The New York herald., 1871-03-12
B R S
CONTINUATION OF THE STRIKE.
No surrender-The Famine in tho city-Rights
and Wrongs-Life, Labor and Capital Both
Sides ofthe --Stagnation in the Trade
The Public Purse-Boatmen, Dealers,
Builders and the People.

Immense quantities OF bricks are lying in bar0es
all round the island in consequence Of the strike by
the carrying boatmen. Millions Of these necessary
cubes plea upon the decks Of sloops, barges and
schooners, waiting the adjustment OF the existing
differences Both parties, however, for the moment,
seem determined to hold out. They are standing at
bay, watching each others movements narrowly,
and neither viii yield to the other. The boatmen
contend they are
FIGHTING FOR PRINCIPLE,
and that arms them for the battle against fraud
and rickery. On their side 1t Is grievance of long
standing, and all the wrath that has been bottled up
for years at the injustice they have suffered Is how
finding vent, to the dismay or their oppressors.
That they have been obliged for number OF years
to discharge their cargoes and pile the brick
fully on the docks without remuneration does not
make It rght on the contrary they hold it only
aggravates the injustice.
The price they ask for this extra labor-which
ought to be no part OF their duty--is so small, I'M
comparison with the interests at stake, that the
boatmen are astonished at the stand taken by the
other pary-twenty cents thousand and it taxes
about 100000 to build goodly sized house and
about 100000 large store, occupying half block.
Whether the price OF ''piling" is divided between
TIE DEALER THE BUILDER AND THE PUBLIC,
seems to the boatmen to be einatter Of indifference.
In fact they would Jump at any such easy solution
of the difficulty. They are shrewd enough how
ever to understand that II any one pays 1t must be
The strikers" say they have only just formed
this association and almost the iirst official act
OF the young society was to naugurate "lockout.'
| captain OF one OF the boats who was questioned
on the subject yesterday REPLIED 1--WE are contend
ing for our rights the twenty cents thou
sand may seem a small matter TO those gentlemen
who live in New York IN "brick'' houses, ana keep
horses worth thousands OF dollars and elegant car
rlages but 1t is very different matter with We
live on these boats. Now, look at them. Are they
| comfortable hOmeS9
WE RISK OUR LIVES
| in carving these things down the river We ara
liable 10 fifty accidents Besides the risks we run
there IS the rG labor now OF working the vessel % ,S on
wharf with the cargo in good condition and all safe
and sound the dealers come to US and say they
will buy that lot, but they want them piled on the
DOCK 150 deep./ So you see when our work is done
on the water we have to come ashore and set TO
! these men that would make ones blood boll.'
.Can you mention one Of these, Captain 2"
here and buy lot OF bricks from the agent,
and when they are half discharged they VIII
ee out Se anS If We
to this extra work they'll tell US TO keep our bricks,
to hs ant ns Sq ose they x
always carry our point"
'This strike is causing coed deal of depression
'Well, that's our gain. We are losing, too. Lying
here doing nothing gnsr rs EXPENSIVE !
We some OF us eating up nalf our freightn
'What does 1t cost to bring q load OF bricks from
4
.'That boat you see going there makes seventy-nve
dollars trip; then she'll go two voyages week."
"That's pretty good pay.'
"rhere are four men in the boat, and when we get
| down here we are obliged to hire four longshor6
men to help to 'pile' the brick. at four dollars
| day."
| -Four dollars dayp'
''Thats the price their association sets down."
| "Have they society, tooW
| ''Certainly."
swell, Captain, you make q clear case.n 4
sit Ii o just cause and we mean to stand by 10.
The HERALD dd us good service In putting the matt
/ ter so ably before the public.n T.
| 1.-THE HERALD is generally the first, Captain.n
always, sir, always.n
A number OF the most prominent builders were
/ afterwards called upon, some OF whom looked upon
| this action OF the boatmen as
1, SERIOUS MATTER, At
and the thin edge OF the wedge, as one termed ir.
Others regard 1t as a simple question OF supply
and demand, and were satisfied it would regulate
ITSELF The principal builders say II the difficulty
continues and the demand for bricks increases they
will charter their boats to bring the material to
where 1t Is required and in this way checkmate the
strikers. one gentleman characterized it as Item
pest in a teapot" sure to end IN the
DISCONTINUE OF THE INSURRECTIONARv PARTY.
Some OF the manufacturers have come forward
and offered to raise the freight rather than cause
longer depression In the business. This matter 1t s
understood, was under consideration at the last
meeting OF the boatnen on Friday. There is 10 be-
another meeting on Monday, when 1t is expected
some satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at.