Part 42 (1/2)
”Why, Rush, you amaze me. It cannot be possible, after figuring down all transportations the way the experts of this company have done and been doing for years.”
”The old saying is to the effect that figures never lie. Perhaps mine do. If so, you will be able to discover the untruth at once.”
”May I ask how you propose to work this great saving?” asked the president good-naturedly.
”Send your boats back light.”
”Send them back light?”
”Yes, sir; in water ballast.”
”But, my boy, don't you understand that it will mean the loss of a lot of money to do that? The s.h.i.+ps earn a great many thousands of dollars a year by carrying freight for pay on the return trips.”
”Yes, sir; I understand that. Their cargo is mostly coal, is it not?”
”It is.”
”For ports all along the Great Lakes?”
”Certainly.”
”And through carrying this coal your s.h.i.+ps lose from a week to ten days and some times two weeks' on every round trip.”
”How do you know this?” interrupted Mr. Carrhart.