The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-09-21
A fairs Mt the Locks,

CASCADE LOCKS, Sept. 10, 1859.
This letter Is written with the intention
of enlightening the public as to the inner
workings of this Cascade canal affair. But
IN the first place allow me to say that write
as I may would fill page after page and
then the half would not he told. The ig-
norance of those in charge, the waste of
money, the bulldozing of workmen, the
transgression of our U. s. laws, are some
thing beyond belief except to those who are
or have been employed here.
Lieut. Burr is absent and acting in his
place is one Familiarity known among the
workmen as "Norway,"a a non-citizen, and
a redfaced, coarse hammered man. As a
specimen of his ignorance, l will state that
he indited fourteen letters before complete
ing one intellig,ble enough to forward to
his superior officer. Another and one of
his latest capers was that of making sur
vey. Men were put to work to dig out the
appointed place for the reception of lock.
When the work was done it was found to
be forty-fve feet out of the way. So moth
ing remained but to make a new survey
and to do the work over again. Whether
he will hit it or not this time remains to be
seen.
Another of the facultv,s our boss laborer,
a Canadian by birth and also a non- citizen.
During the resident officers absence this
latter has combined with Norway in
scheme, the object OF which is to force the
workmen to board at the mess-house,
such employees as refused to do
so with immediate discharge. This threat
did not work well, whereupon they ended
by merely threatening dismissal from our
bunk-house. Before election the boss la->l
borer told prominent Republican not to be |
so loud or he would not obtain job the
next appropriation. When victory was de-
clared for the Republican party he veered
as the wind and then tried to bargain that |
not Democrat should be employed on the |
government works.
One of our established laws is, "that |
none but American citizens shall be en-
ployed on government works." This law is !
daily. As an illustration: Four |
Swedes were hired this morning; not one |
Of them are citizens, two being but a month |
rom their native land. Two young men,
born, applied at the same time,
Jug WCiC IuluCu away 4NOn, L Will StdtC |
The why and wherefore of this little ma
,euvre. The four greenhorn Swedes can be
lerded into the mess-house, while the |
American boys having widowed mother
o support would wish to board at home.
By hiring the former S. o. FL. will be in
eceipt of an extra S67.2 monthly, and he
n turn forks over certain dividend to We,
is & Co.
Not long ago we put up Slavonian to
SIX for job and to offer the boss laborer
5 of his first pay. The boss laborer fell into
he trap direct. Two men had been refused
york but an hour before, but he told the
lavonian to wait day or SO and he would
york him IN.
There is a piece of work here bearing the
anne of cable railway. Our friend Nor.
ray engineered the job. Fifty thousand
ollars of our last appropriation was spent
n the same. and it remains a laughing
took for the public. When finished it
allied to pull up single loaded car though
aving a fifty horsepower engine. They
ad to let an empty car down in order to
aul up loaded one.
The resident officer, Lieut. Burr, is evil
emily gentleman and man of good in-
sntions, but appears to be handicapped by
,norant subordinates sent to him regard
ss of any assistance they will render him,
r of their fitness for the positions they are
, occupy.
To be continued. VERITAS.