Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-01-01
mRlIvE OAK GOOCH.

The Honorable MIR. GoOCH, WIZ
now briefly represents one of the MAS
sachusetts Districts in Congress, mas
risen in q manner most chlldllke ahe
bland in his place in Congress which
is so soon to know him no more, u
explain how it happened that such al
extraordinarily large number OF men
was employed at the Charlestown navy
ward in his District during the late
campaign.
He admitted that the number was
extraordinarily large. but justified
their employment on the ground that
they were needed just then to take
care of large lot of live oak timber
then conveniently or inconveniently
on hand.
Commenting upon this and after re-
| ferring to the fact that live oak is the
most enduring wood that can be found
the Boston Post very gravely and very
justly says
The loss to the Government would
have been heavy had this valuable
| timber been suffered to go to destruc-
ton, and hence the opening of that
| Office IN Pemberton square, which the
| Committee OF the Labor League de-
| scribe, where proper men were select
cd to assist in preserving the public
| Drrpertv. Il required large mum Der
| of sdoenskers and many BARRIERS to
| mt the live oak III a safe condition.
= IEJJ1.tlECa nvniaJn the
| technical character Of their services.
Wnrkmen skilled in games of cards
and checkers were employed, their
duty being to sit on the piles of gre
cioIs timber and thus protect it from
the weather. Hundreds Of others of
no regular occupation were hired 20
move and remove the live oak from
place to place about the yard.
In all departments of this preserya-
tive labor about one Thousand men are
required in addition to the regular
fUIca. The result demonstrates the
wisdom of the Representative of the
Fifth District and the careful precau-
ton Of the Secretary OF the Navy, for
not a stick Of live. oak has suffered IL :
jury at the Chariestown Navy Yard:
1t now ii-s there in good order, sound
aud dry, ready for use il the construc
ton Of deiences against toTeign lnva
sion. It is true that at present DC
ships can be built and none repaired
at tbs station, for the reason that Mr.
GOOclI's shoe makers and BARRIERS have
taken all the money appropriated, aEd
he regular NuTknIen nave been dis
charged unpaid Bat it is OF great:
iU.pOr..uce that the i've oak whose de
-tIuctiUn was SO Imminent up to the
very day Cf election, should te
pieseryed The pain with whici
he defeated candidate regarded
the iugratl:ude OF a constituent
CO that parver-ely m:sconstrued bis
action in this matter must have been
III some. measure assuageJ, as we sa y
the stream Of discharged worknen
pouring out Of the Yard on the day
following tl:e lection, by the thought
that al least he had Gone his duty and
saved til I've oak. He had preserved
y spite OF nnkiDG aspeTsions upon his
motives, ard this sudden reduction il
the force os tn Yard showed that tie
danger 10 lie live oak was ever and
tha5 he IVES successful IN his lauia-
o. QUO ToT 70 preserve the propelt )
ssf the people, even Il h. lad failed Iii
LIS candidacy. It vii 1t Z gratifying
thought f3r Iir. Guoch that his Lass
at II a. cffin;al capacity, before biz
District Taprt!iItcd l,:r1a, was 20 mar
saal lis trle3 ds from far and rear ans
save the i've oak III the Chariesto ~
Navy Yard, though doomed to b>comt
Political ',,e&d wood himself.