Running one of the furnaces on Turnings and the other on Tyers. shall 

 have to run boath on Axels to morrow for Keck as he is in some hurry 

 for the mansfield Cars 



Mr. Ham "*- says that the Elk ^^ beats them all. Mr Clements ^^ seems 

 to be in some hurrey for one of their ne.xt Engines 



I remain yours 

 William Harkness 



Cincinnati May ad, 1851 

 Dear Father 



We had steam on the hamilton Boiler to day to see if the Flues and 

 Boiler are tight, they are all right. There is more work to do than they 

 can possible get through with this weeak on her. Tudor is seting up 

 another Boiler for the Hamilton Road, we shipped another Boiler for 

 Mr Holabird to day and another in the yard that is nearly finished for 

 him. We had a severe frost last night that has kiled all the fruit in 

 this secton the Themomiter fell to freezing point, reports from the 

 south say that the Cotton and fruit is kiled by the heavey frost 

 Sam is geting along with cards, two of them are nearly finished, but a 

 very little more to do to them all They have received the new ma- 

 chienery at the Factory ^'^ 



May 3d Met with a little misfortune to day one of the Tennesee driving 

 wheels broake after it was all turned they were takening out of the lathe 

 it had not the Tier on. Bending the Tire for 3 hamilton and Tennesee 

 Engines, have had some difficulty with the hands about wages let 

 them go and hired others in their places the ballance appear to be better 

 satisfied, as they see that there is no difficulty in geting men to fill 

 their places. I think that there will not be any more difficulty from 

 them 



One of the Directors of the Tennesee road is here he w ishes to purchase 

 an old Engine if it is possible and also to hurrey us up on the Engine, 

 he would give one Thousand dollars extra if we can get the new engine 

 done in two weeaks which is impossible he has gone to see Mr Clements 

 relative to an old engine I heard froni Crawford to day. he wishes 

 to know what the cost of an engine the same as the Fire fly I will tell 



^~ C.T. Ham, master mechanic. Little Miami Railroad. 



*3 Built for the Little Miami Railroad, April 1851. 



** W.H. Clements, superintendent, Little Miami Railroad. 



*^ Possibly English machinery, known to have been used by Harkness. 



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