The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-15

Captains Bowman and Meigs and the Treasury Depart
ment in connexion with the public buildings but
ret is that his want Of accuracy has 90 entirely mssd the
House of Representatives Long experience has sasRtdu
that the most we had almost said the only honest agea
for the disbursement OF the rahlle moneys as class
ne officers of the and navy They never pecuiae
and their works are always faithfully suUS.auu~,
built-too much to please Mr. Ball. who appears re-
gret that the Capitol may not fall down by its own weight
CLEVELAND July "a
SRI My attention having been called to the speech tbs
don Edward Ball Of Ohio on the subject OF expenditures
pom public buildings have respectfully TO represent
that all that part of bis speech which relates 70 the us
land marine hospital is utterly nj variance with the Euh
Mr. Ball has been grossly imposed upon by the mas me-
chanic of Cleveland through the extensive master builder
OF Louisville In proof oths will give bret history Of
he work. and facts which cannot be controyerted
In ls45 an appropriation OF S6,333 was made TO
struct the Cleveland marine hospital With that sum
put up the foundation, walls and basement story No fur
her appropriation was made to continue the work until
after the Mexican war ii then resumed under my
charge with fair prospect OF its speedy compeu but
Gen Taylors death brought about change OF cabinet and
Mr. Corwn, the newy-appointed Secretary OF the Treas
ury removed TO make room for one Of bus friends Mr.
John Coon then clerk in the Department of the Interior
Mr. Coon remained superintendent OF the building anti
he present administration came into power when was
eappoined Up TO this period the work had been carried
by hiring mechanics and laborers at certain per dtm
allowance. The expeditions and economical system
OF having it done by contract adopted by the depart
ment and having made my estimate for completing the
work. before approving IT. the present Secretary OF the
Treasury sent Capt Bowman an able engineer to ex-
anime the building and report the amount required 10 fin
sh it, This DONE and bis report being in conformity
with my estimate, the appropriation passed and contract
favorable to government made, by which the hospital
has been completed and in workmanship and material is
inferior to no other building in the country.
And when we take into consideration the frequent inter
ruptions in the progress of the work. running through
period of years the nature OF the ground upon which
it stands the cost of grading ten-acre lot with rough
broken bank rising sixty fee, above the lake into winch
front also that the building Is composed OF massive stone
and the grounds enclosed with substantial stone wall and
iron railing the work. at cost OF Ss427o cannot
be called expensive one
And now for the which the government has actual
ly paid for plans, superintendence and engineering
Paid s H. Webb for superntendence including plans and
engineering during the years ls45 and 1885, ls49 and
1850 and 1855 and
Paid John Coon for experimenting according tohis
statement @''o
Whole 1926
And for this sum Of 1926 according to the Hon. E Balls
statement the Cleveland master workman, informed Mr.
-, extensive master builder, that he would be glad
to make contract with the government giving ample Sc
cury for fflment whereby he "would obligate him
self TO construct just such building on tie adjoining lot
equal in size workmanship material and all other respects
to the present one"
Can folly or alsehood go further than this 1t is due
10 the honest mechanics in this community that the name
of the Cleveland master workman who invented this
Va
GAINESVILLE Nebraska democrat and master oud
err who had the creduy to believe and the folly to repeat
it to Mr.. Hon. Edward Ball.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant
S. H. WEBB
THE UNITED STATES AMERICA,
Northern District of Ohio, SIS:
Before me- F. W. Green, clerk of the circuit court OF the
United States for the northern district OF Ohio personally
appeared the abovenamed S. H. Webb and made solemn
IA that the foregoing is according TO the
best of his knowledge and belief
pryha I hava hpran nj
name and affixed the seal OF said court, at Cleve-
SEAL land this Gath day Of July, 1885, and in the slst
wear of the independence of the United States Of
America +. w. GREEN Clerk.
So much for one of Mr. Balls cases and doubt not
the mares nest he SO recently discovered somewhere in the
Capitol is made up Of similar veracious statements Let
the House rescnd their proUo at once and let the Senate
strike out and leave the public works to be constructed
by those who understand the Importance of durabl-
ity and the economy Of constructing all buildings in
thorough manner instead of aiming to dollars by the
erection of buildings which would require TO be rebuilt
before the materials of which they constructed have be-
come we'll dried.
The Capitol the reader need be told is designed to
be- and ifa capital engineer like Captain Meigs permitted
TO superiutend it, doubtless will be- the finest modern build
ing the world But Mr. Ba would prevent all this and
epress the national pride of such edce by making the
column and window caps in small pieces Of MARBLE and
all to save few thousands overlooking asury He
thinks marble columns all very well but why not
make them OF small pieces Of marble2 They would be
strong So would the panaloons Of the honorable men,
Der strong fmade Of pieces and doubtless they would
be much cheaper. Will be not try the experiment. We
quote from his speech and sorry TO add that upon
such arguments Captain Megs has been egsated out Of
place Let the Senate strike out the proVo and the House
will thank them for their consideration;
Another change which Captain Meigs has made, and
which will add vastly 10 the cost OF the building Is the
adoption Of very large number OF marble columnssome
two hundred more-very few of which contempa
led in the original design OF Mr. Walter One hundred Of
these columns be placed the exterior Of the build
ing and contracted for in the rough provided the
RIGS Of the contractors will furnish them 400 each
Here thea addition Of $l4o 900 for outside columns
How much the workmanship upon them is to cost
knows But upon the supposton that proper TO add
these columns TO the original plan, IL certainly is not
necessary that they should be in pisce The columns
in this hall composed Of three blocks each Is there
here who would be willing TO pay 81 900, or $500 or
$500 or even 500 each have them taken down and
placed with shafts in single block What architect will
say that they worth just much put up in sec
tons is in single blocks n
SHOCKING MURDER-The Detroit Free Press Of the 9th
says:
One Of the most shocking which mark
the vicious and degraded life trsIspred night
before last the Lake Shore Illinois street.
pied by Patrick Mcclure and his WIFE, She killed by
brutal Jerk made by her husband to draw her into the
HI EAIL - L-wI HI. sNE 49,