Huntsville gazette., 1885-07-25
THE ROACH FAILURE.

Excitement Caused at Chester by the Fall
ure-Expressionso Of sympathy for Roach
How He is Esteemed by Hiz workmen
"A High Business Reputation-A Ma
tional Disaster FTc--sF =.
CHESTER, Pa, July 20.-The news Of
the failure of John Roach caused con-
siderable excitement here, where his
solvency had never been questioned.
Up to within a year his, weekly payroll
was never less than $4,000, distribut-
ing among 1900 men and boys. Now
the payroll is over $1,000, but this will
be reduced tomorrow, for it is the in
tention of the firm to lay off about 400
men in the morning. They will be paid
all that is owing them, about four days
wages to each person. Only enough
workmen will be kept to finish the
Mallory ship, Comal, lying in the
New Jersey channel. Workmen and ma
terial will be taken to her in tug and
the vessel will be doubtless completed
where she lies. Her removal from the
wharf was due to the assignment. Rep
resentatives of the Chester Company say
the ship yard was separate corporation
and was not included in the assignment.
The yard will be affected, however, and
as Mr.. Roach is a large stockholder in
the Chester Rolling Mills, Blast Furnace
and Combination Iron and Steel Com
pany located here, it is difficult to
foretell the result on these
places, each of which employ
great many men. Work on the cruisers
Boston and Chicago aud the monitor,
Puritan, will virtually be suspended, and
the heretofore busy yard will present
deserted and dull look. None but the
kindest and most sympathetic express
sions are heard for Mr.. Roach, and the
hope is that he will come through all
right, as the city depends largely on the
ship yard and other enterprises in which
Mr.. Roachis interested. The outlook for
the coming winter is very gloomy and
nothing but idleness and poverty stare
many in the face.
NEW YORK, July 20.-To-day for the
first tine in eighteen years, the massive
machinery and the great shops OF John
Roach & Son lay idle on working day.
A numbers of workmen neatly dressed,
stood around the various work shops dis
cussing the failure of their employer. No
great anxiety seemed to trouble them,
and the opinion seemed to prevail that
they would soon be at work again, one
young workman said to a United Press
reporter
''It does not worry me. We will be
at work again before long; but as it
is | do not object to a little vacation.
Mr. Roach is one of the kindest masters,
and l should be sorry not to work for
him again. He was always indulgcnt to
his men, and there never was dispute
over wages. We always got our due.
You will find none of his men who will
speak word against Mr.. Roach or his
SOn.o
NEW YORK, July 2l.-Al of Mr..
Roach's workmen were paid off in full
yesterday.
"My father owes no workingman a
penny. He never has been sued, never
has sued anybody and never had note
protested in his life," said Garret
ROacn laSt nlSnG.
Lawyer BooksIater worked yesterday
morning on Mr.. Roach's books, and said
last evening that the inventory would
show three dollars with which to pay
every dollar of debts.
Assignee Weed said to-day that Mr..
Roach owns property worth $1,000, QUO.
The exact liabilities could not be stated
for several days yet. An interview with
Secretary Whitney was being arranged,
and as soon as the assignees learned the
Governments attitude, they would know
what to do 1t was not unlikely that
hip-building would be resumed by Mr..
Roach or his representatives.
"He is very rich man." said Mr..
Vanderpoel 1.-The Garland opinion
hampered progress on the other cruisers.
Mr.. Roach's health was falling, and it
was more prudent to have his property
in the hands of an assignee than in his
own"
WAsuINGToN, D. c., July 2l.-Owing
to the absence of Secretary Whitney,
nothing definite could be learned at the
Navy Department yesterday respecting
the course to be pursued to secure the
completion of the new cruisers, the At
lanta, Boston and Chicago, but it was the
general impression among navy officers
that work on them will be suspended
until the Dolphin matter is finally set
tied.
Heartfelt sympathy for Mr.. Roach was
shown on all sides, and some officers
openly expressed the opinion that
he had been unjustly treated.
prominent officer, in speaking OF the
matter to Star reporter, is quoted as
saying:
stMr. Roach's failure is really dlsas-
trous thing for the Government The
Attorney Generals decision may have
more widespread effect than was
thought. Think of breaking up the only
real plant for ship-building in this coun-
try Just when we are most anxious
to build our own ships. A plant can not
be procured in day. 1t takes years.
We ought to do everything possible 10
encourage ship-building Look at tne
different course Germany has pursued;
She possesses the best plant in the world
for constructing guns and does not
intend to be behind in snip
building. The German Lloyd steam
ers were built in Scotland, out
srfor yaorsf 400 when there was danger