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Spent some time with O.W. Hammond today, familiarizing myself with the 75mm. pack howitzer order, which we got as second low bidder when Iron Frieman forfeited the contract. Saw the few beautifully machined forgings that go to make up one of the guns and was a bit aghast to see how little costs $3000! Met Radley the Gov't. inspector from Watervliet Arsenal here to supervise the job - an elderly, thin hook nosed, pleasant man whom I want to get to know better.

Blow of the Day - The Cummins 200HP engine for the New York Central locomotive has a 6th order critical at 1750 RPM with no generator attached and with the generator on it. this falls at around 1500 RPM, an impossible condition. Bill Hamilton will be here Monday with Jay Walker and I believe, McDonald to review the situation which looks bad - so bad, it appears to me the bids will have to be thrown out and the whole job done over again. Perhaps it is fortunate the order has not yet been placed. When I told Whitey about this, he claimed he had known this for 10 days and seemed surprised I hadn't. I knew there was a doubt we could get away with the GT550 but to my knowledge, no one knew the whole story until Banell had his session with Cummins at Columbus yesterday. I notice Whitey has a habit of liking to let you know he is acquainted with things you are not. In this case, I don't believe he actually knew any more about this than I did - just thought he did.