Part 27: Fit The Twenty-Fourth : Release The Pressure

Fit The Twenty-Fourth : Release The Pressure


More work was put into Pompeii, this would be the main priority for expansion over the next few years as we sought to take over the north bank.


Another jail was finally put in, to deal with the overcrowding in the first.


And not a moment too soon.


I was rather dubious about the need for one, but it had a real effect on the crime rate.




It was about this time that the complaints start coming in from the likes of Bernie and Hannah. I wasn't sure how to take Bernie's issues about congestion on both the road and the rail, but I took them and filed them in the circular filing cabinet.


Yet another school was placed in the new suburb, I think we must've nearly a dozen of them around town.


And so that was 1945. 1946 would see more expansion.


Another rail bridge was put across from Ashy Bend...


And hooked up with a new industrial area on Achewood Road.


This made it a longish commute, but I wanted to keep any factories as far from the river as possible. At least it was still pretty convenient to Pompeii and Ashy Bend.


I should point out that I felt the Old Town was pretty well established, and saw little need to tinker with it for now, since I felt that the accommodation was now dense enough. I'd probably review the subway system once the '50s rolled around, but other matters were more pressing.


Milestones continued to come thick and fast.


And so 1946 also made its own way out. For the coming year I wanted to have some cash in the bank left for the next year, but there were still a few things I could do.


More housing was allocated at the rear of the university.


I also extended the railway from Pompeii around the base of the mountain around to West Firetop, as the industrial area became known.


A new hospital was placed adjacent to FU, to serve as a teaching hospital.


And, of course, more development nearby.


Another library was requested by Randall, so I had one put adjacent to the uni.


It was probably prudent to place a fire station on the north side as well, as I didn't want to be caught short again.


So that was done. Pompeii had all the mod cons now.


With yet another suburb on the march, of course we were starting to headbutt another ceiling on the electricity front.


This was our second power plant, and the strain on it early in its life was beginning to tell. They nominally start off with a lifespan of 80 years but this can be shortened by overuse. Fortunately it was still a little way off needing replacement - and by that stage I hoped better alternatives would be available.


Happily, we ticked over the eighth of a million mark, and true to form, Malcolm was in with another stupendous innovation.



So, Wallace, how are things going?

Pretty well, actually, and you?

Rakin' it in, thanks to your vision and groundwork. But you know, sometimes a man needs to relax. And what better way to relax than by schmoozing with the movers and shakers of SimNation while you hit a little white ball around a paddock?



Golf? Golf is so boring.

*whispers* I know! I prefer a hit of squash myself, but you can't really negotiate shady deals while you're puffing and dripping with sweat. As far as networking goes, golf can't be beat. Plus it's fun sledging someone while they're trying to putt.

Still a good walk ruined. But I can see how it might appeal to some. I'm just going to confer with Constance. Hey Connie, Malcolm's offering us something else we can't afford!

Not one of his theme parks, is it?

Nah, it's a country club.



But we've got scads of space! And we've got plenty enough slums and ghettoes. I don't want any more poor people in Funkytown!

That's rather mean-spirited of you.

Seriously, I give everyone a free education, if they want to remain stupid and poor that's their own fault.

Very well said. So what's it to be?

Eh, whatever. You won't see me wielding a golf club, however.



Not even at the charity day?

Not worth risking throwing my back out. I'd rather stay at the 19th hole if it came to that.


We couldn't afford it straight away, but I couldn't really see the point of Constance's objection.


The footprint of the proposed design wasn't that huge.


And, as I said, there was lots of room left. What we still didn't have a lot of was money.


I thought it might be worth revisiting the parking fine idea. A few people would object, but stuff them.


It would bring in nearly an extra grand a year at this point. I brought it in straight away, so we'd enjoy six months of extra revenue at the next budget.


Power issues continued to be a worry, with the number of blackouts escalating, but it would be dealt with in due course.


1947 rolled over into 1948, and I finally had sufficient cash for the Tectonic Pressure Relief Valve.


Or, as it was the colloquially known, a Geyser Park.


Of course that was going bang in next to Firetop Mountain to reduce the risk of any repeats of the Quake of '34.


You really had to wonder who came up with some of the names of the things around town. Penisula, Funk U, and now Ol' Money Shot.


And that really was all we afford during 1948, hence nothing else was done that year.


Another oil power plant was put in at the beginning of 1949.


And with the remaining funds Pompeii was extended a little more.


Some days people just wanted to come in and chew your ear of.


Sophia was still after her goddamn zoo.


Feargal was still banging on about parks.


And of course someone finally raised issue about the parking fines, namely Bernie.


Mortimer was particularly harsh in suggesting I rebuff Bernie. And I was inclined to agree. Double parking was rife, people living in their cars on Main Street, not to mention dumbshits "ghostriding" the "whip", whatever the fuck that was - technically, since they weren't in their cars, it was technically parked and thus the grey ghosts would merrily sticker the thing even as it was still moving as some douchebag threw gang signs from the bonnet with Frank Sinatra blaring from the radio. It was a good thing the parking inspectors were armed.


So I told Bernie to go jump. He didn't like that.


And so that was the way the 'Forties ended in Funkytown.


The population was becoming more stable, and more importantly providing a solid tax base.


Pompeii was becoming a substantial community in its own right, but it also complemented the whole city.


Funkytown would celebrate its Golden Anniversary, and so to mark the occasion, there would be something rather awesome gifted to the town.