Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-22

Inc week before Christmas they
desired 10 discharge lot of men.
Now, 1T they told the men
lhey were discharged. of course
they would have TO nav
them in full. They therefore told the
men that they would have to lay ,hen
oil Tor few days until after Christ
mas, Upon the men asking for their
money they were told they would have
to wait for pay day, or take time
check. they took the time checks,
came to Austin and the contractors
cashed them at the usual discount. on
returning To the works they were told
that they were discharged.
III any of the men, having no money.
neeu clothing between pay-dsys, he
mas 10 buy 1t at the contractors
'commissary" at about double the
market rates. OF course, no civilized
beings will submit to such treatment
longer than necessity absolutely COM
pels them. Not one of the many stone
cutters, residents of this city prior to
and at the starting of the CAPT tol build.
ing, has gone to work on the lob
Not one. But strangers com-
ing here in response to the
advertised Misrepresentation of the
contractors, ana after spending
all their money to get here, must sub.
nit to anything in order to live and
earn sufficient to carry them away.
Enticed here under false pretenses. the
contractors taking advantage OF their
poverty and necessity, compel them to
work for the merest pittance, live on
the poorest food and lodge under condi-
lions and surroundings too foul and
filthy to describe to your honorable
body. To add humiliation to their
ssqualid misery they are sub
jected to set of rules and
regulations prescribed by the
contractors, and more fitted for
convicts In the penitentiary than for
free men in free country. The con-
tractors had brass tags made with
number stamped on each. Each man
then numbered had to wear or carry
around brass tag numbered to CORE
spond. Man, name and identity sunk
in the numbered sert. Every
appendage of penal servitude pres
ent. except the clanking chain.
Shades of Fannin, Travis, Bowie,
Crockett, is it for this you died?
The brass collar of Gurth the
Saxon thrall changed to the brass tag
of the American stone cutter wage.
slave
Still the stone cutters flock here in
response TO the advertised misrepre-
sensations; TO be doomed to tue same
cruel disappointment on arrival, many
to want and suffering. Those
who have money TO pay their
fare promptly return whence
they came. Some have gene to work
at labOring when such could
be found, many have left the city
through the generosity of friends,
others less fortunate have tramped
out, seeking work elsewhere. There
are scores of first-class stone cutters in
this city, idle, mostly strangers, many
of them moneyless, friendless and
afraid lest they be arrested as Migrants
by the city authorities. 1t is pitiable to
witness the wretched condition Of these
unfortunate dupes of mis-
representation. Many of them
having left families in far
away homes and lily provided for,
possibly their last dollar paid out to
reach here, then to find themselves
the victims of wanton, foul con-
spiracy, with the alternative of ac-
cepting the conditions of virtual
slavery pr take TO the highway penni-
less tramps.
We would further represent to your
honorable body our opinion, as prac.i-
cal workmen Individually experienced
In the busiress is that, large portion
of the stone already cut is utterly un-
fit for such a Building. a certain
thickness Of the ledge of rock in that
quarry is good, firm, durable stone.
The remainder of the ledge is differ
ent species, which will soon crumble
upon exposure to the elements. Both
kinds are used in what is cut.
1t may not be out of place here to
advert to the experience OF the stateof
Iowa in building her state capitol at
Des Moines. A certain quality OF stone
was decided upon, the building started
and portion built with the proper
grade of stone. Then AN inferior
grade was introduced and considerable
of it built in the walls before public
attention was called thereto. An in
| vcstigation was held, aud the legisla-
tire ordered it torn down and re-
moved. It cost the state upwards
of $4,000, besides retarding the
completion of the building.
And finally, at the rate of progre S
the contractors have made thus far and
with the small force OF men now en-
ployed it would take more than twenty
years to complete your capitol.
Signed;
Geo. Arouckle, Joe Brottingor, Har-
nv Bovine, Aug. Brabst, A. h. Brown,
Robert Mcintosh, Peter Eslie, Jacob
Fi,n, w. II. Fluke, George Foster, r.
]. Hodgs, Joe Kidd, Aug. Kinder,
Cha. Krishke, John kunkel, John
Bennett, Joe Branded, Andrew Buck,
Fred. Beaumeister, Ed. Coun0r,
Harry Crosman, James Gibson, Henry
Grohs. Charles HEM, NJ. Hurley, Pat.
Hartford, Geo, Tronside, Geo
Kausler Vim. Kenner, w.
j. Layman, Jules Leonards,
John Mitchell. James MCCARTHY,
John Corbett. NJ. Kinney, Henry
Never, j. McCallom, Dan Mackenzie,
WIN. McGregor, Ed. Koran. +. p.
Webster. Neil Mckinney, Z. Mott,
Chss. Bergen, Chas. Hoeckie, Dunesn
Mjrkel, John Bennett, Rnht
Mishaw, Philip Ferrla, \.
Rose. David Mckenzie. Amos
Newhouse, Anton Kreihe, b
O'Malley. James O'Malley. John Pre-
me,z Emanuel Stster Fred Matio,
NJ, Roturino, Frank Napoleon, Louis
Wrinkle, + Keez, n. Muhieiiian, Aug
Heinrich. Robt McCulloch, +. Crook,
M. Rock, Louis Sn,rwiller, James SIN
clair. A. Giampuiglio. Albert tllrich,
4 .J,,utelli. Aug. Stamps. G. Grind,
Tim smith. Thos. Robinson. Vic.