The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-14
DIsGUSTED QUARRYMEN.

FIFTY CENTS DAY FOR HEwING OUT BLOCKS
FOR THE NEW YORK PAYMENTS.
Though there 10 not actually a strike among the
quarrymen and paving block makers at cehawken
there is deep discomfort mud the seeds which may
rpen into a decided break. There three
hundred men employed in tho business Of blasting
out tho trap rock and forming it INTO rectangular
blocks for street pavement. The arrangement on
which the work s rather peculiar They
are given quarries Of different Sizes ranging
from twenty-five 10 ahy feet 'front.' by the of
the Weehawken bluffs. They sell the finished blocks TO
the much per thousand pieces and the
pays royalty OF So to the representatives
OF the property and SO to the Terry company per
thousand. The quarrymen pay for their tools, pow
der repairs and all expenses. Some eight years ago
the men got from $40 to $45 per thousand and now
only get from $l2 to s14. Fifty blocks a
day Is fair average for workman, and at
the present rate OF pay, deducting expenses work
men can make but fifty cents a day-an amount well
calculated produce dissatisfaction The contractors
who purchase the blocks Kelly, Devlin and
McGrath The latter lives at Weehawken. and was
formerly abore- like the rest The men individually
have asked tor higher price from the contractors,
but have with reiusals couched in some cases IN
not elegant language
The writer conversed with many OF the men yester-
day and all wished It understood that there was
strike, as they their bosses and sold to who
paid the most They said they could not 1.-Two on the
present pay ana didn't know what was to be done.
As to the contractors getting other men IN case they
would furnish the rock, they did not see how II
could DO done, they certainly should
not give up the quarries, which are
leased during pleasure. OF the contractors
Kelly anu Devlin buy the most blocks McGrah pays
generally the amount as the others and some.
times more year ago he paid SIG, while Kelly paid
but S14 The attribute tho low price to compet-
offered by the Eastern granite blocks, for which
the city pays much more than for theirs, and which
they say are not good number of the men who
work. aud OF those remaining all who can get
any other work, leave these quarrles tor It, Most
OF the workmen their quarres yesterday, but
some would not sell. preferring to keep the blocks on
hand. There has boon 40 organized action among
them; those who afford TO hold OIL and not sell do
So while those whose necessities compel work AT any
price forced TO accept the contractors prices
They would DO satisfied with $50 q thousand and less
aud some asked Kelly tor $40. and he refused
McGrath had also refused For couple OF
weeks the have been talking together about
the matter, but without deciding any concerted
action One said he had not ask cd McGrath as he
was certain be would not increase the pay The fact
OF the mater the contractors each other close
Tor CITY contracts and bring the price low that
they can't won't give more. McGrath first tho
work down by taking low contracts. Another man
SAID 'fhe men too poor they can't hold out
AGAINST the contractors" stall another SAID signin.
canlly, ali you come next week may have
something new for you"
Mr. Mcjrath claims that he has been paying MS
much and more than other contractors, and that he
has been buying stone at loss 10 himself 10 keep tho
men from starvation.