New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
TIE "HALF-CENTv NAN.
HOW AN APPARENTLY SMALL ITEM MOUNTED
HIGH ENOUGH TO BUY A HOUSE.
From The Boston Globe.

HIGH ENOUGH TO BUY HOUSE.
From The Boston Globe.
The biggest. best and most extensively fur
nishcd house in the town Of Winterport. Me-. is
owned ana occupied by David Heagon Smith, a
big bue-eyed va 1kee, who started out as poor
boy and earned his money and his reputation
among the granite qGarries OF Penobscot Bay.
Though Mr. Smith was always generous. giving
literally TO church and charity. he has been
known among his friends the "half-cent
man for nearly thirty years.
beginning as n drag tender young Smith
worked his way up. and I'm 1870 was appointed
general manager Of the quarrics 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-York
Postonlce Stonecutters and backsmths re-
celved $3.50 a day for eight hours work. the
United States paid the bills and cveryb body con-
nected with the work prosperous. The first
set OF payrOlls that was made out came back
from Washington for revision At ~ % day
full days wages came out In even change ana
so did a half day. The trouble was in the
fourths A quarter Of a days pay was Sils
cents and three-quarters of a day was - G2i2,
and while the Government Is honest 1t cannot
and will not cOuntenance the splitting % cents
in the wages Of anybody
When the matter was explained there was n
solemn meeting held in the comranys Office,
which was attended by G. p Dixon. Of New
YORK CITY the company's treasurer: Alfred Il.
Mulctt United States supervising architect; TWO
or three Congressman. including James g. Elaine.
a N
proposed to divide the fractions equally on the
quarters giving the quarter Of day man ~
cents AMI the threc-quarters Of day man - ".
Mr. Dixon about 10 arcede 10 the idea Wh"n
Mr. Smith broke In. rdculinc the IDEA OF
great nation like tn" United States hacglinS and
wriggling over little matter ~ hair a cent a
dav. His argument prevailed. ana Mr.. MUllett
Welding the payroils allowed Guarter-0f- a-day
men IS cents ard half-a-day men 81 G}. The
workngmen gained both half cents and nobody
was injured
The New-York Postoflice. costing more than
G. ono O0O was completed in 49, and the new
PHILADELPHIA Postof'ice and Courthouse was
started the same year ana finished in 1871; 50
nearly 1000 skilled mechanics had continuous
ar,nInvrncnt FOR seven years. Under the terms ~
the contract the company received 30 cents
cubic foot for the granite employed IN the two
str.uctures and had a G commission Of IL per cent
upon the gross cost Of the buildings when
10th Jobs were done Mr.. Dixon called Mr.. Smith
into his Office and presented him with check
for 5000
VIVA, is this for?' asked Mr.. Smith. who had
always drawn his pay az tn" end Of every
month Instead of making an immediate reply
Mr.. Dixon put another question:
How much is II per cent ~ one-half cent
"Throe- fortieths Of cent" replied Mr.
and how many three fortieths OF cent are
This puzzlcd Mr. Smith for a time. and Mr..
DIXON laughed.
Are there T.0)000o?'
40. sir" m 90
ARE there six and half mi!lions?' con-
timed NJ. Dixon.
'.Y.s sir. ard fraction over
well. David" resumed Mr.. Dixon. II have
made few figures Pr myself and have learned
,hof vour talk TO Mulletf which gave ne both
half cents has earned M about $1,000 ard
think / ought TO divide. That's your half on the
clack." . . go -
Tho following spring Mr.. Smith went 10 Win
terrori and bought the old Treat homestead. Tho
p'ac, originally cost about N'olhID hut had fallen
i7io decay 50 Mr.. smith vas able To buy It for
- opp since then he has HX"d IL W and hcauti-
ded II go II Is one 81 the finest estates On tho
p,nonsrot River When visitors call and praise
The homestead. W. Smith saya:
Yes. I like 1t. II was bought from com
mission II one-holf # - per cent on hair cents,
Luf guess II is good enough FOR mo"
The story has been spreading for a score ~
years ana now everybody who knows Dave
Smith speaks of him as the "half-cent man"
iuERfClN HORSES ~ EELGIyu.
From The Phi!aceuhia Record
A Belgian agricultural Journal says that In Ant