Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-28
The KIMBERLY CONTRACT.
The Matter Still a Subisct Of Much
Comment.
The Disappointment Of the Gas Com
pany Over the Unexpected
Turn of Affairs.

The action OF contractor Z. L.. hlmoerly
in employing q gang OF imported
Italian lsborers to do the excsvstipg
called for in his contract with the Natural
Gas Company of West Virginia is still the
subject Of much adverse criticism among
the working men of the community, and
many laborers, out Of employment tor
weeks and months, are highly indignant
at their failure to secure the work natural
" looked for when the contract was let to
Wheeling man.
The Natural Gas Company Of West Viz
VipiS ia as much disappointed as anybody
over the advent of the Italians, but much
"a they regret the step taken by the con-
tractor, the company is helpless to undo
what has been done. Mr.. W. Il. Hesrne,
the attorney for the company, said yester-
day: NJ
when the contract was given to Mr..
Kimberly, there was q general feeling Oh
satisfaction among the gentlemen compris-
ing the company that the work had been
given to Wheeling man, for 1t was the
understanding on all sides that the idle
laborers of this city were to reap the bene-
| 6r. Capt. Bachelor, President of the
company, tod me personally he was GLAD
Mr.. kimberly was the successful man for
that reason, and Mr.. Kimberly himself told
me he would secure his employees from
among our own people. As proof Of the
feeling among our stockholders, l Ask that
sou read and publish the follosiDg letter,
dated at Pitts6urg on Saturday last
"0FFICE or
"TgE NATURAL Gas COMPANY OFW.NA.,
"PITrsBURGH, April "a, &c. }
az. H. HearRe, Esq:
DgAR SIR:-Our Mr. Rich telephones
that q rumor prevails in your city that Mr..
Kimberly ia about to hire Italian labor
10 work on our pipe line. We have no
knowledge as TO what Mr.. kimbeIl y pro-
poses to do, nor have We any right 10 ask
him. Having made contract with him
10 do the work, you know, and | hope your
citizens particularly your editors) will re-
member that we have no power In the
premises. hope the rumor is not true, as
We are anxious to have the work done as
exueditiou.ly Is possible, and without any
difficulty as to labor.
Respectfully yours,
&C W. BACHELOR,
"Pres't."
That letter" continued Mr.. Hesrne,
speaks for itself. The public will at once
ace the stand taken by Capt. Bachelor In
reference to the contract is the only one
possible for us Surprised aud disappoint-
cd ss We are at Mr. kimberlys action, we
are poverless to recnfy the error he has
committed"
81 zee Mr.. Kimberly claims that foreign
labor was Indispensable, for the reason that
our own men would not have pat up with
the conditions necessarily imposed on the
trench diggers" said the reporter.
That may sll be true, but why did not
Mr.. Kimberly advertise for men, stating
the conditions and requirements Then,
if there had been no response, or II his tall
quota had not been made up, he could
have imported outside help without incur
ring the displeasure of any one That IS
where the great mistake was made. |
wish sou would cay in this connection,
said Mr.. Hesrne, that when the company
comes to lay down the miles OF pipe re-
uuired along the streets aud alleys OF thia
city, q different course from that pur-
sued by Mr.. Kimberly will be adopted.
aaving the work then under our own con,
troll, we will see to it that the unemployed
men of Wheeling secure what work we have
to dov-and it will not be small amount -
As direct outgroWth Of this contract
two resolutions Wer5 introduced In Council
last night one, by Mr.. Tracy, regretting the
action the contractor sud calling for the
appointment of special joint committee
of six to call on the members OF the COM
psny and Mr. Kimberly, and see II some
way ont of the difficulty osn not be found /;
and another, by Mr.. Alfred Caldwell, re-
eusstinV the Board of Public Works to in
corporsts 8 clause in future contracts
made BY it, providing for the employment
of home labor in preierence to outside men