
"Not my habit sir, but I'll join you in a drink." He said smiling all the while. "Great to get something done that didn't involve more than handshakes. Sometimes, agreements can be fraught with if and's and buts that simply delay getting the deal done."
Sykes was happy as well, it meant getting his men to work cutting trees as well as digging out what ore they could and that might be a lot from what he had seen. "Yes sir been a real pleasure doin' bidness with you, sir. My men'll be out there cuttin' first thing, an' maybe settin' up camp. Guess that depends on what we need done first. Prob'ly send men ta jest set up the camp, we can pack supplies out as well."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Never will turn down a proper drink!" Addy declared, nodding. She wasn't much of a drinker, not that she hadn't been pretty snockered a time or two, she she did appreciate a quality whisky now and then!
And this was a cause to celebrate, with the collaboration of the businesses. and it would help keep Addy close to home so that she could mind Weedy more closely, since she'd taken full responsibility for him.
"Gonna be real good workin' with you gents!"
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
"The pleasure is all mine, gentleman. I make it a personal practice not to beat around the bush when it comes to business matters, and I'm happy to work with people who feel the same way."
Christoph smiled as pulled out a few glasses, selected a decanter of whiskey, and poured each person in the room a small serving. Enough to get the blood moving and warm everyone up, but not too much since this was more part of the business transaction than a stand around and talk social interaction. After distributing the glasses to Addy, Speed, and Sykes, he raised his own.
"To the partnership between the Copper Queen, Alders Lumber, and Miss Chappel's freight wagons. And to partnerships in general."
As he sipped, he surveyed his new business partners. Things were looking bright for Kalispell and all their respective businesses.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
The three of them returned the toast with a Hearty "To The partnership!" It felt good, it felt right and, it also felt as though this was something good for the town of Kalispell as well. Work meant money for the men in both camps.
"Well sir, we'll be on our way. Glad that we're doing business together." Speed said as he sat his glass aside and offered his hand. "I believe that what we are doing is good for not just us, but Kalispell as a whole."
"Yep. Folks gettin' back ta work is always a good thing. An' my men'll be rarin' ta go come first light ta git them trees down an' trimmed for ya." Sykes added.
It had been a great day, well, a great couple of hours hammering out an agreement that was done with just a handshake.
@Bongo
@Bailey