The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-15

much coal with his devices as without
them. In fact. in one instance 1t
seemed they burned more, and IL no
had not been an unusually good natur-
ed old man he would have lost his
temper at the chatting TO which he was
subjected, for he had been indiscrcet
enough to declare he had solved the
problem.
That failure chastened but did not
subduc the old man. lie was discour.
aged for Il time, perhaps. and less in
clined to talk with the men, but he was
none the less earnest in studing the
subject. Like tho ploddcr he always
had been he started all over again,
picking his way along the road just as
If II were not familiar TO him. When
he had reached a certain point he
seemed unable to get any further.
There lie stuck for many months. He
cXpcrimcnted with anything and every
thing his mind suggested as likely to
prove OF value, and at last struck one
device that showed promise of good re-
suits. Patiently he orked with this,
Installing 1t first in one locomotive
and then in another. measuring tho
amount of coal used with IL and with
out IL and letting no one know the re-
suit OF his calculations. Then he eXS
perimcntcd with the device in various
forms, making it larger in some in
stances and smaller in others and keep
ing tabulations of the coal consumption
in every instance. He meant to make
no mistake this time and 10 do no
boasting.
One day old man Palmer surprised
the boss by asking for a leave Of alb
sencc.
Why, Pop. what's coming over youc"
exclaimed tic boss. Leave of alb
sence! where do YOU want to go?"
Just away on a little trip replied
the old man.
How long will you he gomez" asked
the boss,
That depends" answered the old
The boss laughed, and pokingiy
gave some advice to the old man
about being wary of the allure
ments of the city. for the old
man told him where he intended going.
lie also. AT the old mans request. gave
him Il letter Of Introduction to the gen
cral manager.
Old man Palmer went TO the city and
spent a few minutes with the general
manager. who was glad to see him and
compllmentcd him on his long service
and congratulated him on his good
health. Then he asked tho old man
what he could do FOR him.
IF YOU'D he so good. said Tie old
ltllOM, u llht NOu 10 Introduce me 10
the president. ] want 10 sec him pri-
vately.'
why. certainly" said th, general
manager. Come right in"
The general manager escorted oil
man Palmer into the presidents olicc
and left him there. after explaining in
. few graceful sentences how the old
man had been in the companE's employ
for nearly fifty years.
When the reDcrn1 MANAGER hn1 d.
parted the old man. in Il hating and
embarrassed way. started his story.
He told how he had been wo!kinS for
years on the great problem, and how
lie now was satisfied he had made de-
cidcd progress toward solving il. lilo
wanted the president to take il UP and
install II in all the locomotives on tho
great system. lie showed all the tabu-
lations he had made. and explained
how much of a saving in coal ii meant
por, Locomotive.
The president had heard so much at
various times of coal economizer5 that
he was mildly skcptical, but he did not
say so or Let tho old man know 1T. II,
asked TO see the patent papers, anG
was surprised when Palmer told nm
he had not patented his device.
1T byaongs to the company" said
the old man. You patent II.
worked 1t out on the company's Time
and I got paid for the time | put III on
it. And | never could have Ion any
thing with 1t II / hadn't the chanc, to
try 1t ont on our engines"
The president said some pleasant
things 10. tho old man, and after telling
him lie would nsko prone trials of the
~cconon,izcr. dismissed him.
Within two weeks the president had
II report regarding tho economizcr. The
trials on which The report was based
were made far away from tho division
on which old man Palmer had worked