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Pov of Günther
20-October-1921
''Then we need to know how much you would charge to transport fifty tons of goods from Riga station to these towns, as well as handle distribution among the cities along the Daugava. We want some idea of what it will cost to move that quantity of tea and coffee'' said one of the company's representatives as he consulted his books.
''The goods would be stored mainly in the station warehouses, correct?'' I asked, taking out my notebook and beginning to work out the figures in my head.
''Exactly. We have a contract with the state railroad company allowing us to store goods for a month before they begin charging us for keeping them longer. Our operations will be concentrated in the towns along the Daugava line. We will need you to collect orders from the warehouses and deliver them to the shops that buy from us each month'' explained the British representative.
''Do you have a customer list? I need to know how many trips we would have to make and where the shops are located'' I asked as I calculated our expenses.
''Here are the addresses and the quantities to be delivered to each'' he replied, handing me some documents.
''I see… One hundred and ninety-two trips a month. Do you expect that number to increase at any particular time of year? I ask in case we need to have more men or vehicles available'' I said, jotting figures in my notebook. There was fuel to consider, repairs, truck maintenance, and, of course, wages.
''Not at present. We are considering expanding into other regions, but we will begin here. The cities along the Daugava contain a considerable portion of the population we can reach easily. We want to see how our products are received before increasing shipments. We are confident the tea will sell well, as many of my countrymen live in these lands. We are less certain about coffee. Very little is grown here, and, as far as we know, your government has not undertaken its cultivation on a large scale as it has with other crops'' explained the representative.
''Well… That is one hundred and ninety-two trips, though we can arrange deliveries by area to cut down considerably on the time required. Two thousand six hundred Baltic marks a month. That covers the work of the five men I would assign to the hauling, fuel, and the expense of keeping the trucks in good condition. That is the price I can offer for the job'' I replied after finishing my calculations.
''One final question: do all your drivers hold the licenses required by the duchy's authorities? We do not wish to risk fines or suffer delays because someone lacks authorization to drive'' asked the Briton.
''Every one of them. They are licensed to drive trucks and have passed the practical and written examinations required here. They are also former drivers from the army transport service. They know the vehicles we use and have plenty of experience behind the wheel'' I replied, taking out copies of their licenses.
''Excellent. The price is within what we had anticipated. If you agree, we can sign the contract now. The service would begin next week, when the first shipment of tea and coffee arrives. We will remain in contact to arrange collection and delivery times'' he said, taking out the contract.
I took the time to read it carefully. I did not want to overlook a clause that might cause us trouble later. Once I had confirmed that the terms matched what we had agreed upon, we both signed, and I took my leave.
''Well, Günther? How did it go with the Briton?'' asked one of my companions, who had also invested in the company.
''Very well. We secured a contract worth two thousand six hundred marks a month for a full year. That will give us a good, steady income, though we will probably have to hire another driver who lives in Riga and buy one more truck. A good portion of the deliveries will be to shops in the capital. Still, we have the money on hand to do it, and the contract leaves us a fairly good margin'' I replied with a smile.
''Excellent. Another contract… Give me the addresses. I will see how we can arrange the routes to make the most of each trip'' said my companion.
I handed him the documents, and he began unfolding a map of Riga.
''Between this job and the others we have, we should have no trouble repaying the state loan. We might even pay it off before the three years they gave us are up'' I remarked, noting the figures in my notebook. After deducting expenses and the installments on the Bank of Riga loan, the accounts still looked favorable.
''Yes, we will need another man. This route is rather long and well away from the others. We ought to hire someone from the area so he does not waste so much time traveling to and from work. I think I know a few former soldiers who might be interested. Though we still have the same problem: the dividends paid by the state companies. We will have to offer slightly higher wages, since we do not share the profits with our employees'' my companion pointed out before climbing into the truck.
''Let us go and speak with some of those veterans. If we find a suitable man, we will take him to sit the driving examinations so he can start as soon as possible'' I replied, putting the contract in a folder.
Life went on, and for the moment, business was good. My idea of going into freight transport had proved sound. With the money my friends contributed, I had been able to get it started, and we soon secured several contracts in the settlement where I lived. Once we began working out the figures, we realized how much we could earn by expanding the business.
Still, it took several months of hard work before the profits rose enough to convince my companions to leave the canning factory. Only then could we devote ourselves entirely to hauling goods from the stations to towns that the railroad did not reach but that already had roads.
We were making a good living. We could even pay ourselves more than we had earned at the factory.
At the factories with the most work and the greatest need for men, wages were around two hundred marks a month. We already had hundreds of contracts spread across several towns and cities along the Daugava. That allowed me to draw almost five hundred and forty marks a month, as did my partners. Between them, they had bought two more trucks and had also taken to driving to fulfill the orders.
We continued growing until we reached Riga, where we found other small haulers working on their own. After speaking with them, I persuaded them to join us. We all faced much the same problem: we lacked someone to keep the books and organize the routes. Working together, we earned more and could devote part of our income to hiring a good manager and an accountant to keep everything in order.
Over the following months, we formally established the company and divided the shares according to the capital each man had contributed.
With the company's capital behind us, we secured a loan from the State Bank of Riga. That money allowed us to keep working and expand until we had twelve trucks and twelve drivers, serving customers throughout the Daugava industrial belt. Profits were divided among the six partners, though we also worked as drivers and drew wages. For my part, I often handled the discussions with customers and secured the contracts we needed to keep growing.
New investors kept arriving in the region, and the cities along the Daugava continued expanding, helped by cheap food and electricity, among other things. Everything suggested that we would have plenty of work ahead. If we kept growing at that rate, we would soon cease to be a small company. And then the state would step in.
It was one of the matters we had discussed most among ourselves. The government would purchase a considerable portion of the shares to distribute among the workers, which would also bring the partners a good sum of money if each of us sold the same proportion of his holdings. To establish the company's value, they would have to consider our vehicles, our other property, and the contracts we had secured.
We had done the sums. If we continued growing at that rate, the sale could leave us with a considerable amount. We were not talking about a few thousand Baltic marks, but tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, depending on how much the company came to be worth. For the moment, we had only eighteen workers. We still needed another thirty-two before reaching the number at which the state would intervene.
If we reached that point, we could put the money toward expanding the business further or set some aside for our families. It never hurt to buy my wife a pretty dress or give my children better toys and new clothes for school.
''Say, I had not seen that factory operating before. Do you know what they make? We could stop and ask. We have all the papers with us, so we would lose nothing by trying to secure another contract'' I said, noticing several workers carrying goods into the building.
''Honestly, I have no idea. We have passed this way these last few days, and I did not know it was already operating. But if they make something we can haul, it is certainly worth asking. Another contract would do us a world of good'' replied my companion as he stopped the truck outside the entrance.
We climbed out and approached the workers.
''Good morning. Is the factory manager here?'' I asked, removing my hat.
The men seemed to be moving delicate components, judging by the care with which they carried them.
''I will fetch him'' replied one of them, setting down his load and entering the building.
While we waited, we could see some of the work going on inside. It appeared to be an assembly plant: long rows of workers were fitting parts together, while others continually brought materials to the various benches.
''How can I help you?'' asked a tired-looking man, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
''A pleasure to meet you. We run a transport company and wanted to ask whether you need someone to deliver your goods. Though I must admit that we do not yet know what you manufacture. We saw you were working and thought we would ask'' I explained, holding my hat beneath my arm.
''We manufacture radio receivers. The state has granted us a license to produce a particular model. Do you have a list of your rates? I need to calculate whether I would be better off buying trucks and hiring drivers or entrusting the hauling to you'' replied the manager.
''We do, though the price depends on the quantities, how often we must collect the orders, and where they have to be delivered'' I said, handing him several sheets with our usual rates.
''I see… Let me work out the figures. Come back tomorrow, and we can discuss it in greater detail'' he replied, beginning to review our proposal.
''Incidentally, how much does one of those radios cost?'' I asked, craning my neck a little to look inside the factory.
''One hundred and fifty marks if you buy it here. A shop might charge you a little more. Are you interested?''
''Yes, I know what a radio is. But tell me, can it transmit messages, or does it only receive them?''
''It only receives. You can listen to the news without buying a newspaper and follow soccer matches, among other broadcasts. For now, you will be able to receive stations around Riga, but we have been told that the network should be ready in January. Then there will be stations throughout the duchy, broadcasting on different frequencies'' he explained.
''Hmm… Very well, sell me one. I ought to try it'' I replied with a smile, taking out my money.
The manager called over one of the workers, who brought a rather heavy box containing the set. Before we left, he explained how to install and operate it.
''We will return tomorrow. Perhaps we will secure another contract. For now, let us give the others the good news'' I told my companion as I carried the radio to the truck.
We returned to the depot where we kept our vehicles. The mechanic was inspecting those that had already finished their routes to make sure they were ready for the following day's work.
We told the others that we had secured an important contract and that, if business continued as it was, the year-end dividends would be quite good for those of us who held shares in the company.
When I arrived home and unlocked the door, I was greeted by the racket of my two children playing with wooden airplanes.
''I am the Red Baron! I am king of the skies!'' one of them shouted, flying his toy around the room.
''But it was my turn to be the Red Baron!'' protested his brother.
''Everyone, we have had a splendid day! We secured a contract with the British'' I announced, entering with a smile before looking for somewhere to put the radio.
''Really? What wonderful news! You have no idea how pleased I am that things are going so well for you'' said my wife, approaching as she dried her hands on her apron and kissed my cheek.
''Yes. And I have another meeting tomorrow, so I will be leaving early. We may secure a job delivering sets like this one'' I replied, trying to recall the manager's instructions.
''And what is that?'' she asked, drawing closer with interest.
''A radio. With this, we can listen to the news at home. I decided to buy one to try it. It is rather expensive, but we can afford it. We deserve to have a few nice things too'' I said, turning the knob until a voice came through clearly.
''It is five o'clock in the afternoon. With permission from the authorities, we are speaking to you from the airfield, where a squadron of brave men is preparing to attempt a feat so many have dreamed of: flying around the world. Herr von Richthofen… Red Baron, would you spare us a few words?'' came the voice from the set.
My children stopped playing at once. Both stood staring silently at the radio, their airplanes still in their hands.
''Is it true that you will lead the twelve aircraft undertaking this journey, Herr von Richthofen?'' asked the announcer.
''That is correct. The Herzog has entrusted me with the task of making our country known through this endeavor. We intend to be the first to complete a journey around the world by air. We will depart shortly for Kherson. Today, we begin the first leg'' replied the man who must have been the Red Baron.
''Papa… Is that the Baron's voice?'' asked one of my children, tugging at my trouser leg.
''It seems so. I have never heard him speak… In fact, I have never seen him in person either'' I replied, shaking my head.
''Would you like to say anything to those listening at this moment?'' asked the announcer.
''The sky is the limit! Ha, ha… I hope to see you again once we have completed the journey. It will be a long voyage. I trust I will find you all here when we return'' came the reply over the radio.
Afterward, the broadcast continued with news from the duchy. They spoke of the new clinics that would soon be built in various towns and other matters of that kind.
But when I turned around, I found my two children gazing at their little wooden airplanes, their eyes shining with excitement.
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