Chapter 132: The Builders Of Althoff

By the end of the first week of the County Development Program, finding an unemployed carpenter in Althoff City had become considerably more difficult than finding someone willing to complain about the construction noise.

Every morning, workers gathered before the noticeboards maintained by the Construction and Public Works Department, searching for assignments among the growing number of available positions.

Masons were needed for foundations and drainage channels, carpenters for housing and public buildings, blacksmiths for tools and metal fittings, and ordinary laborers for almost everything else.

The Administration had expected demand to increase, but even its most optimistic estimates had underestimated how quickly the accelerated construction program would absorb the available workforce.

Raymond discovered the extent of the problem when Mara arrived at his study carrying three separate recruitment reports.

The civil engineer looked considerably less enthusiastic than she had during the first days of construction, although the dust covering her sleeves suggested she had spent most of the morning inspecting active sites, her face was quite grim as she approached Raymond.

"Your Excellency, we’re running out of skilled workers," Mara announced, placing the reports before him. "Not laborers, mind you. We can recruit additional laborers without much difficulty. What we need are experienced craftsmen capable of supervising them. I have six construction teams requesting additional masons, four demanding carpenters, and two foremen threatening to steal workers from neighboring projects."

Raymond raised an eyebrow. "Steal them? I assume we’re still talking about employment rather than kidnapping."

"At this rate, my Lord, I wouldn’t rule anything out," Mara replied dryly. "Yesterday, two supervisors nearly came to blows over a carpenter who specializes in roof framing. The poor fellow eventually demanded higher wages from both of them."

Raymond couldn’t entirely blame the carpenter. When demand exceeded supply, skilled workers naturally became more valuable.

The problem was that Althoff’s public construction projects were competing not only with one another but also with private businesses undergoing their own expansion.

"Arrange a meeting with the major workshop owners," Raymond instructed. "I want to understand how much additional work they can handle before we start throwing money at the problem."

Later that morning, Raymond visited the Artisan District with Mara and Alaric. The narrow streets were crowded with delivery carts, stacks of timber, and apprentices carrying materials between workshops.

Hammering echoed from open doorways, while the smell of freshly cut wood mingled with smoke drifting from the blacksmiths’ furnaces.

Their first destination was the workshop belonging to Torren Vale, an experienced carpenter whose business had expanded considerably since Althoff’s revival. Inside, several men were assembling window frames while two younger apprentices worked under the supervision of an older craftsman.

"Your Excellency!" Torren exclaimed upon recognizing Raymond. He hurried forward, brushing sawdust from his apron before bowing. "Had I known you were coming, I would’ve cleared some space. I’m afraid the workshop is rather crowded."

Raymond surveyed the timber stacked along the walls. "I can see that business is treating you well, Torren. How many workers do you have now?"

"Eleven, my Lord, including four apprentices," Torren answered proudly. "I had only three men working here before spring. Now I’ve got enough orders to keep twice this number occupied, provided I can find people who know which end of a saw to hold."

Mara examined several completed doorframes before asking whether Torren could supply additional carpenters for the public building projects. The craftsman scratched his beard, clearly uncomfortable with the question.

"I’d gladly help, Mistress Mara, but most of my experienced men are already committed," Torren explained. "If I send them away, these orders won’t get finished. And if I hire more apprentices, someone has to teach them. A boy who’s never worked with timber can’t become a master carpenter simply because the city needs one."

Raymond nodded thoughtfully. Torren had identified the central problem more clearly than any recruitment report. Althoff needed additional workers immediately, but developing skilled craftsmen required time and experienced instructors.

"What if the Administration compensated workshops for training apprentices assigned to public projects?" Raymond suggested. "You would receive payment for instruction, the apprentices would earn wages while learning, and experienced craftsmen could supervise several beginners rather than doing every task themselves."

Torren considered the proposal, glancing toward the young men working nearby. "That might work, Your Excellency, provided we’re not expected to turn them into experts within a fortnight. Apprentices can prepare timber, carry materials, and handle simpler work while learning the trade."

"That’s exactly what I have in mind," Raymond replied. "We need a system that develops skilled workers instead of merely competing for the ones we already possess."

The proposal attracted considerable interest during the workshop meeting that followed. Several carpenters supported it immediately, while the masons raised concerns about safety and the supervision required for structural work.

Blacksmiths were willing to accept additional apprentices but insisted that inexperienced workers remain away from dangerous forging operations until properly trained.

Roderic Vann, who had joined the discussion, agreed with their concerns. "Your Excellency, apprenticeships should be organized according to the nature of each trade.

A beginner can learn to prepare charcoal or maintain equipment before attempting complicated metalwork. We mustn’t confuse increasing the workforce with increasing the number of accidents."

Raymond accepted the distinction. By the end of the meeting, the Administration had agreed to establish supervised apprenticeship arrangements with participating workshops.

Experienced craftsmen would receive training allowances, apprentices would be registered and paid for productive work, and the Departments would establish minimum requirements for supervision and safety.

The initiative would not solve Althoff’s labor shortage overnight, but it offered something more valuable than a temporary recruitment campaign.

It offered a way to produce skilled workers continuously.

Meanwhile, news of Althoff’s employment opportunities was spreading beyond the County.

Merchant caravans carried stories of reliable wages, expanding workshops, and construction projects large enough to employ entire groups of craftsmen.

Some newcomers arrived with recommendations from relatives already living in the city, while others simply followed the rumors.

At the western entrance, Oren Vale and the Civil Registry officials were processing another group of arrivals when Raymond stopped to observe.

Among them were three masons traveling together, a blacksmith accompanied by his younger brother, and several laborers who had previously worked on road repairs in neighboring territories.

One of the masons, a broad-shouldered man named Henrik Bauer, stepped forward after completing his registration. "Your Excellency, we heard there was steady construction work here. A merchant told us the Administration pays its workers properly and doesn’t leave them waiting months for their wages."

Raymond smiled. "We certainly intend to keep paying people properly. What kind of masonry experience do you have?"

"Foundations, retaining walls, and stone bridges, my Lord," Henrik answered. "I’ve worked with these two fellows for nearly eight years. If you’ve got stone that needs laying, we can manage it."

Mara, who had accompanied Raymond, immediately began asking technical questions. Within minutes, she was discussing possible assignments with the newcomers while Oren arranged their temporary lodging and directed them toward the employment registry.

Raymond watched the exchange with satisfaction. Every skilled newcomer represented more than another pair of hands. They brought experience, techniques, and knowledge that could eventually be passed to apprentices born and raised in Althoff.

Over the following days, the Construction Department reorganized several projects around the expanded workforce.

New teams were assigned to residential foundations, road preparation, warehouse extensions, and public facilities. Apprentices began working alongside established craftsmen, while experienced foremen received responsibility for coordinating larger groups.

Alaric introduced weekly labor reports to monitor recruitment, wages, training progress, and shortages. Raymond also insisted that workers receive clear written terms rather than relying entirely upon verbal promises made by individual supervisors.

The results were encouraging. Construction progressed faster, workshops reported increased business, and the city’s growing reputation continued attracting skilled migrants.

Unfortunately, success created another problem.

Late one afternoon, Corvin Rusk entered Raymond’s study accompanied by Mara and a visibly concerned Alaric. The logistics officer carried a ledger filled with fresh calculations, while Mara held several requisition forms that had apparently been rejected.

"Your Excellency, we’ve encountered a serious difficulty," Corvin announced after the customary greetings. "The additional construction teams are consuming materials much faster than our original projections anticipated."

Raymond set aside his correspondence. "How serious?"

Corvin opened the ledger and pointed toward the latest inventory figures. "Timber deliveries are falling behind demand, dressed stone is being allocated almost as soon as it reaches our depots, and our stock of metal fittings is declining. The quarry and sawmill are operating, but they cannot replenish everything at the rate we’re using it."

Mara placed her rejected requisitions beside the ledger. "I’ve already had to delay two projects because the required materials weren’t available. If this continues, we’ll have workers standing around with nothing to build."

Raymond examined the figures, his earlier satisfaction gradually giving way to concern.

They had finally assembled enough workers to accelerate construction.

Now the city was consuming building materials faster than its suppliers could replenish them.