The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-23

EngIIshmen Get Uncle Sans Money BE
cause They Work Cheap.
Nep York Pres.
The English steamship State of Ala
bama, chartered by the Riker Dredging
Company to enlarge the channel en-
frances to New York harbor, is to begir
her work in the port to day. This steam
ship, belonging to British owners ant
formerly of the State line OF steamships
was chosen in preference to any one O.
the abundant number OF American yes
sells.
A reporter visited the vessel.
There's plenty OF American vessels
that could be used for this dredging
business Just as well us that old hulk,
said the irate boatman as he tugged away
at his oars, going out from Pier 6, North
River, to the State OF Alabama, which
lay off Jersey City. There's the Ohio
and Indiana over there ut jersey that
could do the work"
"CouId they be hired as cheapIy?'
asked the reporter.
mo, that's what's the matter. You
can't charter American vessels or hire
American workmen as cheap as you can
the British article"
The reporter boarded the State OF
Alabama, a three masted, paint berObbed,
single stack vessel, SCARED from stem to
stem with age and service. He soon met
Mr.. Riker.
49," said he, "your are from the Press.
l only wish your editor had come along
instead OF you. I'd have tumbled him
overheard. Well" laughing little,
"what can l do for your"
SLOW come you to charter the State
OF Alabama instead OF an American YES.
sel?" was the blunt question OF the
visitor.
"Well," replied Mr.. Riker, who is a
young man with keen eyes and OF smart
appearance, "when you talk about
Americans, l am one. My grandparents
on both sides were born within twenty
miles OF New York. My grandmother
OH one side owned Glen Island, on the
other the land where Thurber's store is.
am an American as far back as can
see; SO is Cummings. He supplies the
cash OF this venture, and the machinery
is all my own Invention. All there is OF
the Rikcr Dredging Company is Cum
mings and myself. As to the State OF
Alabama-well, We had to hire an Eng
lish steamer in order to satisfy the gov
eminent"
"How so?"
"Well, the original contract to dredge
the channel went to the Joseph Ed
wards Dredging Company. Edwards
found that he could not fulfill his con.
tract in the time specified December
so, 1850, and he so notified the Govern
ment. Then we-who had been bidders
against Edwards-werc asked by the
Government to take hold and help fin
ish the contract. The Governments
great object was time. and they wanted
to know how long before we could get
work. We said that il We took an
American vessel it would require eight
-ten-yes, twelve weeks, but with IN
English vessel we could be ready in two
months or six weeks"
"Was there any other reason?'
ooh, yes, the question OF price"
"What was that?"
"Well, the fact is We could do the job
Just $4,000 cheaper with m English
vessel than we could with an American
one, and we told the Government that
it would cost it $4,000 more if We took
an American vessel"
Having thus let the cat out OF the bag,
Mr.. Riker was asked about his crew,
"They are all shipped here" said he
"only five OF the English crew were re-
engaged. We discharged the old crew
after we got here, and told such as
wanted to re.engage that they could do
SO at the same rates us the Others, We
have crew Of sixty"
Mr.. Riker said that the company had
chartered the State OF Alabama, with
the privilege oil buying her II it wished
The vessel carries the Union Jack. As
n sample OF his gratitude to the Govern
ment Tor taking$30, 600 away from Amer,
lean enterprise, Mr.. Riker said: 81
voted against Cleveland in 1884; | an
going to vote for him now"