The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-23
THE "HALF-CENTv MAN.
An Apparently Small Item Mounted
High Enough to Buy "a House.
Boston Globe.

Boston Globe.
The biggest. best and most extensively fur
nished house in the town of WinterpOrI Me. Is
owned and occupied by David Heago7 Smith,
big blue-eyed Yankee, who started ous rs d poor
boy and earned his money and his reputation
among the granite quarries of Penohscot Bay.
Though Mr.. Smith always generous, giving
literally to church and charity, he has been
known among his friends as the ''half-celt man''
for nearly thirty years.
Beginning as a drag tender young Smith
worked his way up, and in 1870 was ! pointed
genera manager of the quarries on Dix island.
nine miles southwest of Rockland At that time
the Dix Island Granite Company. for which Mr..
Smith worked had just taken the contract to
quarry and cut the stone for the New To'k pos.
office. Stonecutters and blacksmiths received
$3.50 day for eight hours work. the United
States paid the bills and everybody connected
with the work prosperous. The first set Of
pay rolls that was made out came back from
Washington for revision. At $3.50 day fpll
days wages came out in change. and so
did half day. The trouble in the fourtls.
quarter of a days pay was S7ls cents, ard
three-quarters of day 81. 62l2, and wi lie
the government is honest. 1t cannot and vii. not
countenance the splitting of cents in The wages
OF anybody.
When the matter was explained there was a
solemn meeting held in the companys Office.
which was attended by G. p Dixon, Of New
York city, the cornpany's treasurer; Alfred r.
Mullet, United States supervising architect; two
three congressman, including James 3. Blaine.
and a small army of local bosses Mr.. Mullett
proposed to divide the fractions equally on the
quarters, giving the quarter-of-a-day man 80
cents and the three quarters -of-a-day MAJ g g.
Mr.. Smith broke in, ridiculing the idea q:
great nation like the United States hdgSl1g and
day. His argument prevailed and Mr.. Mni.ett
yielding, the pay rolls allowed quarter-of a-1ay
men IS cents and three-quarters-of-a- day Inen
81. SO. The workngmen gained both half cents
and nobody injured.
The New York postoffice, costing more than
1000, 900, completed in 1874 and the rev
Philadelphia courthouse and postofice was start
ed the same year and finished in 1877; nearly
five thousand skilled mechanics had continuous
employment for seven years. Under the terms
of the contract the company received so cents
cubic foot for the granite employed in the two
structures and had commission of = per cent.
jobs were done Mr. Dixon called Mr.. Smith into
his Office and presented him with check for
$1,000.
what is this for?" asked Mr.. Smith, who had
always drawn his pay at the end of every month.
Instead of making an immediate reply Mr.. Dix
on put another question:
How much is Is per cent of one-half cent,
Datid?''
Three-fortieths Of a cent" replied Mr. Smith.
And how many three-fortieths of cent are
there in $4,000
This puzzled Mr.. Smith for time, and Mr..
Dixon laughed.
Are there 1000, 0O0?
mo SIR
Are there six and half millions? ?" continued
Mr.. Dixon
Yes. sir and a fraction over"
WELL David" resumed Mr.. Dixon, "I have
that your talk to Mullett, which gave me both
half cents, has earned me about $4,000 and
think ] ought to divide That's your half on the
check"
The following spring Mr.. Smith went to Win
terport and bought the old Treat homestead. The
place originally cost about $780, Co., but had fallen
into decay, SO Mr.. Smith was able to buy 1t for
$1,000. Since then he has fixed it up and beau
titled it so it is of the finest estates on the
Penobscot river. When visitors call and praise
the homestead, Mr.. Smith says:
Yes, / like It. 1t bought from COM
mission of one-half of is per cent. half cents
but / guess it is good enough for me-"
The story has been spreading for score OF
years and everybody who knows Dave
Smith speaks of him as the 'half-cent man."