The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-05-19
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"Oh. come nowr' cried the superin.
tendent. "You must know that you
were discharged for stealing cement
Stunned for moment. Challoner
said not word. Then slowly he be-
gan to understand. Graft. Yes. that
was the solution of the matter
After this incident Challoner culti-
waited a habit Of strolliug into the of.
fees Of the various dealers in the
city.
What are the proper concrete pro-
portionsT' was his request In all Of
them.
Charts were taken out and consulted.
There was no difference of opinion
All agreed that the head superintend-
ent's figures were out of the way, and
by one barrel of cement.
Craft There was no doubt about II
in his mind. and he proceeded to figure
out just where the trouble lay. On
that department store job there were
several mixers. On every mixing the
head superintendent made one barrel
of cement. There were several fore
men. On every individual mixing the
foremen severaly made two barrels
Of cement. In every mixing three bar
rels of cement were left out.
But what about the ,odIiF' Challo-
ner asked himself when once more
alone.
Chaloner was quick to seize his OPP
portunity. Besides. he was conscious
that a duty rested upon him. Day
and night he scanned the papers. and
when he found concrete contract re-
corded he looked up the owner, saw
him personally and told him facts.
"You don't say So" the owner would
respond. opening wide his eyes.
Some contractors. he acknowledged.
were honest. but many were careless.
And then the foremen on these jobs
unquestionably were poorly paid. Sure
| ly the temptations were great.
"You don't say So" the owner would
repeat.
And when the job started this own
er would put competent man on to
oversee 1t. Frequently II happened
that this man was J. l.. Challoner.
The time came when he made So a
day. Moreover. the time came when
many of the good concrete walls In
town owed their strength TO him.
But even though his time was full
II did not interfere with Challoner's
interest In the evolution of concrete
and concrete graft, nor was he slow
to recognize its value TO politicians.
And so when the ring sprang its lit.
tie surprise Challoner knew what was
coming.
"A new concrete hospital" said the
ring" and they foresaw a new con-
crete jail. Possibly they could go still
further. If they could educate the
people up to 1t they might have more
new concrete city buildings.
However, the new concrete hospital
came first. II was one-third finished
when ]. L. Challoner applied Cor and
secured job as foreman OF the mix
ing gang on the east wing.
Great Scott! The graft in cement
is appalling!" Challoner exclaimed
before he had been on the work twen-
ty minutes. He found that the hos.
pital was being built chiefly Of sand
and broken stone
IN have to see him boys" the su-
perintendent said. 1--WE must have him
IN with u.s."
But Challoner could not be seen"
To the contractors the superintend-
ent remarked:
"Challoner is a dangerous man."
"Oh. he'll come around all rightw
they assured him. They all do"
The ring" the inner circle Of the
politicians. descended on Challoner
like a cyclone.
Come. come~ they said. whats
your price? Name 1t and shut up"
Challoner still shook his head.
"It's case of using force" they told
each other"
~ have got to tell somebody about
this" Challoner assured himself. and
then an inspiration came to him. 81
know-I'll go to Murgatroydw