Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World Chapter 67 Returning To Pittsburgh, But A Problem Arises

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow as it stread 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 ho 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 re 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 Jas 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 ."

"In that case, I will not take much of your ti. 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 custors 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 developnts 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 an?"

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

Poul contemplated the proposal and responded, "I understand your predicant, Mr. Russell. However, the agreent 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 disappointnt 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 ?"

Russell nodded. "Yes. If we can't co to an agreent 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 ti 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 ntioned 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 agreent."

"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 agreent. "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 inford about our decision."

Poul stepped out of Russell's office with a sense of relief, glad to have concluded the eting 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 eting with Mr. Russell went well."

Poul nodded in response. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Insull. It was a productive eting, and I'm glad we were able to co 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 n. 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 mont to let the mories of his ti 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 sohow 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 advertisents of the direct current electric motor and its significance to the developnt of the country. As he read on, he ca 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 argunt with prominent noblewoman Fiora Whitney. The confrontation challenged social norms as an Albian like Nielsen confronted a mber of the upper class.

Witnesses reported that the argunt 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 argunt 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 beco 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. So have comnded 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 treatnt 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 comnted 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.