The herald., 1837-05-04
NEW YORK HERALD.
IFurthe Herald


AND JosRNEYHEN.Wel live in city which boasts
of some of the finest buildings 10 all appearance, IN
the Union. Our hotels warehouses; and dwellings,
which have been erected within the last ten or twelve
years. are the admiration of strangers and Prde OF
the island. But this as far as shall allow Thetonc
10 speak the sabject; ntend this morning 10 ag-
tate the whole system of building 1t exists and has
existed for years this city, 10 the very grave
beyond the layer of mud and corruption which has
there been accommodating unobseryed by the multitude
who have merely glanced upon the surface. ii dis
turb some OIL the comfortable master builders who nave
quietly angled along its banks ti their baskets are
full, the blame be on themselves. On future occa-
SION | shall give some terse, plthy, ane authenuc
sketches, st the lives works talents, neiiec1s Po'
cal dlgntes and consummatc ignorance 81 seyeral oil
our most distinguished bosses, as they ere elegant
ly termed In pure Manhatapese.
1t is 4 fact well known, TO the working classes at
least, that while master-buders have, during the pc
rod alluded TO above, been growing richer their jour
neymen have been growing poorer. Your pseudo
political economists who dabbe IN subjects they can
not understand would mpute this to every other cause
but the true cha gelt upon the present system
OF building the unhoy alliance of the parsimony Of
propretors, and the rivalry Of contractors connec-
ton which, besides this evil of hopeless poverty TO the
honest workmen, has engendered others, Of constant
annoyance to families who subsequently occupy mo-
dern edlfces, which, constructed of unseasoned ma
terals sympathze with every si1rm and in due time,
admit through their yawnlng crevces, what Booer-
have calls "the Of DEATH. This is sober truth.
The leading principle in the present system of build
ing, is that of estimating. In former times, if cap
ltast wished TO improve his vacant lots, he choose
builder Of skill and integrity, TO erect his houses by
the day; then, men were honest and reposed conf
dcnce IN each other, but new order OF things has
succeeded Now, (er up the commencement of the
presstre) builders are not selected for such quatca-
TONS but accepted according to the min,um of their
estimates. Some architect, or some builder by proxy,
prepares the plans and specification of the future edI-
fce at the request of the owners, and these sub
mtted to the inspection OF all who will "put IN for
the Job. Then begin TO be developed the early beau
ties OF this leading principle. One, tive and three
builders will secretly combine together at the private
solicitation of fourth to estimate at certain pitch,
each differing sightlyas to impress the owner with
the belief that the average rate at which many
cur must be nearest the actual value of the work,
order that he may chalk below themi, with safety to
HIMSELF and thus secure the Job In this way, the
crack builder of the day. always an object OF envy 10
his rivals is often overreached and the fond who
was employed 10 prepare the plan, etc. expecting on
this account to be favored with the contract he
disappointe The conduct of those builders who
combined TO assist the successful applicant seems
generous from the fact that they thus deprive them
selves of all hopes of securing The work. but il is far
from being dsnerested they look for their reward in
the pecuElary assistance, which their grateful bene
cary, will lend them as his occasional payments fall
due. And when these nstalments will be received
they know well as the recipient himself This is q
singular feature in building finance. There is
ly master OF aote in the city, who does not know
the circumstances ofhis fellow craftsmen; Their dates
of their receipts he knows from occular demonsra-
tion by the examination Of specifications; of their
payments, for labor, also by observation for materials
by induction, Judging from the receipts from the pro-
prietor most of our bosses passabe phloso-
pliers in the latter particular. This is advantage
which the merchant cannot enjoy
But 10 proceed with the evils which result from the
principle Of estimating. We may at once infer, of
course, that the price OF the successful contractor is
somewhere in The province of zers To carry on his
business now, in legitimate manner, l. e. by using
good materials, by acting with justice towards his
EMPLOYEES, and by not swcrvlng ot from his con-
uoub iueyita slv pndnnper the shr ad
profits, Of this perhaps mammoth operation would |
not sustain him, In the uncertain fluctuations of the
market Of building materials. But his calculations
like string of sausages I" in heightened sweetness
long drawn out" have been made and his ingenuity /
is slight if he cannot come out of the noxious flower
with is honey on his thighs If however his credit |
be good, his extra resources ample, he can thus in
a measure, take advantage OF Tedccton in the price
of materials and rcplensh his stock. But il is in the
prices of labor that he looks for his profits and the
ioowingis the plan he pursues. Being now dog of
the day. flock OF his poor innocent dupes come TO
his fold, for the purpose OF nlbbng plttance Ii he
i 8 ambitious, he retains the entire workmanship Of
the building, inclusive Of the mason porion-nias-
ter carpeatcrs generally estimats, master masons
not always combining with them-ln this case, how
ever master beslege him with their subesti-
males--the lowest is Of course accepted True ne
pretends TO employ the mason, the of friend
Ship but in such an extremity, II s easily pcrcepble,
that nearly all are his friends The masons portion
being satisfactorily adjusted that is his mind;
he is new ready To receive subesmates from scores
of workmen, for small sections OF work, sdeh as the
framing the different stories varloas rooms the attic
the flooring the inside shutters the stairs the DOORS
etc. This Is the system of dumping" or sub con- /
tracing the monster spring from the present un-
healthy system Of building the bane alike of work
manshp and workmen. Look at the horde Of hun
uy imporunates who environ the lordly boss;
some of them driven to the cxpedleni by pnchng
poverty ncited by the vain hope Of realizing more
than regular wages and some decayed by hard
drink banished from the ranks Of day laborers.
Days spent in distributing these petty Jobs, and
true to the unalterable rule, the lowest eslimators
are rewarded. The Boss clad in his 'Jrief au-
thorlty," presents his written bonds for the due full
filIment of the work, all neatly drawn up by his
clerk, for the signatures and ks OF the Jumpers, In
each of which is a clause, purportng tha, balance
of the money due, shall always be retained, as a
guarantee for the completion Of the work in suesiion
Shaved down to the thnnest gage, the Jumper under
takes his iob he springs to il from the peep of dawn
tll the gloom OF eve needless of his angles, of his
surfaces, and of his joints Enoushfor him, he be- |
thinks himscf If he only secures his pay. His |
scanty p,ttance has in rendered him BETTY Nv.
rant; On an average he must employ squad of half
a-dozcn sub workmen; these, for his own safety are
procured from among the numerous young men who
are willing to work for instruction at the price of
their board and clothing, and from among trembling
hard. drinkers who cannet obtain full wages. Is 1t
anv wonder that work is not well dene even IN our
finest edlficesl