The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-10
RuiIiinp the Bic Rridrn

The East river bridge has afforded
employment to many thousands ofwork-
men since its construction was begun on
the day following New Y ears in 1870
but of the great number who have come
to and gone from the work four only re-
main who began to work on the first
day. The number of men on the bridge
work has varied from ten to about 900
The laborers all work by the hour,
and their wages are paid at the end of
every two weeks. The whole amount
thus far expended for labor on the bridge
is 81 ,538. 1852. SO. The amount of the pay
roll per week at present is So, 1926, but
a year ago it was about 81 900 more
This does not include the pay roll of the
engineers, which is So, 1912 a month,
or that of the officers of the board.
which amounts to 81, 23l IS a month.
The pay of the different laborers by
The hour is as follows; Ship carpenters,
80 cents; painters, %! cents; riggers, Is
cents; day .laborers, l24 cents stone
masons, 80 cents; helpers, 10 cents :;
machinists, 25 cents; day watchmen
l25 cents; night watchmen, Is cents :;
blacksmiths, 30 cents and 25 cents !;
blacksmiths' helpers, l75 cents and Is
cents; inspector, 35 cents; assistant to
Inspector, 25 cents; master machinist,
40 cents; steam engineers, 20 to 35
cents; foremen, 25 cents to DO cents; as
sistant engineers, l75 to 20 cents; hod
carriers, l74 cents; carpenters, first class,
IS cents; carpenters, second class, 20
cents; carpenters helpers. Is cents to
l74 cents; draughtsmen, 80 to 40 cents j;
tool dressers, 25 cents; stonecutuers, 25
cents; brickmaSons, 80 cents; stone
masons' helpers, Is to III cents =;
brickmasons' helpers, Is cents; drivers,
Is cents; general foreman, 40 cents; as
sistant foremen, from IS to IS cents
laborers, 10 to 12d cents; messen gers, 30
cents.
The pay of the bricklayers was re-
Gently increased to thirty cents an hour.
The pay of the carpenters varies accord
ing to their skill, there being now thirty
three employed at thirty cents, thirty
six at twenty-five cents, and ten at
twenty cents an hour. The men are en-
ployed by the engineers, and there are
no recommendations needed beyond
number of hours fixed for the men, but
their work has usually been confined to
ten hours a day, although when there
is any special feature of the work which
is being pushed, the men work twelve
| hours aday. ..
There is an esprit Clat corps about the
| employees of the bridge which the en-
gineers say they have never seen exhib-
tied on any other great work. This
was particularly the fact when the cables
were being made. The different gangs
Of men worked with energy and zeal in
| their different branches, and that diff
cult part of the work was completed in 8
much shorter time than was anticipated
| There is not needed harsh word at any
time to keep the work moving
Every man understands his duty, is
prompt and willing, and the best of feel
ing has existed all the time between the
time a larger force of men is to be put or
the work to tear down the buildings in
the track of the approach in this city and
| to make excavations for the masonry
Probably pearly 1000 men will be en-
gagged in the work in a few weeks.-Neai
Ynl.E SIN