New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-31
PRICE FOUR CENTS
TAMMANY'S LATEST JOB
THE IRON FOUNDERS OF THE CITY MARKED
FOR SPOLATION

OUT OF THE BUSINESS A POLITICIANS
SCHEME TO OBTAIN PLUMBER a TAM
MANY "IRoN RING ORGANIZED-S500,O00 A
YEAR TO BE MADE OUT OF 1T.
Iron is daily rising in importance among the
building materials used in this city 1t but few years
since IL began be used here for architectural purposes
and already IL is the fdvorite material for and
public buildings. II Is rapidly superseding stone for
such purposes because OF its superior strength and tho
cheapness and rapdity with which Il be wrought
into the elaborate forms Such being the case any
legislation that affects its I'm buildings becomes ot
great importance only to the founderes but also
the community generally.
During the last hours Of the last session Of the New
York Legislature, a seemingly proper bill passed,
which will very seriously nIure all who deal In or uso
architectural IRON II eminently proper that due safe
guards should be thrown around all building materials,
and that all necessary laws should be passed to insure
their proper but advantage should be taken OF
his fact toput hundreds OF thousands of dollars into
the pockets OF individuals nearly remotely allied to
the rapacious Ring governing the city. The law
ered TO- and which it is the duty OF the superintendent
OF Buildings TO enforce provides, sec 90 chap. cas-
| that:
Before any iron column, beam, Intel or girder, In
tended to span an opening eight feet in length and
floor or part thereof in any bnildnS bepaaftnr eyec,
altered the CITY Of XewYorE sbai be used for that
the same tested by actual weight pressure thereon
under me direction aad supervision OF In
| tied by the superintendent thereof (vho shall
vi Where bc sn e n1d Gi me time and place
sons having the said columns, beams, ntes irders
SO tested, whose duty it shall be TO have the weight
which each OF the said columns, beams nte Orders
VIII safely sustain properly stamped or marked ia con-
founder thereof, and greater weight shall be put
placed upon any said column, beam, Intel or grder,
than the same shah be marked being capable II
sustaining and in any said column, beam, grder,
or Intel shall be rejected by said Inspector unit to bo
used the same shall not be used ill., upon, or about any
| building. or part thereof.
The mechanics and artisans who are engaged in build.
ing in this city have had much complain of the adj
mnistraon Of the affairs of the Building Department,
but no other class OF business 10 feel much
aggrieved do the founders OF iron architectural
ngs at the law quoted and the mode Of enforcing In
consequence Of this enactment they organized them
selves last July into association for mutual proteo-
tiOn and intend 10 appeal TO the next Legislature for
modification OF the law at least 10 seek redress from
what appears 10 be its very unfair administration.
The point to which they strongly object Ia the
fact that James NJ. McGregor the Superintendent OF
Buildings has appointed the Inspector under the law,
Of ronwOrk his c0aborer in the TammaDy shop, Peter
H. Jackson, a member OF the firm Of j. l. jackson g.
Bro. The passage of this law matter unknown 10
the ironmasters until the department had made all tho
necessary preparations for its enforcement In the
meantime Mr.. Jackson had made his preparations to
begin the exercise OF his Office. and had provided
chine for testing. Then, armed with his certificate OF
appointment las the inspector Of the work OF his
pettors m busness) lie began operations Notices
sent out from the department to the founders that
the law was to be enforced at The founders
were In many cases caught with work hand, or in
process OF manufacture that was subject to the test law
and for which estimate for the cost OF testing had
been made when IT was contracted for number OF
them made their way to the office Of the Department
demonstrate against the proceeding because sudden
and burdensome They referred TO Mr.. Jackson,
aud by him informed that the law be enforced
without favor and that he had machine in readiness 20
test their work. at the modest charge Of 70 cents per
neal foot The result is that that they have 10
submit (at least the weaker frms-the large ones
defying the Inspector yeD, and to patronze Mr..
Jackson's machine, at cOst-taking into consideration
trucking to and from his premises Thirty frstst near
Firstave., and the consequent handng-of about one
dollar per fool, much than the profits ut frst
reckoned upon by the manufacturers the various
veniences and delays experienced by many of them not
being taken into consideration.
The idea of appointing competitor in the business TO
inspect and test their work at salary Of 5000 70 bepad
from the public treasury and then allowing him TO
fee Of seventy per foot for doing the business has
aroused feeling of indignation among the ironmasers
They claim that is direct attempt 10 driCe The small
boundaries out Of he business
COMPLAINTS OF THE IRON MEN
One OF the prominent opponents Of the new law makes
the following statement:
No ironmaster has yet sent his castings 10 be tested
by the Inspector without having for complaint,
apart from the injustice OF the law The fact that
all these beams and girders must be dragged
through the city be tested place else that
each toundery must have 5000 machine OF ts own.
shows gross oppression Boiler inspectors visit the boilers
bringing their machinery with them; but the iron
founders either buy testngmaohne carry their
castings to JacksOns place in Thirtytrstsf The Etna
Iron Company tried the testers patience lately
by insisting on piling up 60 tuns OF pig-irOn.
Jackson had to keep weighing the iron and 10
look ali day. Ayres McCandless, Forty secOnds and
Tenth-ave have built testing machine and INTO
business in opposition the Inspector, at 50 cents
foot; but they find lion in the way. Mr.. Jacksons
presence being necessary he finds IL cOnvenens avoid
keeping his appointments when their machine is TO be
used. IN one case when he delinquent n this re-
spect they sent word to the Building Department that
they would FOR notary and have the testing done
aud to in his presence Jackson was not forth
coming He had agreed 20 visit them at 10 Finally
at d, p. he arrived. This founder told
OF many cases in which he and other ronmasters had
sent castings, which they needed at once, 10 be tested
and had not received them again in three or four days
Meanwhile the whole force of masons brickayers, and
carpenters engaged in the buildings were Kept lde
Again he said, such tests are not applied TO any other
building material. Wood brick and stone arches nave
often given way, but test applied TO Them while
which have never been the cause Of any
deaths must be thus severely and extensively tested.
HOW THE swISDLE oRIGIsAIED.
The founders do not object to proper inspection OF their
work but insist that the old laws concerning inspection
% iron beams lntels, &C. quite sufficient and that
the passage OF the law simply scheme Of pole
cans 20 obtain plder. The rise aud progress OF this
scheme s described follows the facts
being gathered from several authorities; As aiehi
tectura iron work rising rapidly in importance, and
was one Of the building materials used largely by the
city, control OF which, as lar at least as the city
was concerned no ring had been formed and a. is
great use IN the city generally indicated that 1t would
afford ne placer for industrious golddiggers, some