Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-03-15
Stanton Men Abroad.
THE THREE-YEARS' RECORD OF A BIG
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION FIRM.

THE THREE-YEARs' RECORD OF BIG
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION FIRM.
The Frankfort (Ky.) Western Argus has
a long description of the operations of two
firms, the members Of which are frem, OF
well know in, Augusta and Staunton. One
is the Mason & Foard Company, which has
just renewed its lease of the Kentucky
penitentiary there, for four years from
April next, with the privilege of eight. The
company is composed of Chas. E. Hoge, Fl.
r. Mason, S. D. Gooch, VIM. T. cambridge,
Silas B. Mason, Jno. King, 10 T. Foard,
VIM. Morrow, and VIM. Duncan. The first
six have been the lessees of the prison since
1882, and the present company since 1885.
They have also leased, for ten years, the
branch penitentiary at Eddyvile- the work
and machinery for which they have con-
contracted to have finished in 1890, for
$500, COO. The officers Of the Company are
G. E. Hoge, President; 10. F. Foard, Vice
President; II. 2. Mason General Manager,
and G. I. Blackley, Secretary. The Western
Argus speaks in the most complimentary
terms of the firm, and adds:
Every one of the gentlemen are frst-class
business men, and the corporation is one of the
most substantial in the State. x x These
gentlemen have never had any issue with the
State. They have paid their rental promptly
as their contract provided, although they have
been deprived of the use of one of the main
buildings IN the prison since it was destroyed
by fire i'll 1887 1t was a very lucky day for
the State when this corporation leased the
prison.
The Western Argus also has notice of
the Mason, Gooch & Hoge Company.
This firm is composed of Chas. E. Hoge,
VIM. f. cambridge, John King, H. P.
Mason, S. B. Mason and S. d. Gooch,
with III. 2. Mason, President, and W. F.
cambridge, Secretary and Treasurer. 1t
says:
Since the year 1886 they have constructed
two hundred and seventy-One miles Of railroad
in this State, which cost about 49, 100000. In
addition, they built the masonry of the Gin
clnnati and Covington bridge, near Cincinnati,
at cost OF about $500, 900, and completed a
railroad in Alabama at cost of about $50 0OO
The total value of work completed by this
firm since the year 1886 is about So, 1870. OOO
This IS the largest firm doing this character of
| work in the State They are thoroughly prac-
teal in their business, and give all their con
tracts their personal attention.
They have large amount of railroad con-
Structlon under contract in this State, the cost
OF which will amount to about 81, 700, 600, all
of Which will be completed within this year
They have done their work we'll every where,
and have given general satisfaction in all their
contracts.
The gentlemen composing this firm are men
of integrity and WORTH with a financial stand
ing second to no other corporation in the State.
This firm or company employ annually, in
addition to the conyicts worked in railroad
construction, from twenty-five hundred to fouI
thousand free laborers, most of whom they
are compelled to bring from Virginia, NORTH
Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, so that the
convict labor constitutes very small part OF
the number of men to whom they give EN-
ployment.