Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-13
AOUEDUCT MEN
IN UGLY MOOD
WAR TO KNIFE is BEGUN ON
BOARDING HOUSES
THREATS ARE MADE THAT GIANT
POWDER WILL BE USED
Stark Bourke, Formerly Commissary
Clerk, Tells of Serious Situation
Along Line of the Big
Ditch

Ditch
"There is war to the knife between
Desmond, who conducts the boarding
houses on the Los Angeles aqueduct'
and the employees on the big work.
Hundreds of the latter absolutely re-
fuse to comply with the city's compul-
sorry order making them board with
Desmond, and they are incensed TO
such a degree that the boarding mouse
man has found it necessary to arm ms
commissary clerks and assistants, fear
ing an outbreak of violence
Stark Bourke, who was connected
with the Desmond outfit on various
parts of the aqueduct for several
months and who arrived in the city
the other day on brief vacation made
the above statement to a Herald repre-
sentative last evening. He also made
the startling prediction, based ne
claimed, on an intimate knowledge OF
the situation, that unless there is d
radical change in the boarding house
conditions in the majority of the
camps. and a court decision approving
the city's compulsory order, there Will
be a complete tie-up Of the big under
taking for a considerable time.
Threats of Dynamite Made
Mr. Bourke says that many times
during July the exasperated miners,
particularly at the Elizabeth lake tun-
mel. threatened to blow up the board
ing house and commissary with giant
powder if Desmond persisted in charg-
ing them with board which they re
fused to take. w. c. Aston, the super
intendent at the big tunnel, south
Mortal side. conveyed their threats to
Commissary Clerk c. }. Flower, ana
+he latter. since that time, has slept
constantly in the store with gun uh-
der his pillow.
"Desmond has had hard uphill
fight since the compulsory order Went
into effect" said Mr. Bourke last hlShl'
HE has made a vigorous effort TO
correct the really lamentable conditions
that exist in some of his camps, but
has been heavily handicapped by ms
inability to get good cooks, ana the
extreme distance of some Of his desert
camps from the base of supplies. South
portal. where the men are making the
biggest fight against the boaralhe
house is nearly twenty-five miles from
Saug1Is the base of Desmond's sup
plies, in a district which holds twelve
of his camps.
Indignation at South Portal
"Perishable stuff at times reaches the
boarding house in shocking condition.
particularly vegetables and fresh meat.
7 saw a whole carcass of beef reach
fbe camp in a state Of semi-putretac-
tion. This was shortly after the com
pulsory order went into effect. Inc
cook Immediately walked out A
hurry-up order for a new man to take
his place was sent to Saugus' les
mond's headquarters, late in the even
ing. Some of the meat in the mean
time had unfortunately reached the
table. and the men held a midnight
mass meeting at which they decided to
wreck the meat house If the remainder
of the carcass was not at once de-
stroyed. -,,t..o.
hunllfes and a very much perturDed
commissary clerk made a bluff TO get
breakfast Just at critical time lhe
travelling chef arrived and got busy.
DE beef she is correc, bring her IN,
he ordered, and it was only when the
funkies. fearing for their llVes, re-
fused to work unless he DESTROYED Iie
dead horse as they termed II, dld
he decide to substitute bacon. 1t was
fortunate that things turned out as
they did. as / afterward learned that
the men who came off work at preak-
fast time had secured enough gran.
powder to blow the meat house out oI
the canyon. and they said they were
prepared to use it
Holds a Hard Job
Mr.. Bourke says that the lot OF a
cor,n7issaT,v clerk in the Desmond out
fit at present is anything but a pleas
ant one. It does not lack plenty OF eX-
citement, however. A few days alter
the men were informed at the EllAaoetIl l II
lake tunnel that they would have TO
hoard with Desmond, they made
formal protest to superintendent As
ton. He said he was poWerless to help
them. although he knew that they mad
q kick coming all right That hlgnt
an explosion of giant powder IN
nroxiuitv to the boarding house and
commissarv alarmed the whole camp,
and shook the buildings like small
earthquake. r.
"What possible solution is there for
the present deadlock between Desmond
and the men?" Mr.. Bourke was asked
''It apparently is a matter entirely
for the courts to settle ne repned'
,sThe men consider that they are being
uniustI1, dealt with in regard to the
COMPULSORY order, i'm the first place
and in the secorl place, they say that
Desmond in most Of the camps IS not
nutting up meal worth % cents. They
do not consider the difficulties a con
tractor encounters in catering 10 out
of the way camps. They simply say
they want good grub, and they VIII
fight till they get it,
Men Are Standing Together
"Irnlike the situation at most con
struction camps the men are sticking
together in this fight, and in the
Sangus division alone, ! was informed
several thousand dollars have been
contributed to fight the matter in the
courts, The mems case is now in the
hands Of a we'll known Los Angeles
lawyer. and the testing of the com
pulsorv order of the city VIII pe
watched with the keenest interest by
+be thousands of workers, who have
been, and are now, engaged on the big
project" .,.--,.-.,. ,a,-a
When Mr.. Bourke left Elizabeth lake
tunnel the board bills of the men for
July We're being made out, and in every
case they We're charged with 20 cents
a day, whether they boarded with Des-
mond or not This was done in every
camp along the line, and he says that
when the men receive their checks
showing this deduction there will be
lively times for the commissary clerks.
I'm fact he says he prefers the climate
of Los Angeles for awhile, as he has
seen the temper Of the men on several
occasions since the order went into ef-
feet.
Information for Eastern Travellers
You find the trip you arc looking for by
using the Denver & Rio Grande railroad
scenic line of the world, via Salt Lake City
GIenwood Springs Royal Gorge Grand can
Won Of the Arkansas Rates came as other
rpra,ub clapDfnn cars dining Car-