A NAPOLEON OF INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2138, 2 May 1914, Page 5

A NAPOLEON OF INDUSTRY

It was said (tat tho Into Mi-. George Westinghouss conn-died tha largest, aggregation of .patented jippliaticcs in tho world. When ho conceived the idea of the iiir%ato Ijo wa.s a youtli of twenty. That was Marly fifty years ago, and the? use of this device 'bag become li matter of course in f.jio riuunng of all trains. There is not a .passenger Hue in tho rt'orld to-day which does not count the a-ir-fehikc nn essential in its equipment. In tho United States it was made obligatory on all railroads by Aet of €ongre.ss.

. Mr. Wostinglwifse. had great difficulties at the outset in gottiiig his mvci;liott recognised. None of tfcs railroad managers of earlier days would lisien to the amawug chikiS mada by the enthusiastic inventor, ivho svas pWetKally in'.known ouUsirie of bis father's iiuvchiiie slwp iii Schfeiieetady. AVii h his lack 6:f prestige it took a long tiino before even n'n initial test- could, im secured f,u _ ilje new inveutimi. \Vheu a .public trial was .at last wade,, lioiv* aver, the success <?!' the nir*brake was proved beyond furti<cr cavil, Mr. AVesimghotiße now slioived tlio shrewd, .prac(ioal business fcide of jits diaractcr.' Iftstead of selfiiig }.iis Sti-brake owt,right" to the railroads, lie- organised a company raid built a machina- sli.op far its manufacture in BiiMrurg—the first.<,f n long series or Wesiiinghcuse wcrks whicli bave sprung; up since tlian im the Ttiiited States and in luro.pe, With outsiders sfr, Wcstinglioisse was extremoly rctkent hi regard to bis inventions. llfi mahviained a Ofiu fjip on the dota.il-od epwaliowß of !iis rnaisy S'neku'i.es and cOrirpaHiC'S. . 'Micro was no lost -.time }n a day with Mr. Westmgliousa. 11c directed the woi'k <if his thousands of onipltiyees cvtui while., be was travelling las secretavy ftGra factory to factory iii his pi'ivaie car--a palatial liousi* «ii wlwels—wuiquo in-the perfection and contfor't of .'its qjj, (Kiintnient?. Mr. WcStiisid'O'ise waseasily accessible t ) his workmen, with, whom, it is said, lie never had a labour disagreement.