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Bradley Kennelly
(Florida)
Mr. Kennelly was seated at his desk in
the cool offices of the naval store yards. The breeze from the river and
fragrant scent of the rosin gave a pleasant reception after the long trip
from the city.
Mr. Kennelly said, "Are you sure that this is no humbug proposition, and
you really have nothing to sell, either now or later?
He continued, "Not long ago I came the office and there was note for me to
call a number in New York City. I said, now who in the sam hill could be
calling me from there. So I called the operator and asked who was going to
pay for the call and she told me that the party in New York would so I
called and this the idea of it all.
Seems that some rogue there had got together some junk on ports and naval
stores and wanted to publish it and wanted me to say that to say that I'd
take a thousand copies at 25 cents a copy to distribut here. This would
have netted him about $250.00 for subscriptions out of this office alone,
he was on the way to big money quick.
"And since you promise that there is nothing to sell and no scheme, I
guess its allright to talk to you. You say the Federal Government is
sponsoring this. O, yes I believe I have have heard of the Federal
Writers.
"I have been connected in this present capacity for nine years and I can
honestly say that I've never seen business so slow in this line ever
before. And the record show too this is perhaps the worst period for the
naval stores ever.
"The only thing that will cause things to loosen up is another World War
or some of the foreign countries and the United States to form trade
relations enough to absorb this surplus we have on our hands. We have now
on hand about 320,000 barrels. Worth about 350 million dollars. And we
have on hand and in storage 54,000 barrels of turpentine.
"The reason for this is that they have found so many substitutes for
making paints and varnishes.
"Since the government has taken the situation in hand and have decided
upon a different and better method of packing the tupentine and rosin, and
storing is now done by the grade, we are able to keep our end here of the
business up more efficiently than before.
The salary is small when taken into consideration that the responsibility
of a 3 million dollar a year coroperation rests in your hands. All up and
down the ports, Mobile, Savannah, New Orleans, Seattle and Los Angles the
job pays more than twice what it pays here.
"My salary is 4800.00 a year. The job
is a political one and I have had luck to keep it nine years, and I guess
it is good for a while yet.
At some of the steamship meetings, if you could be there and hear some of
the men talking you would think that Roosevelt is the damdest fellow that
ever lived, maybe because of some crow to pick with some labor union. It
all depends on what is eatin them. Then again you'd think that they
thought no better man ever lived old F. D. R. All in all in depnds on how
they are stand with the labor unions.
"Our non- organized white labor out here get 42 cents an hour and our
organized colored labor gets 33 they will get more this month.
"Yes, I am a party man why not. Necessarily so. I have played in the game
of politics just for the fun there is in it, Not to get this job that was
given to me as a Thank You.
"I try to be friendly with all the help, the white collar and the rest
just as well, after all election time rolls around every now and then.
"The man we go out for usually gets the office.
"But with all the apparent smooth-running set-up there in still a very
definite uncertainity connected with this job and there are times when I
am not sure that I did the right thing to accept it.
"Sometimes I wonder about the future. If a fellow can make a living in his
own business for say twenty-five years, he usually can struggle on for the
next twenty-five years and amnage to take care of himself in his old age.
These political jobs are fine as long as they last. But they usually let a
fellow down when he is too old to get himself a job.
"I am learning how to pass the buck allright it looks like that is the key
to success nowdays. Maybe I can become an expert at it.
"My father was a preacher and taught us to be good boys, at least he tried
to do that.
"All the education I got was little short of the seventh grade at the
Central Grammar School, Jacksonville. The name of my school of higher
education was, Hard knocks and Experience. When you graduate from there
you dont forget your lessons.
"My brothers have been in th transportion business nearly all their lives.
One brother is with the Express Company and the other one is in the
trucking business, We were operating the business together when I gave it
up to take this job. We have been in the business for about 25 years.
"The trucking business is a hard one to beat for a steady year-round
occupation that brings in excellent revenue.
"I cant see where any personal life of mine would be of interest to you in
this story.
"I was married twenty-two years ago to a good woman and sicne she died
abut ten years ago I haven't had a desire to call on the parson again.
"My daughter will graduate this year from Wellesley College, I have tried
to give her a happy home and every opportunity to be able to herself
useful and happy after I leave her.
Mr. Kennelly seemed prefer not to talk further concerning himself. But
after reflecting a moment added.
"I own the home I live in at the beach and do not care to own more than my
own home and a good car.
"I love to go fishing and hunting, I usually take a bunch of the fellows
from around here during the hunting season and pack a lunch for several
days. I get more pleasure thorugh that than anything else that comes
along.
"If you want to know something more about the naval store business let me
introduce you to Raymond Gage. "Come here Professor, he called to the man
in the next office. You know Professor Gage, Mrs. Stedman. Hes the man
with the orchestra. Mr. Gage to seemed to take this introduction as it was
the usual manner of Mr. Kennellys. There was a slight smile on the faces
of both men. Mr. Kennelly said, this fellow knows more about the naval
stores that I'll ever know. He has been with them for twenty-five year.
Mr. Gage said, "Well you know this is only a place of storage and packing.
What you want is an interview with some of the turpentine men. They can
give the most interseting part of the story.
" Also have you talked with Mr. Lee Powell and Mr. Charley Joseph of the
Columbia Naval Stores.
They woul be able to tell you something better than we could, We are only
a warehouse. But I shall be glad to talk with you anytime after this week.
"Here are some samples that I have picked up for you, I heard that you
were coming and I thought you'd like them. The lightest in color is the
best grade and next to it is the second grade and so on in that manner it
selected.
September 12, 1939
Bradley Kennelly
(General Manager)
(Municipal Terminal)
Naval Store Yards
Jacksonville, Florida.
Lillian Stedman.
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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