Year: 1871




employed on other buildings We have


observed the slow progress of these two


buildings, and on asking the cause have
always received the answer that 1t was
impossible TO obtain sufficient number
Of men. With regard to the Post-0fiee
another cause has likewise been added to
this, which Is, that the careful Superin-
tendeai of Public Works has thought ii
prudent, whilst dealing with the material
with which II is constructed-conc
20 make sure Of It's durability by causing
II 10 dry and }sarden slowly, and for that
purpose keeping it wet down. There can
not be a doubt, now, that this handsome
buEdiag Is as firm as though built of solid
granite But this is depression from
what we were intending to say. If the
Government, with the means at hand,
always paying ready cash, without delay
and even when necessary to meet require
ments, 10 anticipate regular payments,
can not push forward their buildings with
rapidity on account of scarcity of labor,
II would seen as If, in view of the large
structures which the Government must
soon undertake, some enterprising men
might adopt means to put the necessary
labor on the spot.


The high price which men charge for
labor here, as well as the short days
work which they furnish, in view of the
difficulty of getting work done, would
seem to indicate that there is what might
be called a monopoly in the labor market,
or at least that contractors will not base
any proffers upon the idea of a competi-
tion in labor. This state of things is dis
astrous to enterprising mechanics as well
a. to the public. We say it is disastrous
TO enterprising mechanics, because that
inasmuch as II prevents Improvements
from being undertaken, contractors and
master mechanics are unable TO make use
Of their talents and industry to their own
best advantage For instance, as we
walk up and down some of our streets,
We are struck with wonder at the amount
Of stock risked in wooden buildings, which
are, in fact, only clapboard and shingle
structures We pass, every day, certain
dry goods stores, in some of which the
stock must reach the value of near hun
dred thousand dollars, and say to our
selves, This is certainly trust in special
Providence. Here is the accumulation
Of life of laborious industry in build
ING which would make burglars jack
knife laugh, and which a spark of fire
would set IN flames and burn before
water-oock could be turned on it." Now,
II can. easily be seen that if the owner of
one of these stores commences building
Of a superior description, he compels all
his neighbors to improve; first, because
their risk appears all the more fool-hardy
in comparison, and secondly, because
their establishments show to disadvan-
tage in point Of trade, TO say nothing of
the ability to show off goods in large,
spacious store. In rejecting upon these
facts. we are driven to ask ourselves
whether this is in consequence of want
Of public spirit and enterprise on the part
Of the proprietors of such establishments,
OF whether it arises from the difficulty and
expense of building. Certainly, we are
driven TO one of these conclusions, or to
the idea that the proprietor deems the
last 10 be sufficient excuse for the culpa-
ble risk 10 which he Is subjecting his
property, and TO his want of pride in his
establishment Now, it must be apparent
that if the high price of labor is the OBJ
stacle, that such high price does stand in
the way of the interests of mechanics,
both masters and journeymen and it is
worthy of the reflection of enterprising
men, whether a movement may not be
made to induce mechanics to come here in
such numbers as to enable works to be
carried on with rapidity and precision.


Whilst, however, upon this subject of
Public Spirit, the subject of the Hotel is
worthy Of our consideration. The re-
marks of our cotemporary, the Adce'7isey,
in the issue of January 2sth, were judi
ciOzs and timely, and it would appear
that now, for the first time, there is
probability that good hotel may be es-
iablished And vet We are informed that
as soon as a proper site is applied for
anywhere, property Immediately doubles
or 1rebles in value, whilst some of our
citizens, whose business would be most
benefited by facility for entertaining
strangers, both from abroad and from the
other Islands, refuse subscriptions for the
= work Surely, this is not as it should be-
We have seen the Minister of Finance
going about with bis subscription paper,
and one incident occurred which is worthy
Of being related. A gentleman in trade
beng called upon, put down certain
SUM: few minutes afterwards, he came
hurrying along, saying, I" ] have been
thinking Of this matter, and / think /
,...h@ q, mt 1r-rn mora I'll douhla my