Viewing page 29 of 547

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

stories of attempted "buying" him both at the Arsenal and at GM - "commissions," "discounts" payable to him, etc. He said in government work, such a proposal by a vendor makes him liable to prosecution. We had a talk with Healy, the chief designer, a fellow (civilian) who reminded me very much of Jim Brachus. Healey gave us some good dope on the new 90mm anti-aircraft gun for the army which will supercede the 3" job York has been making. We can start on an even footing with York on the 90mm. when bids are requested. We were unable to contact Col. Case, the Commanding Officer, because Gen. Harris was there and had the Colonel tied up in a knot all day.

  Neal Donovan and I caught the "Minute Man" for North Adams at 3:50 PM. Ernie Bloss, attired in a mountaineers costume, and Cindy Johnson, met us and we spent from 8 PM to midnight with Ernie giving us in his truly inimitable way, a list of some 30 points wherein this locomotive was not OK in his opinion. Far from being disgusted, Ernie was in high good humor to my relief, and I thoroughly enjoyed his discourse with the usual manual illustrations as well as audible effects such as an engine turning over and firing, a locomotive skidding down an improvised track from a flat car, or whistle likened to those on the old interurban cars, etc. Ernie was at his best. Best of all was his description of what you have to do to get at the feed valves which are mounted under the operator's platform. I nearly busted a gut laughing at him. And amid all the razzing, there were more darned good points we would do well to heed. All this transpired