The Price Of Progress

by Hart4Ben

Prevously titled The Flume. The timber industry is going into a boom time. Anxious to truly use his skills and attempt to make the Ponderosa financially secure for years to come, Adam proposes constructing a narrow gauge rail line and flume from Tahoe to Empire City. But there is a price for becoming a major player in this high stakes game. 2018 Paddlewheel Poker Tournament Entry.

1. Chapter 1

Prologue

Ponderosa 1869

"Oh, come on, Pa! I understand that timber hasn't been the majority share of our business to date, but now is the time to move on this." Adam flung his toothpick into the fireplace and turned once again to face his father who was seated at his desk. "You heard for yourself what Sharon said. The Bank of California is looking to invest heavily in timber. There is so much money to be made Ralstan sent Sharon to get a right of way from us. Greedy vultures that they are!"

"Adam!"

"You know it's true, Pa. Sharon is really just Ralstan's front man and The Bank of California is growing fatter by the day from all the money Ralstan is squeezing out of small mine owners."

Ben shrugged in resignation.

"But that's all beside the point. If we build a flume from Spooner Pass to Clear Creek, there is the potential for a tremendous windfall. And if I design the pathway for the rail line and flume, I can make sure that both bypass critical areas. Done properly, it will have little effect on the grazing land for our cattle. There are plenty of investors besides The Bank of California that would be ready to jump on a project like this. Pa, it's not a time to be sitting on our hands. Raising cattle has been our priority, but that could change in just a couple of years. We may be able to cut way back. No more worries about winter feeding the herds. No more big cattle drives. Just local sales to nearby towns and cities. Let's face it, Pa. None of us are getting any younger. The really big operations are north and east of here. It's high time we laid out a long-term strategy for the future of the Ponderosa."

Adam's rapid fire words stuck like nails into his father's heart and mind. Ben gave his oldest son a hard look and then turned away before the harsh words bouncing around in his head came bellowing out his mouth. There had been too many times in the past when tensions between them mounted, tempers flared, and words spoken were later regretted. Emotionally charged conversations such as this one truly made Ben feel his age. Though the Ponderosa was precious to him, and he was keenly aware that times were changing, his heart ached for what he felt might be lost in the process. If he refused to compromise, it could mean being forced to sell off some of the land that he held so dear. He would hate to see the mountains deforested and the simple beauty of the glorious Ponderosa covered with unsightly rails and flumes. Yet there was something else weighing even more heavily on Ben's heart. Though Adam seemed happy to be back on the Ponderosa when he returned six months ago, Ben sensed a growing discontentment in him. Hoss had confirmed it when pressed that Adam had spoken about doing more traveling abroad. If designing and completing the project his oldest son was suggesting would give him focus and purpose and potentially keep him on the Ponderosa a while longer, then Ben was willing to take that chance. He turned to look Adam squarely in the face. When his son saw the sadness in his father's eyes, it almost made Adam relent.

Ben heaved a great sigh before rising to move deliberately toward his son. "It will mean miles of rails from Tahoe to Spooner and even more miles of wood trestles from there to Clear Creek."

"Yes it will."

Ben momentarily looked away. He needed to garner the strength and bluster to cover his primary concern: that his son would leave again and pursue his life goals elsewhere. Caving too easily to Adam's bold plans would be a dead give away. It was the game that even the passage of time could not keep them from playing. "Well, the Bank of California can pay as many timber companies as it wants to clear every blasted tree to the west of Tahoe, but I want you to promise me that you will only clear what is necessary to do the construction. I do not want. No! I will not have, erosion issues from large scale desecration of our land as a result of this project."

Adam kept his voice even and measured. "I promise you, Pa." There was a faraway look in his eyes as he sensed that this time their sparring had much higher stakes. "I hope you know that I love this land, too. My goal is not to dishonor you or the Ponderosa, but to preserve our holdings for future generations of Cartwrights."

Ben's eyes grew soft, but then he recovered and choked back a laugh. "So any idea just when I might see some of those future generations of Cartwrights?"

Adam cocked his index finger toward his father. "I'll tell Hoss and Joe to get right on that when I meet with them this afternoon." A subtle smirk came to his straight face. He moved quickly to grab his hat and gun belt from the credenza and was out the door.

Ben laughed out loud and shouted toward his son's back. "Yes, you do that!"

Hooking his thumbs into his front pockets, Ben walked to his desk chair and sat down with a thud. A flume across the Ponderosa would be the largest financial undertaking the Cartwrights had ever attempted. It was going to take every ounce of fortitude he had to throw himself behind this project. He had wagered the Ponderosa a few times in the past and been fortunate enough to come out on top. He prayed to God that Adam knew what he was doing.