The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-06-03
W0Rk|NGMEN 0UTDONE
ON NEW CLARK MANSION
Boss Builders Show Laborers and
Millionaire Senator How
to Fleece.
Montana Statesman, However,
Takes Unkindly to Scheme
and Does Things.

New York, June 1.-Senator William
A Clark has established unique record
In the construction Of the mansion at
Fifth avenue in New York. Some peo-
pie have the faculty of making much
noise whenever a body of workingmen
make what is known as exhorbitant de-
mands for wages, but little is said
when the contractors conspire to fleece
rich men of money far IN advance of
legitimate prices.
A few days ago Senator Clark pur-
chased 8 large bronze works for the
purpose Of supplying his new mansion
with brorze. This created quite a sur
prise, but since then it has been dis
covered hat the Lronze foundry is but
ere Of si!r:ilar moves made by Senator
Clark since ground was broken in 1898
for his Fifth avenue home. Here is a
list of the plants bought by him to ce-
feat the plans Of contractors to bleed
him:
Plants the Senator Bought.
Granite quarry at North Jay, Me.
Stone finishing plant at Bangor. Me.
Woodwork factory at Ravenswood,
L. /.
Decorative plaster plant at Ravens
wood. L. I.
Henry Bonnard bronze foundry. New
York City
Lord, Iawit- and Hull. Of No. Ii
East Twenty third street. the archl-
tects have established Il new hard work
record Cor the profession. Washington
Hull, managing architect OF the Clark
mansin, lad thick. curly brown hair
when the work began: h" is now gray.
The tr rlb;+. for Senator Clark and his
architects began whan the Maine and
New H Ampshire Granite con- pany gave
notice IF an advance on contract price.
The firm had agreed to supply the
white granite for the walls for 100000.
Time quarry people suddenly demanded
$685. claiming that alterations and
additions to the plans FOR the mansion
madet he demand only fair.
Architect Hnd Foresight.
Architect Hull was equal to the emer-
gency. Anticipating possible trouble
he had employed agents who travelled
through the Rangeley Lake quarries
of Maine. So when the storm broke
Mr.. Hull knew that at North Jay, Me-,
three was small unworked quarry Of
pure Write granite tilat
quarries of the Maine and New Hamp-
shire company. BY some chance 1t had
been overlooked by the big concern.
Sending the facts to the Senator by
cable. Architect Hull awaited the reply.
It came fast: Buy the quarry, if pos
sible"
Within twenty-four hours architect
Hull's agent was en- route for North
Jay. He returned with an option on
the property. 1t is said that $4,000 was
the figure.
Great was the CONSERVATION of the
Maine and New Hampshire company
when notified by Senator Clark's rep
resentatives that not only was their
demand for s650.0O0 refused, but that
the original contract for 100000 had
been nullified by their failure to meet
it's requirements. Greater was their
ccnstrenation when Architect Hull and
two hundred laborers took possession
of the little quarry on tn. borders of
their own property.
Hurrying back from Europe the Sem
ator dec.led that no contractor should
bleed hhn again. He decided to es-
tablish = stone dressing Ilant. Then
he decided that as mi:licn Gcl:ars' worth
of bronzes were t; lie usej. the only
way to successfully escape the extor-
tion of contractors was to own bronze
foundry. The same agreement held
good as 70 woodwork aE: decorating
plaster and the Senator added these
to st:e :ist.
Bronze Foundry VIII SURVIVE
Architect Hu!ly bscan.; president ana
treasurer If the new CT lrpany to oper-
ate .ho Henry-Rcnnadr foundry, which
made Il bid for general business while
it devoted the most OF its energy 10
manufacturing s,Irlies 1cr the Clark
mansion. The foundry promises to be
the only survivor of the plants bought
by the Montana millionaire. 1t has
many contracts and promises to make
real money for the senator.
The granite quarry has shut down
and the stone-dressing plant at Port
land is for sale. They have served
their purpose in saving the senator
$50O,000.