Evening journal., 1921-08-23
few LAID OFF,
PIERSON SAYS
Street Directors Receive
Complaint From Central
Labor Union
DEPARTMENT HAS
456 MEN AT WORK

Complaint OF the alleged laying
of Of many employees OF the Street
and Sewer Department. was made
in letter read at the meeting OF the
directors OF the department from the
Central Labor Union this morning.
Street Commissioner Pierson said
there had been no general lay off at
any time within the past several
months. For the information OF
the directors he presented a detail
ed report OF the working forces as
employed during the past six weeks.
The report showed only twenty men
actually laid off and these Mr.. Pier
son declared had been hired only for
the excavation sections Of streets,
where immediate Improvement was
proposed and to get this work far
enough ahead to make 1t so the base
filters and the concreters would not
be handicapped.
Mr.. Persons report showed s94
street workmen and 62 drivers, or
a total OF 456 men, were in the de-
partment's employ during the week
of August 1S; for week or August
II, 4O5 workmen and Ga drivers, to-
tai 469 men; for week OF August a.
Ala workmen and 6S drivers, a total
of 4S1 men; for week OF July 2S,
42S workmen and 73 drivers, a total
OF Sol men; for week OF July 21,
424 workmen and 20 drivers, total
OF 494 men; for week of July IA,
424 workmen and 76 drivers, a to-
tai OF 500 men.
Mr.. Pierson said there was no gem
erai iay-off saying this report Will
show that to be a fact. Several men
quit and not needing others to MI
the vacancies. none has been hired.
1--WE have sufficient excavation done
to keep our forces working at ca
pacity. for more than 100 days"
The complaint OF the owners ane
operators OF the Walnut street ga.
rage concerning the congestion Q
the street between Fourth and Fifth
streets. in front OF their garage,
caused by the Jersey market men,
was referred 10 Clerk of the Mar
kets Edward S. McAteer for inves.
tlgation.
Harry u. Vincent, councilman
from the Ninth Ward, personally re-
quested the directors to eliminate
the stagnant pool on the plot
bounded by 27th and 2Sth and West
and Tatnali streets. II was referred
to Street Commissioner Pierson for
action.
Councilman Vincent also requested
| the directors 70 grade Thirty-hrsi
street. between washington and JEFF
ferson. there being a knoll in about
the middle OF the square that causes
more or less inconvenience when 1
rains. Street Commissioner Piersoi
was instructed TO comply with thi
request.
Two resolutions that received theii
first and second readings last week
we're given the third reading and
approved. The first one provides
for changing. fixing and establishing
the grades on Oak street. between
Rodney and Clayton streets. and the
second was to provide the same for
Pennsylvania avenue. between
Greenhill avenue and Rising Sun
Lane.
The Charles Warner Company's
offer to provide New Jersey con-
creting gravel for $3.50 a ton was
taken under consideration.
A complaint concerning the con-
dition Of Commerce street. received
from the Atlantic Refining Company,
was referred to Street Commissioner
Pierson. Mr.. Pierson said. this
company complains about twice a
year. The condition OF the street
he said. was due 10 the trucks OF the
company operating on the street
He said he felt the company should
pay at least a part Of the cost OF
maintenance.
The weekly payrolls OF s6.076.0t
for labor, and S2,175.12 for team hir,
were ordered paid.
Directors said this morning thaf
no action had been taken in the re
naming OF the Boulevard and non,
I would be taken before next ear and
, probably not then, II opposition wal
strong.
Harry L. Maier. engineer, report
ed to the directors that the presen
[ corp Of worlSmen would probabl!
, complete about $4,000 yards Of con
, crete during the next four months
3 There has already been 1890 yard
- laid, making a total Of about 62,0O
square yards for the summer an
D fall work.
IL is the intention of the depart
: ment TO lay a concrete base with a
I asphalt finish on Washington stree
q from Eleventh to the bridge.
II is proposed by the departmen
o to begin sometime during the nes
y month on the Improvement Of Mar
+ ket street north Of the Brandywin
bridge. The department expects I
4 have this street between Vandevs
n avenue and Twenty-third stree
J. completed before cold weather SCI
d in. During the winter the employs
j. Will be kept busy on repair work an
Is asphalt work in various parts Of n
city.