Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-09
DURING DARK HOURS.
THE NUMBERS WHO WORK WHILE
OTHERS SLEEP.
The Small Army Of BIchmonders Who
Earn Their Living 1t
Night.
" Work. for the night Is coming
When mans work "a o'er."

SIN the beginning, God created the
Heaven aud the earth. and the earth was
without form. and void, and darkness was
unon the face of the deep" and God said
{" Let there be light, and there was light
After it flashed upon the earth. he said it
was poodn and divided the light from the
darkness. and called the Fight Day" and
and the darkness might"
THE LIGHT OF THE EARTH.
For perspicuity and incislyeness of ex-
pressi6n these words have never been sur
nassed They are also the scintillation of
n GREAT poetical genius. Thus we know
that darkness preceded light; AT this. pc
rod the earth and the Vastly deep slumber-
ed n dead sleep that knew no awakening.
Int. from the moment of the command
~ ct there be light it radiated in profu-
sion mon the world. Then it was that the
waters divided and life and motion CON-
menced. With the light the earth brought
forth grass, 1.-THE herb yielding seed and
the fruit-trees yielding fruit OF ITS kind"
whose seed was in itself" upon the earth
and last of all the Creator made mankind
TO walk in the light of the sun.
THE BEsTFUL PERIOD.
From the example of the Creator it is
evident that night was intended to be the
restful period of the earth and its beings,
and that the day was TO be the time OF ac-
tivity and life.
And SO it is even unto this day that the
sunshine of Heaven causes the seed TO
spring up and ripen. the grass to grow, and
flowers to bloom and blossom in all their
sweetness and beauty. Light IL the blush
and smile OF Dame Nature. in whose warmth
all things are invited to bask.
PEOPLE WHO WORK AT NIGHT.
Thousands there are in the world whose
condition in life forces them TO antagonize
natures laws Of health in turning night
into day and toiling through the silent
hours of the former. See the scores of
sewing-girls who are compelled TO stitch
and stitch until past the midnight
hours. See the lonely and vigilant night
Waterman as he PAGES his beat, who per-
haps by the fortunes of war has been
manned. or is incapacitated by age and
infirmities from performing other labor.
forced TO bare his breast to the storms of
the season.
For moment at night station yourself
on Belle Isle heights or in Gamble's-Hill
Park and see the rolling-mill workers and
other toilers of the Old Dominion and
Tredegar Iron Works as they fit to, and
fro. wheeling glowing nuggets and draw
ing long, twisting, and Kissing red-hot
bars of iron. Hundreds of patient and
accomplishing men are engaged through
out the night in fight with fire and flame.
NEWSPAPER WORK.
See, too, the printers Of the daily press
while you slumber in peaceful rest at their
cases burning their eyes out that You may
have the latest news as part OF your
breakfast MENU Lastly, though not least,
L. 81, ov1 ,af,nrtarG nn1ar the
whitening glare of the jet or that not
less destructive agent of eyesight, the
electric lamp, as they toll with llleglble
copy, or, still worse, rack their brains with
thought. =,
Yet" the night brings out the stars. !"
and some of the best authors wrote at
night i'll preference.
THE FIGURES.
In this city alone there are not less than
900 men and women whose chief work IS Mt
night. They ore railroad-men, night-watch-
men. men around furnaces, workmen IN the
Tredegar, and in the service of the Old
Dominion Nail-Works, gas-works, and
hosts of sewing-girls and women who
labor into the small hours of the day.
OF this number the Tredegar Company
employs over 800 brawny and muscular
sons of fire and iron-150 of whom work In
the spike-mill and $50 in the bar-mill-be-
sides several night watchmen.
For physical strength 1t is among the
iron-workers that the best examples may
be found. For this class of work the very
best specimens of manhood are required
none others need apply.
on BELLE ISLE.
Next In importance TO the number of
night-workers employed IN any one place
is the Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works
on Belle Isle. Here pretty much the same
battle with fire and fame has TO be fought,
physical strength and manhood being pit
ted against an intense heat, which to the
would seem impossible of en-
durance. but manhood prevails and the
round balls of crude iron are soon con-
verted into thin, bright bars of merchante-
BILE metal and into nails. that are shipped
throughout the length and breadth of the
land. and.are famous for their fine quality.
These works rank as fourth in size IN
the United States and employ seventy
nine night toilers the year round. Twenty
four are In the old bar-mill as heaters.
helpers, and rollers, fifty-one in the steel
mill. sixteen in the plate mill, and four
THEY LIVE WELL.
Some idea of the nature of the work re-
auired of these men of iron and steel may
be formed from the amount and quality Of
the food required to sustain them. II is
something enormous in the eyes of the
man of sedentary habit. and il has to be of
good quality. The best -four, meal, and
meats find their way into their supper-pails.
the appetizing flavor of which, in most
cases, is increased by the knowledge that
the food has been prepared by the hands OF
the good wife or dutiful daughter.
The earnings range from one dollar per
dav (night) for helpers and laborers to five
dollars per day might to the more skilful
puddlers and rollers.
AT THE GAs-woRKs.
AT the CITY gas-works will be found work
similar to the Tredegar and Old Dominion
only in the contention with fire
and heat no iron is handled.
The begrimed and smoked employees of
this establishment have no picnic per-
Torrance in the discharge Of their onerous
duties around the gas-retorts of this
institution. In most trades
ten hours is considered q proper days
labor, but here trelUe (night) hours are
consumed in n square stand-up fight with
such elements as fire, heat, smoke, and al
most deadly odors.
In the retort-house. coal-shed, coke
stand, engine-room. and pressure-room are
twenty-eight men
THE BAKERS.
The bakers bread we eat is the result Of
toll during the night of not less than sixty
men, who stand near and around hot
ovens of the various bakeries of the city.
that warm fresh loaves may be made to ac-
the hot coffee of the breakfast
table.
NEWSPAPER OFFICES.
About seventy-fve editors, printers,
pressmen. &c. labor through
most of the night that the morning papers
may be out in time to be read before break
fast and the commencement of the days
labor.
Policemen, nIght-watchmen. and cab
men and numerous others make up the list
Of those who toll by night for their lveli-
hood.
DANvlLLE ROAD MANAGEMENT.
No Truth In the Story That Haas win Sue
coed Randolph.
Mr.. Sol. Haas, the traffic manager of the
Associated Railways of Virginia and the
Carolinas. was seen in his Office yesterday
nv n DisDnfeh repOrter and asked