New-York tribune., 1876-12-18
A RIVERSIDE BOULBVARD.

WORK ON THE NEW hudson RIVER DDFEWAS
gEGUN-A HOST or LABoRERs EAGER TO WORK
FOR LOW WAGES.
The work of grading and constructing the
roadways of Riverside-aye. which viii exteno a1ois
the Hudson River from SeveDtyseeond to one-hubdeu
and-thirteth-sts, begun on November ~ Dy N.
II. Decker Co., under contract amounting 10 ABOUT
SJOOOOO AS this is work OF great magnitude IL VIII
be necessary to employ large number of men, ana IL
has therefore been anxousy looked forward to by the
laborng classes The prices that arc paid for laDor
afford striking illustration Of the distress that VIII oe
suffered by poor people during the Winter The hghest
sum paid to the wOrknen il Dinety cents day. IL
the weather is favorable that they can work
every day their wages for a week will amount
to So 40 Notwithstanding this small pay there are
large number OF workmen who eagerly sought the
opportunity for work, and there are many more VINO
desire have their enrolled AS soon AS Tue WSrA
has sufficiently advanced TO admit Of an additional force
being employed At present 323 men arc at worE ana IL
IS intended to have at 800 throughout the Winter
As customary in contracts OF great size where large
force Of men employed they eongegate from all parts
and many OF them being without families naturally
wish board In close proximity TO the work 1t Is sah
that clearinghouse keepers in the vicinity
Of the work have refused 10 take the TO board
knowing that their wages will not permit them 70 pay
the regular which So per week among this class
OF people Others have agreed to take of the men
70 board 81 so per week According TO the statements
OF the worknen they can only depend on an average
OF s. per week. taking into consideration the number OF
stormy DAYS during tho Winter months This VIII leave
them nothing for clothing other expenses during the
Winter. workmen who own horses are more Fortunate
A man with a horse and e.. receives 81 day. and
thoss with team paid a. day This class Is COM
posed mainly of married men who large family to
support. They state tha rs cents day Is the lowest
calculation keeping horse and that all the profit is
consumed In Repairing shoes, harness. and carts.
reporter Of The TRIBUNE visited the scene OF the
work along the Hudson River Saturday. part OF
ia situated on an elevation, which has accordingly
ceyed the name Of Mount Tom7 and there ia probably
NOT n colder place on Manhattan Island. Some Of the
men were poorly clad and so chilled 20 be almost
unable TO speak. Men OF all descriptions were
found at work. OF them gray viii
age II was ascertaned that they came from
oil parts OF the city, but no matter how great the
dstucc none OF them can afford to pay carfare for
ride One old mnn walks frum One-hundred-andflIty-
second-st. 20 Eiglty-.ccondst; another from East
sprtng-st. while a large number come from llarlcin
The work bcgins at $3.50 q. IN. just aIter day
break, and closes at dark III the evening. hsny % @o
S,orniHr and roach their homes between and p.
Inc men stated they expected TO suffer more tDs
fbr Wcd be we'll nigh sta ing II hey did rot de-
pend ON their wives tU support the famhy Inc woman
man stated that he went TO an Intelligence office a
knUri time ago, where two men ana Two women HcIe
wanted. The wages for She men were flO Inontn,
While Ihe women were offered ZIG. They seemed
An xiou 10 learn on the blame should rest Tor their
present condition, etnsurlD2 the naioha ana Ote
the municipal politicians. They are bitterly opposed
la the EOarl Of Aldermen who authorized the WORK 10
hc done by -ract They tbinE thit the low wages
which thry are receiving VIII establish a precedent
unng tractors Throughout tie city. and that II VIII
.r,yt. ta egia biisncd until work becomes more
brisk At tao uiec oil the contractors, on the Boulevard
pr,r Elgtyffth ST. IL 8ted that the contract was
t,cn AZ cxceelIugy low figures. and trey obliged
n luoy men at low rates In order To kecp WltEln the
estimate Tncir calculations were based on t.c lcl tt
i,r ,ul8 be very chrap. Nicnoas H. Decker, the
Tiactor belongs tO this city eod hVes oh FithaNe aoeJ
VI ais work has been heretofore as railroad contractor
lie ha. pcrioI1 nrge contracts for the NcwIOrk Cen
Talund utiur rJ.is-
,T,y ayeuua will be laid out In pathways roadway
9uI lawns Tie width Will vary different prints, the
w.cst pr being about 200 feet IL VIII be separated
rom IN Ha-ou River Railroad anu elevated above IL
y park which VIII be ZOO feet IN width ~ some
p0uts Tc Iarx be constructed ahd laid out by te
rnrfcut of PARKS after present work j. finished
The ugr,cnruis limit the time of completing the work TO
one year from ths date o. beginning.