The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-14
The Government Granite Contract.
THE sToNEcUTTERs APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY
OF STATE TO GIyE.TT TO COLONEL oRDwAY.

THE sToNECUTTERs APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY
OF STATE TO GrYE-T TO COLONEL oRDwAY.
The following petition has received the
signatures of numerous stonecutters who
were lately employed at Colonel Ordway's
Granite Works, and will be shortly forward
ed to the United States Secretary OF State,
to whom it is addressed:
!" RICHMOND, Va, July 10. 1874.
To the Honorable Secretary of State:
"Sir: We, the undersigned stonecutters and
mechanics who were employed by Albert Ord
way in executing bis contract for furnishing
and cutting granite for the new State Depart
ment building, and who are now assembled
here in the city of Richmond awaiting the
resumption of his work under the appTo-
priation recently made by Congress, have
heard with dismay that there Is delay and
possible doubt as to the fact or manner Of
bis contract being continued.
We desire most respectfully TO represent
to you our condition, and 10 petition urgent
ly for such immediate action as will affoId
us relief.
"Our condition may be briefly represented
to you: We came here over two years ago,
from all parts of the country, to work tor
Colonel Ordway. We have been employed
for many years in various paris of the coun-
try by contractors furnishing stone-work to
the Government, and supposed that the
work under this contract would continue, as
all similar works, for many years, without
interruption until its completion. M:ny Of
us, therefore, at great eXpeose, moved our
families here, and purchased with our hard
earned savings small homes, with the pros
pect of completing our payments for them
out OF our work in the future. When the
work was stopped last winter for want of
appropriation, we were obliged, therefore.
to remain here under the supposition Of
speedy resumption of work, for to have re-
moved would have entailed expenses we
could not bear, and involved the loss of our
property.
"Others of us had deposited all our say
ings as they accrued in one of the bar king
institutions of the city, which suspended
during the financial troubles of last autumn
with over forty thousand dollars of our
money in their hands. TO save this from
total loss We have been forced 10 remsin
here 10 guard our interests.
" We bave, therefore, remained here now
six months without work, having full faith
that the contract would be continued as soon
as necessary appropriation should be made,
as we knew of no reason why it should not.
"Our condition now is most deplorable-
with property on our hands that we are un-
able to dispose of or meet our payments on,
with all Of our savings tied up beyond our
control, and without work or money for six
months. Our sole dependence and only safe;
guard against almost utter ruin to ourselves
and families is on the employment that can
be furnished us here by Colonel Ordway,
and any further delay will be most disas-
trous to us, as our creditors are already
alarmed by the delay that has been.
"lf we may be permitted to add ore word
in favor of Colonel Ordway, We would say
that in our experience on work for the Gov
more worthy Of The confidence Of
the Government, or one who more
faithfully and conscientious!y endeavors
with him have been most satisfactory to us.
He has uniformly and regularly paid our
wages on the established payday, with but
ore exception, during the financial panic,
when he gave lis his certificate for such bal
ance as he was unable to pay, and promptly
paid us those certificates US soon as he ar
ranged his financial matters. If our own
knowledge and experience OF such matters
would have any weight with you We feel
justified in assuring you that we do not be-
leve the Government could make any con-
tract that would be so advantageous to them
as The continuance of the one now existing
will: Colonel Urdway.
"Our necessities compel US to thus earnestly
petition that you will direct work to be re
sumed on the contract at once, and thereby
relieve our suiferings."