occupied by an enterprise called the Hunter Bicycle Company and is what in industrial parlance is called a live, going concern. For two years Hugh worked faithfully trying to per- fect the first of his inventions. After the working models of the plant-setter were brought from Cleve- land, two trained mechanics were employed to come to Bidwell and work with him. In the old pickle fac- tory an engine was installed and lathes and other tool- making machines were set up. For a long time Steve, John Clark, Tom Butterworth, and the other enthusi- astic promoters of the enterprise had no doubt as to the final outcome. Hugh wanted to perfect the ma- chine, had his heart set on doing the job he had set out to do, but he had then and, for that matter, he continued during his whole life to have but little con- ception of the import in the lives of the people about him of the things he did. Day after day, with two city mechanics and Allie Mulberry to drive the team of horses Steve had provided, he went into a rented field north of the factory. Weak places developed in the complicated mechanism, and new and stronger parts were made. For a time the machine worked perfectly. Then other defects appeared and other parts had to be strengthened and changed. The machine became too heavy to be handled by one team. It would not work when the soil was either too wet or too dry. It worked perfectly in both wet and dry sand but would do nothing in clay. During the second year and when the factory was nearing completion and much ma- chinery had been installed, Hugh went to Steve and told him of what he thought were the limitations of the machine. He was depressed by his failure, but in
