The San Francisco call., 1910-11-22
WORKMAN, AGED
70, INVENTS
RAILWAY TIE
San Jose WOrkman's Concrete
Process Will Replace the
Wooden Rail Holder
New York Capitalists Will Pay
Immense Sum for Product
of 10 Years Labor
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

oFcLtlA DiSRotCn 10 i ne Adll
SAN JOSE. Nov. 21-It is not often
that laboringman achieves success
and wins millions after he has lived
the three score and ten years allotted
10 mankind. An exception is George
Gates of y South Twelfth street. San
Jose, who has signed a contract which
gives a syndicate of New York capital
fists the exclusive right throughout the
world TO a concrete railroad tie and
steel fastener which he has invented.
The consideration was s17,50O.o0O.
Gates is a modest unassuming little
fellow, q typical Yankee workingman.
Tie is rather spare. sunburned and does
not look more than 55. Vet he says that
he is past 20. He has been an inveterate
poker player all his life, and few
tricks learned in the great American
same have stood him in good stead in
irving a fair bargain with the New
York fnanciers But If 7 wasn't 20
sears old I wouldn't have sold the tie
for less than 100000. 900 he said,
couple OF days ago. 10 an acquaintance
STARTED 10 YEARS AGO
Il was about 10 years ago that Gates
first conceived the idea. OF concrete
tie as q substitute for the wooden tie.
He foresaw that there was a time COM
ing when the railroads would be seek
ing something more durable and less
expensive.
He cast thousands and thousands of
concrete ties in those years and was
not disheartened when they failed TO
stand tests and crumbled and cracked
under the vibration Of heavy traffic.
One day about two years ago he was
leaning sgainst a barbed wire fence. 4
viii just cast some Of these barbed
wires in the concrete" he thought. It
81 rr-I-~ 171~ E
forwards proved TO be worth millions
STAND ALL TESTS
Ties We're cast with barbed wire
strands running lengthwise. Tests
showed that 36 strands twisted in
certain manner obtained the best re-
suits Several Of these ties were finally
placed I'm the local railroad depot whore
they successfully stood the wear and
tear Of trauscontinental traffic. The
heaviest engines on the coast division
were brought here and the tie submitted
10 the most rigorous tests. The fasten-
ers also worked like a charm. The rail
roadmen of the world were interested
and Gates is no longer compelled 10 bor-
row small sums from his acquaintances
from time 10 time-they chase him with
offers Of loans now.
Factory at Stockton
STOCKTON. Nov. 21.-Harold s. Rem
wick. q stock holder of the. George
Gates concrete tie company, when asked
concerning the report that a deal has
been closed whereby Gates and his com
panies are TO receive ST., 500, 600 for his
patent tie. said
II have seen the contract which has
been entered into between Gates and II
of the big railroads. II is 10 be signed
morrow. that having been the date
a set According to the contract Gates
is TO receive s17.5Oo. 600 for his patent.
The railroads take over the entire prop
critics Of the Gates concrete tie company
and the National concrete tie company,
which has the sole right 20 the patent.
Gates is TO be superintendent and is
10 receive a big salary.
IT have further been informed that
Hetty Green's son is at the head of the
combination Of railroads which have
entered into the contract with Gates.
AS far as I know. the deal is practi-
no payments have been made, the first
TO be made tomorrow
Renwick stated further that Attor-
rey Al Jarman Of San Jose, Gates law
yer is in san Francisco for the purpose
are finally signed. factory for the
manufacture Of the tie has been started
in this city, the machinery for the
plant having been made at local iron
works This plant il is understood,
will be taken over by the purchaser.
George Gates. the inventor of the
concrete tie. verified tonight the story
Of the deal in the patent