New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-08
THE LEAK
Winner Of SIS Prize
By II. S. Hall Of Cleveland

Young. back in the days when broad backs and
strong muscles did much Of the work that improved
machinery now takes care Of II galley-save toll
IN hat elevator. quit Just as soon as something less
halv-Wrecking offered itself.
Then was on the road for the Planet Paper Com
,auy. selling paper bags. My best business came from
1ourrnills and feedstores, and had big circuit OF
these establishments throughout the Middle West. My
principal competitor was the Globe Bag Company, a
- Louis concern These people were active and agrees
.yc and their statesmen gave me trouble.
There was a little hundrcdbarrel mill in the Wabash
Valley owned by a crusty old curmudgeon who had
never given me an order in the five years had been
going 70 see him. The Globe people had strange hold
.n that business.
one lay came into this town and found it dead and
deserted The empty Of people, the stores
81. kel up Everybody had gone to Old Settlers Day
-. Somebody's Grove. twelve fifteen miles south.
Every man | wished to see had his place OF business
'o,cd | wondered il old Sykeman the mill owner,
would take a day Of TO 60 to picnic.
found him in his office. No pcncs for him, He had
n,cn compelled to shut down his plant for the day for
Ill hi, employees had gone with the crowd; but he had
saved IN watch. hoping for a stray customer.
sat down and talked weather, crops, and politics
t.r halt-hour; then | came to bags.
He had enough in stock last him six months, and
admit care about anticipating future requirements
WIKI This announcement he switched the conversation
hack 20 politics
BEYOND the railroad track that into the mill yard
was The elevator building Of some thirty or forty
u-aul bushels capacity, and at the time fairly well
il,l The building stood at the top Of a steep hill, at
.rc bottom Of which flowed a small creek.
Is looked out Of the window my attention was
drawn 20 disturbance in the creek such raindrops
vo.d oause For a moment | was puzzlel; then sud-
denly realized what had happened.
~Nouvc got a leak in your elevator. | said to Syke-
,aan.
The I'D man jumped 70 his feet and hurried out and
q .~D,s thc tracks | following close behind
\ stream Of wheat was drlbbng on, from behind the
rrgacl shccring thirty feet above ground, and ram
rs into The creek in shower. In the clear depths we
could see a big pile Of grain.
lis number three bin" cried Sykeman. Its full to
the .op Here's nice fix. No way TO stop il, and
every bushc that runs out will 90 into the creek.
Have YOU an empty bin up there | asked
There's one that's half empty. But what good will
an empty bin do:"
Ran Oh, this bin into the other until you have low
cred he level beneath the leak, | replied.
How am going 20 DO anything when every man Of
rv crew is away? | don't know anything about this
par, Of the work. wish picnics had never been in
vented, Look at il, I'll lose thousand bushels Of
whoa, if it isn't stopped"
start up Your engine. and III help you transfer it,
I said. Il used to work in an elevator, and know
something about them.
NO steam up" he groancd. I'VE shut down at six
this morning"
Well lets take a look, suggested, running to the
engine room.
The gage showed over twenty pounds. threw open
the ire door and saw that the fireman. on going off