The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-24
WORKING The STREETS.
THE COSF OF MAINTAINING THE
CHAIN GANG.
An Interview With Foreman Jewel
on the Character Of the
Work Done.

Working a god big gang row, Mr..
Jewel % said au APPEAL man 10 the
foreman Of the G " convict force about
o'clock vest erday evening, as long
line OF carts filled with men pas ed up
Second street on their way to the Jail.
yes, itNkeeps up pretty well, " he
replied, I'VE are working forty-one
men now. The number huctuates.
II IS much Larger in winter. When
the weather is very cold II is common
enough for ne 10 have sixty or more
wearing balls and 6ha'ns.'
"What has been your average dur
ing the pa't three months"
"About thiIty.tive, and they have
been doing some splendid work since
the weather opened Most of the
| time we have been busy on 0.lCans
lostreet a6d on Madison beyond the
bridge over tbs Memphis and Charles
ton railrcal. think, with good
weather, we viii finish in couple Of
VT eks. You should drive out and see
! /, some time Ii has been nicely
Graded and Rravcled, and promises TO
be one OF the liyelicst streets leading
into the city"
"l,ua, ore the work meets Eith the
appro"a 81 the property owners in
that locality? '
at ought to. When We began Or
gill Bros. had sign up on pieces OF
land which they were anxious to sell
for $4,000 An offer OF $4,000 haniuce
been made end decliued. They demand
$4,000. Oher property has increased
in like proportion"
"Ratber ragged neighborhood, wasn't
itP"
Rather. 1t was a succession of hills
and ho'lows. The deepest cut was
nearly fourteen feet ana the greatest
fiji abouh eighteen. BUTT is all as level
as you please now. A very largo por-
tion Of the city has been directly bon
Gifted"
"Have You any idea low much
earth your gang has removed in the
last three moutbsT
"Mei. MCriwelher measures it at
abopt 45 600 cubic yards. No con-
tractor would have undertaken to
move it for less than 20 cents, but put
ting il down a. l2l cents the value OF
the work YVES something like $500.
My expenses are, everything included.
S45 day ard tho cost to maintain the
gang for three months, counting in
Sundays and non-working days aud
all, would be but $4,000. so you see
there Is a saving OF $500 or so. The
saving hse bean, in fact, nearly double
that, because the p ice to remove the
earth is much greater than have cal
culated upon"
The cost OF feeding prisoners is 20
cents day, the guards receive $40 a
month and Foreman Jewel $50. His
pay is niggardly, considering the work
he doeu. No man could be moro con-
scientious in the employment of labor,
even II the contract were his own, He
takes deep interest in the work, geta
every lick possible out of the men, and
ought to be paid at least SIS,
Mr.. Jewel says he has very little
trouble in getting work, and god
work, too, out Of his hands. He thinks
they do as much labor as hired force
would in the same number OF hours.
The actu'l working time is eight hours
day. 81 never abuse them, Mr..
Jewel sid, land ] do not allow my
guards to treat the men harshly. Now
and then, when fellow gets stubborn,
/ have a little talk with him, aud il
that does no good put him in a dark
cell for day or two. That soon brings
out the kinks"