The herald., 1837-05-04

latest on the sweat of his lampers Partitions ere
studded with rotten Jolss, and refuse all-strps in
sidewalks are skinned, floors and base of rough
knotty, sappy and wet stuff are laid down, doors and
| shutters of fair bat unseasoned material are hung
| mouldngs unsalully wrought out Of wet material
| tao, are put home, and 50 on through the whole
taogue. III perchance there be an oVerseer IN the
employ OF the owner true TO his purpose, numerous
the conflicts, and heart burnings, which occur
between HIM and the contractor, for the latter tcI
slight As work at every chance, because it is set
tied prncIple with him, his word and bond 10 the
| contrary Notwithstanding consequently numerous
arbltrations result between the latter and the owner
on the completion Of the work, touching the DANA
ges may have sus aimed. II however ane easy over
seer be retained IL may be inferred how far his lndul
gencc will be rendered available.
| Let Us now exhibit the pompsus boss and his
cringing employees in another light. 1t is paynight
/ The few day s-workRen whom he employs TO nurse
his Jobhing, and swell out his chance customers
bills he pays off first; and then succeed the unhap-
| py hampers, one by one.
" How much do you want to night ~ in a orowl-
ing mutter, is usually the first question.
"Forty dollars, ! recken, is the modest reply.
" Forty devils!' opens upon the luckless night,
like clap Of thunder, you'll rob me, you've not
worked TO half that sum since last pay night"
wal, must have that amount, IN order TO satisfy
my men; yoa see owe most of them on back pay
ments, and God knows my pockets amt lined"
" Your men heavy men, there's fifteen dollars
for you, tt:ie that"
"But fifteen! and outlandish bills too /! mercilul
my family starve."
Hang il man. live cheap as do, eat rice and
milk and rye-brcad-"
/" No more!
"Darn the cent you want to Get the balance in
your hands do you?-Next man, come on
Thus the evening wears away, in squabbng with
the Jumpers, for the sake Of filthy ucre and the
Jumpers withdraw TO their respective squads of half
price expectants, and dole cut 10 each one in the
gle of some secluded building, rnayhap on the
counter of the nearest tavern, moiety of what he
has received. And Saturday nigh; closes over many
miserable family, whose provision and clothing
bills remain unsettled accommodating towards the
coming rent-d2y. The inexorabe 'boss enters the
temple Of the Lord next day, with the sweetest ex
preston Of bencvolence on his countenance; lste
to melting discourse the deporable condition Of
the Chinese females, the Hotentots; instructive
y draws forth his purse, the almoner goes round;
and ostentatiously deposits bank-note on the plate.
In all the ensuing week he is dashing through the
streets in his currcle, stopping to puff an hour
every day the Mechanics Exchange; and driving
ahead his speculatlsns in this and that place. In
process of time, his contract which we have sup
posed him to be advancing is accomplished and by
dlnt of the tricks, which we have illustrated, his
profits are con siderable after ALL while his poor
work-vicnms deep in the mire of poverty a.
ever.
A twelvemonth or so afterwards, the unfortunate
house begins to develope its defects. The roof be-
comes pervious to the slghtesiaH of rain; the house
itself settles IN certain parts, cracking the walls IN
every direction; pannes recede from their places
and warp asunder tearing up mouding5 as they go
shutters obstructed on their hinges, and doors
either refuse 10 bulge, will not shut home. From
five hundred TO thousand dollars are necessary for
repairs, and if the builder, whose fault it is can
teach the owner 10 believe that il is the fault of un
forseen circumstances, he doubtless will receive
ders TO repair, in which of course he will render bill
as heavy possible That this is no idle tale, will
prove by referring 10 of the identical houses
erected within the last seven years, which have thus
suffered. They are among those modern-bullt dwell
ings in Amity street, around Washington Parade, in
Carroll Place, in Albion Place and in many other
places. What meant the frequent arbitratons which
were held over Hollis Hotel, the Astor House, and
the New University Who does not deplore the de- |
trment which the artists in the latter edifcc, have
experienced in their profession, account Of the
dampness and discomfort of their rooms? True |
some of these houses erected 10 SELL especially
those in the places; but not the nnocen, pur-
chasers most cgregously duped? Verify they were
with witness
have thus shown by the familiar illustration Of
erecting single house. theilliberal system Of building
as now carried on. This estimating and lumpng
system first introduced into this city about Is
years since by clique from Albany, comprising
Gccr, Riley Lucas and one or two others, and s now
SUE tanned by those who are "lords of the ascendant
II was introduced to eak up theinhucnce of the Ire
lands, the Heaths the Tommy Woodrufs the Moses, |
the fuckers and the Barrams of the good old lines,
and edlfces have never been so well built since
More ornaments, more snow more superficial splen-
ty confined 10 the buildings Of "auld Lang Syne"
The merits of decoration and convenience which our
modern houses possess, they TO the race Of ar
chects which have come into being within tbs last
ten years. Davis, La'ever Dakin, Bell &c have
each more less displayed their inginuty throughout
the city, besides several others unworthy of mention
Some Of these are passablc draughtsmen bat no
more possessing about much practical know
ledge OF building itself cat that can find the
nearest way TO the pantres. The rest were passabe
journeymen years since, and indifferent
Easy work and notorlety is what the
majority of mankind covet when they are not born
TO wealth.
In the course of these stormy remarks several
CLEANS of the misery Of workmen have hchercd thro
the riffs Of my paragraphs That there some who
make comfortable livelihood is true and these snail
now be pointed out. They are the unmarried, who,
by enjoying good places in jobblng shops, or by
spending their winters in southern cities, where en-
ployment is abundant, and labor high and by in
dusry, economy and soberiety wherever they work,
win the confidence of their employers. Jobbng boss
eshave souls Such men manage to lay up for a rainy
day, and out of their ranks emerge the bosses Of the
day. Your unfortunate young carpenter who mar
mes early however, and produces crop Of children,
a. the inevitable consequence full soon falls into the
drag no matter how great may be his skill, his indus
try or his frugality, Even full wages are lnadquatc
to support him and he is obliged to becomea watch
man, TO make up the deficiency. Then there are the
casualties 10 which he is liable he is disabled by
wounds in the arm, hand, or leg, and for weeks to-
gcher he cannot labor tbs shop OF his employer burns