Crossing the Rio Grande: An Immigrant's Life in the 1880s

Chapter 5 The Company “Tamez-Gómez, Contractors” Signs Very Lucrative New Contracts

Chapter5 The Company “Tamez-Gómez, Contractors” Signs Very Lucrative New Contracts A s soon as our people arrived at the new camp, they began work cutting wood. I had already begun the project with ten men who were added to the twenty that Tamez had brought along, giving us a total of thirty men who made nine hundred cords of wood within fifteen days for a total of $1,125 at $1.25 per cord. We paid the working people $675, leaving us with a profit of $450 for fifteen days of work. A beautiful return, right? Then we made preparations for my companion to travel to México, where his promised one was waiting. He had already notified them to expect him. We were paying our workers when two agents seeking contractors for two different projects arrived. One was a “rock” contract where ten* gondolas [freight cars] were needed to transport the materials that were to be used in the Port of Galveston, which was under construction. They would pay $50 for each carload. The other project was to prepare “life-OK” posts that were to be removed with steel drills and dynamite.1 These two projects came from Mr. Goethre’s kindness, the owner of the cordwood job who had recommended the “Tamez-Gómez contractors ” to them. He told the agents that this company had cut nine hundred cords of wood within fifteen days and that he *Note [in the original text]: This page includes an error that says that there were ten gondolas, but it should say one hundred gondolas. Let this be on record. was very satisfied with the outcome of the project and that he would recommend them with much pleasure. “We implore you gentlemen,” we said to the two agents who had offered us the two projects, “to give us some time to work on a proposal to the rock project agent.” “I don’t have much time to lose,” said the rock project agent. “It is urgent that I notify the company regarding what I have done on this matter by 10 tomorrow morning and to board the train that same night to Galveston. However, I believe it behooves you to take this job because this is the place where the rock is located. Furthermore, you already have your workers well organized, therefore, with good luck, I will expect your answer by tomorrow morning at 10.” The other agent was a young businessman from Flatonia who was employed by a friend who owned the “life-OK” posts. This latter one lived in another county, but, knowing we had already finished the cordwood project, the first one entrusted him with the responsibility of finding some workers for him. The owner of the life-OK posts had told the young man to let us know about his postas project while taking advantage of the opportunity that the rock project agent was also coming to see us about. After a few doubtful moments we said to the rock project agent, “Then wait for us until tomorrow to give you both an answer.” “Very well,” said the posts agent. “This way you can discuss the lumber issue with my boss,” and having said that, both agents returned to the city. After we finished paying all our workmen, we went to our tents to further discuss our personal affairs. We had already agreed that my companion Tamez would make his trip to the Republic of México, where his sweetheart was waiting so they could unite their destiny forever. My friend’s sweetheart was named Espectación García, a very patient and faithful lady who had been waiting for the return of her loved one for more than five years. The two new projects that came about made us gradually change our much-considered and well-developed plans. We started working on the proposals for the rock project that my companion Tamez liked so much since he had been a rock “Tamez-Gómez, Contractors” Signs New Contracts 71 crusher back in his homeland, where he had had more than fifty employees in his charge. Here is what we agreed upon: If they would allow us six weeks, we would accept the project. However, the company was offering $5,000 for one hundred train carloads of rock, which had to be completed within four weeks or about thirty days. This...