The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06
PLUGGING ALONG
ON LABOR NIGHT
Negroes Dig Post-Ofice Foun-
dation and Find 1t Too
Hot to Sing.
WORK NOT SLOW AS 1T SEEMS
Uncle Sans Contractors Find
Greatest Trouble With
Passing Critics.
WORK NOT SLOW AS 1T sEEM'

Under the glare of five gasolene
lamps, like those used on the street
wagon of the patent medicine man,
workmen last night were steadily dig
ging the foundation for the new post
Office building. It was Labor Day-or
Labor Night-but it didn't stop the
toilers. And 1t was hot, too, down in
that hole where the breeze never
touched. On other nights the singing
Of the toilers was waited UP to tall
buildings nearby where other men
worked. Often it was like the music
heard at a plantation Constructing
when the thump Of the ripe ears which
helped to build greater pile OF white
and yellow grain reminded everybody
that in a little while they would stop
to eat and drink fro mthe big jugs.
But there was no music last night.
The force was smaller, and it was too
hot to dig and sing; the heat drove
out all thoughts of music. and when
the men talked 1t was to ask the hour.
Nobody could blame them for that
and besides. time moves more slowly
somehow when the burden is great.
They Stop to criticize.
I Since the early spring they have
been plugging away on that post-ohlce
site. Just how many persons have
passed along to stop and criticize even
a corps of census ehumerators could
not determine.
But against this wave of criticism
is the fact that the United States
government Is erecting this building:
the United States government doesn't
erect any shoddy structures. Holes
n ic1, 30 "a found nj nj q
are covered and hidden from view now.
AS the men drive downward they strike
numerous springs, and pumps are
working constantly to keep the spaces
dry and clear.
That little engine which stands In
Tenth Street is always on the job.
grinding concrete. So many barrels of
gravel so many barrels of sand, and
so many bags of cement, are dumped
N the mouth of the revolving ma
Shine Water Is added, the thing is
mixed carefully and we'll, and then
dumped again into waiting wheelbar-
rows and carted away to the spot
where 1T is needed. There Is often an
odor of burning tar or some similar
product which worries people for
blocks. but there isn't any use to
weep.
~
Even II it should SO appear to the
public, the contractors have not been
loafing on the Job. First, the old
Shafer Building had to be raZed then
the old post office, powerful granite
structure, had to come down slowly
in order to save the stone The east
wall and part of the walls on the
north and south sides have been saved.
The foundation isn't half complete. but
the foundation is the real work Ev-
erything depends on that. Carloads or
rubbish had to be hauled away. and
more carloads of red dirt must go. TOO.
A building to cost nearly million dol
lars cannot be erected In a month.
The government is supervising the
work. It has certain requirements
which must be compiled with to the
letter. Contractors working for Uncle
Sam understand that better than any
bodyelse. and they act accordingly.
At Christmas time the construction
NAV still appear to be in It's infancy
Before that time thousands of people
will again pass that scene to stop and
look and criticize.
Fortunate1y They Don't.
But If the contractors should take
NIL these volunteer opinions, all these
criticisms and grind them in that con-
crete mixing machine, they would turn
out plans and specifications calling
either for royal palace or shack
People who watch the work every day
think 1T is slow business. 1t is much
like sitting down to watch boy or a
cabbage plant grow. But great deal
has been done, great deal OF money
has been spent, and about the only
thing that occupied the mind of those
toilers last night was the thought and
the joy of spending 1t on Saturday.