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62

Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 30, 1942.

This was a rather busy day. [[underlined in red]]Walter Chadwick and George Koch of Davenport[[/underlined in red]] were in with their schedules and we had as [[underlined in red]]hilarious a reunion[[/underlined in red]] as was possible [[underlined in red]]crowded around my desk[[/underlined in red]] - particularly did we laugh over memories of our last meeting in Cleveland when we developed a [[underlined in red]]luncheon into a drinking bout that[[/underlined in red]] lasted from 12:30 to 5:30 PM. [[underlined in red]]Henry sprained his ankle[[/underlined in red]] and we missed the train. Heath passed out, Walter almost missed his plane etc etc. Tom [[underlined in red]]Maclachlan of Vulcan came in too and had a nice visit with him. He and Walter both need more steamers for the latter part of this year and the army is buying 15 and the Navy 5 - who will get them?[[/underlined in red]] It will be up to us to recommend something to the Services on it - and Charlie Creasser will have to do it.

[[underlined in red]]Ed Harley handled the Brookville people[[/underlined in red]] - Mr. Eisenman, the manager, and another man with him who looked like he built the locomotives with his bare hands which were still slippery with grease.  This is a concern I should like to see - they make small gas and diesel mechanical locomotives and I believe are a thorn in the side of Plymouth and Whitcomb because they can undersell them. [[underlined in red]]Eisenman, a nervous,[[/underlined in red]] deaf, aging little man is plant manager, treasurer, secretary, shop foreman, engineer - everything.  [[underlined in red]]Harley asked him if he[[/underlined in red]] had a drafting department, he replied "no". Well" said Ed, "who makes your drawings?" "Oh" said Eisenman, "we all do.  We sort of figure things out and make sketches sometimes.  Our men know how to build our locomotives by heart - they've been there for years. I get 'em off the farms; I don't have any union or labor trouble."  [[underlined in red]]"Who's Mr. Heasley[[/underlined in red]] who sends us letters?" asked Ed. "Oh," said Eisenmann, [[underlined in red]]"that's a lady.[[/underlined in red]] She knows a lot too."