Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-12-27
THE HALF:CENT MAN"
How a Quarry Manager Earned a Curious
Cognomen.

slveiy furnished house IN the town OF
Winterport, Me-, is owned and occu.
pied by David Heagon Smith, big,
blue-eyed Yankee, who started out as
poor boy and earned his money and
his reputation among the granite quar-
ries of Penobscct Bay. Though Mr..
Smith was always generous, he has
been known among his friends as the
''half-cent man" for nearly thirty
years.
Beginning as drag tender, young
Smith worked his way up, and in 1870
was appointed general manager OF the
quarries on Dix Island, nine miles
southwest from Rockland. At that
time the Dix Island Granite Company,
for which Mr.. Smith worked, had just
taken the contract to quarry and cut
stone for the New York postoffice.
Stonecutters and blacksmiths re-
ceived $3.50 day for eight hours
work, the United States paid the bills,
and everybody connected with the
work was prosperous. The first set of
payrolls that was made out came back
from Washington for revision. At
So. so day, full days wages came
out in even change, and so did half
day. The trouble was in the fourths.
A quarter of days pay was ST. cents,
and three-quarters OF day was So 62l;
and while the government is honest,
it cannot and will not countenance the
splitting of cents in the wages of any
body.
When the matter wasr explained
there was solemn meeting held in
the company's office, which was at
tended by G. p. Dixon, of New York,
the company's treasurer; Alfred B.
Mullett, United States supervising
architect; two or three Congressman,
including James G.. Blaine, and
small army of local bosses. Mr.. Null
lett proposed to divide the fractions
equally on the quarters, giving the
quarter of a day man 8S cents and the
three-quarters of day man $2.62.
Mr.. Dixon was about to accede to the
idea when Mr.. Smith broke in, ridi-
culing the idea of a great nation like
the United States haggling over lit
tie matter of half cent day. His
argument prevailed, and Mr.. Mullett
yielding, the pay rolls allowed quarter
of day men 8S cents and three-quar-
ters of day men $2. 63. The workmen
gained both half cents and nobody was
injured.
The New York postoffice, costing
more than 81, 100000, was completed
in 1874, and the new Philadelphia
postoffice and court house was started
the same year and finished in 1877; so
nearly 5000 skilled mechanics had
continuous employment for seven
years. Under the terms of the con-
tract the company received so cents a
cubic foot for the granite employed in
the two structures, and had commits
sion of Is per cent. upon the gross
cost of the buildings. When both jobs
were done Mr.. Dixon called Mr.. Smith
into his office and presented him with
check for S5000
"What is this for?" asked Mr.. Smith,
who had always drawn his pay at the
end of every month Instead of max
ing an immediate reply Mr.. Dixon put
another question.
''How much is Is per cent. Of one
half cent, David?"
''Three-fortieths of a cent" replied
Mr.. Smith.
"And how many three-fortieths of
cent are there in $5000?"
This puzzled Mr. Smith for time,
and Mr.. Dixon laughed.
'Are there 7,000,000?"
''No, sir.
"'Are there $500, OOO?" continued
Mr.. Dixon.
eyes, sir, and fraction over
"Well, David, resumed Mr.. Dixon,
81 have made few figures myself and
have learned that your talk to Mullett,
which gave me both half cents, has
earned me about $40, 900; and L think
I ought to divide. That'syour half on
the check"
The following spring Mr.. Smith
went to Winterport and bought the old
Treat homestead. The place originally
cost about so, 900, but had fallen into
decay, so Mr.. Smith was able to buy
it for $4,000. Since then he has fixed
it up and beautifed it so it is one of
the finest estates on the Penobscot
river. When visitors call and praise
the homestead Mr.. Smith says:
eyes, L like it. 1t was bought from
a commission of one-half of Is per
cent. on half cents, but [ guess it is
good enough for me. Boston Globe.
An Easy Trick When You Know 1t.