The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-17
TALKED Of At CITY HALL.
Contractors Complain That They Cal-
not Find Laborers Enough.
SUPPLY LESS THAN THE DEMAND.
The City Always Able to Get as Many
Men as IL wants-This Is Because 1t
vPays Better Wages Than the Con-
tractors and the Work Is steadier.

~'~- -" ~ w 10 ksecaoso -
vPays BETTER Wages Than the Con-
tractors and the Work Is steadier.
Contractors who do work for the city
are complaining about the scarcity of
laborers. They say that never before in
their experience have they had so much
trouble in getting help of this class.
Heretofore the sapply has generally ex
ceeded the demand but now the condi-
tions are changed and the contractors
are busy hunting mp men enough to carry
on the work they have undertaken.
This condition OF affairs has been
brought about by the large number of
public improve nents hat are being
made. The public works department. has
nearly thousand men at work on
highways, sewer and water main
tenance aud extension. In different parts
OF the city there are sixteen gangs of
men men working under contractors.
one OF these gangs Is fifty
addition to these the Union Railroad
company has greatly increased its out
side fcrce and is pushing work on the
trolley system in this city and In East
Providence.
The Telephone company has also
drawn pretty heavily on the supply of
laborers to work on its subways. while
the Narragansett Electric Light and
Providepce Gas companies are employing
a much larger force than usual.
That Is why the contractors find it
difficult now to secure laborers. 1t was
learned at the public works department
this morning that there was no
m evAf linz ha1t. l.t
generally preferred to work for the
city in preference to contractors The
city pays higher wages. aud as rule the
work is steadier. 1t is the general idea
that all the laborers in the cty's
employ receive the uniform rate of SLJ0
a day. aud there are some members of
the city council who pose as the friends
OF the working man VINO are constantly
referring TO them as underpaid aud
oppressed.
AS matter OF fact ST. so is the lowest
pay given to any OF the laborers. Those
who receive 1t are merely
snoyeiers and do nothing else.
modest sphere of human endeavor. The
man who shows disposition to better
himself Is pushed ahead. He may be-
come a driver where his pay will be
SL66B day, he may rise to
tie dignity ola FOUNDER or a paver when
he viii get the respectable income Of
81 %. which is eqnaf to the WAGES re-
ceived by manymen who work as skilled
mechanics.
Moro Sewer Work Ahead.
Commissioner Smith has called on the
engineering department for plans for the
big sewer in Dyer street and Aliens ave-
nue. and they are now being pre-
pleted bids will be called for. II is the
commissioners Intention to get this
sewer in during the coming winter as
10 is one OF the important links in the
improved sewerage system.
The soil along Aliens avenue is
moist and no trouble is expected from
freezing. Into this sewer most of the man.
from the Olneyville district. The sewer
will follow the valley Of the Woonasqua-
tucket to the vicinity OF the cove lands
where It will turn south through
Cove, Dorrance and Dyer streets,
and Allen's avenue to Fielus
be IS feet or thereabouts below the out
fall sewer, so pumping station will be
erected thers to raise the sewage either
into the precipitation tanks or the out
fall sewer.
During the past few days the odor
arising from the river above Point str ct
bridge has been, If anything. more of
fensive than ever at low lide. Those
whose business compels them to remain in
that this was the case, but blamed the
TO kick and grumble, but for them there
Is no satisfaction or redress at least for
the present. Inquiry AZ the
city hall elected the fact
that this sewer will not be com
pleted before u year from the coming fall.
Then citizens may look for marked |
change for the better In the appeara ce
of the river and may expect n, longer to |
he nauseated by the foul vapor that
arises from it.
II Is now conceded that the cause Of all |
this trouble is the waste from the mills. !
The chief factor is the woolwashings |
which are turned into the river to sizzle |
under summer sun, For long |
time people would not be convinced /
that this Was the case, but blamed the |
house sewage for the discolored aud foul
smelling water. Nov it is known that
once the mill wastes are taken
out there will be no further |
cause y for complaint. Whethe- |
IL can be turned ipte the river at Fields
point without treatment by chemicals
Is question about which there
are Two opinions. 1t seems likely, |
however. that the experiment |
will be made, so strong is tue feeling
hat the amount Of sewag will be en-.
.irely lost IN the immens tidal
low by Fields point. IL all
he water used in day in
would only be alb u 1000, gallons
while it In estimated that the tidal flow
,ast Fields point in twenty four hours is
~ 600 600 600 unllOns