Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-17
MANY SEE THE ROCK PILE;
ONLYAFEW TACKLE 1T
Story of How a Great Philanthropy
"Curled Up and
Died"
E..oce of the District Commissioners
to Provide Work for the
Unemployed.

Fve-r once in so often great phi
Ia. -o !. carefully planned in advance
o. pure altruistic motives, curls up
-, Go IT an unaccountable fashion.
s. Ii IN occasion is this-involving two
I.zt .at commissioners. social prob
IL a:j rock pile located at South
Clp-ta. and NJ streets.
Son. DAYS ago Commissioners New
ma AMI Broxnlow went into execu-
tive sion The question of finding
wo K for the unemployed had long
bo.-.-ea them. and now had come the
tiI.-e 70 strike boldly for the happiness
of n-ansind. They were in session for
five no rs, during which time the Dis
tricI building reporters hung around
the door of the sanctum, needless OF
luncL-heedless of everything save the
result of this momentous conference.
Then came the pronouncement. In an
effort TO solve the question of unem-
plovnent the Commissioners had de-
cided to allow thirty men-husky men.
armed with their own hammers to
break up the rock pile. 1t was posi-
BILE. said the Commissioners, for a for
ward-looking, earnest man to earn
about a dollar q day.
Then Came the Details.
DeldllS SeepeQ OUT commissioner
Brownlow, SO report went, had argued
against the clause requiring the mon
to bring hammers, pointing out that
even the most deserving of the I'M
employed could not break concrete
with his teeth. also that man pos
sessing a tack hammer could not COM
pete effectively with another who was
armed with a sledge. How be tt
Rr;p nd orlv a
large number of seedy citizens ap-
peared at the District building. de-
manding to be led to the rock pile
and suggesting that they receive their
dollar in advance. Right here came
the first complication. They learned
that the District would pay them so
cents a cubic yard. ALI visions of a
nice easy time at 81 day slid out
of the door right there. So did some
of the applicants. The remainder. how
ever. waited for instructions and de-
parted for South Capitol and NJ streets.
Among the first to arrive was a large
coloSed man, whose unalterable de-
termination to become pugilist at
the expense of his wife, had led to an
int: islittent acquaintance with Deco
guam. He studied the pile from vari-
Gus angles. He patted the concrete
with his hand. Then he sighed. All
of the concrete was equally hard.
.'Ah'n go back TO JAIL" he said. In
low, sorrowful voice. de rock amt no
ha' der den dis-and you gets fed free"
Languidly Taps the Concrete.
A ragged man, chiefly noticeable be-
cause of his almost fanastical dislike
of BARRIERS and bathtubs. sat on the
edge of piece of concrete and tapped
il languidly. AT the rate he was pro-
ceeding It would have taken him from
one to three years to earn his first
dollar
Fat chance" said he. apostrophizing
the rock pile. Fine fat chance! I
work all day for a dollar. and then l
have to eat $3.50 worth OF food in
order to keep up my strength. SO l can
earn another dollar. Fine fat chance"
A seeker after information called on
a District official.
I've seen the rock pile" he said.
There was a brief silence. Does the
eight-hour work day apply
NO. indeed" replied the official, gen.
tally. Go to It"
Il cant" replied the applicant
sides / gotta take care of my health. .
So II went. The great army of unem-
p1oyed went to the rock pile, carrying
all kinds of hammers. gave II the once
Interior Purpose In Wow.
One man worked furiously-so furi-
ously that they went to him and ques-
toned him.
you seem interested IN your work, =
they said
mot me-" he pulled, taking another
terrific slam at the concrete. Tn get
ting myself in condition 30 1 can bea,
up the guy that tipped me OF about
this job"
so,the rock pile remains. a silent and
sinister monument. And with II re-
mains the problem of finding work for
the unemployed, or perhaps the Com
rnissioners have demonstrated there u
little or no real unemployment in Wash