Vancouver- city of adventurers. Ch. # XXVII. Opening the Brick Yard

By jxmartin
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Vancouver – city of adventurers
Chapter XXVII
Opening the Brickyard
The day had finally come. Jim and Ian turned in their tools, said farewell to the lads that they had worked alongside of for a few years and got ready to step off the financial cliff and open their business.
On the way out, Mr. Conners had thanked them for their work, and reminded them that they could come back here as day laborers if their business took some time to get started.
The situation called for a few beers at Staunton’s after work.
It was early enough for them to slide onto their usual stools. The gas bags and Yukon aspirants didn’t usually arrive until later.
“ Barnie,” hollered Jmi, “Have you forgotten us?”
“Two beers and Canadian whiskey chasers coming up,” replied Barney.
“The lads keep me hopping most nights,” said Barney. “What are you to rascals up to?”
“Ian and I are going to work full time at our brick yard starting tomorrow,” explained Jim. “I thought we would have a few beers to celebrate.”
“Well, I hope it all works out for you lads,” said Barney. As he turned to go, he remembered something.
“That logger fellow, hank Phelan was in a few nights ago. He asked after you. He said they might be putting up an outbuilding at their logging camp. If you wanted to bid on that job, you could contact him at his company office, near the foot bridge to Grenville Island.”
“Thanks, Barney,” said Jim. “I will do that right away.”
“Funny how that all worked out,” said Ian. “A few weeks ago, their whole camp wanted to beat the stuffings out of us. Now they are offering us work.”
“Hank Phelan seemed like a decent sort,” said Jim. ”He did promise us work if they had any new buildings going up.”
“Well, I guess, starting tomorrow, we start running some loads of bricks through the process and fire bake them to perfection,” said Ian.
“I agree,” said Jim. “But first, I want to run a few small loads of bricks through the process and see if we can change their color and shape.”
“How do we do that?” inquired Ian.
“Well, we both know that the bricks come out red here in Vancouver because of the iron oxide content of the local clay.” said Jim. “But, I remember that Dad said he could add manganese to the mix in the pug mill. Then, if you fire the bricks longer in the kiln, at a higher temperature, you can achieve an ash gray cast to them.”
“And how are we going to know what that is? “ Ian asked.
“Well, that’s what we have to test for with several smaller loads,” said Jim. “I figure we can alter the shapes and thicknesses of the bricks by altering the wooden molds. Peter Sadler can help us design those.”
“I guess we have a lot to learn in a hurry,” said Ian. “That advance money from the family won’t last us forever.”
“No, it won’t brother Ian. We had best get to work right away.” said Jim. “But for right now, let’s get another beer and a dram of that fine whiskey. It might be a bit before we have the luxury of idle time like this.”
The next morning, it seemed odd not to be walking down West Georgia Street for work at the Vancouver Hotel. Instead, they saddled up their mounts and rode over to treat themselves to a breakfast at Lowry’s.
“John waved them over, as they walked into his place. “What, no work today for you two lads? Has someone left you some money or gold dust?” asked John, with smile.
“No, John. This is our first day to start running the brick yard. We actually have a customer to visit this morning, before we get on up to the yard.”
“Good for you lads,” said John. “ I can start mentioning your business to a few of the business men who eat here.”
“That would be a big help,” said Jim. “ A stack of pancakes, swimming in maple syrup would be good for right now.”
John didn’t have to say a word. Ian and Laura Sadler were already deep in conversation.
“You might want to rescue Laura,” said Jim. “Or, Ian will talk her ear off,” he said with a smile.
John rustled them up some coffee. “Let them be for a bit,” he said. “I always enjoy the sight of young people over the moon in each other’s company.”
After a time, even Ian realized that he was keeping Laura from the other customers.
“Sorry Jim, “ said Ian. “We were making plans for Saturday.”
“No worries,” said Jim. “ I think the future Mrs. Mac Adams will soon resent all of the hours that you have to put in to make our business work.”
The lad tucked in to a mountain of pancakes. They left with the usual sack of provisions for the rest of the day.
“Let’s ride on over to Hank Phelan’s office and see what he has to say,” said Jim.
The area around foot bridge to Granville Island was a busy place that morning. They tied up their horses to a rail and walked over to a small wooden building. On top of the shack read the words “Phelan lumber Company.”
Inside, they found a pleasant enough clerk who told them. “ Hank is up at the logging camp, on Vancouver Island, for the day. But, he will be in the office tomorrow morning. if you could drop by then you could meet with him.”
“We can,” said Jim. “Please tell Hank that the Mac Adams Brothers, from the Mac Adams Brick Yard, had stopped by to inquire as to any construction merchandise he might need.”
“I will do so, Mr. Mac Adams,” said the clerk. “Have a good day.”
“And you as well,” said Jim.
“Let’s stop by the Hudson Bay Store,” said Jim. “I want to order more mortar mix, lime and sand. I think they might have to query their Toronto office, for the manganese that we need. They should be able to get it to us in a week or so.”
The brothers picked up their mortar mix and rode up to the Brick Yard. The area semed quiet after the noise of a city. They unsaddled their horses, rubbed them down and put out oats and water.
“What is first, Jim? asked Ian.
“Well after I hook up the water power wheel, I a going to throw a small load of clay, sand and dirt into the cruncher. While that is being finely ground, I will start a fire in the lower fire box of the kiln.”
“And what else can I get started with?” asked Ian.
“Well, if you are game, you might want to start digging some clay and dirt for our piles. At some point, if business picks up, we are going to have to have piles of clay, dirt and sand delivered to us.”
“Oaky, I will get to it,” said Ian. “Holler if you need me for anything else.”
The brothers set about their tasks. They worked well as a team. When the cruncher had finely ground the clay, Jim added it to the pug mill with sand, water and dirt. The turning axle would stir the mixture up like a bowl of cake mix. Next week, he would try adding the manganese to the mix there and see what colors they could turn out. For now, fire engine red was the ticket..
Jim fed wooden shavings and sticks into the lower fire box of the kiln and lit them up. He would feed the fire as it grew. He wanted to keep it moderately hot, so it only dried the first racks of bricks. After he adjudged them dried out, he would add more fuel to the firebox and close the doors, to let them bake for three or more hours.
The sky overhead said that it was past noon.
“Hey Ian,“ hollered Jim. “let’s break for lunch.”
“How are we doing?” asked Ian.
“Well, the bricks are cooking in the kiln.” said Jim. “After lunch, I want to run another batch through our mill and get them ready for tomorrow’s cooking. I think we better get used to the continuos preparing of batches of bricks and then cooking them up, until they have a fine enough finish.”
“It seems kind of strange sitting her by the river and eating lunch,” said Ian. “No bosses around to hector us.”
“No,” said Jim. “Except for the demanding gazes of the Mac Adams brothers. I think they will ask more of us than any foreman ever did.”
The lads finished up their chores, and then unloaded the first small batch of bricks from the kiln.
“They look pretty good, Ian,” said Jim. “They are dense and have a smooth finish.”
“That’s a good start,” said Ian. “Maybe we can make this place work.”
“Aye,” said Jim. “I think we can.”
The brothers cleaned up their tools and equipment, saddled up their mounts and rode back to Vancouver. It had been a good first day at the Mac Adams Brothers Brick Yard. Their dad would have been proud of them.
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( 1,562 words)
Joseph Xavier Martin
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