Author, Henry Kitchell Webster, (1875-1932) wrote the novel at the turn of the last century. The link is to many of his books and short stories, now available for free online, including this novel about a midwest grain elevator being built and our hero is sort of a middle manager in the operation. He takes on cronies and he takes on unions. As recently s 2011, an article linking the opening of AS I The movie, tore into not only our movie but also an old novel about a grain elevator. Who could possibly care? Perhaps they knew there was important stuff between the covers of the book. The article's author, link below said this:
"...it [Calumet K] may have the most boring first line in all literature:

The contract for the two million bushel grain elevator, Calumet K, had been let to MacBride & Company, of Minneapolis, in January, but the superstructure was not begun until late in May, and at the end of October it was still far from completion."

Of course to producers, like this audience that sentence represents not only tension but challenge. We are waiting to see who will step up. We expect it, that's good story. Perhaps the author of the article would be on the edge of his seat if our "hero" were a drunk, making back room deals and gaming the system to get himself a job of power-the elevator completed to high standards to boot? Nah, who cares? Who Is John Galt?
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazi...

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