Posted November 20, 2022
"Well, I have to say I'm glad for men such as you, who aren't nervous leaving things to chance." Of course, she wasn't chiding him, and she was sure that he hadn't expected to win much, especially a lucrative mine. And he had a completely different way of life then.
"Of course, you could argue that opening a cafe is a gamble, but toss in dozens of lonely miners hankering for any cooking besides their own, and you can't go wrong!"
She leaned over to kiss his cheek, then added, "I'm glad you courted lady luck and won...and I'm glad you courted me and won!"
Posted November 21, 2022
That there is what I'd call a winning streak!" He agreed. "Guess we'll just keep 'er rollin'." Lady luck had smiled on him, more than once, and more than wining a one third share in the Yellow Jacket Mine, which led to being a part of the Consolidated Virginia. She had smiled on him with Emiline. The biggest win of all.
Hence forth he would keep a closer eye on the funds coming in, and likely look into doing a bit of investing. He did know that all that had been spent so far had barely scratched the surface of what sat in the bank in Helena. He would wire them for an accounting of his savings once they were on the Comstock.
Neither he nor Em were aware of Speed Guyers inclusion in the mining company, the Copper Queen. And they would not, until they were home.
"So maybe we invest in something beside silver mining after we get settled and all. Maybe that would be a good choice for us." He suggested.
Posted November 26, 2022
"Well, we have the cattle, and the horses...those are investments." With a grin, Emeline added, "And children, plenty of them."
Then she shrugged. "But you are right, even in cooking, I always make extra...you never know when a pie will burn, or you'll drop it taking it from the oven, or a badger will steal it off the sill, so it's good to have a back-up."
As long as they could afford it, there was certainly no harm in trying other things here and there, so that if one failed, it wasn't going to be financially devastating.
"So, what else would you invest in, given a chance?"
Posted November 27, 2022
Cattle and horses, yes, they sure are investments, and land. We have fifteen hundred acres now, so maybe we add more. But as far as other investments?" He paused a moment, "We talked about buildings in town already, other than land, animals, and them buildings in town I'm stumped. Never thought about doing no investing."
The idea of it sounded good, yes, increase what was coming in if possible, but herds take time to grow, horses take time grow and find buyers for, land just sits, but buildings, either they are rented or businesses are started, both of which would bring in money. But then, how much money did they need? That was the question. One that a real knowledge of what was already coming in could answer, that he could learn from bank statements from Helena, or once they arrived on the Comstock.
Posted November 29, 2022
"Oh, well..." Emeline thought for a moment, then a mischievous grin crossed her face. "Animals...elephants, zebras, giraffes, build something to rival what Mr. Barnum had in his American Museum." Her nose wrinkled up as she frowned. "Only without the fires, of course!"
She was teasing, besides just being impossible and impractical, she couldn't abide seeing creatures confined to cages.
"It's a pity that didn't work out, I would have loved to see those sorts of animals in reality. I know they do exist, but to actually see one, that would be amazing, I think."
Then she smiled more widely as she suggested, "Oh, but we could try to bring the circus to town sometime! Maybe when they open the hospital?"
A flight of fancy, not really a viable suggestion.
Posted November 29, 2022
"Well now Missus Pike, you have hit on an idea that just might be a possibility." Barnabas agreed. "Bringing one to town would be grand! Now, the plan would be to find one, no matter it's size, I mean I know they have big ones, so I would suppose out here they might have smaller ones that traveled around."
"For sure we could get a medicine show, maybe not exactly what you had in mind, but a great idea!" He tacked on enthusiastically. "A big dance, a medicine show, or whatever we could get, horse racing, all manner of contests from food to quilting to just about whatever we could think of. I like it!"
Posted November 29, 2022
"Well now Missus Pike, you have hit on an idea that just might be a possibility." Barnabas agreed.
"Really?" She hadn't been serious, but he didn't seem to be teasing her.
"Bringing one to town would be grand! Now, the plan would be to find one, no matter it's size, I mean I know they have big ones, so I would suppose out here they might have smaller ones that traveled around."
"We could certainly inquire." Emeline didn't have any idea how to start on that, but she could send out some inquiries when they got home.
"For sure we could get a medicine show, maybe not exactly what you had in mind, but a great idea!" He tacked on enthusiastically. "A big dance, a medicine show, or whatever we could get, horse racing, all manner of contests from food to quilting to just about whatever we could think of. I like it!"
"Really?" she repeated, although she was grinning widely now. "That would be fun, and I'm sure everyone would enjoy it. Maybe Mr. Sharon would know something?" It would seem reasonable that there may have been some shows in a city as big as San Francisco that would outdo a medicine show, and we could...well, maybe raise funds for the orphanage?"
Posted November 30, 2022
"Oh I like the way you think, Em. Exactly, Bill might well know of a show like we're looking for. A medicine show would do in a pinch, but some sort of circus would be a whole lot better." He replied, and this was getting exciting. Planning a celebration for the town was a great idea, and to incorporate raising funds for the orphanage, so much the better as he saw it, there would be essentially no cost to the town, he'd see to that, because they could!
"I agree that the folks would appreciate something before winter set in. Now, were we to find out the founding date for the town, it could be a Founders Day Celebration, might even last more than a day or two, could stretch into a whole week of celebrating our town!"
Posted December 2, 2022
"That would be a lot of fun!" Emeline agreed. "I suppose there is someone who knows when the town was founded." She thought for a moment, then laughed. "I wonder if there was a Mr. Kalispell? I can just imagine him wandering through the mountains...maybe an old trapper...and one day he just decides that cutting trees is easier, and here we are!"
It hadn't occurred to her to wonder about the origins of most any of the places she'd lived. Some were obvious because of location or terrain, some because of natural resources, but others just seemed to be there, and one gave them little thought, and that included the name.
"There's always a reason to be found for celebration, and I'm sure no one would object to several days of festivities. In fact, it makes sense to have a show there for a few days if we're going to that trouble. We can even advertise outside of townm of course, it might draw people from all over the territory."
Posted December 2, 2022
"I believe so, I mean putting a celebration together might be quite the chore, especially one that lasts more than a single day. The other problem, men have to work, especially those coming in from ranches, but you know that a dance alone would draw men and ladies from all over." He replied, it was an easy going conversation.
An entertaining conversation filled with what if's, because there was little they could do from where they were but discuss the possibilities of an event, and what could be done once they were home again.
"As far as the founder of the town, I'd reckon that'd have to be a Thornton, but when it was founded, now there's the rub. Maybe as far back as the mountain men. That wouldn't surprise me none at all." He added, "I think maybe the idea of recognizing the founder, or founders, is a good idea."