Viewing page 502 of 547

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

is going to work at Berlin, N.H., a new spot for them and advantageous for us on account of our prospects with the Brown Co. I want to get up there and renew contact with Parker Abbott – which will line in with my new industrial assignment – soon I think, to be released at last. We saw Neil and Fred to the train and then John and I returned to the hotel for dinner – home at 9:30 PM after all the Halloween festivities were about over.

Erie, Pa.,
Friday, Nov. 1, 1940.
     At Whitey's request, I spent a large share of the day on a proposition of Shapter's (he's still away) for the Hannibal Connecting Railroad, Hannibal, Mo. for one 500 HP, 65 ton locomotive. Shap has been trying to sell a standard 350 HP, 65 ton and had given them an estimated price of $45,000 for the 500 HP job. Now they insist that they must have 500 HP and I had to see whether it would be just as cheap to offer the standard 80 ton 500 HP. At first Barrell insisted the 500 HP couldn't be built with Buda Engines, which they want, at 65 tons. Not wholly satisfied with his story, I went back at him on this point to find that Spike felt he could do it easily. MORAL – make them "show you" before accepting any statement. Had I not done so in this case, I would have stood to make an ass out of myself before Shap. The cuts I got made Shap's $45,000 price look optimistic but any higher price cuts their net return too low. The day ended without a decision as to what to do but Monday, I think we can soon settle it. I think it will mean a negotiation at last with Shap if he's back then.
[[new paragraph]]The first to B & M's (110 and 112) left today and with the 165 # overweight as good as cut out, we should