New SorGun

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Now THAT is an unusual redevelopment proposal. Not sure how in demand the hardened professionals might be. But, I suppose options are limited...

[Fox 1,444]

Woo Hoo!! We're back in business ..

Can't wait to see how this new competition between cities is going to play out .. secretly I hope New SorGun proves to be the best as usual.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

That is great news for New Sorgun! They don't need a railway to ensure success!

[vivapanda 422]

Seems like there's still hope!

[Benedict 3,119]

This is a great continuation of the story... excellent work on the images as always.

[SimCoug 5,973]

@Lyhoko: Thanks

@Schulmanator: Yes... a resource that was always in short supply out west in those days.

@Fox: Thanks, for the comment. It's interesting how people like to pick sides - but I suppose everybody has to have a home team

@CityMaster: Only time will tell on that one...

@vivapanda: There's always hope

@Benedict: Thank you - I'm surprised at how this CJ has developed into more of a story than I was anticipating. Perhaps is't the natural progression of a CJ life cycle.

A sneek peek at what's ahead next week!

Steamer Bay is about to show Mr. Finch what a paper tiger looks like up close...

click for full size

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Mr. Finch is about to get it! Ooooooooh!

[Fox 1,444]

Nice teaser..

Yes I love New SorGun, it was the original and the best!! I won't accept any substitutes!

Thanks for releasing your lots on to the Stex too.. I'm sure they'll prove to be popular.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Can't wait for more! Lyhoko: Is it time to turn some corrupt officials into pincushions yet?

[Saint Andrew 6]

Very nice area, will keep looking for more!

[simlink 1,098]

Looking fantastic - your detailing is always sublime.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Looking great!

[metarvo 710]

This looks like a nice rural area, even with all of the suspicion connected to the railroad.  The houses really make it shine. 

[SimCoug 5,973]

Thanks for the kind comments.   It's time for a new update - I hope you enjoy it:

 

 

 

Update 29

 

The Spike Heard ‘Round the Region

 

1875-1876

 

 

The actions of Finch had reinforced the spirits and resolve of New SorGun, and the town was still on the map - But for how long?  Mayor Walker and the other town leaders knew that New SorGun could not survive on an island.  To really thrive and become a world class city, they needed a rail connection.  And if Northern Pacific wasn’t going to do it, then dang it, this town could come together and do it themselves.  On May 1^st of 1874 the entire town held a big festival in the shadow of the big SorGun tree – it was deemed a living monument by the first settlers of New SorGun.

 

 

The next day (after the hangovers wore off) work began on the tracks.  With ground being leveled and railroad ties being laid, the excitement around town was electric.

 

 

The New SorGun Railroad Company was born that spring.  The plan was to run the line east, over the mountains and connect with the Northern Pacific track in Eastern Washington – creating the shortest and most direct route to the Pacific.

 

 

At first, the group of volunteer railroad builders made moderate progress.  But after the initial excitement wore off, it became clear that without the proper materials, workers and expertise, the New SorGun Railroad Company was more fantasy than reality.  Meanwhile, work on the Northern Pacific line plowed ahead at breakneck pace.

      

                                                                                                                                           

On October 25^th 1874, the final spike was driven in the rail line that connected Steamer Bay with Kalama.  A simple ceremony was held, attended mostly by the railroad workers and their families.

 

 

But despite the lack of pomp and circumstance, the psychological effect of driving the final spike was heard around the region.  Suddenly, businessmen and investors were clamoring to get a piece of the terminus pie.

(click for full size)

 

 

Neighborhoods were filling up as well.  Some just wanted to start a new life, while others were riding the wave of excitement and trying to get rich in the process.

 

 

Regardless of the fact that there was thousands of miles of unfinished track through Montana and the Dakotas, the sight of a rail station in Steamer Bay gave Finch’s paper tiger some teeth.

(click for full size)

 

 

Steamer Bay experienced unprecedented growth throughout 1875 and by the fall it could claim a population of over 1000 souls and it was competing with New SorGun for the population crown of the region.

(click for full size)

 

 

Yet New SorGun was still ticking.

 

 

The railroad bosses were determined to pull the thorn that was New SorGun out of their foot.  At first they tried to erase the name New SorGun from any train schedules that existed.  When that didn’t work, they amended the train schedules to require an overnight stay in Steamer Bay before a boat would make the final connection from Port Haven to New SorGun.

 

 

The era of the sail was on the wane.

 

 

And steam locomotion was the future.

 

 

Would New SorGun rot on the vine, like so many other towns caught in a bygone era?

 

 

The Northern Pacific Railroad would like for nothing better than to see New SorGun turn to dust.  And as Steamer Bay’s growth boomed through 1876, the railroad big wigs were counting on that very outcome, as they happily counted their money in half a continent away in Minneapolis.

 

Thanks for stopping by

[Charlie_Zane 963]

New Sorgun's Railroad, when completed will out shine Steamer Bay for sure!

 

Amazing update, loving it!

[SAVAGExPHOENIX 955]

unfortunately for them, New SorGun won't wither away.

[simlink 1,098]

Well, the simple solution would be for NSG to jump into the 21st century and use jumbo jets - or a freeway. Thought that wouldn't work too well with the storyline... 

[Fox 1,444]

Love the picture with the dolphins .. just magical..

 

I know New SorGun is going to come out on top in the end .. If it doesn't I'm going to hunt you down and .. haha.. just joking ..

 

Loving the story so far.. can't wait to see where we go from here now we are forging ahead in to the modern era.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I love the beautiful pictures of this old time town. 

 

5/5

[SimCoug 5,973]

@City_Master: Thanks!
@daTSchikinhed: Not if New SorGun has anything to say about it.
@sim_link: Yes, that would be a simple solution But I don't have any Sci-fi plans for this CJ... yet
@Fox: Thank you - I was pretty happy with how that sailing ship turned out.
@Aaron: Thanks for stopping by!

Coming next week...

Sometimes... History is made with a handshake.
1600x1200 - click for full

[Schulmanator 5,787]

I am intrigued...

 

 

but beware a politician handshake!

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

New SorGun has to survive... What would the CJ be called if it didn't?

 

Also, I've been wondering... why's the G capitalized?

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Now this is interesting!

[iuri99 48]

The details... it is a idyllic sight !  Very good. 

[Swordmaster 50]

I've been keeping a close eye on this thread. Off the top of my head only a handful MDs/CJs can compete with New SorGun in terms of quality, and none at all in the area of historical development. (This includes myself )

Cheers

Willy

[vivapanda 422]

Exciting story!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I love this damn city Journal, it;s so damn perfect. Keep it up. :

[rubberduck3y6 45]

Really good story and unexpected twist with the railroad company completely ignoring the existing towns in the region.

 

Unfortunately none of the screenshots are showing up for me? Is anyone else having this problem?

 

Oh and I've been wondering about the internal capitalisation in New SorGun as well!

[SimCoug 5,973]

@Schulmanator:  So true!
@Lyhoko:  SorGun is a combination of two (shortened) names.
@City_Master:  There's always something cooking around these parts...
@iuri99:  Thanks!
@Willy:  Thanks for stopping by, although you are selling yourself short - I'm always looking at PSC for ideas and inspiration.  
@vivapanda:  Thanks!
@Aaron:  Thanks for stopping by - always glad to see you pop in here.
@rubberduck3y6:  Thanks - hopefully the links are back in proper working order - sometimes all it takes is a browser refresh.
 
Now, on with the show!



Update 30

 

A Bully Plan

 

1876-1878

 

Long before Anthony S. Myers ever opened his blacksmithing business in Porthaven, he was a tiny tot in a rural Wisconsin school house.


Like many bright students, his drive and ambition attracted the attention of the school bully, who proceeded to torment poor Anthony day in and day out. Papa Myers’ advice to his boy was simple. “He thinks you are small – so change his mind”.


The next day, little Anthony got the jump on his bully when he wasn’t looking – a fight ensued and most of the children who witnessed it would agree that Anthony was not the clear victor. Fortunately for the little tyke, the tussle was enough to make the bully rethink Anthony’s size.


In the spring of 1876, Mr. Myers childhood memories were just a foggy haze – but some lessons stick with us throughout life. Anthony’s life experiences had guided him a long way since his childhood days in Wisconsin. His Blacksmithing business continued to grow…


And his knack for engineering had earned him the position as manager of Mr. Delin’s lumber mill – still the largest in the region.


Word of Mr. Myers accomplishments and stellar reputation eventually made their way to Eastman T. Finch’s ear. While Mr. Finch was working tirelessly to fight off the actions of the Northern Pacific Railroad and keep New SorGun alive – he arranged for a meeting with Myers at Murphy’s pub in Porthaven.


Eastman Finch knew his hometown was in trouble. Crashing property values and the steady decline in population would eventually result in the small backwater town that the Railroad bosses were counting on. Finch also knew a thing or two about bullies, especially the entitled rich tycoons who would stop at nothing to stay on top and crush anybody who stood in the way. Unlike Myers, Finch learned his lessons about tyrants later in life, when he was trying to make ends meet in the rough, wild streets of San Francisco.


But oppressors, no matter the size, can be broken. Finch had a plan to get the jump on Northern Pacific, he just needed some help from Anthony Myers. Fortunately for Finch, Myers fighting days weren’t over yet


New SorGun was still motivated to build their own railroad, but the town lacked two key ingredients: Money and Expertise. Between his own fortune and his connections with bankers in San Francisco, Finch wasn’t worried about the money. But finding someone who could engineer a rail line, organize the construction and oversee the entire project from beginning to end… that was where Mr. Myers came in.


Finch offered Myers a handsome salary for his time and energy, and the salary alone would have made Myers a rich man by any standard – but Myers was a keen business man as well, and an opportunity like this didn’t present itself but once in a life time. Myers proposed a 50/50 partnership, and he would kick in $10,000 of his own cash. Of the dozen or so patrons at the bar that night, it’s doubtful anybody witnessed the handshake that would quake the region.


Nearly two years to the day after the New SorGun Railroad Company began its ill-fated attempt at constructing a rail line, Finch & Myers Railroad broke ground near New SorGun. The sight of dozens of workers, wagons full of tools and piles of construction materials was a welcome site to the citizens in town.


By the summer of 1877, the new rail line stretched for more than two miles inland. Between bond sales and the initial investment put up by the two partners, the F&M Railroad Company had purchased hundreds of acres of land and provided jobs for hundreds of local workers.


That was a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly 300 miles of track needed to connect to the main transcontinental line on the eastern side of the mountains, and the estimated $8,000,000 needed to accomplish it. It’s amusing, really. Finch was selling public bonds to finance the railroad effort by promising a line straight across the mountains with the hope of opening up the vast farmland of Walla Walla to the expanding port of New SorGun.


But instead of 300 miles of track, $8,000,000 in cash and the Washington State breadbasket, both Finch and Myers had set their sights on slightly smaller numbers. Say 13 miles, $80,000… and coal.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Very interesting and intriguing storyline and great pictures!