Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-29
SUB-FOREMAN TALK.
ACTION OF TIE GROUNDS AND BUILD
IHas COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT.
Mr.. Nstherwood to Have IN Assistant
The Machinists and rloor-Bssms
Of City Hall, &C..

The Grounds and Buildings Committee
met last night in the City Engineers
Office at $50 o'clock and considered o
resolution appointing sub-foreman on
the new City Hall stone-work under Mr.
James Netherwood.
This resolution was the outgrowth OF
reports to the effect that some OF the men
did not work as industriously as they
should; that they sometimes loafed, and
that il a sub-foreman were put over them
the interests of the work would be adj
yanced.
WALKING BOSS.
City-Engineer Cutshaw stated that he
had had conference with Mr.. Neither
wood during the day and also with Mr..
Shirreffs, and he had come to the con-
clusion it would be better to have q
walking boss to keep the time Of the
workmen and prevent them from being
interrupted in their work and keep them
from wasting time.
LITTLE TIME WASTED.
Mr.. Netherwood, who was present,
said he had seen very little time wasted.
Persons not acquainted with the busi-
ness, who went through the sheds. per-
haps thought that the men were not
working as they should, but this was be-
cause they did not know. Mr.. Neither
wood thought he had as good set OF
men as could be found working on any
Job. The committee could appoint a
sub-foreman if it chose, but in his
opinion it would be money thrown
away.
Mr.. James Bailey, one of the stone
cutters in the cap-shed. was asked his
opinion as to the advisability of employ
ing foreman. He thought the men
were working well. He saw no great
loss of time.
Mr.. PizziDi: "Don't you think il
would be better to have sub-boss in
each she'd?
81 decline to answer that question. II
is not my business to say"
In reply to the main question,
"Would you not like to have an assist
ant ?" Mr.. Netherwood answered:
81 don't think 1 would. / can do all
my work. All the men get stone to cut
as fast as they can, and if | give a man q
stone to cut | know when he begins il
and when he finishes it, even If ! don't
see him till two or three weeks after
wards when the stone is finished. My
experience is that more stone is cut and
less spoilt than on any Job anywhere.
After awhile would like to have man
to help me when we go to setting stone.
IT IS HARD WORK.
Mr. John Beattie, another cutter, said
he did not know that his opinion was
worth anything, but stone-cutting is
hard work it is no play to swing a ham
mer all day. He thought the work pro
gressed without unusual waste OF time.
Dir. John Marshall said he had never
lost any time. He always got stone
promptly from the foreman. AS tC
whether the appointment of sub-fore
man was advisable Mr.. Marshall said
Mr.. NetherwCod knew better than he
did. but if walking boss we're put on
he would feel strong temptation tC
loaf behind his back. He preferred
being trusted.
ABOUT LoAFIEG.
Mr.. David Leyshon thought only th'
superior workmen ever loafed. The,
could afford to do that, for they received
no more pay than inferior workmen, ant
vet could do more work. He had worked
| in this aud other countries, and he haC
never seen better men anywhere thar
some on this job, and he had never seel
ANYBODY waiting for stone. A man coulC
not work all the time without stopping
and very often men stopped to ask ont
another about work, and while they wer'
in the eyes of persons who knew nothing
of the business loafng, they were at
tending to their duties strictly.
MOTIONS.
Mr.. Crenshaw moved to lay the matte
ON the table till the time came to com
mence to lay stone.
Mr.. Pizzini moved that sub-foremal
be appointed, if the City Engineer think
one necessary.
Mr.. Snead moved that frst-clas
stone-cutter be appointed as sub-fore
man.
Mr.. Pizzini's motion was adopted.
USE OF THE AgMORY.
On motion the action of the commit
tee taken the previous night refusing Il
allow the Retreat for the Sick to hay
the use of the Regimental Armory il
which to hold fair was reconsidered ant
laid on the table.
MACHINIsTs' PAY.
The unfinished question as TO wha
pay machinists employed for settinl
fioor-beam on the new City Hall shoul'
receive was taken up.
City Engineer Cutshaw thought tn
charges made-S5 for the principal ma
chinist for ten hours day work and s
day for chipping, drilling. &c.-wer
exorbitant. He believed that from So.
to 1875 a day mine hours) for tn
principal and S2.75 to SO for chipping
&C., was sufficient.
The committee decided to let the pric
remain unchanged.
Adjourned.
Captain Seth Foster.
The House Committee ON the Chesa
| ,aoka and ita Trihutarias Yesterday nm