The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-11
EASY TO GET MEN.
Contractors ON First Avenue Im-
pr0vement Pushing the Work.

Contractors ON First Avenue Ini-
pPovement Pushing the Work.
Work on the First avenue improvement
Is now being pushed forward by Contractor
Smart and his associates with more vim
and vigor than ever. 1t is evidently their
intention to make up for the time that was
lost during the litigation. which just came
to an end. Much curiosity was manifested
and much speculation was INDUCED in as
TO whether Contractor Smart and his as
soclates would be able to secure a suffi-
cient number Of workmen to carry on the
Improvement under the prevailing conds-
tions. The contractors now claim that
they have been compelled TO turn away
many applicants for employment on ac-
count OF not having room for them. The
scene OH First avenue yesterday, where
the work Is being done, was busy one. \
member of the firm Of which Mr.. Smart .
the head said:
las we are now conducting the work
our men go on duty At o'clock In the
morning and AT o'clock in the afternoon
we inform them that they have worked
eight hours and that they can lay down
their tools II they so desire and quit for
the day. The men are also told that they
can continue to work until o'clock at the
same rate of wages, IL they feel so in
e.tned, and every one OF them accepted the
last proposition. This goes 10 prove that
we did not, and are not. imposing upon
our men. but want 10 complete the work
in the time specified by the contract. At
the present time we have thirty-dve men
at work, but we could put seventy-five
more on the job If there was only room
on the street for them. We can get all
the men we want and tell you the truth
when ] say that good workmen literally
beg TO be given pick and shovel and be
placed In the gang.
I'VE now have twenty teams on the lob
and today We lad a few OF them OF. as
there were more than enough TO haul away
the dirt excavated. We expect to take
more OF the applicants into our employ
just as soon as we succeed in removing
the street car track from the center OF
the street. We will make application TO
tear out the concrete roadhed az the curve
Jus. north of Pike stree. by the use Of
explosives, and II that Is done we will be
able 10 furnish work to more men sooner
than we first expected
II was rumared yesterday that the West.
ern Central Labor Union had not vet gwen
up the fight against Contractor Smart and
his associates, and that the organized Ia
Dor leaders would ask tho council 10 pass
nm ordinance by which Smart & Co would
he prevented from working their men
two hours before o'clock in the morning
and two hours after in the afternoon.
This ordinance, q is claimed would result
in straight eighs-hour days work
from a. m. 10 u. m. Whether such a
movement viii be made or such an ordi-
nance passed remains to be seen.
Councilman Dillest said yesterday that
he did not believe the council had any
power 20 interfere with any contract. con-
tractors, work or workmen connected with
any jon after the council once let the con-
tract. and he did not believe that the couu-
ell would take any action f. regard TO the
Improvement now being made on First
avenue, or the grievance OF the labor
union.