"But when you ask me if I know how I am going to improve on
those patents so as to make my locomotive twice as speedy and
quite as powerful as those other locomotives--well, I've got to
tell you flat that I have not as yet got the first idea."

"Humph!" grumbled Ned. "You say it coolly enough."

"No use getting all heated up about it," returned his friend.
"I have got to consider the situation first. I must look over the
field of electrical invention as applied to motive power. I must
study things out."

"I don't just see myself," Ned Newton remarked thoughtfully,
"why there should be such a great need for the electrification of
locomotives, anyway. Those great mountain-hogs that draw most of
the mountain railroad trains are very powerful, aren't they? And
they are speedy."

"Locomotives that use coal or oil have been developed about as
far as they can be," said Mr. Swift, quietly. "A successful
electric locomotive has many advantages over the old-time
engine."

"What are those advantages?" asked the business manager,
quickly. "I confess, I do not understand the matter, Mr. Swift."

"For instance," proceeded the old gentleman, "there is the coal
question alone. Coal is rising in price. It is bulky. Using
electricity as motive power for railroads will do away with fuel
trains, tenders, coal handling, water, and all that. Of course,