With Henry Grey diligently working on perfecting the production of his wide-flange steel beams in their New York mill, the Kingstons turned their attention to the next significant hurdle: publicizing their groundbreaking innovation. They needed to demonstrate the strength and reliability of these new beams to convince the construction industry of their worth.
John and George, with their characteristic directness, approached several prominent construction companies in New York and other major cities. They offered to supply them with the new Henry Grey beams at a competitive price, hoping to see them utilized in upcoming projects. However, the response was largely lukewarm. Construction companies, often risk-averse when it came to unproven materials, were hesitant to gamble on a new type of steel beam, especially for large-scale developments. The architects' initial concerns about the structural integrity of taller buildings built with these beams still lingered in the industry's collective consciousness.
One evening, as the Kingston family discussed this challenge over dinner, Michael, now a thoughtful eleven-year-old, offered a characteristically bold suggestion. "Why don't we construct our own building using them?"
George looked up from his plate, a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. "Our own building?" he questioned, a touch of bewilderment in his voice.
John, however, immediately saw the merit in Michael's idea. A slow smile spread across his face. "Yes," he said, nodding thoughtfully. "I believe that's the best way to showcase their potential."
Elizabeth raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Will one building truly make that much of a difference?"
Mary, her gaze resting on Michael with understanding, asked gently, "Michael, you have a plan, don't you?"
Michael returned his mother's knowing look with a confident smile. "Mother," he said, "you know me best." He then looked at the rest of his family, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We're not going to build just any building. We are going to construct the world's tallest building."
As of 1900, the tallest building in the world was Philadelphia City Hall, standing at an impressive 548 feet (approximately 167 meters). Michael's vision was to surpass this height dramatically, a feat that would require not only the innovative strength of Henry Grey's wide-flange beams but also a daring architectural design and significant financial investment. The Kingston family, however, had never shied away from bold endeavors, and the prospect of erecting a monument to their success, built with their own groundbreaking steel, ignited a spark of excitement in them all.
The audacious goal of constructing the world's tallest building required expertise beyond their own. The first crucial step was to find an architect with a grand vision. Their search led them to Cass Gilbert, a talented architect who had recently relocated his practice to New York City.
Born in 1859, Cass Gilbert began his architectural career in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1882. By the late 1890s, he had gained national recognition for his design of the Minnesota State Capitol, a magnificent Beaux-Arts structure that showcased his talent for blending classical elegance with modern functionality. In 1899, a significant commission for the U.S. Custom House in New York City prompted Gilbert to move his primary office east, establishing him as a rising star in the city's architectural scene. The Kingstons, impressed by his innovative designs and his growing reputation, believed he was the perfect architect to bring their monumental project to life.
When John and George outlined Michael's vision of constructing a building that would soar to an unprecedented 800 feet (approximately 244 meters), Cass Gilbert was visibly taken aback. Such a height was almost double that of the tallest structures of the time. However, after a moment of stunned silence, a glint of excitement appeared in his eyes, and he accepted the audacious proposition as a formidable and thrilling challenge.
Securing a structural engineering firm proved to be a more challenging endeavor. Several established companies, accustomed to the conventional building heights of the era, expressed concerns about the feasibility and safety of a skyscraper that would dwarf all existing structures. Many cited the very concerns that had initially plagued Henry Grey's wide-flange beams: the potential for instability at extreme heights. Finally, after numerous rejections, they found a firm willing to embrace the challenge: Purdy and Henderson, a relatively forward-thinking engineering firm known for their willingness to tackle complex projects.
With the key design and engineering partners secured, the Kingstons turned their attention to the building site. They had long held a valuable two-acre plot of land in the heart of New York's financial district, on Wall Street, nestled between the prominent thoroughfares of Nassau and William streets. This area was the bustling epicenter of American finance, home to the New York Stock Exchange and numerous powerful banking institutions. Owning such a substantial piece of prime real estate in this prestigious location was a significant advantage, providing both the space and the symbolic setting for their ambitious undertaking.
The most significant hurdle, however, emerged when they began approaching construction companies. The sheer scale and unprecedented height of the proposed skyscraper presented a daunting prospect. In the early 1900s, building technology was still evolving. Constructing a building significantly taller than the current record holder involved numerous risks and unknowns. Construction companies were hesitant to commit to a project that pushed the boundaries of existing engineering knowledge and construction techniques. They worried about structural integrity at such extreme heights, the logistics of transporting materials, the safety of their workers, and the potential for unforeseen costs and delays. The Kingstons soon realized that convincing a construction company to take on this groundbreaking endeavor would require not just financial incentives, but also a significant leap of faith and a shared vision for the future of architecture.
While the Kingstons were still in the early stages of planning their ambitious skyscraper project, the results of the November 1900 United States Presidential Election came in. As widely predicted, the Republican ticket of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt emerged victorious, defeating the Democratic candidates William Jennings Bryan and Adlai E. Stevenson. McKinley secured a decisive victory, winning 292 electoral votes compared to Bryan's 155. In the popular vote, McKinley also held a comfortable lead, garnering 52% of the vote to Bryan's 46%.
Theodore Roosevelt, as the newly elected Vice President, played a significant role in the Republican victory. He campaigned tirelessly across the nation, his energetic and charismatic style resonating with voters. Roosevelt traveled thousands of miles, delivering speeches that emphasized traditional Republican values and criticized William Jennings Bryan's policies. His dynamic presence on the campaign trail was widely seen as a major asset to the McKinley-Roosevelt ticket, contributing significantly to their landslide win. For Roosevelt, this victory marked a significant step in his national political career.
Facing the reluctance of established construction companies, the Kingstons decided to take a different approach. Instead of trying to persuade an existing firm, they opted to build their own construction capabilities. Over the next couple of months, John and George quietly acquired controlling stakes in three struggling construction companies, amassing a total workforce of approximately 120 employees across the three entities. In December of 1900, they officially consolidated these acquisitions under a newly registered banner: 'Kingston Construction'. Now, the Kingstons had their own construction arm, ready to take on the unprecedented challenge of building the world's tallest building.
As the year 1900 drew to a close, the Kingston family's business empire encompassed a diverse range of ventures, including:
Kingston Inc. (the investment company)
Kingston Oil (their rapidly expanding petroleum interests)
Kingston Mining (their established iron and other mineral extraction operations)
Kingston Publishing (their newspaper)
Kingston Stores (their nationwide retail network)
Kingston Steel (their growing steel manufacturing ambitions, now including the Duluth acquisition)
Kingston Construction (their newly formed construction company, ready for their most ambitious project yet)
As the calendar turned to 1901, the Kingstons gathered to review the financial performance of their diverse holdings for the year 1900. The annual reports painted a clear picture of their burgeoning success. Their most profitable venture, Kingston Inc., generated a remarkable profit of $5.2 million, a success largely attributed to Michael's consistently accurate stock market predictions throughout the year. Kingston Oil delivered impressive results, contributing $4.3 million in profits after accounting for the significant investments in new well construction and transportation infrastructure. The established Kingston Mining operations brought in a solid $3.4 million.
Kingston Publishing, with the New York Inquirer boasting a daily circulation of 300,000, brought in a profit of $500,000. Kingston Stores achieved a profit of $1.1 million. This would have been significantly higher, but the aggressive expansion efforts, which saw the nationwide network grow to 300 stores, absorbed a considerable portion of potential earnings. The newly consolidated Kingston Steel and Kingston Construction companies were not yet operating at full capacity and were anticipated to significantly contribute to the profits in the coming year.
With these substantial profits in 1900, the Kingston family's personal fortune indeed crossed the significant milestone of $30 million. Their diversified businesses and strategic investments were clearly paying off handsomely in the new century.
All of this remarkable success – the substantial profits across their diverse ventures and the significant growth of their family fortune to over $30 million – can be directly attributed to Michael's extraordinary abilities. Without his uncanny predictions in the stock market, his foresight in identifying promising oil fields, and his insightful choices regarding mining lands, the Kingston family would not have achieved such extraordinary prosperity by the turn of the century.