hom ▁took ▁a ▁leave ▁of ▁absence ▁from ▁West ing house ▁to ▁work ▁with ▁Colorado ▁Electric ▁Power ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 7 / 8 . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁West ing house , ▁serving ▁for ▁a ▁short ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁office . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 0 ▁Ralph ▁M ers hon ▁became ▁a ▁consult ant ▁in ▁elect rical ▁power ▁transmission . ▁He ▁designed ▁and ▁super vised ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁power ▁systems ▁in ▁various ▁states , ▁Ontario ▁and ▁Quebec . ▁From ▁ 1 9 0 5 ▁he ▁consult ed ▁with ▁South ▁African ▁fir ms ▁taking ▁power ▁from ▁Victoria ▁F alls , ▁and ▁travel led ▁there . ▁From ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁he ▁consult ed ▁on ▁a ▁project ▁at ▁In aw ash iro ▁lake ▁in ▁Japan . ▁He ▁helped ▁place ▁visit ing ▁Japanese ▁engine ers ▁with ▁American ▁manufact ur ers ▁and ▁power ▁companies ▁so ▁that ▁the ▁necessary ▁expert ise ▁could ▁be ▁acquired . ▁M ers hon ▁became ▁a ▁Fellow ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Association ▁for ▁the ▁Ad van cement ▁of ▁Science ▁on ▁January ▁ 2 , ▁ 1 9 0 6 . ▁ ▁M ers hon ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Engine er ' s ▁Club ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City . ▁Their ▁building ▁was ▁ere cted ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 7 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 1 0 ▁he ▁was ▁involved ▁in ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁an ▁" In vent ors ' ▁Gu ild " ▁that ▁included ▁Thomas ▁Ed ison , ▁Peter ▁Cooper ▁H ew itt , ▁El mer ▁S per ry