The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-18
Major Palmer's Employees in .Lenox
Addition Make Demand
for Their Wages.
They Have Not Been Fully Paid
for Last Months
Work.
He Saws He Has No Money-The Carpen
tiers and Other Union Men Have
Another Meeting.

spreading, but so lar tne RESULTS nave uOb
been of serious nature. The common la
borers are now on strike, as we'll az some
of the mechanics of the carpenters union.
About thirty men might have been seen
in a group on Main street yesterday. It
was learned from ono of the leaders that
they were employed at grading in the Len
OK addition and were on strike because
the contractor had neglected to pay their
wages for work during the past thirty
days, the total amount due them aggregat-
ing $1,000. Major J. j. Palmer had secured
the contract from Wallace d. Thornburgh
for the work of grading certain streets and
it appears that he has fell behind in the es-
Inmates made out for him by the
city engineer. Major Palmer could
not be found, but it is understood
that he has had some dispute with the city
engineer as to the estimates furnished,
Palmer claiming that he was not allowed
sufficient for the amount of rock work
necessary to be done.
A gentleman who claimed to speak au-
thorltatiyely, bat who did not desire to be
brought into the matter, made this state
ment of the case: I'm the first place Major
Palmer took the contract at too low a fig
ure; not SO low that he could have lost
money on it, but had he attended strictly
to the work of street grading, l think he
would have como out even. But he has
evidently applied some of the money de-
rived from the estimates to private work.
such as digging cellars and grading private
property. He expected the city engineer,
under whose supervision the grading was
being done, to allow him estimates for
nearly all rock work altogether,
but this that official very proper
ly declined to do. in as much as
he could not do it without interfering with
his conscience. AS to whether Palmer has
really realized any money out of the
contract, nobody is in position to state
but himself, and if through bidding for the
work at too low a figure he has failed to
realize anything, he should stand the loss,
and hope to do better some other time. The
only way of ascertaining if he has paid out
tract is to examine his books"
Mr.. Thornburgh, Of the firm of Wallace
d Thornburgh, was seen in connection with
the matter and he said: "Our connection
with the trouble is quite distant. We are
the agents for the Lenox addition, only,
he was given the contract. When the city
council accepted the plat of the Lenox ad
dition to Helena. by that its streets, ave-
nues and alleys were decided to the city
and the grade to be established in
pervision, under the direction of the city
engineer. On the 10th of each month we
received an estimate from Mr.. Reeder for
the ensuing months work, and the amount
necessary to pay for it was placed at Major
Palmer's disposal, except certain percent
age held out each month until the contract
is satisfactorily carried out. have been
informed by Major Palmer that he owes
about 81 GOO to the laborers. About two
weeks additional labor will complete the
contract, and with the money necessary to
carry it on. and with what will be due Mr..
Palmer after the completion of the con-
tract, think he will have sufficient funds to
settle with the working men,
1t is pretty we'll understood that by secur-
ing this &C ntract Mr.. Palmer has been able
to accomplish much for his proposed street
railroad BY having the roadbed made to his
liking Not long ago he endeavored to have
the city council instruct the street commits
sloner to remove or cut down a portion of
West Broadway, which is understood to be
certain portion Of his present contract,
and is piece of work that requires blast
ing.
One of the subcontractors, who employs
the teams used in the grading, and who
says that of $21G due him he has only re-
celyed 500, stated to an INDEPENDENT re-
porter that Major Palmer made a PROPOSE
tion to the men to have the work placed in
the hands of a receiver, and that he would
not accept any more money on the esti-
mates TOR the balance OF the work. This
was not received with favor. as there is but
little work to be done now. The men asked
MIR. Palmer on Tuesday if lie intended to
pay them, and if he didn't they threatened
a strike, which has been the result. A
number of laborers were in consultation
with attorneys yesterday, and they have de-
cided to have liens served upon property in
the LenOx addition.