Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-22
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
TIE o1rE-HALL QUESTION

Memorial Of che Knights or LnDor-reusse"
Concsrpsss she Asmssy-Tne Matter ss
salaries, &e.
A called meeting Of the Board OF
Aldermen was held yesterday evening
at 7 o'clock. Present, Mr.. L. L. Bass
and the following members: Messrs.
Barksdale, Chaffin, Crenshsw, Crump,
Dickerson, Glasgow. Gum, Page, Ran
dolph, Rose, Tay lor. and Williams.
THE CITY HALL.
The memorial of the Knights Of Labor
touching the construction Of the new
City Hall was, on motion Of Mr. Dick
erson, referred to the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings. The petition
is as follows:
Gentlemen weeks ago we were ac-
corded a most courteous reception by the
Joint Committee on Grounds ana buud-
ings but informed that they were pot In
vested with discretionary powers. We now
appeal 10 Won. We appear before on as
ommittee appointed by district Assembly
81, Knights Of Labor (which assembly IN
composed Of delegates from all the wnlte
assemblies In this vicinity, 20 request that
the EIIytOu It-OiutlOu tRh'h iAOih .i'S
table and passed by your honorable body
and in the name OF the eight thousand
Knights OF Labor Of this city we ask you,
as their representatives. TO have tne
City. Hall built by day-iabor; with
formed by Richmond workmen.. The
city owns quarry, the granite ef
which we are informed, is ofsuperior quail
ty. Why not use IL? fyou do not wish 20
work your own granite, ifany OF your pody
Will examine the display In the oiice OF the
Superintendent Of Agriculture here, tney
will find Virginia granite. marble, ana
sandstone equal II not superior to any In
the world. The bricks, lumber. cemen, ana
everything needful can toe purchased In the
city or brought here 10 you. You can quarry
the stone and bring 10 on the ground In suf-
ficient quantities and at any time That you
may need IL. Why discuss the propo-
sition for submitting bids for foreign
gfapite, or entertain The IDEA Tor q
moment OF building this hall with
Maine granite from the works OF the Hollo-
well. Granite Company, when your own
graniie Is of superior quality ana can De
utilized for less money! And Wnen VIZ
einia granite Is the unanimous choice OF the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings, for
the only gentlemen who expressed them-
selves as members OF that committee stated
they we've In favor Of no other material Tor
building the hail. why advertise for auy
other? Is 10 sound policy or practical
business principle 10 purchase anything
away from home when you have better
article at home that would meet all your re-
with more facility and at less
expen nse than the foreign article could?
LOCAL PRIDE or OUR woRKMEN.
Agreeaby to the wishes Of great major
ity. If not all the Taxpayers and citizens OF
this metropolis, build the hall with Virginia
gIanite and you will have thing OF beauty
and 10y forever 1t will be an advertise
ment of the undeveioped wealth Dormant
in the bowels OF the earth, thatshall rise up
in after years TO scatter untold blessings
among the people Of this city and the sur
rounding country.
You have the God.given material within
your reach you likewise have the work.
men, your own citizens, your Taxpayers,
whom you represent, artisans skilled In
every line Of work; men able, efficient,
anxious o secuIe il and needing the work.
J hey do net send us here as mendicants,
but, believing that you have the best inter
ests OF the city at heart, YOU Will prefer 10
give this work TO your own people, which
they viii execute as skilfuly and faith
fully as any others, and much better
than foreign Morkmen, that they may
their families, and, by dis.
frfbuting the three hundred thousand
dollarh at home, assist IN building up
every avenue of trade, and thereby con-
tnbuilng TO the prosperity OF our city.
You have stOnecutleM. brlcklayers, car
penieIs. iTon-wofkers. plhsiere painters,
hnU IHb0ltTs mere iIhl Gail bt ulItu tllt
day. Tut these men 10 work under COM
petent superintendent, have a foreman for
each department. and give your efficient
City Engineer and his able assistants the
supe ryision Of the job. Your own citizens
viii take local pride in performing their
tasks in workmHnlike manner ana gear-
log a building thst will be not only an
TO the city, but Will reflect credit
on the workmen.
CONTRACTORS PROFITS.
We are informed that contractors always
NIect 10 realize from 10 per cent. TO Is per
ent. out OF Job, and that THIS amount
pder the old rulings Of the General Govern
nent was allowed in addition 10 all ex
enses. Are our city fathers ready TO take
niriy or forty -iive thousand dollars from the
,ofkingnen of this city and give IL 10 con-
raciois? The good this amount would
lot lie estimated. How many hearts
could be gladdeDed by this amount,
and how many brawny arms would
strike Herculean blows for It: Put this
work out by contract and allow sub-con-
lractipg, and the indications are that by the
ime the contractors get their percentage
We will have two-hundred. thousan nd
solar building put up instead OF three
hundred. thousand. dollar one. An old con-
tractor has remarked that a contractor
was either compelled to charge a stipu.
ate ed price for Supervising the Job-to make
his Money out of high estimates for
Ihe work-or low prices for his labor; and
sometimes in competitive bids the amount
Is put so low that the contractor cannot
3fioTd 10 pay living wages. We mad an in
stance OF this last summer when the Old
reservoir was cleaned out-hands working
N mud and water al seyenty-five cents per
ay, compelled 10 pay for house. rent and
uel, feed and clothe themselves and fami-
les out OF this amount.
jlvE OUR MECHANICS THE PREFERENCE.
4 off . bs, IN M - a
contractors and the fifteen thousand dollars
demanded by The architect for supervising
he erection Of the hall go to our workmen.
md with the splendid material and skilled
Horkmen at our very doors il will not be
building Chinese wall around our city (as
,ome OF our city fathers have remarked, 10
determine that there snail be no competi-
ion with either; butit will be Simply lust
OF the value OF our own granite
md a recognition Of the justice OF the claim
hat the taxes paid by the honest wage
v orkers shall be returned In this way and
not be carried out OF the city and State by
so that by distributing this APP
at home the greatest good may
iccrue 10 the greatest number of our own
.itiZens, thus proving that you indeed have
4 preference for our own mechanics. o local
Dride in our splendid material and the proW-
sss OF Our WOrkmen.
WoRKMEN LEAVING.
We urgently request that Immediate ac-
ion be taken on this resolution, and that
1 be called up and passed at once. There Is
title or no work OF any consequence now
)eing done IA this city. The majority OF
gorkmen are now or soon will be walking
lour streets because of their inability TO
procure work. Many have left for ST. Louis
md South Carolina; Others speak OF going
o Raleigh. y. C., rather than remain here.
md they and their families have 10 suffer
he rigors OF the severe winter months un.
provided for. without work. For four years
his subject has laid in abeyance-the work
" building the City Hall delayed, procras-
inated from time 10 time.
Estimating the interest on the appropria.
lon al per cent, and with the rent paid
~ the city for Offices a sum equal TO one
ourth OF the original amount has been lost
Without benefit TO the city.
PUBLIC SPIRIT.
The plans for the work are now received
accepted. and determined on. The minor |
ietails will be on hand by the 18TH OF the
resent month. The amount necessary TO
leiray all expenses isin your hands. the ma
erial in your possession ready 10 be
Utilized, the workmen are awaiting your
riders TO begin the work that rightfully be-
ongs TO them. Why the reason for longer
IeferriDg the matter: Cut the Gordian knot |
low; determine to- night 10 bring this sub
ect 10 q conclusion Cast aside these ideas OF
bids for foreign granite as well as
1irginia granite: for foreign workmsn as
yell rs Richmond workmen," and let the
World see that Richmond has public spirit |
nd public enterprise enough TO do her own |
york with her own material, and by your |
ction tonight proclaim that your City