Cincinnati: "The new one, which we have noticed in another column, 

 and which was destined for the freight business, leaks so badly in 

 the flues, that it will take several days to put her in order. "-- 



Several days later the Conunenial, apologizing for an unintended 

 criticism of the Cincinnati, commented: 'Tn our notice of the flues of 

 the Cincinfiati burning out, we did not intend any reflection upon the 

 engine. ..." -^ This gesture to local pride not only betrays a 

 desire not to offend home industry but, more important, substan- 

 tiates Price's recollections made some fifty years later, of Latta's 

 failings as a locomotive builder. The same report mentioned that 

 the Cincinnati was expected to be ready for service in the next few 

 days and that the Little Miami had ordered five more engines from 

 Harkness. The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was also to contract 

 for two locomotives. 



While speaking of the Cincinnati in the annual report of the Little 

 Miami Railroad for 1846, Jeremiah Morrow, president of the road, 

 indicated more than a casual interest in the establishment of a loco- 

 motive works in the city. 



If a class of locomotives, suited to our purpose, can be built at home, 

 it is unquestionably good policy to encourage the manufactory. We 

 have had one built by Anthony Harkness, of this city, which, in neatness 

 of finish is equal to any on our road. On trial it was found defective 

 in parts of the works, as might be expected in the first eff"ort to construct 

 a complicated piece of machinery. It will require but little time and 

 a small expense to correct the defects, when, in the opinion of those 

 competent to judge, it will be capable of doing good work on the road. 

 Mr. Harkness has a second engine for our road, in a state of forwardness, 

 in the construction of which, the defects in the first will be guarded 

 against. Should he succeed according to our expectations in furnishing 

 a well finished and perfect engine, the cost and delay in the trans- 

 portation from the East may hereafter be avoided.-"' 



The Little Miami was to be one of Harkness' best customers, 

 purchasing over 30 engines from him during the next 10 years. 



Not long after Harkness had started work on his first two loco- 

 motives he wrote to the Baldwin locomotive works in Philadelphia 

 regarding the possibilities of building in his shop the flexible-beam 



^'■^ Cincinnati Daily Commercial, November 16, 1846. 



'■^ Ibid., November 20, 1846. 



2-* Fourth Annual Report of the Little Miami Railroad, Cincinnati, December 1846. 



15 



