Letter, William Gleason to Kate Gleason
A letter to Kate Gleason from her father, William Gleason. William describes the tours he was given of factories in Newcastle and Leeds while he is on a business trip to the United Kingdom. He mentions that he will be traveling to London next and shares his thoughts about his return trip to the United States by ship.
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Gleason Tool Company,
Successors To
William Gleason,
Tool Builder
Office, Brown’s Race.
William Gleason, Pres.
Kate Gleason, Sec’y.
James Gleason, Supt.
Rochester, N.Y.Newcastle On Tyne, Nov 10th 1890
Dear Kate
I arrived here late Saturday night and called at
Armstrong early this morning. I commenced operation on the
[outer?] marks for admission [^]at 7:20am and finaly got to where the gear
planer foundation is by 9 a.m. but not any planer yet they did not
even hear from it but while I was starting telegrams and geting them
excited generaly word came that it was at the station. We started
three wagons for it but only found the main bed piece, but
expect to get the rest by tomorrow. if I get the other parts
too morrow I will get through here by Saturday, when I will
leave for London and then for home they have treated me
very nice at the Works have been introduced to all the heads
off departments, and as there is 15000 fifteen thousand men
employed, you may know what an army off officers there
is. I have been [^] given free scope to go where I please a sort off
freedom off the city like. and the men seeing me with the big guns
and being introduced all round they have [cot?] on too the spirit
and are accordingly civil if I want any thing they are falling over
each other trying to get it first. Your letter was the first thing handed
to me includeing one from Mr Churchil from London you may be
sure I was glad to get your letter although it was mailed only
one day after I left as I gave you some off my experience in a forme
letter I wont say more about it now at Belfast I tried to get in
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too the works off Harland & Wolf, but could not. I had better
success at Leeds they showed me all through there
Works they have a very large one and are at present
making some very heavy tools I may be able to start for home
a weeck from Wednesday if not certainly the 22nd on the Etruria
a twin ship to the one that I came on they are very pleasant ships
to be on on account of having Electrick lights in all the
rooms if you are not disposed to be on deck you can read
all day long without the least trouble. Workmen here get about
half the pay that they do with us. Every[^]thing goes by class tickets is
first second and third dining rooms are the same and in
some small towns the same waiter answers for both counters
a screen dividing them. there dont appear to be any regulations
as to where you may go that being entirely voluntary on the
part off the guests. I have been rideing every class but
mostly third. but when at the station I have taken the first class
waiting room &c the Hotels are not so good as ours but
good enough they are only a very little cheaper after everybody is
tipped. girls are in all departments clerks bartenders will take
your luggage as the call it here and trott up three or four flights
off stairs with it those are second class the best have lifts
I will be expecting another letter soon as it was two weecks [illegible]
since I left give my best love to all the family including Emma
I have written two letters to Ellen.