Mopnday, April 30 (1945)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 ?

Sunday, April 15 (1945)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.