Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Meanwhile, as Poul Nielsen was having his luck on finding oil, Jonathan was in New York, supervising the construction of the metro station in New York.

He was in the makeshift tent, just beside the streets whose underneath are being bored by a tunnel boring machine. From his seat, he can feel the table he was working on rattling lightly from the vibrations produced by the machine.

The tunnel boring machine can drill a tunnel 30 meters per day, and they started drilling last month, making it 930 meters of tunnel already drilled.

Jonathan had been working on this project for almost three months now, and he was proud of the progress they had made so far. The metro station was going to be one of the biggest and most modern in the city, and Jonathan had been appointed as the chief supervisor of the project since he was the one who planned it all. Under him was a variety

He looked at his watch and realized it was almost lunchtime. He decided to take a break and go outside to get some fresh air. As he stepped out of the tent, he saw a group of reporters from the New York Times and the Globe waiting for him.

"Mr. Axelsen Mr. Axelsen! A moment of your time," one of the reporters called out.

Jonathan approached the reporters, recognizing some of them had already visited their company headquarters in Pittsburgh for interviews.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Jonathan asked, trying to keep his tone professional.

"Some of the citizens were concerned about the constant rumbling of the earth beneath, can you explain what is happening? For the peace of mind of the residents living in New York?" the journalist said, his eyes fixed on him.

"The rumbling that the citizens of New York living nearby the construction site experienced is due to the tunnel boring machine boring through the earth and creating a tunnel for the metro station. The machine is drilling through the rock, and as it moves forward, the soil and rock are removed by the machine's cutting head, which creates a void. The void is then filled with grout, which supports the surrounding rock and soil. This process causes some vibrations, which can be felt by the residents nearby. However, we have taken measures to minimize the impact, such as hiring workers to manually monitor the ground vibrations and adjusting the machine's speed and direction accordingly. We also work closely with the local authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents living in the area, as it is our duty to take care of the community in which we operate."

"Okay, so there is nothing to be concerned about?"

Jonathan smiled reassuringly at the journalist. "As long as we continue to monitor the vibrations and take appropriate measures, there is no need for concern. We understand that this construction project may cause some inconvenience, but we are committed to minimizing its impact on the residents and ensuring the safety of everyone involved."

The journalists nodded, scribbling down notes as Jonathan spoke. "Can you tell us more about the project and its timeline?"

"Of course," Jonathan replied. "The construction of this metro station is a part of the city's plan to modernize its transportation system. Once completed, this station will be one of the busiest and most modern in the city, transporting hundreds of thousands of people within Manhattan. We expect to finish the drilling process in a few months and then move on to the next phase of the construction."

"Is that so, thank you, Mr. Axelsen," the journalist said before leaving the site. As he watched them leave, one of the workers approached him.

"Mr. Axelsen," he called and Jonathan turned to face him.

"What is it?"

"Sir, a councilor from the New York Board of Transportation wishes to speak with you regarding the construction progress," the worker said.

"Alright, I'll be there in a minute," Jonathan replied before turning back to the tent to grab his coat.

Jonathan made his way to the meeting spot where the councilor was waiting for him. The councilor, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, looked up as Jonathan approached.

"Mr. Axelsen, good to see you," the councilor said, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Likewise, Councilor. How can I help you?" Jonathan replied, shaking the councilor's hand.

"I'm here to discuss the progress of the construction and any issues or concerns that might have come up," the councilor said, gesturing for Jonathan to follow him.

As they walked towards the construction site, the councilor asked Jonathan several questions about the project.

"So, how many kilometers has your team drilled as of now?"

"930 meters, councilor, there's 13,760 meters left to drill," Jonathan replied.

"That is quite fast," the councilor looked at him with a stunned expression.

"Well, what did I tell you in the proposal, we have the technology to drill the earth faster than what was currently available " Jonathan replied with a hint of pride in his voice.

The councilor nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I remember that. And how is the budget holding up? Are we staying within our means?"

"Yes, we are. We've taken steps to ensure that we stay within the budget while still maintaining a high level of quality and safety. We have a team of financial experts monitoring our spending and making sure that we're not overspending in any area. However, seeing the prospect of the project, I advise that we move forward to the plan of public financing, like issuing public stock offerings," Jonathan suggested. "It would be a way to raise additional funds for the project and also give the public an opportunity to invest in the future of New York's transportation system."

"But I thought we were within budget?"

"Yes, we are, but we also want to ensure that we have enough funds to cover any unexpected costs that may arise during the construction process, especially in this huge kind of construction. If a problem occurs and we don't have a budget, there's a great chance that the project will be delayed. And I don't want it happening." Jonathan explained.

"That's a good point, Mr. Axelsen. I will bring this up with the board and see what they think. Thank you for your suggestion."

They reached the end of the tunnel where the workers were busy with the tunnel boring machine. It was rotating, gnawing its way through the rock with an ear-piercing screech. Jonathan and the councilor stood there for a moment, watching the machine in action.

The councilor stood there and watched the process. Steel reinforcements were being installed on the walls to support the weight of the tunnel. The workers were also spraying fast-drying cement on the top and sides of the tunnel walls to prevent any potential collapse.

"I have never seen such a construction process such as this," the councilor mumbled under his breath.

"Well, councilor, we should leave the men at it. Although we have placed security measures to prevent unwanted accidents, accidents can still happen, so let's leave."

"Very well," the councilor said, and they turned to leave the construction site.

As they walked back towards the entrance, the councilor turned to Jonathan and said.

"After looking around the construction site, I'd say that the tax paid by the people of New York has never been wasted. We are looking forward to its completion and hope that it will be a significant change to the city."

Jonathan bowed his head politely and smiled. "Rest assured, councilor, we will do everything in our power to ensure that this project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety."

The councilor nodded in agreement. "I have no doubt about that, Mr. Axelsen. Your team has shown great dedication and expertise in this project so far, and I am confident that you will continue to do so until the end."

And after that, the councilor left the construction site, prompting Jonathan to return back to his office.

At his office, he sat on his chair and reclined for a moment, taking a deep breath to clear his head.

During the construction stage of the metro station, Jonathan will stay for about a year or two in New York to oversee its development. That means, he would seldom return to Pittsburgh and do his job as the Chief Operations Officer of the Axelsen & Nielsen Companies.

Of course, he would also oversee the construction projects for the power plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania but that's all about it.

"I should have men working for this, not me," Jonathan uttered to himself. For once in his life, he wanted to escape the responsibility of being in a higher position and enjoy life.

In his past life, he has been involved in a lot of projects and although all of it generated a lot of money, there was never an opportunity to use it for his relaxation. But once he was done with all of the grand projects, there was no doubt that there'll be someone who will take over for him.

For Jonathan, time is the most important thing because no one can buy time despite being a millionaire. So he intended to make the most of his second life in a decade.

Jonathan sighed. "That's still long."