The New York herald., 1873-11-10
TEE GOVERNMENT WORKS.
How the Depression Affects the Employees Under
General Newton-River and Harbor I'M
provements A Chance for Con-
gress to Aid the Laborers

Dor improvements, under the charge of General
John Newton, OF the United States Engineers, a
reporter OF the HERALD found this engineer oficer
at the army building, in Houston street, On stat
ing the object OF his call the General remarked
~ am glad you have called. Only the other day
Captain Huer and were consulting how best we
could arrange the work to give employment to the
men, and we are In doubt what TO do.n The Gen.
eral stated that on
THE HE'LL GATE WORK
they have only 100 men employed. and as the last
Congressional appropriation OF $225 0Oois nearly ex
hausted he is considering the propriety OF reduc-
ing the hours or reducing the number OF work
men, rather than to stop the work and throw all
out OF employment at season OF the year when
they most require money When asked II the ap-
preparation was increased by the next Congress on
assembling could he, without detriment to the
government, increase the working force, the Gen.
eral expressed the opinion that If he had the
money he could put to work in one month about
800 additional men. and two months later 100
more. The monthly disbursements for He'll
Gate work he estimated at about $4,000, and he
finds that about the middle OF the current month
there will remain only about $45000 or $4,000 OF
the last Congressional appropriation OF $225, 900.
In answer to question, the General said he be-
lieved II the appropriation was increased to the
neghborhood Of 100000 per year the labor OF re-
moving the He'll Gate obstructions could be COM
pleted in three years and half or four years. The
work here at He'll Gate Is underground and, Of
course, can be done as well in the winter season
as in summer. The wages paid are 81 per day for
laborers ana 81 25 per day Tor miners A few boys
are also employed at from 81 TO 81 25 per day.
THE FORTIFICATION WORK
is OF such character that but little Of 1t can be
done in winter but early in the spring additional
t.A In lnCf
pration there remains only $1,000 or $4,000. The
payrolls represent about $S 900 per month"; so that
then probably SO or 100 men must be discharged
The above work is done by days labor under
the immediate supervision OF General Newton.
There are great many other works in progress
or contemplated, by contract, much OF which could
be executed in the winter as well as the summer
months Among them are
THE PAssAIC RIVER IMPROVEMENTS,
is now being worked, but there are only about
dozen persons employed. Probably fity more
could be prOftably employed.
THE HUDSON RIVER IMPROVEMENT
The work OF dyking the Hudson River at Albany
has been progressing Tor some time, and over
100000 has been expended thereon. Last year
General Newton asked Congress for 100000 Tor
this work, but only $40, 600 was appropriated, ana
II is believed tnat nearly al ol It has been @ ex ok
more men could be employed If the appropriation
were increased. A
very much needed, and is in contemplation. Thirty
or forty thousand dollars was asked OF the lasr
Congress for this work, but was not appropriated.
II the money was forthcoming 1t would give en-
plOyment TO about fifty men.
BURLINGTON (vT.) HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The work OF improving the harbor OF Burlington,
VT, has been in progress Tor years yearly ap-
preparation Of from $4,000 10 $30 900. Last year
Congress was asked for $40 900 for ordinary contin
gencies, but they failed to make the appropriation
100000 were set apart for this work iuiy 100 or
$50 men could be employed tat
R0UsE's POINT HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.
The Improvement OF ROuse's Point Harb0r BY the
erection OF breakwaters, &C.. Is work very much
required, and 1t is contemplated, but no appr0-
ysa to Se
ciously expended in this work, and employment
gwen to fully 100 men. k
is another contemplated work, consisting Of dyk-
ing, dredging, &c, TO improve the channel between
the New Jersey shore and Ellzabetnport. There
has not yet been an appropriation made for this
work; but the appropriation OF $4,000 to $1S0, 900
would give employment to as many as $50 destitute
iaborers who have no means OF providing ior their
All the above work can be done in the winter
season as well as in the summer, while there are
other works either In progress or mapped out that
could be commenced as soon as the frost leaves the
ground, that would give employment to probably
l,500 labOrerS and mechanics. Ell
WHAT CONGRESS MIGHT DO. a..
On the meeting OF Congress that body will doubt
less be called upon to consider means to relieve
the country from the present depressed state OF
things, and they should not neglect to adopt all the
means at their command to give employment to
the hundreds OF thousands who, II they do not OBJ
tain employment, may become beggars or crimi-
mails to prey upon the community, or become
burdens upon the counties where they reside. There
are, as Will be seen from the above, which only
represents small part, however, great public
works urgently required for defensive and COM
mercial purposes, and Congress might properly
consider the propriety Of making liberal appro-
priations therefor. The work must be done some
time, and what better time than this year when so
many who are willing to labor are thrown desti-
tute upon the streetsS The supply OF laborers being
greatly in excess OF the demand wages will doubt
fall twenty-five per cent lower than they are
likely to be iOr years. consequently all public works
done this winter must result In large saving to
the government, while commerce Will reap the ad-
vantage OF the early completion Sl the work; work;
Newton, would enable him alone to give employ
ment to the following additional force at less ex-
pense to the government than II the work be de-
layed from year to year, N @#
Men.
Hudson River improvements Aibany 100
Burlington t5 Rarbor improvements l5S
tnpOrt hq,ns HsrSOr @ @
Total who could be employed by Newton LOCO
From the above it requires but little calculation
to discover taat on the ground OF economy alone
iaborers viii probably drop fully ffty cents per
day. This would be saving In Cen.
eral Newton's jurisdiction alone OF $500
month OF twenty-six working days. Estimating
that on all the great national works in the coast
0efenceS, the navy YaruS on ndrDOr aLu rlVer lnl-
provements, under liberal appropriations for works
absolutely needed, twenty thousand additional
men could be employed this winter and spring at
fifty cents per day less than the usual rates OF
wages. the saving to the government by such q
course would be $4,000 per day, 500 600 per week,
$260000 per month OF twenty-six working days, or
So, IN, 600 per year OF 312 working days.
The Navy Ynrd-The Force Employed
Little To DO and Consequent Priva-
tion--A Humane Proposftion-Naval In
tcllfgence.
AS there is q great deal OF suffering in Brooklyn
among the working classes, consequent upon the
general arrangement OF trade, representative OF
the HERALD visited the Navy Yard on Saturday. and,
in the course OF conversation with several promi-
nent of1cias, ascertained that the present strin-
gency had little or no effect In regard to the en-
ploymcnt of persons in the various departments.
1t was understood, however, that several hundreds
would shortly be discharged not on account OF the