The San Francisco call., 1897-07-04
POST0FFICE MATERIAL.
Local Stonecutters Fight to
Have Only Home Products
Used.
Pacific Coast Representatives Pledge
the Project Their Best Sup
port.

If the new Federal building. to contain
the Custom house and Postoffice, is not
constructed of California material it will
not be the fault OF the people who are in
terested therein. When it became known
that Eastern contractors were bidding for
the contract of getting out The stone and
o ther materials Tor this building it raised
a storm among all classes in this City.
The first TO protest were the mem ber5 of
the NJ anufacturers' and Producers Asso-
citation, who at once urged the Pacific
Coast representatives. at Washington to
do all in their power to have the contracts
let on this coast. The replies received
from Washington were that the manu-
facturers' wishes would be gratified if pos
sible.
Still another class has taken up the
fight in the interests of patronizing nome
industries, and this is the labor union
element. AT the last meeting OF the
Stonecutters' Union of this City the Sec
retary was instructed TO communicate
with James f. McEugh, the general sec
retary- treasurer OF the Journey men Stone
cutters Association of North America at
Washington, requesting him to interest
himself in the matter. He lost no time
in doing so, as shown by the following
letter which was read at the meeting last
evening":
Brother: Inclosed correspondence ex plains
itself Now / have every Congressman from
California who is in Washington pledged to
support us, as their letters show. | shall be-
gin at op ce campaign of personal interviews
with them and keep 1t right up, and you boys
can do a good deal 10 help me in the matter
by getting the gr tnite-cutters in your City to
have their G. S. T.-James Duncan of Balti-
timore-come over. 1t is only hour ride
from here. Mr.. Duncan is vice-president of
the American Federation OF Labor. Mr.. Com
&c fha n md 10 In
Gated here; SO have the granite-cutters'
branch in San Francisco ask them to inter-
est themselves i'll the matter. The more wires
we pull the better off we Will be and the
surer our chances of success are Return these
letters after they are read at your meeting,
as they are now the property OF the q. q. aud
part of the records, etc. Awaiting your fur
ther pleasure, remain very truly yours.
JAMES F. MCHUGH
Local Secretary William F. MCGUIRE
read the letters referred to, which were
from half a dozen California states
men. Representative G. A. Barlow stated
that he would be glad to help to the full
extent of his ability, as he TOO is a labor
ing man. He pledged to help the Pacific
Coast stonecutters in their efforts to have
the work done purely Californian. Sena-
tor Stephen M. White wrote that he could
not see how Eastern quarrymen could
afford to bid against California contract
ors, considering the high rates of freight
TO this coast. He added that he was sure
that the lowest bidder would get the con-
tract, and he hoped that the contract
would be let on this coast. Senator
George G. Perkins answer was as follows:
James r. McHugh, Esq.-DEAR SIR: Yours of
June i, suggesting that the stone for the new
Federal building in San Francisco be cut in
that City, is at hand. / agree with YOU fully
as 10 the desira bility of having the stone cut
as recommended and will do what consist
entity can to that end. Yours very ~,
GEORGE c. PERKINS.
Representatives Marion Devries and c.
H. Castle promised TO do all they are a bic
to have the contract for the stone work
let on this coast. The latter went further
and promised 10 personally call upon the
authorizes who have the letting of the
contract IN hand and use his influence to
this end.
These assurances were highly pleasin g
to the stonecutters, who will keep up the
| agitation and interest the eranite-cutters
| to have Mr.. Gompers aid Mr.. Duncan
| take hold of the matter at Washington.
+. E. Knowles of the Raymond Granite
| Company and part owner in the new
sandstone quarry in the Berkeley hills is
in Washington, it is believed erdeavoring
| to secure the contract.