The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-06-13

Then whose fault has IL been Il they were not
the proprietors', contTact0rs' or workmenhf IL
the proprietors did not give the contractors q
sufficient gum % erect good and substantial
buildings, according 90 the plans and speclfcA-
tons. they we're undoubtedly 70 blame. But il,
on the contrary, they did give the contractors
the price dems nded, then We say the latter are
TO blame, for We contend that with proper care
good material and qualified workmen. buildings
can be erected ~ Chicago that, when the v 3D.
work burns cut, the walls viii stand as i.rm a.
before Instead Of this beng the case, the walls
have generally crumbled before the buildings
have been half consumed, while many Of your
noble and eiRcient 6remen have fallen victims 70
such rascaliGy.
Gentlemen, We win give you a hint 81 to how
your buildings are put together. In the first
place the walls are mot properly slshed az. In
many instances In the middle Of the vail Tie
bricks are put In dry BY Incompetent workmen,
who do net understand how necessary il Is that
any brick and stone should be embedded in
mortar or cement a. they seem TO have the idea
that the rsn who gets 70 sther the largest num-
Der Of brick or st0ne Is tae best workman-the
nature of the work done is altogether a second
airy consideration.
In the next place, the walls are not properly
bound together, headers n many instances not
being used for ten, and sometimes twelve
courses, whereas every SIXTH course should be
bound, in order 70 prevent the walls from split
ting, by the action Of heat in case OF fir. And
here We WOULD say that, in our opinion isrge
proportion OF the fires In this city caused 81
defective hues that are built by careless or in
experienced worknlen. We have even seer
sues built in the wall put together in halves THAT
l. 70 say, that one-hAlf was built when the out
side wall was erected, and the other when the
inside was erectedl, without being bound to-
gether. Add when hue burns out, and the
walls become hot, they split, and allow the
flames to ignite the joists, and the building
IL soon in ruins
As regards the quality of mortar used In this
city, it may he well TO know how il is compound
ed and applied by some Of the contractors. If
lime Is scarce, SAND is used freely If sand is
scarce land by sand we do not mean rubbish,
but clean, washed sand) lime lie used freely,
without any regard 10 proper sdmxture OF the
two ingredients 70 form q cement that will
unite the building in Que common mass. The
mortar is brought on the building and used
while in a temperature that would cook eggs 1t
Is well known fact BY men Of experience that
mortar should lie long enough before being used
TO have the sand become saturated with alkan,
which Ia necessary 70 form a good cement and
TO do good work with.
BRIcKLAYERs COMMITTEE
Aessrs McQueeney, 0'COnnell and AuIreAny,
then repoEAd the following resolutions
WBERLAs, A large number of the bosses have
agreed to, and are now pa ring the rate of wages
demanded, 50 day, for good WOrkmen there
fore,
Resolved, That we, the bricklayers of she
Chicago Protective Union, No. 2 discontinue
our daily meetings and resume our work, firmly
Adhering 70 the prislples enunciated At the CON-
mencement Of the strike, viz $500 per day As
the standard wages for good workmen, and
weekly payments.
Resolved, That We are now, more than ever,
attached to our union, believing that we have
to those outside hat Il is all tn a
can be desired 70 accomplish the purpose for
which { Nss organized.
The resolutions Sere adopted, and thc meet
ing adjourned SINE die.
1t is proper TO say that the strike has been
conducted throughout in a qus;, peaceaOie
no act of violence Of any character
having occurred during its progress