Manhattan Project Diary

Monday, June 18 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

Cold. Fine rain most of day. One of the first really boring days I've had to staff a bit. Didn't hear from Mary do have no idea what's up. Heard a lot of gossip. Looks as if I'd definitely not been wasting my time, but also looks as if I was in the wrong stall again. Ho Humm. Big demonstration for Eisenhower.

Sunday, June 17 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

MP-MGH game ended 8-8 rained out today sultry. Felt rheumatic and loafed. Hear we were beaten on muddy diamond 12-3 by S & W. In PM watched SED put up hard fight against MGHrith. ? Chandles (N.Y. Yankees pitching) Boys hit him but blew up in 7th inning. My old friend of Charleston here. Now a Lt. Col.

Saturday, June 16 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Stuffy. More or less a let down. Couldn't really find much to do to keep busy. Finally quite at 2 oclock. Hear my "raise" failed to go through. King and somebody else leaving. Sat in sun and waited for MPs to play Moore Gen. Hosp. Good game. Heavy hitting. Threatened shower ran me in at 5th inning with MGH leading 7-6. Lights out all early part of evening.

Friday, June 15 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:13:00.001-07:00

Nice day. Fell stiff in neck from yesterday. Jumped up and down in a bucket mist of day. Lots of trouble finding out what went wrong on #8 vent. Darned thing blew again. Some guy from Swarthout here re. damage. to control mech anisien on desep SPs. He could suggest nothing. Lots of prints coming in. One of SQs ? Saw SED beat AIT 5-4 in rather poorly played game.

Thursday, June 14 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Another scorcher. Started work on laying out shut down work and in general getting things ready. Miss Sampson not in. C.W. approved our plans for getting material shop in shape. Will have to make a lot capsules - if we can. About 3 over to C.W.s office where we met young Ferguson - I presume the heir. He then announced no shutdown! We go back to top priority for steam even if everything else stops! Celebrated by trimming A.I.T. 11-10. I drive in the winning run with two down in the last half of the 7th (final). AB 4 H 2 P.O. -1 A 1 (double play) E 1? BB o SO 0. So far have 400 avg, in 3 games.

Wednesday, June 13 (1945)

2008-07-20T22:02:00.001-07:00

Wattaday. Hot sweltering but no rain. Sunspot reported. Started off with a rush with condenser. Had it in new position by 9:00 and by 10 was ready to connect to old tank.Then trouble. They had left too many field welds to be made and insisted on "fitting" whole affair before welding up. The "fitting" took from 10 AM to 6 PM. Finally got steam back on at 7:45 (1945!) Also, in spite of everything Main had done, we found foundations 1 1/2 inch off. Something went wrong in steam dept and Jones was nearly knocked off high scaffold and was drenched by hot water on vent pipe work. Miss Sampson collapsed from bad teeth and had to go to hospital! Wattaday!

Tuesday, June 12 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:53:00.001-07:00

Started home soon and hit hay about 1 AM. Pretty drowsy on waking. Day a little less humid but it rained. C.W. still trying to decide things. Assigned Holt to follow up on new condenser construction. Place a regular madhouse all day. Samp finally got a loft with his vent crew. in afternoon wire from Mary. No truck. Called Purdy, who took Roedels' place. No truck till 18th - Damn. We played M.P.s in evening. Got off to good lead and blew the works in the fifth with everything overthrows, bone plays, sigh.

Monday, June 11 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

Another steamer. General shutdown getting imminent and still can't get decision on valves. Casper about nuts. in afternoon slow pitch team played and beat Carbide 9-2. I had 1 B.B. one safe on error one hit one strike out. No assists, P.O.s or errors. Later got our varsity beaten by Clinton Lab in rotten game full of technicalities and bad sportsmanship. Evident bad blood between Shields and Bob Price. Clear also Price not popular with Clinton (nor with Army) Got home to find I hadn't locked cabinet. Had to go back to works. Got there at midnight and locked up.

Sunday, June 10 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

Another Turkish bath. Tired tree times during day to see Jewell and finally made it. Saw a fair movie and some beautiful color pictures of the Philippines. In evening RA took Carbide in badly played game 5-3 and SED playing one man short nearly cleaned the all stars.

Saturday, June 9 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hot muggy and successive thunder showers. A not very exciting day. Understand #10 was finally cut over to Bailey meters. Samp nearly ready to start his air vents. Seem very short of valves. Nothing much else of importance. Got new outdoor glasses. Saw some Western at Center. Cool and damp tonight.

Friday, June 8 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Thunder lightening and cloudburst. Began before dawn and still pouring at seven. Streams out of banks and many persons not at work. Cleared bot and steamy. Got a few minor matters cleaned up and late in PM C.W. ht us with a lot of cut over orders. He's virtually junked the whole blow down plan. Writing now wondering if there'll be any baseball. Rumored old Vinegar Joe may command Chinese expedition. There was baseball. S. Eng. Dist. beat S & W in fine game 3-0.

Thursday, June 7 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:35:00.001-07:00

I don't get 130 Kentucky. Its warming up and getting cloudier. About two PM one of the blackest roll-seuds I ever saw. So black you cold hardly see and all lights went on. Shy looked green. Some rain after it. C.W. decided to control all steel and pipe on new outside boondoggle. Give us sort of an out. We are pushing foundation however. In evening saw God is My Co-Pilot drama. Very good.

Wednesday, June 6 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:32:00.001-07:00

Another cool one. Lots of ineffectual action. Big news is that we are signed up for anther year with U.S. regardless of pacific war. Elkins in B'ham. Seems there is a big rush about getting new condensate going. Must be ready within one month!!! Finally decided to let Jones do it. Talked to Jimmy Maine awhile on the phone. All kinds of rumors including one that I'll get 130 Kentucky for a house.

Tuesday, June 5 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:29:00.001-07:00

Very cold this morning but moderated. Found someone (turned out to be Roberts) had ordered connection in pump pit torn out. Good job. Should have been. Jamie wants a better trolley. Think can do. Office force surprised me with a birthday party and a group of presents. Didn't like it but they caught me completely by surprise. In evening saw Wrastel Bathroom as Sherlock Holmes. Five Orange Pips.

Monday, June 4 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:26:00.001-07:00

Cold as the deuce. Coldest 4th of June for forty years or so. Snowstorms reported in Great Lakes Area. In AM got miscellaneous things rolling. In PM tried finally to get dump valve working. Everything went slow and at end they got a rotten fit. Finally quit about 4 PM with job incomplete. Our soft ball game cancelled. "Varsity" played T.E.C. Beaten 7-4 in worst exhibition of season. Cool.

Sunday, June 3 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

Wonderful day but decided to rest. Slept till 12:40. Read "White Cockatoos." Wrote letters. In evening which was pretty cool went to see Identity Unknown at Ridge. Very good.

Saturday, June 2 (1945)

2008-07-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Very interesting day. Little change since yesterday. Lab 2 cooling nearly in. Q tank up and tested walls up on storage room. In PM ridiculous meeting with ? Co. re columns. Nobody who knew anything there. Hear Roberts back. Fine game in evening TEC v. R.A.. Tech won 2-1 on a scratch home run and a doubtful decision on home steal.

Friday, June 1 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

Another hot one. It melts me but I lose no weight - still 188. Without much clothes. Little change at plant. National still has no welder. Jones getting Jones fixed up. Little news from overseas. Went to movies in evening. Wallace Beery - "This Man's Navy" quite amusing particularly when it turns out the old braggart C.P.O really has been in India and really can talk Japanese.

Thursday, May 31 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Another hot one with rainless thunderheads. National still held up for lack of welder. Heat & Cool going to town. Jones moving. Independent had row with Major re method of erection. We got stuck with an extra . Their scaffold looks broke and nearly killed two men. Luckily they escaped. Condensate nearly done. Lannie wants us to go into nickel capsule production. After supper fair movie, "Unseen." Our s.b. team defeated S.E.D. 7-5 in tight hard match. I got a lot of practice. Hear my last hit yesterday was actually a hit, giving me .333

Wednesday, May 30 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Good many events. Independent to taking down RPM, National stuck for lack of welder. Jones Const. need room. Jones ? Chem. House in way can't move till new one finished. No OK from Major. We are working on condenser raise and are nearly ready with plans. Some trouble in fire tracks, neck breaks or whatever. Baseball good bad and ind. We lost 5 to 6 to Cobbs outfit - I made 1 error? plenty of put outs. Grounded out twice and got to 1st on fielder's choice. In evening boys took fearful drubbing from Roane Anders. Came home in 7th score 12-1 and we'd used 4 pitchers.

Tuesday, May 29 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

Practically in charge of Plant. Quarantine nearly ready. National held up by lack of welder. Otherwise all OK. Work hummed along steadily. A little decision to make relative to electric cut over. Guessed right. Am up against it badly as regards the new installations. Lots of material is wholly unobtainable. Am to play on "slow" soft b. team. First game tomorrow. Bought glove. Cost 9.45! Ouch. Stone and Webster have goof hard ball team. Beat M.P.s 10-2. Long hard hits.

Monday, May 28 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Uneventful start of beautiful day. Rather hot. New P.H. beginning to show piping but chimneys cit down for some reason. Finally getting quarantine piping up. Late in PM found Roberts leaving for a week. I'm in charge. Lots going on. National Valve finally here. Heat&Cool here. Rebuild on Lat 2 starts and Independent just breezed in. Also new and complete plans for new auxiliaries. Well well. In evening watched us take Carbide in close softball match 3-2. Then on inning (over an hour) of Roane Anderson v. Jones. Farce.

Sunday, May 27 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:38:00.001-07:00

Perfect day. Did nothing but nurse game leg. Feel absolutely frustrated and disgruntled. Slept, read and wrote letters. Hobbled over to the "Ridge" and saw the struggle of the U.S.S. Franklin to survive the bombing she took and to watch her get home.

Saturday, May 26 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Nice weather. Tried to push the condenser job. Samp got the quarantine tank suspended but bolt holes proved to be in wrong place. Before I could fix it, Roberts came out and started in to run things. I beat it. Somehow hurt my knee last night. Worst its been since December. Hobbled around in misery all day. In evening Carbide took us in baseball 4-4

Friday, May 25 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

Another nice day. Tried to get out on the new condensate but ran into some more trouble. New plans from Cleveland. Did get quarantine tank up. Worked most of day on theory and practice of pipe deffection calculation. Home early. Mens' underwear no longer for sale! Poppy day.

Thursday, May 24 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Another nice day. No particular excitement. Got back to the quarantine tank. Talked to Grinnel main about connections. Main worked on new condenser details. Late a new set of blow down plans came in. Spent evening working on calculations for pipe beds. Knee a little sore. Wonder if its bowling? Wonder whether we've got a secret weapon or just a boondoggle. U.S. Cabinet shake up. Pretty Polly Perkins and Biddle are out.

Wednesday, May 23 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Uneventful day. Beautiful weather. Had an annoying cough. Saw new chlorinator complete. Worked on condenser line change. Approved window plans. Home with Plott bowled with him, Jackson and McWrite. 95-112. Coming up again. Later in evening watched Army give AIT a fearful drubbing. Woodward blew up and whole business became a slaughter.

Tuesday, May 22 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Another nice day. Got fresh air line tested and OK. Giant boondoggle (gallows) now working and two "dead soldiers" have been successfully hung. Representative of ? over to see about connections in Process Bldg. Roberts took a hand for which I'm glad. Worked on new condenser. In evening went down to watch our baseball team thrash AIT. We're still not too good but are improving. Home with Langston. Winston Churchill resigned general election in England due July 5.

Manday, May 21 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Felt very good. Walk took a lot of soreness out of my shoulder. Same old jobs at plant pushing chlorimeter freshair, etc. Fresh air main gives a lot of trouble but it nearly done. In evening worked out with soft ball team who beat Stone and Webster very soundly. Rack 8 with new columns back in service. Hear Germans had a "heavy water" plant in Norway.

Sunday, May 20 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Perfect day. Cool cloudless light wind. Went exploring west along Ridge. Started to follow branch path, gave it up, but after cutting round through the timber hit it again and went way west to a road which had a prohibited zone warning on hit. Hard pull back. Dehydrated. Nearly fainted. In evening Naughty Marletta. Still good.

Saturday, May 19 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ross was in but I saw little of him. I'll have to check up on him. Not a very active day. Got warmer and developed into nice afternoon. Jones left an open ditch which we can't do much with. They wouldn't fix it. Major said he didn't give a damn. In evening interesting hardball game. SED gave J.A. Jones quite a trimming. Very nice base running. One man stole home!

Friday, May 18 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Cold and rainy. but no heavy fall. Rather quiet day. All racks ex. #8 running. East reported in Buff at May not last. Spent most of PM with water lab man tracing water lines. Saw Roberts late in PM and he showed me new condensate plans. We still have quite a job on our hands but it is not urgent. Lot of other unimportant boon doggles. Worked some on chlormation problem.

Thursday, May 17 (1945)

2008-07-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Early before dawn sudden thunder storm with terrific rain. Had left my rain coat at the plant and got well soaked getting down there. At plant found carriage complete and after getting it rigged, it still worked fairly well. Buck dropped in for a while with Roberts. Nothing of note. Haven't yet seen new condensate plans. Late in PM Jackson showed me his set of new power plant drawings. In evening saw a Lon Chaney. He was quite an actor. Trouble between our troops in Italy and Italian Communist followers of Tito (World War III starts??

Wednesday, May 16 (1945)

2008-07-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Got my new alteration on carriage laid out. Work ragged. Should have been done by noon but just finished before quitting. Had rained early but cleared to a hot steamy day. Wore cotton and got terribly dirty. In evening took a nap and then watched AIT and Stone & Webster at hardball. Woodward again driven to the showers but at 10:30 AIT led 703. Very hot and stuffy. Last group of Germans reported to have surrendered. World War II ends. (ex. Japs).

Tuesday, May 15 (1945)

2008-07-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hot. Still struggling to get gallows going. Roberts made yet another change. Finally got it about ready and then found that small trolley wouldn't track. Damn. Had to start sketching new one! No other news except work. Lab. fire breaks and fresh air. Went to see old Lon Chaney picture.

Monday, May 14 (1945)

2008-07-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hot and bright. Thought I'de have gibbet going by noon but one thing after another interfered. The tank wasn't weighted. One trunion had a bad weld. Roberts changed ideas on how to heat tanks. Lannie had a hand. Oh hell. Finally came home and went up to soft ball game. We trounced Roane-Anderson. Carbide beat Clinton Lab in interesting game. Only a few Germans still holdout in Czecho Slavakio. Russian lease lend virtually stopped. Trouble with Tito.

Sunday, May 13 (1945)

2008-07-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Down to plant and worked all day on the gibbet. It should have been finished but I never yet saw things go so wrong. Ross's figured were wrong, the trolley was made right. Just one thing after another. Day game off. Hot and nice but I got in no tennis.

Saturday, May 12 (1945)

2008-07-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

Cool and cloudy. Gallows still drags. Lamie discovered we still had extra electric hoists. At evening floor still not doubles. Seemed hard as is usual on Saturday to get an real work accomplished. Roberts wants cat walks altered to isolate fires. Crete surrendered. Hard fighting still in Zeccho Slovakia.

Friday, May 11 (1945)

2008-07-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

Warmer and sunnier but getting "smoky" in evening. Tried all day to push the gallows business but with very little result. I never saw a job drag so. Finally came home rather tired and mad. There is a rumor that Mastrin has quit. Why no one knows. In evening watched MPs beat Am. Ind. Transport. Very hot game. Woodford AIT is a big league pitcher and was unhittable for six innings. Honak (MP) blew up in the 5th but steadied and touched of a battering rally that won the game. Quite late the AIT put in a southpaw who was murdered.

Thursday, May 10 (1945)

2008-07-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Russians decided it ended today. It seems that the Kennedy "break" was due to fear by the Russians that they'd get stung somehow so they had to do their own negotiating and fought for sometime after it might have been possible to quit. Hitler reported to have been given all scientific data to Japan. Very wet morning. Regular cloud burst. Major bawled about the 1000 lb experimental trap and the boys wasted time terribly on the new gallows. No excitement.

Wednesday, May 9 (1945)

2008-07-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the day after the war "ended." The Germans are still fighting in Czecho Slavakia and about 100,000 up in Latoria haven't quit. Goering surrounded to our 7th Army. At the plant business as usual. Still trying to get the gibbet built. Found we were out of he three inch pipe and fittings. That balls up the condensate job! Lots of talk about racks and pressure chambers. Very little else. Oh yes. They say now it wasn't VE day after all. At 8:00 went down to watch Fercleve play Engineers hard ball. Did pretty fair for six innings. then their pitcher had to leave and it was another massacre.

Tuesday, May 8 (1945)

2008-07-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Today was formally announced as VE Day, whatever that is. There was the premature announcement last week, then the denial, then the surrender in Holland, then last night's accurate AP dispatch. Then Mr. Kennedy, who sent it, was suspended. Then it was officially confirmed. Now it is reported that large groups of Germans are still holding out at Brelau, on the French Coast, in Jugo Slovakia and around Prague. At the plant unexciting day. Power house steel work going up. Peeler got soused and had to be fired. 28 years since I reported to Old Col. Treat and was asked what in the hell I was there for.

Monday, May 7 (1945)

2008-07-18T13:50:00.001-07:00

Warner and clear in morning. Still not very heavily engaged. The gibbet continues to rise and we have the shop moved under orders. In PM tried to find end of old 3" line. Most of our new power units are now on their foundations. After supper watched Eastman beat Carbide in a loosely played but hard fought game - 11 innings. Fercleve then started to give J.A. Jones a good going over but it rained hard. GERMANS IN CZECHO SLOVAKIA AND NORWAY SURRENDER. Just 28 years since I left du Ponts to can the Kaiser!

Sunday, May 6 (1945)

2008-07-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Marvellous day bright and clear. Didn't leave peb for long walks however and slept all morning. In PM went to Morres. - Arsesm Lupin - good. Read "They Call It Pacific." Excellent account of the early Philippine campaign.

Saturday, May 5 (1945)

2008-07-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

Clear and warned up for a while. Found myself a bit at loose ends with all draftsmen busy and nothing to do myself. Watched Nellet tried to take some stuff apart. He had lots of trouble. Short welded nibs injured outer shell and finally pulled expantion lofts out of floor. Little else of interest. Still too wet for softball. Too cold in evening for baseball.

Friday, May 4 (1945)

2008-07-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Still cold and showery. Every variety of difficulty in getting "gibbet" built. Couldn't get carpenters to plumb posts. Spent all day trying to get my drawings for 5 ton carriage complete. By evening pretty well straightened out. We are working light and will be some time to come. Langston says we're running our great rival utterly ragged. It may be. They seem to be getting desperate. Trying to break p our cafeteria, etc. Today Nazis in Holland quit and British entered Denmark. Also cleared Rangoon after three years.

Thurdsday, May 3 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Another cold rainy day. Steams full of yellow water. Found batter boards not set. Then found gas line in the way. Then heard condenser not to go in at all. Finally got posts located and then tried to design. Finally found hoist a very clumsy affair. Started to design and then found beams are tool light. Boy wattajob. Finally came home and worked most of evening on it. Berlin taken and whole German Regime collapsing. Bordeaux. Hamburg surrendered. Russians claim Hitler and Goebels suicides. Laval arrested in Spain.

Wednesday, May 2 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:43:00.001-07:00

Rainy and very cold. Not very exciting in AM. Heard Ross leaving us and then heard his draft call cancelled. Went on working on condenser. In PM, Roberts called to say transfer structure very important. Must do something at once. Tried to start. No poles. No steel. No nothin and late to finish up a design. Germans in Italy about 1,000,000 surrender.

Tuesday, May 1 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Cool unpleasant day. Tried to get condenser job moving. Got line on ? steel and got some of it worked out. Beginning to take out ? column. Heavy pipe finally got here. Also getting quarantine tank ready. In PM went up to softball field a while and tried to limber my arm u playing with a youngster. Arm pretty stiff and sore. Later found our hard ball team playing MPs under lights. Massacre. MP 34 Fercleve 0! Awful. Our first three batters never touched the ball. Light spatter of rain. Hitler reported dead. Adm. Doenitz in charge of Germany.

Mopnday, April 30 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

Cold and bright. Finally pried loose a bunch of work from Roberts. Got on with planning of new condenser change. Hired an electrical draftsman. All kinds of rumors about Known that Mussolini is shot-dead. Rumored Hitler dead. Rumored Goering sick of suicide. Rumor Himler sues for peace. It seems fake rumor a few nights back was spread all over Y12 and everybody quit.

Sunday, April 29 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:28:00.001-07:00

Went to church. It's a little "Union Chapel" which follows the Presbyterian service. The preacher was from the Presbyterian seminary in Knoxville and preached very well indeed. In afternoon saw s really funny Laurel and Hardy picture and in evening read Queens Die Proudly. Defense of

Saturday, April 28 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

Rained hard all morning. For the first time found matters well in hand and had little to do but manage. Tried to plan condenser cut over but couldn't get all the kinks out. Also had the tough time with the pressure tank. When I left, it looked OK. In evening went over to Fercleve Dance. Dead up to 9 o'clock so came home. First time I've worn a white shirt since Pearl Harbor.

Friday, April 27 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Plott still broken down. Morning paper announces Molotob raised the deuce at San Francisco by blocking Stitinious as chairman. Found our cut off from city water not entirely satisfactory. Our valve leaks. Got condensate dump lines plummed . All working like the devil. They ask 1/3 shut down Saturday. U.S. and Russian troops in contact at Torgave ear Czech frontier. Miss Sampson had queer tale about me.

Thursday, April 26 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

Plott still out of action. Took old "Oakspress." Nothing notable at plant. Spent most of day trying to check up on safety valves. New condenser towed around and activity in general on the increase. Find Bunch my Chief. Auto inspector is on the "tear." Rumors that Russ and U.S. patrols are in contact. Letter from Ramsey.

Wednesday. April 25 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Nice Day. Plott lost his tire yesterday and we had to go back to the Powah House. Special Day not particularly eventful. Fined Evans and C.W. have again changed the gasoline loading arrangements, Ugh. Got both conductivity cell in operation. Believe finally have pop valve situation in have. New condensor came. New condensate tank is in We move. After supper watched Carbide beat us in tough 4-3 game of softball.

Tuesday, Arpil 23 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Running right along. Hear that Carbide think they have something the will eliminate us. Rather doubt it. Also rumors of anew K26 or K27. We seem to be coming on fairly well but there has been trouble. That outboard matter may be either PC which is not so good. Conductivity cell in at last. He he ho. Home with Doc. Saw Laurell and Harchly, he's funny short. Nice letter from Sneddon.

Monday, April 23 (1945)

2008-07-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Cool and overcast. Plugged along as usual. Gas tank finally in ground. Minor incidents here and there but nothing of Note. Big argument relative to convectors. Hear rivals claim now to have better thing than we have. Also hear Russians in Berlin. Interesting letter from Ramsey. Understand there has been serious erosion in some lines due to heavy flashing and spray effect.

Sunday, April 22 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

Dark cool day. Had indented to walk but did not seem to have the urge. Lay down about ten oclock and slept till two! Went to rather poor movie. Now darker and cooler. Reds reported in outskirts of Berlin. Reported that we have agreement to let them take it.

Saturday, April 21 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

One of the foggiest mornings I ever remember. Day at works opened without incident. During day, found I'd inadvertently held up an order for analysis of outboard cooling water. Seems something is missing. Found Swarthout failed due to destruction of ball flat. Home early with Doc Dodge. Seems he and wife play tennis. M. wants lot of sections made PDQ.

Friday, April 20 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Woke up to find day overcast. Bldgs felt cold and drafty. Tank finally welded up tested and ready to go in ground - correction - thought so. Then began to find leaks. Finally had to have crew work late. Then transport balled up their dispatch office and men didn't get taken home, Miss Sampson called me at 9 PM and I finally got them taken care of.

Thursday, April 19 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I suppose the Boston Marathon may have been run and its 170 years since Concord Bridge! Our troops in Europe seem slowed down. Do not like the general situation in the inspection dept. Marsh's statements as to salaries and policies to not appear to check properly and the entire situation seems to indicate poor morale. Finally got the big tank back. Full of leaks! No other great amount of action except minor. But day was very annoying. Wonderful cold bright blue day. Westgate may be transferred to me.

Wednesday, April 18 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ho hum. Rather annoying day. Beautifully clear and bright. Rumor the CWR may be leaving also informed my men have been proselytizing. March not quite on the up and up on the whole business's. Got going on the safety valve problem. Hear R.S. having so much trouble with Major he wants to know whose in charge. Ho hum. Home in early with Plott. Ernie Pyle the correspondent was killed on some job inland.

Tuesday, April 17 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sometime near midnight thunder and big downpour. Morning cool and everything muddy. Holt is back for which I'm very grateful. Active and unpleasant day. Kelly got scalded in a most remarkable accident. "Hank" when installing 3" line through change house , connected it to a lint in attic without checking the latter. This line was the hot water line to the water tank. The H.P. stream blew the water back through the tank and entered the cold water system. It finally reached the toilet. Kelly flushed a closet and the steam blew in his face! Finally had to shutdown SP1. Then power house shut down. Then started up after all blow downlines were disconnected for repair. Ordered to stop work on ?

Monday, April 16 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

The days slip by. Woke up to another sultry day. Matters at plant still going well except desuperheating valve which is causing plenty of trouble. It looks like a three cartridge pinwheel that has got stuck. Got gas lines lined up. Jones men came over and trued to roll out tank. Not too good. Am going to sand blast and paint. Clouded up and began to rain. Home with Plott. Found I walked twelve miles yesterday.

Sunday, April 15 (1945)

2008-07-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

Slept till about 8. About 9:30 started a walk along Oak Ridge. At 12:30 and reached a point north of lone church beyond power line. Felt pretty well all in so turned back. Stopped by Jeff Theater to see Air Victory. In evening went to another. Poor. Throat nearly well.

Saturday, April 14 (1945)

2008-07-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

Cool early but got very hot and sultry. The plant ran better than usual. Had one helluva time trying to get gasoline tank tested. They fitted it with water on the night shift and didn't support it. As a result they crushed one side. Then they didn't and couldn't weld. Tried to get it drained and welded. then Union steward kicked. Home with Plott.

Friday, April 13 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

Roosevelt's death made uninspirational splash.Saw only one flag half masted yesterday and another today. Paper gave a good deal of space to it. Work at plant skipped along fairly well. Got the 4" water line completed and started putting in "cells." Tried all day long to burst tank with water pressure. Darned stuff just swelled and didn't burst. Home fairly early and took a walk and really severe climb up to the crest of East Fork Ridge. Its much higher than I had thought. Queer rustic char of stone near east end. Sun not too quick for good view. Fell into much in stream bad on way back.

Thurday, April 12 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:18:00.001-07:00

Hot day and lots of action. Roberts announced he wanted conductivity cells pushed - we pushed. Got heat exchanger finished and tested. Got part of 4" line up and then found they'd cut it too long! Found leakage on desuperheating valves may have to be fixed soon. The flanged valves are wrecks. Had to get new gas tank tested. Got rigged for scale tank test. In fact all hands and cook worked like hell all day. Home usual time. Would walk if I had comfy shoes. U.S. troops reported across Elbe and only 50 m from Berlin. Report Roosevelt dropped dead at Warm Spring at 2 PM.

Wednesday, April 11 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

A rather interesting day. When I came on found #5 was not the only leak. In fact the place roared. Four checks smoking a dozen unions and plenty of leaks bottomside. Nearly at my wits end when heard Power house had lost a boiler feed pump. that was all we needed. they began shutting us down and within an hour we had repairs going. Main made an error in planning the new gas tank and Jones men just about undercut the old tank before they caught on. Our fault though. Went to Fighting Lady again. Shorty Byrd back.

Tuesday, April 10 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Warm day. Miss Sampson out. Worked hard all day on odds & ends. Got the windows business down to "turkey" with Elkins - I hope. Hardin found me a tank for guaranteeing condensate. Got fresh air guard designed. Seem to have a type of hay fever - maybe hickory. In the evening saw Fighting Lady. Not as long as I had hoped. Some nice silhouettes though ot N. Carolina S. Dakota and Iowa. Some generals staff inspected us. Ho Hum.

Monday, April 9 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:04:00.001-07:00

Much milder today. My rest of yesterday bricked me up a lot. Very eventful day. Lesty got in about windows. Finally got a bid. Seems Buchenheimer never sent him his pass yesterday. Jones' men pouring tank foundations. Had one big hole which caved badly. Had one of the biggest "Breaks" ever. Wattamess! 6 inch valve on No.5 started to leak. Sent Hardin after tank for "isolation." Home as usual. Wrote Janie. Did my wash. How this book is filling up. Going to Okinawa getting tougher. Our troops to or perhaps beyond the Elbe.

Sunday, April 8 (1945)

2008-07-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Perfectly beautiful day. Perfect for a long hyke but as it turned out I wasn't up to it. Woke up with throat hurting like hell. Went down to plant and waited for Lesty till :30. He ever showed up. Came home, napped and took aspirin. Feel a trifle better this evening but its awfully sore yet.

Saturday, April 7 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:58:00.001-07:00

Still pretty cold. Throat getting no better fast and felt pretty miserable all day. Worked on a nasty little job in connection with conductivity cell. About 4 oclock decided to go home, but ran into the biggest display ever put on by the horizontal condenser. Finally isolated trouble in #7 T.R. For a while water went over the eves outside and half way to the roof inside.

Friday, April 6 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Probably severe frost last night. My throat has hurt ever since our last shut down when I walked into ? in the east alleyway. Didn't get much accomplished. Ruler out - apparently on a bat. Started to rig conductivity all and found someone had already used the coil! Will have to design new one. Roberts got the three "morning glories" (Why so called I can't guess) started. Seemed to work OK to start with .

Thursday, April 5 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Finally got the 4" going. Not exactly where I wanted it but it finally goes up. Went up and walked the steam line SP2 to inspect. Rest of day not highly eventful. Fairly busy and began plans for saving condensate again. No other event of any great importance except rumor of additional capacity - we seem to go up. Went to rather poor movie. Day was very cold. With high wind.

Wednesday, April 4 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Well how time scoots. A very busy day. In morning got ready for meeting. Interrupted by attempts to get scale tank tested. Then to meeting which was short. Then back to plant where we found Jones outfit digging under foundations of steam power line. Plenty going on all PM. Got orders to change position of dog houses and quite late heard they were going to cut storehouse in two and move it. 100 p.c. again toward evening and hardly a leak showing. 57 varieties of things going on though. Evening cool and very unsettled. Doesn't seem to know whether to clear or rain. Patton took Kassel.

Tuesday, April 3 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

Very foggy morning. Coudn't see 200 yrds at 7:00 cleared to beautiful hot very hot day. Seemed hard to get things really going. Painters have covered up many of the worst scars of our battle with the condensers S.Q.s OK again. M. insists all efforts be put on dog houses which prevents any other constructive work from being done. Uninteresting. Slowly bring up load.

Monday, April 2 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

Heard a load of gossip en route to work. They had as I suspected bee having their troubles. Economizers, heat exchangers. We're not along. Very light load. Very little action. Nearly while maintenance force on dog houses. Hear our gas tank is finally to go underground. Wella wella wella well.

Sunday, April 1 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday. Down to job, where I worked on inspectors orders and where it rained hard. Whole works shut down temporarily still for no reason which I could see. Finally about noon the "geysers" began. Home 2:30 Slept all M. Wrote Snedden, & Vet. Bureau.

Saturday, March 31 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

Shut down was actually effective. Found all jobs progressing nicely. Quietest shut down ever. Worked most of the day trying to get pump pit detailed. Got all the really big jobs done. Day cool and clear. Ross sick w sore throat and Wood borrowed by Col. Fox.

Friday, March 30 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Weld OK. but hear power house is about to shut down. Worked all day on plans for shut down. Holt out with infection following athlete's foot. Jim Main in to say good-bye. got new location for pressure relief valve on Queens. Got nearly all current stuff laid out ex pump parts. Worked on that till 10OM and then came home. Shut down scheduled for 4 AM.

Thursday, March 29 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Nice day but - Up to 11 AM busy on laboratory overhaul. Then found P.P.2 down! Therms couple well broken off in pipe. Tried to chip out back weld and unscrew. Had to give it up by 1 PM. No progress at all. About 1PM got permission from Roberts to cut out and weld. Then found no welding bosses and no rods. Finally, about 4 PM found we had some suitable plate. Elkins could get no rods till 7:00PM but Plott managed to borrow some moly rods from Carbide. Got to work finally at 5:20. took nearly two hrs to make the weld. One hr, more to heat treat at 9:45 got word, that well back in OK.

Wednesday, March 28 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Another lovely day. Action started slowly but about noon I was called to hot meeting relative to return of condensate and Tuscon man flew in relative to windows. Hot session. We got very much the worst of it. Must put in more apparatus. Ho Hum. Hot evening.

Tuesday, March 27 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Marvellous spring day. red heds dog wood, wild crab, wild cherry, apples all in bloom. Tulip trees budding and even oak showing a little fringe here and there. At plant a general feeling of let down. Started day with a big drive for new condensers butthink Buck was here and it all sort of frittered out. Actually boondoggled in afternoon. Home early. Patton is reported approaching Nuremberg and we are landing on islands only 380 miles from Tokyo.

Monday, March 26 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Day began uneventfully. As more units went on & the condenser began to show signs of load and then on 75 gpm pump quit. Thus overloaded horizontal tank and trouble started. I kept pretty well out of the way. Later, Main (Jim) got things under control but somebody bypassed a trap and just raised hell with the whole systems. C.W. took charge and tried to install new pump. Finally got it in and then fond it had not been packed! Home with Plott & Mann.

Sunday, March 25 (1945)

2008-07-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Note: This is Saturdays events/ Found condenser nearly ready. Crew dead tired. By noon everything seemed under control. Went to Comb Engr (Wlasj and Weidner) Chattanooga. Saw some very fine machinery and some interesting boilers. Home about 10 PM.

Saturday, March 24 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Up at usual time and to work. Plant getting started again slowly. Spent most of the day getting details of 4" cut over lined up. Air compressor shows desire to move off its foundations. Whole thing shakes. Had them tighten bolts to make it all shake together. Home at 4:00. Saw Zane Grays Nevada (Note this should be for Sunday 25, Not Saturday

Friday, March 23 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Whew. We got a day of grace as the Power Plant is slow in coming up. Worked all day and most of the evening on new condenser set up. Had to help the men lay the stuff out since most of them had never done so before apparently. It was quite a job. C.W. came down in the evening and remembered we could ? in valve at silver queens. that will help. In general however, the does not expedite. He constantly has bright ideas which distract the men.

Thursday, March 22 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Missed Plott. Walked into plant to find it stone cold. Shut down from end to end. no cooking eat in Cafe! Power house just naturally out. Chance to straighten out condenser . I developed a scheme for doing it, but never got started. Orders from Hq to pull whole thing and by the time I got there it was a wreck. By 2PM discovered that it did not leak at all. Drop in pressure had been die to thermal changes. By 4PM had it back on foundations and were again at work fixing up new devices. C.W. just about took charge and at midnight we had not accomplished much.

Wednesday, March 21 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Another strenuous day. 6"main steam lines to racks Nos 1 and two developed leaks. Luckily above the valve. Worked a whole with Main relative to condensate tank. Found pressure of 11# with no blast through seal!!! In PM tried to get Beddoe lined up on new pressure freeze off system. So busy with miscellaneous nick nacks of jobs, never got anything much done. Weather has turned cold and raw.

Tuesday, March 20 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

Wattaday. Started out to get going on new 4". Instead of four inch location being success, C.W. gave me hell for letting Bedow put up so much scaffolding. All kinds of troubles going on. Finally found that condenser seemed to have too much and too cold water in bottom. Looked like a leak. Tested it. Showed pH of 7.6 looked rather bad. then broke connections and found on hydraulic test that we did have a leak. Not a very large one however. Hooked up and came home.

Monday, March 19 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

Plott picked me up in the morning which was very pleasant. At the plant everything still topsy turey. Dodge and Mich Supt from Power plant. Sherlock Holinesing for contaminator of condensate. Roberts trying to put a 2000 lb test n a rack. I tried to find a hole to drop our new 4" header to the solver queens through - and did not find it. Did finally figure a way to make one through. Beautiful bright cool summer day.

Saturday, March 17 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Another hot "cooker." Spent morning at plant trying to figure up a way to connect my new freeze water header - silver green main. Also got involved in the dog house milker. And had to get it redesigned. Another PH scare. Home early. Walked to Elsa Gate and back. Still a hot night. Judas trees are out.

Saturday, March 17 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Day started hot and sultry and sprinkled a little. Jones men came back and tried to do some more excavating. About noon tore open the 10" fire protection main! Perfect! Never saw so much mud in such a small place since I left France.Nothing else of note except that Roberts wants me to take over all interior construction. Inspectors started.

Friday, March 16 (1945)

2008-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Wattaday. Sultry with sunshine and then showers. Getting hotter. Peach trees in bloom and pear trees coming out. Jones men came early. Asked nobody anything started to work with big carry all and tore up gas line and grazed steam line to Lab 2. Got them stopped before long. Then had to answer phone and carious questions all day long. Got automatic business under better control and worked out final scheme for steam distribution and for cut over cold freeze water. Worked late with March. Home hot and tired.

Thursday, March 15 (1945)

2008-07-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

RED LETTER DAY. All racks on! They weren't able to hold it for steam simply no hay bastante, but for a while the old monstrosity actually functioned. Lots doing. Got a few small jobs worked off and then hit two wonderful new ones. A. Windows in the main process bldg! Also addition on Jones place. Also a new lumber shed. Wella wella soella well. Nice day. Shoulder still too stiff for base ball. May go to Chattanooga.

Wednesday, March 14 (1945)

2008-07-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

Nondescript. Just one thing after another. Finally got what looks like agreement on automatic milker. Not much else. Spent most of the evening writing to Dave Neisiwanger and Dee Joslin. Very dark cloud looked like big storm but no rain.

Tuesday, March 13 (1945)

2008-07-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Didn't have to go up. So wide awake at 5:20! Loafed till late breakfast and then loafed some more till Tully and some Lt. Met me and drove me over to the Administration area. Heard extraordinary talk on color in factories. It made me think of the "Nature Man" listening to the earthworms sing. Had some sound ideas however. Out to plant to find things normally hectic. Another horrible class. Miller having hell of a time with inspection problems. Late in PM found all. Pressure valves in BP3 section probably ruined. Somebody let in H.P. on the main W sectionallizing valve closed. Oh. Walked home from west town along ridge.

Monday, March 12 (1945)

2008-07-15T12:24:00.001-07:00

Another day. Dark and lowering but only a splatter of rain. Worked as hard and as fast as I could but it its a difficult task. Martin sick and his orders more or less balled up. Jones people came in to begin moving shacks out of the way for our new steam plant. Got my income tax. Letter from Dave Neiswanger. Got a certain amount. Worked hard on inspection organization. Dodge is back. Damned glad to see him.

Saturday, March 19 (1945)

2008-07-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

Beautiful day. Down to work as usual time. Miss Sampson there. Spent morning outlining inspectors routine. Met Roberts at lunch. He seemed sore as hell. Went round with him afterwards for about 3 hours. He certainly is a most remarkable man. Find the Major didn't like our steam plan.