The work which is being done is the building of an enormous wall which
is to act as a dam, and collect the waters of the Croton and its
tributaries into one monster reservoir, for the supply of New York city.
The work has been in progress for five years, and it promises to be
another four before it is accomplished.
[Illustration: New dam]
The majority of the workmen employed are Italians, many of whom have
bought little plots of land and built homes for themselves near their
work.
Nearly five hundred workmen are employed, and for the convenience of
these men and their families the company put up a large general store
where they could get their provisions; and a boarding-house for the
single men. Both of these were leased to an Italian named Joseph Rico.
It was an understood thing that the company should protect Rico from
loss, and agreed between the masters and the men that any bills owing at
Rico's store should be deducted from their wages.
All went well for Rico. He charged enormous prices for everything he
sold, and there being no other store, the people were obliged to buy
from him.
A short while ago the company put up a large addition to Rico's
boarding-house, large enough to accommodate two hundred men.
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