The record-union., 1899-01-25
THE ASSAULT UPON THE STATE
ROCK CRUSHER.

lessen the beneficence of that work is
before the Legislature. The claim is
made that within certain and very
limited area the output Of the State
plant completes with private rock crush
ing plants, which have accordingly to
discharge their workers in large num-
bers, and that the reduction in the
price of road metal inures only to the
benefit of contractors. not to the people.
This is a mistake, as every one who
buys the metal knows. The cost of the
metal makes no difference to the con-
tractor, except to reduce the number
of his contracts. The price Of the
metal is public information, it is an
item in the contractors estimate. If
it is low his bid is lower; if high. the
bid advances accordingly. But under
the high price fewer contracts are let
and fewer street workers get employ
ment. When the price is low more con-
tracts are let and more workers secure
employment. But not all streets are
improved by contract. Often the work
is done by property owners and cheap
metal encourages them to do so.
Take this city for example. Where
before road metal cost from 50 to $3.50
from the State plant it can be laid down
for less than 81. So at Stockton, where
miles upon miles of streets have just
been improved, the use of the Folsom
stone reduced the cost to property own
totdistance from the plant, the reduc-
ton has operated to furtherest limit
to which the stone can be shipped, up
to the point where it meets the compel
ing price.
The result has been to stimulate
street and sidewalk improvement here,
and give employment to hundreds of
workers where before the cost of road
metal practically shut them out, and as
a result street work was not done, gram
tie curbs were not cut highways not
graded, sidewalks not built, teams not
employed and building was checked,
as it never or rarely proceeds along the
line Of unimproved streets; whereas an
improved street is always well built up.
In one case in this city where street
was macadamized from end to end, res
licences sprang up along the entire line
as if by magic, where before for
decade there had been no movement
to build up along the street So then,
just as far as the State road metal can
be economically shipped it has proved
a direct benefit to six classes of peo-
PIE; namely, street, sidewalk and road
workers, house builders and granite
cutters and teamsters. Incidentally, it
has caused an output of money in
wood mills and for all manner of goods
for house fittings, while appreciation
assessment rolls, and by that process
reduced taxation.
This question should be considered
without a particle of heat or passion.
friendship for labor or loud sounding
phrases about the defense of the work
ingman. Every good citizen is the
friend of labor-or should be. Those
who stand for the maintenance and OPP
Grafton Of the State plant are better
friends Of workers and wage earners
than those who would suspend or limit
the operations of the plant Doubtless,
some opponents of the State plant are
entirely sincere; others are clearly
moved by selfish interests, and still
others by mistaken information and
views
The State owns trap rock in large
quantities. It lies idle It has to
support a body of prisoners, whose
care and detention is at the cost of the
taxpayers. It has free motive power
With the operation of the State plant,
the idle material, idle men and idle
power are made to contribute largely
to the cause of honest labor, to lessen
taxation and compel the prisoners to
earn some share of the money expend-
ed upon them by the taxpayers.
AS result, the largest benefit is to
property owners, artisans and wage
earners generally, since every activity
in one line of free industry promotes
and stimulates activity in many other
lines. 1t may be true that the opera
ton of the State plant reduces the num-
Der of workers In a very limited num-
Der of private rock crushing plants
But the offset to that is the fact that
for every displaced laborer in a pri-
waite plant. twenty or a hundred men
find employment in works that other
wise would not, be promoted. The proof
Is that prior to the establishment of the
State plant they were not promoted.
We are discussing no sentimental
question, but one Of simple beneficence
not only to laborers, but to a great
line Of other workers, since good streets
and roads help all industries from the
horseshoer to the wagon builder, from
the street laborer to the stone cutter,
from the carpenter to the planning mill
worker, from the painter to- the glazier,
from the merchant to the teamster.
But If the proponents of the bill to limit
the operations Of the State plant are