Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1902 — Too Effective. [ARTICLE]

Too Effective.

E. T. Abbott, the civil engineer and contractor, tells a good story about a German sawmill proprietor of his acquaintance. The sawmill man used refuse from the mill for fuel. The machinery was pretty much back ntimber, and one day the agent for a firm came to the plant, and after looking it over, told the German that he would put in new and improved machinery for about $4,000, which would reduce the amount of fuel used one-half. While the fuel cost nothing, it required four men to provide it, and the German was assured that two men could do the work after the new machinery was installed. It looked like a good proposition, and the sawmill man gave the agent the order. A few months after the machinery was installed the agent called again. The German gave him a gloomy stare. * “What’s the matter? Don't the machinery do all I claimed for it?” asked the agent. “Yes, aber I overlook somedings.” “What was that?” “VIIO it dakes only two men to handle de fuel, tt dakt's de udder two men to haul away vat vc didn’t use pefore, and a team pesldes.”—Duluth News Tribune.