A Bully Plan
Update 30
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.
Replies to the last Teaser:
Vlasky, Jason Leo, dubaidude, bazoka, and Hellken:
Thanks for your constant support and comments!
khalil1987: you made us very curious. I thing you make a brilliant movie maker one day , hum..
Thanks for the very kind compliment! Although I think I'll stick with SC4 for now 
Forthwall: So many handshakes in history, I wonder what great/bad stuff comes.
You and me both
ggamgus: Either this handshake is a really good thing... or a really bad thing. D:
A very thorough analysis
noypi07: I'm so excited to see your next update. It may not seem like it, but I'm actually following your gorgeous CJ 
Thanks, and I'm glad you enjoy it!
Luiz P. Romanini: BEHOLD, SIMCOUG!! THE ROMANINI REVIEW OF THE NEW SORGUN CITY JOURNAL.
Thanks for the very nice review, and I'm glad that you are back writing reviews, I think it's a very clever idea.
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