Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-09-28


that Guilford Duncan utterly dlsre,
xarded personal comfort whenever
duty called, and so he had no hesita-
ton In thus, opdering his young lieuten-
ant to take an early morning train on
the heels Of night Of dancing.
perhaps you'd better 60 up there
with me-" suggested Duncan.
"No. That would embarrass mat
tiers. I've been up several times, and
want you to bring fresh mind to
bear upon the trouble. I'll telegraph
the people there to put everything at
your command. I want you to study
the situation and make up your mind,
just as If the whole thing belonged to
you. Part Of it does, you know, and
more of 1t shall IL you find way out.
If the thing can be made to go III
give you ten more Of the hundred
shares In addition to the five you al
ready own. Good night and goodby
till you're ready to report"
Captain Will Hallam had recently
bought this coal mine on little branch
railroad in the interior of Illinois. He
had not wanted to buy it, but had done
80 by way of saving debt. The mine
had been badly constructed at the be-
ginning, and latterly it had been a good
deal neglected. There were other diff
culties, as Duncan soon discovered,
and the coal resources of the property
had never been half developed In
recognition of his services In examin-
ing titles and other matters connected
with the purchase Hallam had given
the young man per cent Of the COM
pany's stock, He was thus for the
first time working In part for himself
when he was sent to study the situa-
ton.
Quietly, but nsistently. In face of the
surly opposition of the superintendent,
who was also styled chief engineer,
Duncan looked into things. 1t was
true, as the superintendent sullenly
said, that this young man knew moth
ing of coal miping. But 1t was also
true. as Duncan answered, that he
knew how to learn.
And he did learn. He learned SO
much that after three or four days he
sent a telegram to Captain Will Hal
lam, saying:
Give me a perfectly free hand here or
call me home. 1 must have all the au-
xou poaoesq Or I can be of no use,
Answer by telegraph.
For response Hallam telegraphed:
Consider yourself the whole thing.
give you complete and absolute authority.
Hire or discharge men at will. Order all
improvements you think best Draw on
the bank here for any sum you need.
Only make the thing go II you can.
Thus armed Duncan set to work In
earnest.
"Why isn't your output of coal larger
than 1t Is" he asked Of Davidson. the
superintendent.
81 can't make 1t larger under the cir
cumstances."
"What are the circumstances? What
difficulties are there in the way? You
have miners enough surely"
"Well, for one thing the mine Is bad
" ventilated. Many Of the best gal
;cries are filled with, choke damp and
must be kept closed"
"Why don't you improve the ventila-
ton? AS an engineer you ought TO
know how to do that much"
at isn't feasible, as you would
know, Mr.. Duncan, If you kne'k any
thing about mining"
ooh, never mind my ignorance! 1t
Is your knowledge that I'm concerned
about just now. Do understand you
to say that mine lying only seventy
FIVE feet or so below the surface can
not be ventilated?"
81 suppose 1t might be II the busi-
ness could afford the expense"
1.-THE business can and will afford
any expense that may be necessary
to make it pay. If you know enough
of engineering to devise practicable
plan for ventilating the mine I'll fur
nish you all the money You need to
carry 1t out"
He had it In mind to add, III you
don't know enough for that I'll find
more competent engineer" but he kept
his temper and refrained.
"'Twouldn't be Of any use," answer
ed Davidson after q moment. Were
producing more coal now than we can
market"
"How Is that? I don't understand.
Your order book-which looked over
today-shows orders full month
ahead Of shipments. besides many can
celed orders, countermanded because
not filled promptly enough to satisfy
the customers. You're superintendent
as well as engineer. I wish you'd try
to clear up this puzzle"
ooh, it's simple enough! The rail-
road people won't furnish us cars
enough. I could ship hundred car
loads tomorrow If had the cars, but
haven't got 'em. and can't get EN-"
do you mean that you are Offering
coal as freight to this railroad and
the road is refusing itT
Eyes, that's about it. I've asked for
cars and can't get 'em, except a few
each day"
do the other mines along this little
branch railroad have the same trou-
ble?'
There is only one other mine ON
this line"
"Well, does 1t encounter the same
dificulty'in marketing its coalT
"NO--at least not to so gseat an ex-
tent. You see, somebody there is
standing in with the railroad people.
l suppose they've had little block Of
stock given to them-the railroad peo-
pie, l mean. So the Quentin mines
oot a n tho pora thev want and we Uat