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30

Apparently grasping for work as well as trying to display initiative, I wrote a letter to H.L.Andrews in January suggesting that GE sponsor a textbook on electric railway work not only for its promotional value but also publicity for the Company. Art Manson of Westinghouse had actually authored such a book which was quite impressive to me in my researches and I thought we ought to be in there pitching also. I didn't suggest that I write the GE version but probably had in mind that I might contribute to the project.  This suggestion of mine received not even the dignity of a reply from Andy and I can easily imagine him summarily tossing it into the wastebasket after a lightning perusal. Looking at it from his viewpoint, he had so many vastly more important problems to deal with at the moment that something like this commanded no more interest than a flea who had alighted on his pants leg. Incidentally, Art Manson and I were to become good friends in the years ahead on NEMA work. As for Andy at that time, rumors were beginning to circulate that he was soon to move to New York and a vice-presidency, presumably still in charge of our total operation, and his place in Erie would be taken by Cash Davis. Several years were to elapse before anything of this general nature was to occur, however.

As a hangover from the New York Central "Flying Machine" project, Tritle was working on an oil—immersed resistor for acceleration control on high—voltage DC locomotives. Reggie Eaton was the do—it guy on the job, being Tritle's resistor engineer, probably the least glamorous job in the place.  However, this was an innovation and Reggie worked hard at it although the ultimate use of the thing was now clouded in doubt. Because of my New York Central assignment, I kept in touch with the development. Reggie ran some tests in mid-January and in accordance with Tritle's prediction, we were gassed but, at least, it was not hydrochloric acid as Tritle expected, Trite being anything but wholeheartedly in sympathy with the project. But it was one job I could keep in touch with and the way things were with me, as well as a lot of others, anything at all that justified any interest or attention, was a treasure indeed.

They had had several fires on the new New York Central freight locomotives, the R-2's, and there was a great deal of concern about cable insulation fueling these blazes. Accordingly we were running comparative cable—burning tests at Erie between our GE Deltabeston-insulated cable and Rockbestos, a competitive design. In January, Bill Hamilton and A1 Clarkson of the NYC and a man naued Anderson from Rockbestos came to Erie to witness some tests, in which I think GE came out ahead much to Mr. Anderson's disappointment. Later all of us repaired to the Reed House for dinner but had a drinking bout first in which A1 Clarkson absorbed more alcohol without showing it than anyone we'd had here for a long time. After dinner, A1 and Bill shot sugar dice and we put Al on the 9:07 for New York, Bill staying over.