The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-10-08
He Tells all About the Work and
the Wages at the Great
Dam.
He ALONE FIXES THE WAGES OF The MEN
Mr.. Gibson'S Only Suggestions Were
in Favor of Increased
Wages.
A Laboring Man Tells Some Plain
Truths About Republican Solici-
tude for the LabOring Man
About Election Time.

Mr.. NJ. 5. Parker, engineer and super
intendent in charge of the construction of
the dam AT Black Eagle falls, was in the
city Saturday, and seeking to gain some
facts on the question of labor and wages
he was visited by a TRIBUNE representa-
tive. In regard to the management at
the dam he said:
81 was employed to build the dam and
no restrictions We're placed on me. !
have full and complete authority, to fix
the rate of wages, hire the men and buy
any material needed. | pay out all the
money necessary to carry on the work
No one has ever had anything to do with
the employment of men or fixing the rate
OF wages but myself. The statement in
the Leader that Mr.. Gibson dictates the
rate of wages Or has anything whatever
to do with the construction of the dam is
not only unjust but it is a f%alsehood."
"What is the scale of wages which you
pay?"
"The scale of wages in some respects"
he said, sis not quite as high as is paid in
town. For instance | pay stone cutters
$3.50. while they get So in town. But |
look at the matter in this light. offered
my men steady work from May 1st until
winter sets in, which will be about six or
seven months, and they put in every day
that they are not stopped by rain, or 60
off on a visit. While a stone cutter gets
more in town the jobs are short and he
loses time looking tor a new one. At the
end of the season my men will have more
cash than those who work in town."
sis the statement true that you pay
only 80 per day for common laber?"
1t is not. When work was commenced
on the dam laborers in the smelter and
on railroad construction were receiving
only $1.75, and there were plenty OF men
IN town who wanted work at any wages
to live on. l paid $500 per day from the
start, and have never paid less than
that sum. On three different occasions
Mr.. Gibson asked me if the men were
satisfied with that sum, and suggested to
mt the expediency of increasing their
pay. In August he again suggested that
the rate be increased, and | announced
that from the first of September the men
should receive 1925 for common, un-
skilled labor. Since that date no man
has been paid a less sum-"
During the entire season stone cutters
have received $3.50, masons $500, car
penters $3.50 to 1915, laborers who han
die the tlmbers $500, laborers who han
"What number of men are in your en-
ploy?"
son the time book there are over 200
men but the average number at work
during the month is about $50. Of this
number only about 40 receive 1925 per
day and the remaining 140 receive from
$3.50 to IS per day, according to the
character of the work, and the skill re-
quired.''
Are the men in your employ satisfied
with the wages paid"
81 never managed force of men with
whom my relations were more pleasant.
Among that number of men there will
always be a few discontinued ones, but
that is to be expected. When the strike
occurred at Sand Coulee many of the
miners came down and cheerfully went
to work at the rate | was paying, when
the mines resumed operations some of
them remained and some went back to
the mines. But of those who left several
came to me, shook hands and in bidding
me good by said they were not leaving
On account of the difference in wages but
that mining was their business and they
felt better working at the business to
which they were brought up"
suppose the labOrers should demand
an increase to $3.50 per day, would it af-
feet the work on the DAMP"
sit would not cause any %perceptible
Inconvenience. Yesterday | received an
inquiry asking If | could use forty men
AT 50 per day. If the laborers refuse to
work for 1925 per day | can fill their
places within two days with new men.
The conditions now and one month ago
have changed. Then harvest was in
progress and men scarce. Now the busy
season is about passed and latorers are
more plenty. Winter is coming on, very
few men care to throw up a long job at
fair wages. Only about forty men on the
dam would be concerned in the move
ment, and il they chose to quit their
places could be easily filled"
In conclusion Mr.. Parsons stated most
emphatically that Mr.. Gibson had moth
ing Whatever to do with hiring or paying
the men, and that the men were content
ed and happy and his relations with them
were most cordial.
LETTER FROM A WORKING MAN.
The soii"itude of the Republicans for the