Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-02-20
THE WOMAN CONTRACTOR.
Ars. Cram OF BostOn Takes Mig Orders
fer Moo0mPv Work.

Mrs. Cram OF Boston Takes Mig Orders
fer Masonry WORT.
Now II IL the woman contractor and
Boston Is her home. says the New York
World. In the Athens of America Mrs.
Cram made her entree as q contractor
nine years ago. She has her own Offices
and Is thoroughly busincss-like in all
her dealings. Her husband Is also a
contractor. Together they have con-
tracted for the foundation work of y
number Of public buildings in that city.
Among these are the new public
library. the new court house and the
boulevard bridge over the Boston l. AL
bany railroad. which is said to be one
OF the finest pieces of masonry in the
United States. The entire work on
these contracts was delegated to Mrs.
Cram by her husband, who had implicit
confidence in her ability. One of the
most notable products of this enter
priSing womans skill Is section No. 4
OF the Stony Brook Improvement in
Boston. This section contained tho
largest "bell-mouth" in the sewer line
ever built In this country. To her was
also contided the construction Of the
foundation OF the power-house of the
Edison Electric Light Company of Bee
ton. About a year ago Mrs. Cram de.
clded TO embark In business for herself.
independent of her husbands co-part-
nership. She had, az she SO naively
puts 1t, got tired of being secondary
consideration" Mrs. Cram conducts a
commission business In connection with
her other work, selling machinery and
materials used in excavating and gen.
eral masonry work. Mrs. Grams busi-
ness experience has taught her that
financial success depends In great part
upon personal supervision Of the work
in hand. She realizes the opportunity
for petty leaks In the masonry and
their serious character where a large
sum Is involved. So she makes point
OF visiting once or twice a day the
scene OF her operations. She drives q
smart rig to and from her office. Mrs.
Grams latest achievement was in Sc
curing the contract from the Chase
Granite Company Of New York to team
10000 tons Of stone, to be used in cle-
waiting the tracks Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford railroad. Mrs
Cram has under her control the sub
letting of n patented derrick. invented
and owned by her husband. These der
ricks were used In demolishing the old
fremont house In Boston, and they are
employed In constructing the new Bos-
ton subway. She protitably let's the use
Of machinery for all building purposes
or to remove distractions.
No contract of however great magni.
tude awes her. and in a recent talk In
this city before the Professional Wom-
ans League. on The Business Wom-
an she told some pertinent truths and
gave advice OF such character as to
enable women with commercial in
stincts to profit by her practical expert
ences. Mrs. Cram dresses simply and
In excellent taste. She wears q tailor
made gown for business purposes, but
c.ings tenaciously to all the little FEM
mime frills and furbelows. She is q
petite brunette, dark eyes and radiant
complexion. She has a charming per-
sonality, and only her decisive. quick
manner would suggest her astuteness
in affairs financial.