"That is self-evident. Of course it would. What is more, relieving the cars of the strain to which they are subjected would save a few thousand dollars a year. Have you something in mind?"
Mr. Penton smiled good-naturedly on the young man who was standing before him.
"Yes, sir, I have a plan by which I think you ought to be able to save your electric motors considerably and at the same time make greater speed in getting ore to the chutes."
"If you have a practical plan for doing that you will have accomplished a great deal, young man. What is your plan?"
"Well, sir, it is an engineering problem. Not being an engineer, I perhaps shall not be able to overcome all the difficulties in the way. I can tell you, though, what I think would help."
"Do so."
"I find that in most of the levels there is a considerable up grade to the chutes where the tram cars are dumped."
"That is a fact."
"Would it not be much better to have the loaded cars run down grade to the chutes? Then they would go back up the grade empty," suggested Steve half hesitatingly.
Mr. Penton gazed at him quizzically.