TRANSPORT
work at the present moment which they would not perhaps in the ordinary course do for years. The Chairman suggested that they should have a discount of 20 per cent below the fair rate, and this was agreed to. Mr. W. Harris then proposed that the Board should employ 540 men on these conditions: The men be under the supervision of the Board of Guardians and to be paid and found tools by them; the Board of Health to have the work set out and to direct generally how it was to be done; and the work to be then valued by Mr. Harpur upon the scale paid for such work in December last, such price less 20% discount to be the price paid by the Board to the Guardians, and the payments to be made at a rate not exceeding £500 every four months. Mr. Henry Davies seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. James then asked the Board whether they were doing anything with the road to Gelligaer, for which the commoners of the parish had paid £700 towards the cost. The Surveyor said it was now in hand, and half a mile of it finished. The Surveyor said that if the landlord’s consent could be got, 600 or 700 men could be put upon the Cwmfelin and Aberfan to Pantygwaith roads alone
“Merthyr Express” 10 April 1875
A Letter of Thanks The Rev. Thomas Theophilus, Rev. J. P. Williams and Rev. Thomas Williams, waited on E. D. Williams Esq., a few days ago, to present him with a letter of thanks for his kindness in giving the means of employment to so many of the men who were locked-out. The letter was read by the vicar of Pontlottyn which is as follows: To E. D. Williams, Esq., Maesyrhyddud. We the undersigned clergy and ministers of the various denominations residing in Pontlottyn, beg to express to you, our sincerest thanks for having so generously given a piece of your land for the purpose of forming a new road between Pontlottyn and Merthyr. The new road will be a great boon to the district at large; we more particularly desire to give this expression of our feeling, inasmuch as the construction of the new road has given employment to a great number of men living in Pontlottyn, and thereby, to a very considerable extent averting the destruction and want which would otherwise have been felt in the place. We have also to express our thanks to you for giving employment to the men who are now engaged at Penwaungoch level, and in doing so relieved the inhabitants in a considerable degree from feeling the severity of the weather through which we have recently passed. We remain, yours respectfully, Thos. Theophilus, vicar of Pontlottyn; J. P. Williams, Baptist minister; Thos. Williams, curate, Newton; A. Davies, Methodist minister; R. Herbert, Methodist minister; J. R. Williams, Independent minister.
“Merthyr Express” 24 April 1875
Surveyor’s Report to the Chairman of the Merthyr Local Board of Health “Gentlemen, - I beg to report that there are now employed by the Board of Guardians in the formation and improvement of roads within your district under my direction 616, who have applied for relief owing to the strike men and lock-out, distributed as follows, On the Gelligaer road - 58; On the Twynywain road - 106; On the Penrhiw Camran road - 110; On the Penybryn road - 99; On the Pontycapel road - 47; On the Heolgerrig road - 60; On the Aberfan road - 106.