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they can get out and clean up what they now have authorized to boot by July 1, 1943. I have some misgivings about it, not so much because I think they will fall down but more because I wonder how much trouble they will have selling them all - and also because I based my 1943 estimate of production on 80% of stated capacity whereas this is 100%.  There's nothing serious about it but it is not completely clean cut! [[)]]

[[X]] Had a long argument with Stevenson today about our practice of "earmarking" locomotives for particular customers when they are authorized.  He insists that no customer's name should be in any official authorization.  And yet the customer's name must be tied to a locomotive someway.  I suppose I shall struggle along somehow but the red tape is agonizing sometimes.

[[checkmark]] This was the night (Thursday) of the much-heralded Lima party for Henry Barnhart, Lima Shovel Manager and Matt's boss.  It was held in the Carlton Room of the Carlton and I would hesitate to even estimate what it must have cost.  There were some 50 there for drinks and buffet supper and the party ran from 5 PM to I don't know when - it was still in progress when I left about 1:30 AM and the bar was still doing a good business, with heavy poker, bridge and crap games in session.  Some scenes that made particularly good impressions on me follow:

[[checkmark]]  1.) Barnhart, tall, dissipated and rather tough looking, circulating around meeting everyone, under the guidance of small, birdlike Paul Ehrgott, the host - and a very liberal and gracious one too.
[[checkmark]]  2.) Lt. Comdr. Grace drinking liberally of scotch and soda and finally telling me rather testily, "I wish you'd get over this Commander stuff; my name's John!"
[[checkmark]]  3.) Major McLeod getting off to a fast start on rum and coke and piling into himself two heaping plates of buffet supper.

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