Document 3QOr8N2rv9yqGR4p2g0XwN4M6

February 12, 1929 Mr. A. E. Mittnacht, Ethyl Gasoline Corp,, 25 Broadway* Hew York City. Pear Mr. Mittnachts There are two matters Involving the expenditure of money which I think it advisable to explain to you. We began last week the study of some men at the Eagle Plcher head Company, following up some interesting and very important observations which we made during the last in vestigation. In order to obtain the necessary specimens we have found it necessary to take one or two of these men away from their employment for a day or two at a time. The Eagle Picber Company has been very co-operative in arranging for the substitution of men so that we could study these cases, but naturally it is necessary for us to pay them their wage and a bonus for their inconvenience in providing us with specimens of their excreta and blood. Since we are taking three blood samples from each man at an average cost of $2,00 per sample, this runs into money but I can assure you that it is well worth the expense from both the scientific and practical point of view. We expect to study some ten or fifteen men in this way. Mr. Siebenthaler is taking care of the compensation of the men and is including this cost in his expense account. You need not be surprised, therefore, to find that certain expense accounts of his are a bit above the customary amounts. The otper matter has to do with the C0 3 t of re pairing our ventilating equipment. In our work of digestive tissues we released so much acid vapor into our rooms as to make them almost unendurable both for ourselves and for the effects on the metal parts in the room. It was necessary, therefore, to increase the ventilation by almost 100^. We have had some difficulty ip the matter because we found it necessary to use a higher power motor. We first tried to use the old motor but found it very heavily loaded* This was due to a mistake in judgment oh the part of the Kirk and Blum represen tative and I am therefore holding him to his responsibility in retiring at least a portion of the cost of a new motor. How ever, the total cost of this modification will be nearer ,.400 than the original $200 or #250of which I spoke to you. The job is now just about completed and we find ourselves equipped with a suitable apparatus again. The above notations remind me that I have not made any formal budget for the year. I wonder if it will be S69O0OO 3 H A* E. Mlttnacht #2 well to let this matter ride until the question of the expansion of our experimental work this year has been decided. If you do npt wish me to let this go please let me know and send me the necessary papers to fill out since I have none at present, I am expecting to be in Hew York sometime next week in order to be present at the suits being brought against the Standard Oil Company* unless these are postponed until a later date. In any event I hope to have an opportunity to see you soon and to discuss with you in person a number of matters which I have on my mind. Kindest regards. Very truly yours, RAK:EJ h e 0000696