Chapter 78: Good News and Bad News

Six months later.

The Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company and the Union Switch & Signal Company were thriving, with new contracts pouring in from well-established and up-and-coming railroad companies. It was evident that they had a complete monopoly on the market, being the only ones producing the air brake, locomotive draft gears, and signaling equipment. Their patents were ironclad, making it nearly impossible for any newcomer to compete with the young industrialist duo's technical prowess.

Despite their success, Jonathan and Poul knew that it wouldn't last forever. They were constantly vigilant for potential competitors who might challenge their dominance.

In the company town of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, the construction of the new office building was a bustling hive of activity. Workers flocked around the construction site, busy with their duties of hammering, welding, mixing, digging, jackhammering, and carrying buckets of concrete and rebars. The crane lifted heavy loads, while horse-drawn carriages came and went, delivering construction supplies and picking up waste.

Jonathan and Poul were hands-on, overseeing every aspect of their business. They knew that their company's success relied on the quality of their products and the efficiency of their operations. Despite their busy schedules, they took the time to connect with their employees and made sure that everyone was well taken care of.

As they watched the construction of their new office building take shape, they marveled at how far they had come in such a short time. They knew that there were still many challenges ahead, but they were determined to stay ahead of the game and maintain their position as leaders in the industry.

Returning back to their office, Poul and Jonathan took their seats at their respective desks. Each of them works on their own projects. Jonathan was with the construction of the new office building and managing their arms manufacturing company, while Poul is focusing on improving the air brake system, the locomotive draft gear, and signaling equipment.

While doing so, they were glancing at the newspaper on their desk, reading it.

"Oh, it seems like Princess Fiora is apologizing to you," Jonathan informed.

"Yeah, I'm reading her statement right now," Poul said as he scanned every line of the article.

[To the esteemed members of the community,

I would like to extend my sincere apologies for my behavior towards Mr. Poul Nielsen during our encounter at the Astoria Hotel on January 25th, 882. My words and actions towards Mr. Nielsen were insensitive and inappropriate, and I regret the pain and humiliation that I caused him.

At that moment, I allowed my pride and prejudices to cloud my judgment, and I made hurtful remarks that are not a reflection of my true character. I understand that my behavior was unacceptable, and I take full responsibility for my actions.

I would like to assure Mr. Nielsen and the wider community that I have learned from this experience and I am committed to becoming a better person. I pledge to treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve, regardless of their background or social status.

Once again, I apologize for any offense that I have caused, and I hope that we can all move forward with mutual understanding and respect.

Sincerely,

Fiora Whitney]

"She sounded like a decent person in this statement, though is she really the one who wrote it?" Jonathan chuckled.

"Of course not," Poul said. "Even I was not sincerely apologizing to her. This is just for formalities. She ruined my character and it bit her back in the end. Still, I'm glad that this matter is settled, for that, Morgan wouldn't be angry with us anymore, despite us making him a lot of money."

As they were chatting with one another, a person entered the office. It was Amelia, carrying a tray of coffee.

"Here's a coffee for two of you, Mr. Nielsen, Mr. Axelsen," Amelia set the coffee down on their table and bowed politely.

"Amelia's, what's our schedule for today?" Poul asked.

"Today, you'll meet with the representatives from the Union Pacific Railroad, Potter Huntington, Jefferson Garett, from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Vaughan Pennsylvania Railroad, and Moses Corning from New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.

"Oh, I believe those three are our first clients, Wandebilt being our biggest customer," Jonathan said. "What are the purposes of their visit?"

"The first three want to partner with the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, awarding us the contract of retrofitting their steam locomotives with air brakes, as for the last, he didn't mention. Oh, Mr. Nielsen, have you read? There is an article that might interest you in today's paper."

"What do you mean?" Poul glanced at her.

"You'll see," Amelia said, grinning.

Poul checked the newspaper and saw an article.

[Washington D.C. - In a move to improve safety for railroad workers and passengers, the United States Congress has introduced the Railroad Safety Appliance Bill, which will require all railroad companies to retrofit their steam locomotives with an air brake, automatic coupler, and draft gear.

The bill, which was introduced by Congressman Lorenzo Coffin, has gained bipartisan support from lawmakers who have long pushed for improved safety measures in the railroad industry. The new safety regulations will require all steam locomotives to be equipped with air brakes, which will help reduce the risk of accidents by allowing trains to stop more quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, the automatic coupler will help prevent accidents caused by improperly coupled cars, while the draft gear will help absorb the shock caused by the slack action between cars during starting and stopping.

"Railroad safety has been a major concern for years, and the introduction of this bill is a step in the right direction," said Congressman Coffin. "The addition of these safety features will help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries for workers and passengers alike."

The bill has been met with support from railroad companies as well, who recognize the importance of ensuring the safety of their employees and passengers. While the cost of retrofitting the locomotives may be significant, companies recognize the long-term benefits of improved safety measures.

If the bill is passed into law, all railroad companies will be required to retrofit their steam locomotives within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the new regulations could result in significant penalties and fines.

The introduction of the Railroad Safety Appliance Bill has been praised as a major step forward for the railroad industry, and it is hoped that the new safety regulations will help reduce the number of accidents and injuries that occur on America's railroads.]

A wide grin plastered across Poul's face after reading the article. This article meant a lot for their company. If the bill was passed and became a law, then the contracts will flood into their doorsteps. This means they'll yield a lot of money. And when there is a lot of money coming in, that means they can fund their next ventures.

"This is probably the greatest news I have ever read," Poul exclaimed.

"What was it?" Jonathan inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"A congressman passed a bill mandating railroad companies to adopt air brake systems, automatic couplers, and draft gears. Do you know what this means right?"

"It means we are going to be rich!" Jonathan exclaimed, raising his arms high.

"The train is not stopping boys! Honk! Honk!" Poul exclaimed joyously while imitating the whistling sound of the steam locomotive.

Amelia giggled, amused at the industrialist's duo enthusiasm about the bill. Of course, as their executive secretary, she is happy for the future prospects of the company. It was her purpose after all aside from observing them under the orders of Lady Caroline.

As much as she would like to remind them that nothing yet is final, she couldn't stop them from celebrating early.

As the representatives from the three railroad companies arrived in their office, the tension in the air was palpable. Poul took them into a separate room while Jonathan accommodated Mr. Corning. He had been informed of the visit but not the purpose, and as he awaited the reason for the meeting, his anxiety began to mount.

"Mr. Corning, it's a pleasure to meet you again," Jonathan said, trying to mask the apprehension in his voice. "My secretary told me that you were coming, but you didn't state the purpose of your visit. May I know why?"

Mr. Corning's expression was stoic as he replied, "Well, it's simple, Mr. Axelsen. We are pulling out of the agreement."

Jonathan's heart raced at the sudden termination. "I don't understand. We are on a schedule. We delivered the air brakes in time and in good condition, and they worked as we promised. Why are you terminating it?"

"Because, Mr. Axelsen, your air brake is expensive. At first, we were forced to choose you as our contractor because there's no company in this country that sells air brakes. But now, there is one, and at a cheaper price."

Jonathan was taken aback. "There is a company that sells air brakes?"

Mr. Corning paused for a moment before revealing, "The Watertown Air Brake Company."

The name struck Jonathan like a bolt of lightning. It was a direct competitor, and its sudden appearance in the market was unexpected. He turned to face the three representatives from the railroad companies who had emerged from the adjacent room. They avoided his gaze and shook their heads in a gesture of apology.

"What's happening?" Jonathan asked them.

"It seems that they are also terminating the agreement, Mr. Axelsen," Corning said. "As you can see, we are your customers, but if someone offers the same service at a lower cost, it's only natural that we would turn to them, right?"

"We signed a contract," Jonathan said, his voice rising with anger. "You can't just terminate it."

Mr. Corning remained composed. "You have retrofitted sixty percent of our steam locomotives with air brake systems, and they are functioning properly. We can pay you fifteen million dollars for that."

Jonathan couldn't believe his ears. "They are working properly, so why are you still terminating it? I don't understand."

"Mr. Axelsen, I already told you, it's expensive," Mr. Corning replied. "The Watertown Air Brake Company is willing to retrofit the rest of our steam locomotives with their air brakes for five million dollars. So, if you are still sad about it, we can offer you stocks. Call our office when you two have decided."

"You are making a mistake, Mr. Corning. We are the only legitimate company that sells and manufactures air brakes. If there is another company, it's likely stolen from us."

"Prove it, then," Mr. Corning challenged.