The record-union., 1894-12-19
WORK At THE CHARITY ROCK-PILE.
Unexpected Number of Applicants and
Scarcity Of Rock.
The Committee Was Unprepared, But
Henceforth There VIII be Work
for Applicants.

Complaints having been made by un-
employed men that they could not get
work at the rock-pile provided by the
Federation of Religious Benefcence for
those who were homeless and hungry, a
RECORD UNION reporter was detailed to
make inquiry of II. Weinstock, one of
the committee having charge of the mat
ter, if the complaints were we'll founded.
"Yes" replied Mr.. Weinstock yester-
day, 81 am sorry to say there was hitch
in our operations. but / think the trouble
has been overcome, and that matters will
move along smoothly henceforth.
'You see," he continued, ''we were not
really prepared for the rush of business
that came upon the committee. 1t was
an experiment, and we did not think the
rock-breaking proposition was going to
be such a success, and, as l said before,
we were not prepared TO meet so many
applications for work.
"We had the assurance of the city ano
county officials, and others whose iudg-
ment was thought to be reliable in such a
matter, that there would be very few, If
any, applications by men to break rock
for their meals and lodging. so we con-
cluded to start in modestly. We pro-
vided an outfit of three hammers last
Friday, and really did not suppose they
would all be used. Imagine the commit
tees surprise when, on visiting the stone
yard on Saturday, we found nfteen men
there waiting for opportunities to go to
work.
"Then we sent out ten more hammers,
and on Monday these were all In use and
dozen men were waiting about 1or lhetr
turn at them. BY noon the limited sup
ply of rock had been exhausted, and
there was nothing for the men to do. A
second carload had been promised by the
county, but owing to the storm 1t was
impossible to obtain 1t, and the work had
to be shut down temporarily.
This morning two carloads consigned
to the county arrived and they were
turned over to the committee. At
o'clock in the afternoon there we're elgh-
teen men at work breaking up the rock.
After ali, we have done pretty well.
Between Saturday morning and Sunday
evening no less that Ill meals were fur
nished by the committee for work per-
formed. The experience Of the first day
or two has demonstrated that there are
numb Der Of men among the unemployed
who are willing to work for their food
and shelter rather than beg, so the COM
mittee will broaden its facilities as rapidly
as its means will permit.
MANY citizens have bought tickets
from the committee-hrst, to aid the
cause, and second, TO have something to
give those asking for assistance that will
direct them to the rock-pile. The COM
mittee has so arranged matters that
henceforth men applying directly at the
stoneyard will be put at work and tickets
supplied them. Those receiving these
tickets have the choice Of using them 10
procure either meals or lodgings. Ar
rangements for the latter have been
made with the landlady of the Gleeman
House at Third and streets.
''The unexpected response on the part
of the unemployed" continued Mr.
Weinstock, naturally found the COM
mittee hnprepared. it having been proph-
esied by those supposed to know that
men would not be willing to break rock
for their food. But the crudities of the
undertaking are being remedied and in
day or two we will have things working
in good shape.
''We have two appeals to make to the
community. The first is for citizens to
subscribe literally to make up the def
cheney between the cost of breaking rock
10y hand and the market value of the ar
ticle. Second, that those in need of rock
for the improvement of their premises,
roads, etc., buy of the committee, in pref
erence to getting it from abroad"