From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, May 10, 1916: The board of public works has received complaints from contractors engaged in making public improvements that labor is scarce in Indianapolis. Although laborers are being paid 22½ cents (2015: $4.94) an hour, contractors say it is almost impossible for them to get enough men. Contractors with public contracts say that the shortage of laborers may make it impossible to complete the work this year. Members of the board expressed surprise at these assertions. “You don’t mean to tell me that you can’t get men to work?” asked Joseph A. Rink, president of the board, when he heard the complaint. “Where are all those fellows who have been hanging around city hall wanting a city job? I’m going to tell them where they can get work, if they really want it.”