Augusta County: J. D. Imboden to John McCue, July 9,
1860
Summary:
Imboden discusses his business dealings and a proposed deal with McCue.
J. D. Imboden
1860
July 9/60
Staunton
Dear John.
I got home from Richmond Saty. evening &
found your letters here- I purposely delayed writing to you till I could do so
Satisfactorily- I have made a contract with the
Waddells- I paid them $500. for the exclusive right to
Sell their invention for 5 years throughout the United States- I am to pay all
my expenses and account to them for 2/3rds of the amount
of Sales, every three months,- They binding me not to dispose of my 1/3rd interest to any one during the 5 years- I have been to
Richmond- Have had a number of these Couplings made for trial- They will be put
on the Central road today, and worked up on the mail train West, tomorrow- I
have
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no doubt of its entire success- I now make you this
proposition Take any State you choose except Va & Maryland (& here you may still have the Va & Tenn
R.R.) do your best at it and after paying your
expenses first out of the 1/3rd I am entitled to from the
Waddell's divide equally with me- And then, if after you have made this
experiment, you are willing to go on with other States, on the same terms--it's
all right- By this arrangement I don't ask or expect you to pay any part of the
$500- If you agree to go into it, come over and we will fix all the necessary
papers- The Waddells were not willing to sell to any one but myself
individually- & would not contract to sell to me till I agreed not to
sell out- But under their deed to me I can employ any agents I choose on any
terms I please- & under this clause you & I can arrange matters-
Ritchie & [unclear: Dunnarant] are Lithographing it for me, so that a circular may be sent to every RR office in the U. States- I am greatly encouraged by what has been said of the invention by RR men. I have made arrangements to put it on the Baltimore & Ohio RR in a few days- I have no doubt of a sale to them-
Gill must be mistaken when he says McDaniel has seen this coupling. I am sure he never has- He has seen one invented & patented by an Alexandria man about the same time- I have examined it- It will couple pretty well- but there is no provision made for uncoupling the cars- It wont answer at all. He has it in Richmond, but mine knocked it into such a [unclear: cocked] hat that the fellow left-
I write in much haste-
Give our love to Coz.
Liz-
Mary's Sisters are here-
Yours truly
J. D. Imboden
