Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow as it streamed through the windows of Poul's room, where he had taken up residence for the past month of January and the first week of February. Having been unceremoniously kicked out of the Astoria Hotel, he had found a temporary home in this place. As he packed his belongings into his luggage, preparing to leave, he reflected on the past month of his life.

Having completed his one-month contract as a supervisor of a factory that produces direct current electric motors, Poul had trained the workers to manufacture an electric motor in a mere month. Now that they had the necessary skills, he was ready to leave them to their work. As he was packing, he heard a knock on the door, and a voice called out to him.

"Mr. Nielsen, Mr. Russell wanted to speak with you."

Recognizing the voice as that of James Russel's secretary, Sam Insull, Poul set aside his luggage and briefcase, then followed the man to Russel's office. Upon entering, he greeted Russell and took a seat as requested.

"It seems that you are already leaving, Sir Nielsen," Russell observed, eyeing him critically.

Poul acknowledged his words with a nod, replying, "Well, I have a business to attend to back in Pittsburgh. My partner is waiting for me."

"In that case, I will not take much of your time. Please have a seat, this will only take five minutes," Russell said as he motioned toward the empty chair in front of his desk.

As Poul took his seat, Russell leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk as he looked directly at Poul.

"I would like to express my gratitude for the contribution you have made to this business. The electric motor that you have supervised is highly efficient and has significantly impacted the success of our company. Thanks to your invention, we have attracted a substantial number of customers who are interested in electricity," Russell stated, with a tone of appreciation and admiration.

Poul acknowledged his words with a nod and replied, "It was my pleasure to have been of assistance. I am pleased to hear that your business is flourishing."

Russell continued to elaborate on their business developments and said, "We are expanding our operations to fifteen cities, constructing direct current systems. Initially, we only provided light, but with your electric motor, we are now able to offer productivity as well. However, I must express my concerns regarding the royalties we have agreed upon in our contract."

Poul asked, "What do you mean?"

Russell explained, "Building a direct current electric motor is a laborious and costly process. The original agreement of two dollars and fifty cents per horsepower is becoming a burden on my business. I was hoping that we could revise the agreement to one dollar and fifty cents per horsepower."

Poul contemplated the proposal and responded, "I understand your predicament, Mr. Russell. However, the agreement we made cannot be changed arbitrarily. I will have to discuss this with my partner in Pittsburgh before making any decision. If he disagrees, I'm afraid we will have to stick to the original contract."

Russell frowned at Poul's response, a glint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. "I see," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Well, if that's the case, then we may have to consider purchasing the patent outright."

Poul raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden change in the conversation. "Are you proposing to buy the patent from me?"

Russell nodded. "Yes. If we can't come to an agreement about the royalties, then it's best if we purchase the patent outright. We are willing to pay a fair price for it, of course. You will receive stocks, and later, if the business thrives, you can sell those stocks for a fortune."

"I understand, Mr. Russell. However, I will have to consult with my partner first before making any decisions," Poul replied.

Russell replied, "Take all the time you need. But please keep in mind that we are very interested in your invention, and we don't want to miss the opportunity to continue using it in our business."

Poul asked, "Should my partner and I decide to sell the patent of a direct current electric motor, how much are you willing to pay us?"

"What do you think of fifty thousand dollars?" Russell proposed.

Poul's mind raced as he considered Russell's offer. Fifty thousand dollars was a significant sum, especially in this era. The money would go a long way toward funding their other projects, but he couldn't make a decision on his own. He needed to consult with his partner first.

"I appreciate the offer, Mr. Russell, and it's certainly tempting," Poul said thoughtfully. "But as I mentioned earlier, I need to discuss this with my partner before making any decisions. The patent is not solely mine, and I cannot sell it without his agreement."

"Of course, I understand," Russell replied, nodding his head. "Your partner's approval is necessary for this transaction, and I appreciate your professionalism in this matter."

Poul nodded in agreement. "I assure you that we will get back to you as soon as possible with our decision."

"Very well," Russell said, standing up from his desk. "It has been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Nielsen. I hope that we can continue our business relationship in the future, whether it's through this patent or other ventures."

Poul smiled politely and stood up as well. "Thank you, Mr. Russell. It has been an honor to work with you as well. I will keep you informed about our decision."

Poul stepped out of Russell's office with a sense of relief, glad to have concluded the meeting without any major issues. Outside the office, he saw Sam Insull standing just outside there, waiting for him.

"Good day, Mr. Nielsen," Sam greeted him with a polite bow. "I trust that your meeting with Mr. Russell went well."

Poul nodded in response. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Insull. It was a productive meeting, and I'm glad we were able to come to an understanding."

"I'm pleased to hear that," Sam replied, a small smile on his face. "I also wanted to let you know that your luggage has already been taken care of by our men. They're waiting for you in your carriage downstairs."

"Thank you, Mr. Insull. I appreciate the assistance."

"It's our pleasure to assist you in any way we can," Sam said with a nod. "Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything else in the future."

Poul expressed his gratitude to Sam once again and bid him farewell with a nod. He descended the stairs, reaching the ground floor, where his carriage was already waiting for him outside the building. He felt relieved to leave the bustling city behind and return to Pittsburgh, where his partner was eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Poul settled into the comfortable seat of the carriage, closing his eyes for a moment to let the memories of his time in New York City wash over him. It had been an eventful month, full of new experiences and learnings about society.

As the carriage made its way towards the ferry station, Poul opened his eyes and looked out the window, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The clatter of horse-drawn carriages, the hum of machinery from the factories, and the chatter of people on the streets blended together into a cacophony of noise that somehow felt like music to Poul's ears.

The carriage pulled up to the ferry station, and Poul got out, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. He looked out across the water at the distant outline of the city skyline. Soon, New York will have skyscrapers with towering heights that can touch the sky.

As Poul stood on the street, taking in the sights and sounds of the city, a young boy approached him holding a stack of newspapers.

"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" the boy called out, waving a newspaper in Poul's direction.

"How much is it?" Poul asked.

"It's a penny, sir," the boy replied eagerly.

Poul dug into his pocket and handed the boy a penny, which the boy eagerly pocketed. "Thank you, sir! Have a nice day!" the boy called out as he scampered away.

Unfolding the newspaper, Poul read the latest news. There he saw advertisements of the direct current electric motor and its significance to the development of the country. As he read on, he came across an article that made his eyes widen.

The article reads: "Poul Nielsen, Founder of Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, Challenges Social Norms with Confrontation of Prominent Noblewoman at Astoria Hotel"

On January 25th 882, an unexpected scene occurred at the Astoria Hotel when Poul Nielsen, the founder of Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, had a heated argument with prominent noblewoman Fiora Whitney. The confrontation challenged social norms as an Albian like Nielsen confronted a member of the upper class.

Witnesses reported that the argument between Nielsen and Whitney was intense, with both parties exchanging heated words. According to sources, the confrontation began when Whitney made a derogatory remark about Poul who was just walking by which prompted Nielsen to speak up and confront her.

The Astoria Hotel, where the argument occurred, is known to be a gathering place for New York's elite. As a prominent figure in the business community, Nielsen's confrontation with Whitney has garnered widespread attention.

Poul Nielsen along with this partner, Jonathan Axelsen founded Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has since expanded the business throughout the United States. The company is known for its innovations in the railway industry and has become a major player in the transportation sector.

The confrontation at the Astoria Hotel has sparked conversations about social norms and class differences in New York society. Some have commended Nielsen for his bravery in challenging Whitney's views, while others have criticized his behavior as inappropriate.

The incident has also shed light on the treatment of Albian and other people of color, highlighting the challenges they face in society. Nielsen's actions have sparked a larger discussion about the importance of recognizing the contributions of workers from all backgrounds.

As of now, both Nielsen and Whitney have not commented on the incident. However, the confrontation at the Astoria Hotel is sure to have lasting effects on the discourse around social norms and class differences in New York society."

After reading the article, his face grew stern as he absorbed the words. He clenched his hands tightly around the paper, crumpling it in his grip

"This is bad," he muttered under his breath.