The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-06-04
TIE SITUATION.

TIE SITUATION.
TIE beautiful dhyd ChisAgo pos
sessss many attractions which are con-
stantly calling the inhabitants of
less favored localities into her
preeiactA Most Of them come
with q purpose, and that purpose
usually ID, to improve their condition,
and take . higher position in life.
with this end in view have we taken
up our abode in the metropolis OF the
West. y .,rs-r.,
My husband has been carpenter
and builder from his boyhood. He
served an apprenticeship to the trade.
and took especisl pans to learn it
those it was his pride and
ambition to excel in thin branch Of labor.
Moving to the West many years
sincs, he worked at his business taking
contracts, and building houses. public
edi6css and stores, when botchwork
was the exception and skilled labor the
rule. But when the time arrived chat
contracts were let 10 the lowest bidder,
and the one who would do the work
the cheapest was sure Of securing the
contract, he would not estimate ON q
building. He has ever made it rule
to endesvor TO do his employer Justice,
and he consequently could not com
pete with his brother workmen, o. in
order to do justice to himself, his con
tract must necessarily be much higher
than others. he therefore has fos
several years, worked by the day, al
ways receiving the highest wages. be
cause he was known to be % good
workman. Last season he built ,
splendid mansion for the President Of
the National Bank in one Of oul
country towns. That gentleman asked
him if he would make q bid upon the
building. He replied, !" II would be o.
NO use. You would probably give you
work to the lowest bidder. and 40
sm not in the habit Of doing poor
cheap work, any labor upon an ea
innate would be in vain" The bankel
said, i do not want any one bu
you to do my work ), what are you
TERMS" Mr.. Wynhoep answered g
win build your house, make the plsns
superintend it. and have good worl
done. for so much per day" "Al
right" replied the banker, 60 to worl
~ speedily ~ possible" n.a
While that building was in process
of erection, several of the banker
friends visited him, and Of course hai
to see and admire hin new Building.
These gentlemen with scarcely NJ
exception said to my husband. yo'
are Just the man we want in Chicago
We have plenty Of poor carpenter
there, but very few good onss. i
lyou come 70 Chicago. you cam do mac
better than you can here" According
lily upon these representatives we cam
to the great city. -a5l
After we had been here long enoug
to see the true state Of things, and b
-.s- rAaa an opinion upon them.
asked MIR. Wynkoop, wn~s Nrnu {
work was done here, and what wer
the prospectsP He replied. botct
work, botchwerk everywhere. Th
very best buildinge are cheap and il
secure.
What is the reason of this? Wher
lies the fault? Who is TO blame
There is no effect without an adequat
cause. The newspapers blame tn
architects. Editors know how TO max
. good paper, but it can hardly b
expected that they should know hoy
to build good house. 1t is the bus
ness Of the architect to draw the plans
and see that those plsns are carries
out as far as the appearance of Cd
building is concerned. The best archi
tect cannot guard against botchworl
unless he has competent men to carr,
out his plans. I" na t'..r
Another thing talked of TO remed,
this state OF things, is the appointment
of a commissioner Of buildings. /
this commissioner has been. educated
for . carpenter, and watches every
stick Of timber as it is laid, he nigh
do some good, but as he could b.
Argus-eyed, all the city y ould gain by
the appointment, would be the paying
of large salary to q nominal officer
We should pronounce that merchant
insane, who, wanting good salesman
should advertise for one, stating tina,
the one who would work for the
lowest pay, regardless Of his fitness
for the position, should have il We
should deem that man q fit subject for
a lunatic asylum, who, when he, OF
some Of his family were ick, and in
need Of a physician, should enquire,
not who was the best physician, but