The Forester Cole Agreement

The first section formally acknowledges the establishment of the Coalman Miners Union and the Forester Coleman Rail by the Unified Territories under the authority of Forester Banking.

Section two states that Forester Banking fund the expedition to Respite Valley and the materials to build the railroad. Forester will exclusively hire from the miners union for the construction of the railroad, but at reduced pay. Forester Banking will also provide materials needed to establish a mine in Mount Verrin.

In return, when the rail is finished and the mine is established in Respite Valley, ownership of the mine will be fully transferred to the miners union. Once ownership of the mine has been settled, the union agrees to exclusively use the newly established Forester Coleman Rail for transporting product back to The Cities.

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The collapse of the Vicksburg mine was a major lost for Forester Banking. Following the tragedy Edmund Forester sent his son Martin to investigate what had happened and, if necessary, broker a new deal between Forester and the remaining Miners to reopen the mine.

When he arrived, he was met by Sandra Cole who had served as mine boss for the past three years. Despite his efforts, Sandra refused to reopen operations. The site was unstable following recent earthquakes had only worsened the conditions. Sandra was set on starting a new operation in Respite Valley and her crew was behind her.

After weeks of debate and several telegrams to his father, Martin proposed moving the Foresters back into the rail industry. Forester would fund and supply the laying of the rail to Respite Valley, but mining operations would be owned by Sandra and her newly founded Miners Union.