The "old man":
loved nag his men, haze them with questions, just
to see they knew what they were doing.2
Charles Batchelor who joined Edison the mine. told the
Press that the profits were not going shared with outside
o
parties, "except the boys here who own the thing with me. One them was Thomas
Robbins, rubber-goods salesman. After dinner the mine, Edison would lead a
discussion the experimental and engineering work hand. Working with Edison, built
rubber conveyor belts move the ore through the processing
. Talking with
the men all night, sleeping floors, clambering and out of
the giant machinery, and surrounded dirt and equipment,
Edison was his element."
At Ogden Edison was able recreate the close-knit
comradeship Menlo Park, where and the "boys" had eaten,
slept, and worked together.
This was called "going school," and every man was expected
to talk about the areas was involved in. wrote Kruesi: "come with Batch
and into the mining business where you may dirty but very
9
happy.^ For Edison, this was the life!
The great works Ogden attracted many men looking for
work and chance make money." Edison had now given making the ore milling
project joint venture with investors mill owners,
intending run the operation with his own funds.
When they were not hard work, Edison and the "boys" occupied
themselves with practical jokes, cockfights, rattlesnake fights
and boxing matches. brought several "muckers" with
him from West Orange and worked closely with assistant,
Walter Mallory
